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！
king for Smeariton and Leavit； but as they had been paying in from the first； they had elected to go to the Beano rather than have their money back。 The Semi…drunk and one or two other habitual boozers were very shabby and down at heel； but the majority of the men were decently dressed。 Some had taken their Sunday clothes out of pawn especially for the occasion。 Others were arrayed in new suits which they were going to pay for at the rate of a shilling a week。 Some had bought themselves second…hand suits； one or two were wearing their working clothes brushed and cleaned up； and some were wearing Sunday clothes that had not been taken out of pawn for the simple reason that the pawnbrokers would not take them in。 These garments were in what might be called a transition stage … old…fashioned and shiny with wear； but yet too good to take for working in； even if their owners had been in a position to buy some others to take their place for best。 Crass； Slyme and one or two of the single men； however； were howling swells； sporting stand…up collars and bowler hats of the latest type； in contradistinction to some of the others； who were wearing hats of antique patterns； and collars of various shapes with jagged edges。 Harlow had on an old straw hat that his wife had cleaned up with oxalic acid； and Easton had carefully dyed the faded binding of his black bowler with ink。 Their boots were the worst part of their attire： without counting Rushton and his friends； there were thirty…seven men altogether； including Nimrod； and there were not half a dozen pairs of really good boots amongst the whole crowd。
When all were seated a fresh start was made。 The small brake； with Rushton； Didlum； Grinder and two or three other members of the Band； led the way。 Next came the largest brake with Misery on the box。 Beside the driver of the third brake was Payne； the foreman carpenter。 Crass occupied a similar position of honour on the fourth brake； on the back step of which was perched the man with the coachman's horn。
Crass … who had engaged the brakes … had arranged with the drivers that the cortege should pass through the street where he and Easton lived； and as they went by Mrs Crass was standing at the door with the two young men lodgers； who waved their handkerchiefs and shouted greetings。 A little further on Mrs Linden and Easton's wife were standing at the door to see them go by。 In fact； the notes of the coachman's horn alarmed most of the inhabitants； who crowded to their windows and doors to gaze upon the dismal procession as it passed。
The mean streets of Windley were soon left far behind and they found themselves journeying along a sunlit； winding road； bordered with hedges of hawthorn； holly and briar； past rich； brown fields of standing corn； shimmering with gleams of gold； past apple…orchards where bending boughs were heavily loaded with mellow fruits exhaling fragrant odours； through the cool shades of lofty avenues of venerable oaks； whose overarched and interlacing branches formed a roof of green； gilt and illuminated with quivering spots and shafts of sunlight that filtered through the trembling leaves； over old mossy stone bridges； spanning limpid streams that duplicated the blue sky and the fleecy clouds； and then again； stretching away to the horizon on every side over more fields； some rich with harvest； others filled with drowsing cattle or with flocks of timid sheep that scampered away at the sound of the passing carriages。 Several times they saw merry little companies of rabbits frisking gaily in and out of the hedges or in the fields beside the sheep and cattle。 At intervals； away in the distance； nestling in the hollows or amid sheltering trees； groups of farm buildings and stacks of hay； and further on； the square ivy…clad tower of an ancient church； or perhaps a solitary windmill with its revolving sails alternately flashing and darkening in the rays of the sun。 Past thatched wayside cottages whose inhabitants came out to wave their hands in friendly greeting。 Past groups of sunburnt； golden…haired children who climbed on fences and five…barred gates； and waved their hats and cheered； or ran behind the brakes for the pennies the men threw down to them。
From time to time the men in the brakes made half…hearted attempts at singing； but it never came to much； because most of them were too hungry and miserable。 They had not had time to take any dinner and would not have taken any even if they had the time； for they wished to reserve their appetites for the banquet at the Queen Elizabeth； which they expected to reach about half past three。 However； they cheered up a little after the first halt … at the Blue Lion； where most of them got down and had a drink。 Some of them； including the Semi…drunk； Ned Dawson； Bill Bates and Joe Philpot … had two or three drinks； and felt so much happier for them that； shortly after they started off again； sounds of melody were heard from the brake the three first named rode in … the one presided over by Crass … but it was not very successful； and even after the second halt … about five miles further on … at the Warrior's Head； they found it impossible to sing with any heartiness。 Fitful bursts of song arose from time to time from each of the brakes in turn； only to die mournfully away。 It is not easy to sing on an empty stomach even if one has got a little beer in it； and so it was with most of them。 They were not in a mood to sing； or to properly appreciate the scenes through which they were passing。 They wanted their dinners； and that was the reason why this long ride； instead of being a pleasure； became after a while； a weary journey that seemed as if it were never coming to an end。
The next stop was at the Bird in Hand； a wayside public house that stood all by itself in a lonely hollow。 The landlord was a fat； jolly…looking man； and there were several customers in the bar … men who looked like farm…labourers； but there were no other houses to be seen anywhere。 This extraordinary circumstance exercised the minds of our travellers and formed the principal topic of conversation until they arrived at the Dew Drop Inn； about half an hour afterwards。 The first brake； containing Rushton and his friends； passed on without stopping here。 The occupants of the second brake； which was only a little way behind the first； were divided in opinion whether to stop or go on。 Some shouted out to the driver to pull up； others ordered him to proceed； and more were undecided which course to pursue … a state of mind that was not shared by the coachman； who； knowing that if they stopped somebody or other would be sure to stand him a drink； had no difficulty whatever in coming to a decision； but drew rein at the inn； an example that was followed by both the other carriages as they drove up。
It was a very brief halt； not more than half the men getting down at all； and those who remained in the brakes grumbled so much at the delay that the others drank their beer as quickly as possible and the journey was resumed once more； almost in silence。 No attempts at singing； no noisy laughter； they scarcely spoke to each other； but sat gloomily gazing out over the surrounding country。
Instructions had been given to the drivers not to stop again till they reached the Queen Elizabeth； and they therefore drove past the World Turned Upside Down without stopping； much to the chagrin of the landlord of that house； who stood at the door with a sickly smile upon his face。 Some of those who knew him shouted out that they would give him a call on their way back； and with this he had to be content。
They reached the long…desired Queen Elizabeth at twenty minutes to four； and were immediately ushered into a large room where a round table and two long ones were set for dinner … and they were set in a manner worthy of the reputation of the house。
The cloths that covered the tables and the serviettes； arranged fanwise in the drinking glasses； were literally as white as snow； and about a dozen knives and forks and spoons were laid for each person。 Down the centre of the table glasses of delicious yellow custard and cut…glass dishes of glistening red and golden jelly alternated with vases of sweet…smelling flowers。
The floor of the dining…room was covered with oilcloth … red flowers on a pale yellow ground； the pattern was worn off in places； but it was all very clean and shining。 Whether one looked at the walls with the old…fashioned varnished oak paper； or at the glossy piano standing across the corner near the white…curtained window； at the shining oak chairs or through the open casement doors that led into the shady garden beyond； the dominating impression one received was that everything was exquisitely clean。
The landlord announced that dinner would be served in ten minutes； and while they were waiting some of them indulged in a drink at the bar … just as an appetizer … whilst the others strolled in the garden or； by the landlord's invitation； looked over the house。 Amongst other places； they glanced into the kitchen； where the landlady was superintending the preparation of the feast； and in this place； with its whitewashed walls and red…tiled floor； as in every other part of the house； th