Marion was talking of her childhood at Garth, of the various activities that had filled her days. From that she went Lightly back to Kensington, and thence again to Cornwall. She appeared to be relishing3 greatly the prospect4 of returning to Garth.
'Only my promise to stay with you a sennight would keep me, Aunt Keziah. I am suddenly become mightily5 homesick. I want the stables and the horses—my horses—the boats and the beach. I declare I should like to look at my dolls again, and my skipping rope. Oh yes! and my bow and arrows. Ah, those days! 'Tis a pity you never learned to shoot, Aunt Keziah. I remember your telling me you had never handled a bow. If only you had one, 'twould have pleased me mightily to set up a target in the garden. Did I tell you,' she went on, 'that Colonel Sampson and Captain Beckenham took me to an archery one day, and I beat my lord the captain by a good two yards?'
Marion laughed merrily. The footman, his wits dissolved in admiration7, stored up the gossip for the kitchen, and wondered where a bow was to be had. He would like greatly to watch the young lady shoot.
'Who is Captain Beckenham?' asked Mistress Keziah.
'One of Aunt Constance's friends, in Her Majesty's suite8. He was mightily kind. He risked the Queen's displeasure in absenting himself to ride with us over the heath past Hounslow, giving me to understand it was for the sake of my beaux yeux. But,' added Marion, a smile coming and going, 'in the coach I discovered that my own were outshone by Simone's. He amused me somewhat, that young man. He changes from one weighty affection to another as lightly as he changes a coat.'
Mistress Keziah, following her niece's lead, talked in a similar vein9 until the cloth was removed, and William departed. As he closed the door Marion leaned back in her chair, and drew a long breath. Mistress Keziah waited. Marion had nothing more to say. In silence the two finished their meal, the girl toying with the sweets on her plate. She followed her aunt into her little sitting-room10 upstairs, where Simone, who always ate her meals in her own chamber11, had been bidden to wait. From a stool by the window in the dusk-filled room, Simone looked anxiously at her mistress. The evening had been heavy for her. She had once more been counting the hours; the lingering daylight showed her face wan6 and grave.
'Well,' said the old lady drily, as she sat down, ''twas mightily pretty, all that talk. What did it mean?'
'It means, Aunt Keziah, that by fair means or foul12, I must have a bow and arrows.'
Mistress Keziah stared at her niece.
'I am not demented,' said Marion, 'though I see you think so. I sought the town this afternoon. There seems not to be such a thing in Exeter. But there must be, if one knew where to look.'
'So that is why you discoursed13 on the subject so pleasantly that William spilt the gravy14 all over the trencher.'
'Just that, Aunt Keziah. If William knows any one who possesses a bow, 'twill be forthcoming for the young mistress's amusement.'
Simone and Mistress Keziah stared afresh at the speaker. Marion had given no inkling of her motives16 for wandering about the town during the afternoon, nor had she explained her reason for making the purchases she had.
'But why?'
'To kill the sentry17?' queried18 Simone.
'To shoot sparrows, ma petite. See,' Marion looked round, 'just glance over the gallery, Simone, lest some one should be within earshot.'
'No one is about,' said Mistress Keziah. 'William is holding forth15 in the kitchen on the subject of Mistress Marion. 'Tis long since he has had such entertainment.'
Simone returned to her seat. Her face was grave.
'See,' said Marion again, speaking slowly, looking from one to the other of her hearers. 'To the end of an arrow may be attached a length of fine silk; to that a length of stout19 thread; to that'—Simone gave a little cry—'a length of fine cord; then a rope; to the end of the rope may be tied a package containing a note and a file. Simone, if you go into hysterics, I shall put you to bed!'
Simone was struggling between tears and laughter, her Gallic temperament20 suddenly roused in a helpless emotion. She clasped her hands over her face. 'Oh, Mademoiselle! Mademoiselle!' she sobbed21. 'I see it plainly. He will be saved! Oh!'
Aunt and niece were looking at each other. 'Well?' said Marion.
'Mes compliments,' returned Mistress Keziah quietly. A gleam of pride flashed in her keen old eyes. She looked from her niece to Simone, who was rocking to and fro on her stool. 'Any one would know you were not English, Simone!' she said, with a touch of asperity22.
'Eh bien!' sobbed the girl, 'one may love one's mistress, even if one is not English.' Simone was completely undone23 by the swift reaction of four days and nights of anxiety and hopelessness. Marion laid a soothing24 hand on her shoulder. By degrees she calmed down.
