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！
the place of Mistress Laneham？〃
〃Ay； sir；〃 said the boy； 〃they are not so scarce in this world as
your honour's virtuous eminence would suppose。 This master…fiend
shall spit a few flashes of fire； and eruct a volume or two of
smoke on the spot； if it will do you pleasureyou would think he
had AEtna in his abdomen。〃
〃I lack time just now； most hopeful imp of darkness； to witness
his performance；〃 said Varney； 〃but here is something for you all
to drink the lucky hourand so； as the play says； 'God be with
Your labour！'〃
Thus speaking； he struck his horse with the spurs； and rode on
his way。
Lambourne tarried a moment or two behind his master； and rummaged
his pouch for a piece of silver； which he bestowed on the
communicative imp； as he said； for his encouragement on his path
to the infernal regions； some sparks of whose fire； he said； he
could discover flashing from him already。 Then having received
the boy's thanks for his generosity he also spurred his horse；
and rode after his master as fast as the fire flashes from flint。
〃And now；〃 said the wily imp； sidling close up to Wayland's
horse； and cutting a gambol in the air which seemed to vindicate
his title to relationship with the prince of that element； 〃I
have told them who YOU are； do you in return tell me who I am？〃
〃Either Flibbertigibbet；〃 answered Wayland Smith； 〃or else an imp
of the devil in good earnest。〃
〃Thou hast hit it；〃 answered Dickie Sludge。 〃I am thine own
Flibbertigibbet； man； and I have broken forth of bounds； along
with my learned preceptor； as I told thee I would do； whether he
would or not。 But what lady hast thou got with thee？ I saw thou
wert at fault the first question was asked； and so I drew up for
thy assistance。 But I must know all who she is； dear Wayland。〃
〃Thou shalt know fifty finer things； my dear ingle；〃 said
Wayland； 〃but a truce to thine inquiries just now。 And since you
are bound for Kenilworth； thither will I too； even for the love
of thy sweet face and waggish company。〃
〃Thou shouldst have said my waggish face and sweet company；〃 said
Dickie；〃 but how wilt thou travel with usI mean in what
character？〃
〃E'en in that thou hast assigned me； to be sureas a juggler；
thou knowest I am used to the craft；〃 answered Wayland。
〃Ay； but the lady？〃 answered Flibbertigibbet。 〃Credit me； I
think she IS one and thou art in a sea of troubles about her at
this moment； as I can perceive by thy fidgeting。〃
〃Oh； she； man！she is a poor sister of mine；〃 said Wayland； 〃she
can sing and play o' the lute would win the fish out o' the
stream。〃
〃Let me hear her instantly；〃 said the boy； 〃I love the lute
rarely； I love it of all things； though I never heard it。〃
〃Then how canst thou love it； Flibbertigibbet？〃 said Wayland。
〃As knights love ladies in old tales；〃 answered Dickie〃on
hearsay。〃
〃Then love it on hearsay a little longer； till my sister is
recovered from the fatigue of her journey；〃 said Wayland；
muttering afterwards betwixt his teeth； 〃The devil take the imp's
curiosity！ I must keep fair weather with him； or we shall fare
the worse。〃
He then proceeded to state to Master Holiday his own talents as a
juggler； with those of his sister as a musician。 Some proof of
his dexterity was demanded； which he gave in such a style of
excellence； that； delighted at obtaining such an accession to
their party； they readily acquiesced in the apology which he
offered when a display of his sister's talents was required。 The
new…comers were invited to partake of the refreshments with which
the party were provided； and it was with some difficulty that
Wayland Smith obtained an opportunity of being apart with his
supposed sister during the meal； of which interval he availed
himself to entreat her to forget for the present both her rank
and her sorrows； and condescend； as the most probable chance of
remaining concealed； to mix in the society of those with whom she
was to travel。
The Countess allowed the necessity of the case； and when they
resumed their journey； endeavoured to comply with her guide's
advice； by addressing herself to a female near her； and
expressing her concern for the woman whom they were thus obliged
to leave behind them。
〃Oh； she is well attended； madam；〃 replied the dame whom she
addressed； who； from her jolly and laughter…loving demeanour；
might have been the very emblem of the Wife of Bath； 〃and my
gossip Laneham thinks as little of these matters as any one。 By
the ninth day； an the revels last so long； we shall have her with
