按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
25
… Page 26…
Catherine： A Story
him。 Perhaps Mrs。 Catherine expected him too； for she had offered many
times to run upwith my Lord's bootswith the hot waterto show Mr。
Brock the way； who sometimes condescended to officiate as barber。 But
on all these occasions Mrs。 Score had prevented her； not scolding； but with
much gentleness and smiling。 At last； more gentle and smiling than ever；
she came downstairs and said； 〃Catherine darling； his honour the Count is
mighty hungry this morning； and vows he could pick the wing of a fowl。
Run down； child； to Farmer Brigg's and get one： pluck it before you bring
it； you know； and we will make his Lordship a pretty breakfast。〃
Catherine took up her basket； and away she went by the back…yard；
through the stables。 There she heard the little horse…boy whistling and
hissing after the manner of horseboys； and there she learned that Mrs。
Score had been inventing an ingenious story to have her out of the way。
The ostler said he was just going to lead the two horses round to the door。
The Corporal had been； and they were about to start on the instant for
Stratford。
The fact was that Count Gustavus Adolphus； far from wishing to pick
the wing of a fowl； had risen with a horror and loathing for everything in
the shape of food； and for any liquor stronger than small beer。 Of this he
had drunk a cup； and said he should ride immediately to Stratford； and
when； on ordering his horses； he had asked politely of the landlady 〃why
the d SHE always came up； and why she did not send the girl；〃 Mrs。
Score informed the Count that her Catherine was gone out for a walk
along with the young man to whom she was to be married； and would not
be visible that day。 On hearing this the Captain ordered his horses that
moment； and abused the wine； the bed； the house； the landlady； and
everything connected with the 〃Bugle Inn。〃
Out the horses came： the little boys of the village gathered round； the
recruits； with bunches of ribands in their beavers； appeared presently；
Corporal Brock came swaggering out； and； slapping the pleased
blacksmith on the back； bade him mount his horse； while the boys hurrah'd。
Then the Captain came out； gloomy and majestic； to him Mr。 Brock made
a military salute； which clumsily； and with much grinning； the recruits
imitated。 〃I shall walk on with these brave fellows； your honour； and meet
26
… Page 27…
Catherine： A Story
you at Stratford；〃 said the Corporal。 〃Good；〃 said the Captain； as he
mounted。 The landlady curtseyed； the children hurrah'd more； the little
horse…boy； who held the bridle with one hand and the stirrup with the other；
and expected a crown…piece from such a noble gentleman； got only a kick
and a curse； as Count von Galgenstein shouted； 〃D… you all； get out of
the way！〃 and galloped off； and John Hayes； who had been sneaking about
the inn all the morning； felt a weight off his heart when he saw the Captain
ride off alone。
O foolish Mrs。 Score！ O dolt of a John Hayes！ If the landlady had
allowed the Captain and the maid to have their way； and meet but for a
minute before recruits； sergeant； and all； it is probable that no harm would
have been done； and that this history would never have been written。
When Count von Galgenstein had ridden half a mile on the Stratford
road； looking as black and dismal as Napoleon galloping from the
romantic village of Waterloo； he espied； a few score yards onwards； at the
turn of the road； a certain object which caused him to check his horse
suddenly； brought a tingling red into his cheeks； and made his heart to go
thumpthump！ against his side。 A young lass was sauntering slowly along
the footpath； with a basket swinging from one hand； and a bunch of hedge…
flowers in the other。 She stopped once or twice to add a fresh one to her
nosegay； and might have seen him； the Captain thought； but no； she never
looked directly towards him； and still walked on。 Sweet innocent！ she was
singing as if none were near； her voice went soaring up to the clear sky；
and the Captain put his horse on the grass； that the sound of the hoofs
might not disturb the music。
〃When the kine had given a pailful； And the sheep came bleating
home； Poll； who knew it would be healthful； Went a…walking out with Tom。
Hand in hand； sir； on the land； sir； As they walked to and fro； Tom made
jolly love to Polly； But was answered no； no； no。〃
The Captain had put his horse on the grass； that the sound of his hoofs
might not disturb the music； and now he pushed its head on to the bank；
where straightway 〃George of Denmark〃 began chewing of such a salad as
grew there。 And now the Captain slid off stealthily； and smiling comically；
and hitching up his great jack…boots； and moving forward with a jerking
27
… Page 28…
Catherine： A Story
tiptoe step； he； just as she was trilling the last o…o…o of the last no in the
above poem of Tom D'Urfey； came up to her； and touching her lightly on
the waist； said；
〃My dear； your very humble servant。〃
Mrs。 Catherine （you know you have found her out long ago！） gave a
scream and a start； and would have turned pale if she could。 As it was； she
only shook all over； and said；
〃Oh； sir； how you DID frighten me！〃
〃Frighten you； my rosebud！ why； run me through； I'd die rather than
frighten you。 Gad； child； tell me now； am I so VERY frightful？〃
〃Oh no； your honour； I didn't mean that； only I wasn't thinking to meet
you here； or that you would ride so early at all： for； if you please； sir； I was
going to fetch a chicken for your Lordship's breakfast； as my mistress said
you would like one； and I thought； instead of going to Farmer Brigg's；
down Birmingham way； as she told me； I'd go to Farmer Bird's； where the
chickens is better； sir；my Lord； I mean。〃
〃Said I'd like a chicken for breakfast； the old cat！ why； I told her I
would not eat a morsel to save meI was so druI mean I ate such a good
supper last nightand I bade her to send me a pot of small beer； and to tell
you to bring it； and the wretch said you were gone out with your
sweetheart〃
〃What！ John Hayes； the creature？ Oh； what a naughty story…telling
woman！〃
〃You had walked out with your sweetheart； and I was not to see you
any more； and I was mad with rage； and ready to kill myself； I was； my
dear。〃
〃Oh； sir！ pray； PRAY don't。〃
〃For your sake； my sweet angel？〃
〃Yes； for my sake； if such a poor girl as me can persuade noble
gentlemen。〃
〃Well； then； for YOUR sake； I won't； no； I'll live； but why live？ Hell
and fury； if I do live I'm miserable without you； I am；you know I am；
you adorable； beautiful； cruel； wicked Catherine！〃
Catherine's reply to this was 〃La； bless me！ I do believe your horse is
28
… Page 29…
Catherine： A Story
running away。〃 And so he was！ for having finished his meal in the hedge；
he first looked towards his master and paused； as it were； irresolutely； then；
by a sudden impulse； flinging up his tail and his hind legs； he scampered
down the road。
Mrs。 Hall ran lightly after the horse； and the Captain after Mrs。 Hall；
and the horse ran quicker and quicker every moment； and might have led
them a long chase；when lo！ debouching from a twist in the road； came
the detachment of cavalry and infantry under Mr。 Brock。 The moment he
was out of sight of the village； that gentleman had desired the blacksmith
to dismount； and had himself jumped into the saddle； maintaining the
subordination of his army by drawing a pistol and swearing that he would
blow out the brains of any person who attempted to run。 When the
Captain's horse came near the detachment he paused； and suffered himself
to be caught by Tummas Bullock； who held him until the owner and Mrs。
Catherine came up。
Mr。 Bullock looked comically grave when he