'But where can one be got, Aunt Keziah?'
'So. Before shooting the arrow of fate it is first necessary to have a bow.'
'And any day after to-morrow the courier may return.'
Silence fell on the little room.
'You did not say how you would do it, Mademoiselle,' presently said Simone.
'From the little window across into the cell, through the bars.'
'But, Mademoiselle, can you do such a thing? It seems incredible, at that distance, through those narrow bars!'
'I know not whether any one can do such a thing or not. But I am going to do it.'
'That is the right spirit,' commented Mistress Keziah, her eyes gleaming again. 'There speaks victory. But taking your skill for granted, my dear, how avoid the risk of shooting the lad himself?'
'I have thought of that. We had a trick, Roger and I,' Marion made a swift gesture with one hand, 'like that, when we were shooting together in the country, a gesture that told the one who was marking where arrows fell to stand to the left or right out of danger as the other changed his aim. I will make the sign when they are out in the yard. There will be one second in the hour when the sentry is not looking, as there was to-day. Also, to make sure, I am going now to note what his cell looks like by candlelight. I feel sure that if Roger has sixpence in his pocket he will have a candle to-night. He will want us to see him. You may be quite sure Roger is thinking hard, as well as ourselves, and doing all he can. He will know I am not here in Exeter just now simply to take the air.'
Mistress Keziah pondered a while.
'Suppose your silk catches in the trees?'
'It cannot. The window is too high.'
'Will it not interfere25 with the flight of the arrow, Mademoiselle?'
Marion shook her head. 'The silk I bought is tough, but very fine.'
'But,' said Simone, her brows puckered26, 'I do not understand, Mademoiselle. How will you dispose of the silk so that it will run easily?'
'I see you are not a sailor, Simone,' remarked Marion.
Simone looked puzzled. Mistress Keziah smiled.
'In which storey is Roger's cell?'
'The first.'
'Are you sure the boundary wall of the gaol27 will not be in your way?'
'Quite sure, Aunt Keziah. This house is much loftier than the prison, and the little window is under the eaves.'
''Tis a hare-brained scheme, and would e'en seem hopeless,' remarked Mistress Keziah, 'had I not a lurking28 feeling that fortune favours the brave. I must think it over. But, dear, you have been some months at least without any great practice. Are you sure of your aim? It will be in the dark, I suppose?'
'At dawn; just before three o'clock.'
Mistress Keziah nodded. 'Better so. But as I said, 'tis a good distance for a shot.'
'Close on a hundred yards,' said Marion. 'I measured this morning. And to-morrow I shall practise in the garden.'
'Suppose there is a wind, Mademoiselle,' said Simone presently.
Marion clasped her hands. 'I pray not,' she said simply. 'That would be difficult. But,' brightening again, 'I have certainly shot in a wind before now. Do not let us think of——'
'And in all this,' burst in Simone, laying her hand on her mistress's knee, 'you have forgotten the sentry!'
Marion stroked back a strand29 of the glossy30 dark hair.
'I have forgotten nothing, mon amie. The sentry at night will, I expect—we will ascertain31 presently—patrol the yard as his comrade does by day. The sentry is of course the greatest difficulty. I shall have to time my venture when he is at the far end of the yard. That,' added Marion na?vely, 'is where the speed of an arrow is a fortunate thing. Once the arrow is in the cell', the cord and rope can be drawn32 in while the sentry is walking round the buildings.'
'And should he hear, Mademoiselle?'
'He shall not hear.'
Simone glanced at Mistress Keziah. Marion intercepted33 the look. 'Dear aunt,' she said gently, 'I cannot deny that there is danger of detection. But—his need is greater than any peril34 we run. And should the plan fail, and be discovered, 'tis I alone who am the culprit. I shall make a full avowal35. You shall not suffer, Aunt Keziah!'
'Hoity toity!' said Mistress Keziah. 'What happens in my house is my business, I trow! And who in Exeter, do you suppose, is going to lay a finger on me?'
Remembering the lady's words of warning to herself on the previous day, Simone was mute. She sat folding and unfolding a pleat in her gown, tears welling into her eyes again. There was something that would not bear thinking about in these two, one old and one young, who thus vied with each other for the honour of taking blame. To Simone's relief, for her control was fast weakening, William's step was heard in the gallery.