us at Kenilworth； even if she should travel with her bantling on
her back。〃
There was something in this speech which took away all desire on
the Countess of Leicester's part to continue the conversation。
But having broken the charm by speaking to her fellow…traveller
first； the good dame； who was to play Rare Gillian of Croydon in
one of the interludes； took care that silence did not again
settle on the journey； but entertained her mute companion with a
thousand anecdotes of revels； from the days of King Harry
downwards； with the reception given them by the great folk； and
all the names of those who played the principal characters； but
ever concluding with 〃they would be nothing to the princely
pleasures of Kenilworth。〃
〃And when shall we reach Kenilworth？ said the Countess； with an
agitation which she in vain attempted to conceal。
〃We that have horses may； with late riding； get to Warwick to…
night； and Kenilworth may be distant some four or five miles。
But then we must wait till the foot…people come up； although it
is like my good Lord of Leicester will have horses or light
carriages to meet them； and bring them up without being travel…
toiled； which last is no good preparation； as you may suppose；
for dancing before your betters。 And yet； Lord help me； I have
seen the day I would have tramped five leagues of lea…land； and
turned an my toe the whole evening after； as a juggler spins a
pewter platter on the point of a needle。 But age has clawed me
somewhat in his clutch； as the song says； though； if I like the
tune and like my partner； I'll dance the hays yet with any merry
lass in Warwickshire that writes that unhappy figure four with a
round O after it。〃
If the Countess was overwhelmed with the garrulity of this good
dame； Wayland Smith； on his part； had enough to do to sustain and
parry；the constant attacks made upon him by the indefatigable
curiosity of his old acquaintance Richard Sludge。 Nature had
given that arch youngster a prying cast of disposition； which
matched admirably with his sharp wit； the former inducing him to
plant himself as a spy on other people's affairs； and the latter
quality leading him perpetually to interfere； after he had made
himself master of that which concerned him not。 He spent the
livelong day in attempting to peer under the Countess's muffler；
and apparently what he could there discern greatly sharpened his
curiosity。
〃That sister of thine； Wayland；〃 he said； 〃has a fair neck to
have been born in a smithy； and a pretty taper hand to have been
used for twirling a spindlefaith； I'll believe in your
relationship when the crow's egg is hatched into a cygnet。〃
〃Go to；〃 said Wayland； 〃thou art a prating boy； and should be
breeched for thine assurance。〃
〃Well；〃 said the imp； drawing off； 〃all I say isremember you
have kept a secret from me； and if I give thee not a Roland for
thine Oliver； my name is not Dickon Sludge！〃
This threat； and the distance at which Hobgoblin kept from him
for the rest of the way； alarmed Wayland very much； and he
suggested to his pretended sister that； on pretext of weariness；
she should express a desire to stop two or three miles short of
the fair town of Warwick； promising to rejoin the troop in the
morning。 A small village inn afforded them a resting…place； and
it was with secret pleasure that Wayland saw the whole party；
including Dickon； pass on； after a courteous farewell； and leave
them behind。
〃To…morrow； madam；〃 he said to his charge； 〃we will； with your
leave； again start early； and reach Kenilworth before the rout
which are to assemble there。〃
The Countess gave assent to the proposal of her faithful guide；
but； somewhat to his surprise； said nothing further on the
subject； which left Wayland under the disagreeable uncertainty
whether or no she had formed any plan for her own future
proceedings； as he knew her situation demanded circumspection；
although he was but imperfectly acquainted with all its
peculiarities。 Concluding； however； that she must have friends
within the castle； whose advice and assistance she could safely
trust； he supposed his task would be best accomplished by
conducting her thither in safety； agreeably to her repeated
commands。
CHAPTER XXV。
Hark； the bells summon； and the bugle calls；
But she the fairest answers notthe tide
Of nobles and of ladies throngs the halls；
But she the loveliest must in secret hide。
What eyes were thine； proud Prince； which in the gleam
Of yon gay meteors lost that better sense；
That o'er the glow…worm doth the star esteem；
And merit's modest blush o'er courtly insolence？