'Here comes a dish of tea,' said Mistress Keziah tranquilly36. 'Open the door, Simone. And fetch me the cards from my chamber,' she added as the footman entered. 'Will you join me in a game, my dear?'
'I have been wanting to,' said Marion. 'Aunt Constance taught me a new one in Kensington. I should like to show you.'
Mistress Keziah dealt the cards, and Marion arranged her own share on the little table William had drawn close to their chairs. Simone seated herself at a distance with her needlework. When William returned later for the tray, to all appearance a lively game was afoot.
'He will not come back?' asked Marion, after William had departed.
'Not unless I should ring. You were saying?'
'I was saying, Aunt Keziah, that I should feel vastly more comfortable if you would go away. Go down to Garth, to my father.'
'For one so quick-witted, you are singularly stupid,' remarked the lady, with a touch of the imperiousness that reminded Marion of the personage she had first known and feared. 'I must stay here to cover your sudden departure with the lad. No, leave my comings and goings to me, my fair general. See you to your own and Roger's. Simone and I will follow you to Garth.'
Marion rose and bade her aunt good-night without any further argument, and accompanied by Simone stole along the gallery to the little chamber under the eaves. The moon was breaking from a bank of golden haze37 in the eastern sky as Marion gently put back the shutter38 and peered out. The silence of the night lay about the garden, and save for one lighted niche39 the gaol was in darkness. As Marion had surmised40, Roger was playing his part in the game whose nature he could only guess. A candle stood on his table, which he had drawn out of vision so that its flame should not blind the eyes of the watcher to the disposition41 of the room. He himself, sitting at the table, reading, was partly visible to Marion's eager eyes. But what she had longed to see, and was comforted to behold42, was the end of the plank43 bed half way along the bare wall. She had been secretly haunted by the possibility that her arrow might alight on the sleeper44, should he be sleeping. The corner of the room which was her target was empty.
Cautiously Marion withdrew her head. The heavy footsteps of the unseen sentry sounded, making the corner of the buildings. Like his comrade during the day, he steadily45 patrolled the wide stretch of yard, coming from time to time round the gable end to take in the narrow patch at the south front of the gaol. Knowing that soon the moon must lie full both on that side of the prison and on the little eastward46 casement47, and fearing the eyes of the sentry, Marion half closed the little shutter. There was a sharp creak she could not avoid, and watching through the crack she saw that Roger had heard the noise. He rose and looked upward through his bars. Then, either fearful of the sentry's comments on his candle, or, as Marion guessed, content that he had been seen, he put out the light just as the sentry turned the corner.
Marion watched the dark form of the sentry as he walked the length of the building, turned, and heavily stamped back. He disappeared; presently the measured beat was heard in the yard beyond. A minute later the moon swung clear of the curtain of haze.
More cautiously this time Marion moved the shutter back, then thrust out her head in the clear light. Immediately a hand stole from between the bars across the way, and waved a stealthy greeting. Marion raised her own hand and pointed48 to the moon. Her finger travelled in a mimic49 motion of the moon crossing the sky, once—twice. Then swiftly she gave the gesture of warning which she had mentioned to her aunt. She repeated the motion. The hand across made the signal of assent50. Then, greatly daring, after a rapid survey of the gaol yard where the invisible sentry was still tramping, Marion gave in dumb show the action of shooting an arrow.
The moon was full on her face as she moved. Simone caught her breath. There were other cells in the south front of the gaol: other eyes might well be watching the little play. The hand across waved again. In the gloom of the building Roger's face, a white patch crossed by the bars, was clearly visible. The sound of the sentry came nearer. Again Marion closed the shutter.
'He understood,' she whispered. 'He nodded. Did you see?'
Simone gripped her arm. 'Come away, Mademoiselle. Do not attempt to look again. The moon is on this window as clear as day. I am afraid. There may be other eyes yonder, as well as Master Roger's.
'Not so,' replied her companion. 'But we will go now. 'Tis better, perhaps.'
The two crept back along the passage to Marion's chamber. In the light of the sconces Simone looked anxiously at her mistress. Marion smiled.
'You are over nervous, Simone. Think of those men we saw brawling51 and fighting in the yard to-day. Are they the kind, think you, to watch the rising of the moon at an hour when all the town is sleeping? They are more likely to be snoring on their plank beds.' She stopped abruptly52 as she thought of Roger's couch in the dark little cell. 'Still,' she said, commenting on her own thoughts, 'a plank couch is no matter when one's sojourn53 is short. Now we are going to bed, Simone. My aunt said there was no need for you to attend her to-night. There is much to do to-morrow. Above all, do not forget to oil the joints54 and hinges of the shutters55, yonder, early in the morning.'
Marvelling56 at her mistress's light-spiritedness, Simone went through her usual nightly duties. Soon the two were in their beds. Marion's hopeful mood, which assured her of victory and overlooked the hazards of the battle, carried her across the spell of silence and thoughtfulness which came when she laid her head upon the pillow, safely into the unconsciousness of sleep.
Simone, wide-eyed, listened to the steady breathing through the open door of her own room, and marvelled57 again. And in the next chamber Mistress Keziah lay, conscious of the dull weight of age pressing on body and soul alike. An hour's quiet consideration had roused in her a strong doubt of the wisdom of Marion's plan, a deep scepticism of its success. She was oppressed by the sense of the risks the girl ran, but could think of no measure that would make her desist from the attempt. It was Marion's safety against a slender chance of Roger's life; and Marion was not the one to be deterred58 by a thought of peril for herself. Of her own share she thought little; she had lived her life, and Marion's was hardly begun.
What she had been able to do, she had done. A letter addressed to Lady Fairfax lay on her table. With the early light it should be despatched to London. It was not only for Roger that a reprieve59 might be wanted.
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1
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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mused
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| v.沉思，冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 )；沉思自语说（某事） | |
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relishing
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| v.欣赏( relish的现在分词 )；从…获得乐趣；渴望 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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mightily
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| ad.强烈地；非常地 | |
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wan
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| (wide area network)广域网 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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8
suite
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| n.一套(家具)；套房；随从人员 | |
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vein
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| n.血管，静脉；叶脉，纹理；情绪；vt.使成脉络 | |
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10
sitting-room
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| n.（BrE）客厅，起居室 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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12
foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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13
discoursed
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| 演说（discourse的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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gravy
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| n.肉汁；轻易得来的钱，外快 | |
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15
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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17
sentry
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| n.哨兵，警卫 | |
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18
queried
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| v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的过去式和过去分词 )；询问 | |
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20
temperament
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| n.气质，性格，性情 | |
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21
sobbed
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| 哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说 | |
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22
asperity
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| n.粗鲁，艰苦 | |
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undone
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| a.未做完的，未完成的 | |
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24
soothing
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| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
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25
interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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26
puckered
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| v.（使某物）起褶子或皱纹( pucker的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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gaol
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| n.(jail)监狱；(不加冠词)监禁；vt.使…坐牢 | |
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28
lurking
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| 潜在 | |
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strand
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| vt.使（船）搁浅，使（某人）困于（某地） | |
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30
glossy
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| adj.平滑的；有光泽的 | |
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31
ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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32
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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33
intercepted
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| 拦截( intercept的过去式和过去分词 )； 截住； 截击； 拦阻 | |
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34
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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35
avowal
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| n.公开宣称，坦白承认 | |
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tranquilly
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| adv. 宁静地 | |
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haze
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| n.霾，烟雾；懵懂，迷糊；vi.(over)变模糊 | |
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38
shutter
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| n.百叶窗；(照相机)快门；关闭装置 | |
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niche
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| n.壁龛；合适的职务(环境、位置等) | |
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40
surmised
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| v.臆测，推断( surmise的过去式和过去分词 )；揣测；猜想 | |
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41
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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42
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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plank
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| n.板条，木板，政策要点，政纲条目 | |
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sleeper
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| n.睡眠者，卧车，卧铺 | |
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45
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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46
eastward
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| adv.向东；adj.向东的；n.东方，东部 | |
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47
casement
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| n.竖铰链窗；窗扉 | |
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48
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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49
mimic
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| v.模仿，戏弄；n.模仿他人言行的人 | |
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50
assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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51
brawling
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| n.争吵，喧嚷 | |
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52
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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53
sojourn
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| v./n.旅居，寄居；逗留 | |
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54
joints
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| 接头( joint的名词复数 )； 关节； 公共场所（尤指价格低廉的饮食和娱乐场所） （非正式）； 一块烤肉 （英式英语） | |
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55
shutters
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| 百叶窗( shutter的名词复数 )； （照相机的）快门 | |
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56
marvelling
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| v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的现在分词 ) | |
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57
marvelled
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| v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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58
deterred
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| v.阻止，制止( deter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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59
reprieve
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| n.暂缓执行（死刑）；v.缓期执行；给…带来缓解 | |
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