"A penny for your thoughts, friend Harry2?" said he, laughing; "try another cigar, and rouse yourself. What the deuce is in this letter, that it affects you so? Have you put a pot of money on the wrong horse?"
"Been jilted, had a bill returned, or what?" suggested Gwynne.
"Neither, fortunately," said I; "it is simply an invitation from Sir Madoc Lloyd, which rather perplexes me."
At this time our regiment3 was then in the East, awaiting with the rest of the army some movement to be made from Varna, either towards Bessarabia or the Crimea--men's minds were undecided as to which, while her Majesty's Ministers seemed to have no thought on the subject. Our dep?t belonged to the provisional battalion4 at Winchester, where Caradoc, Gwynne, two other subalterns, and I, with some two hundred rank and file, expected ere long the fiat5 of the fates who reign6 at the Horse Guards to send us forth7 to win our laurels8 from the Russians, or, what seemed more probable, a grave where the pest was then decimating our hapless army, in the beautiful but perilous9 vale of Aladdyn, on the coast of Bulgaria. We had just adjourned10 from mess, to have a quiet cheroot and glass of brandy-and-water in my quarters, when I received from my man, Owen Evans, the letter the contents of which awakened11 so many new hopes and tantalising wishes in my heart, and on which so much of my fate in the future might hinge.
The bare, half-empty, or but partially-furnished single room accorded by the barrack authorities to me as a subaltern, in that huge square edifice12 built of old by Charles II. for a royal residence, seemed by its aspect but little calculated to flatter the brilliant hopes in question. Though ample in size, it was far from regal in its appurtenances--the barrack furniture, a camp-bed, my baggage trunks piled in one corner, swords and a gun-case in another, books, empty bottles, cigar-boxes, and a few pairs of boots ostentatiously displayed in a row by Evans, making up its entire garniture, and by very contrast in its meagreness compelling me to smile sadly at myself for the ambitious ideas the letter of my old friend had suggested; and thus, for a minute or so ignoring, or rather oblivious13 of, the presence of my two companions, my eye wandered dreamily over the far-extended mass of old brick houses and the gray church towers of the city, all visible from the open window, and then steeped in the silver haze14 of the moonlight.
Sipping15 their brandy-and-water, each with a lighted cheroot between his fingers, their shell-jackets open, and their feet unceremoniously planted on a hard wooden chair, while they lounged back upon another, were Phil Caradoc and Charley Gwynne. The first a good specimen16 of a handsome, curly-haired, and heedless young Englishman, who shot, fished, hunted, pulled a steady oar17, and could keep his wicket against any man, while shining without effort in almost every manly18 sport, was moreover a finished gentleman and thorough good fellow. Less fashionable in appearance and less dashing in manner, though by no means less soldier-like, Gwynne was his senior by some ten years. He was more grave and thoughtful, for he had seen more of the service and more of the world. Already a gray hair or so had begun to mingle19 with the blackness of his heavy moustache, and the lines of thought were traceable on his forehead and about the corners of his keen dark-gray eyes; for he was a hard-working officer, who had been promoted from the ranks when the regiment lay at Barbadoes, and was every inch a soldier. And now they sat opposite me, waiting, with a half-comical expression, for farther information as to their queries20; and though we were great friends, and usually had few secrets from each other, I began to find that I had one now, and that a little reticence21 was necessary.
"You know Sir Madoc's place in North Wales?" said I.
"Of course," replied Caradoc; "there are few of ours who don't. Half the regiment have been there as visitors at one time or other."
"Well, he wishes me to get leave between returns--for even longer if I can--and run down there for a few weeks. 'Come early, if possible,' he adds; 'the girls insist on having an outdoor fête, and a lot of nice folks are coming. Winny has arranged that we shall have a regimental band--the Yeomanry one too, probably; then we are to have a Welsh harper, of course, and an itinerant22 Merlin in the grotto23, to tell every one's fortune, and to predict your promotion24 and the C.B., if the seer remains25 sober. While I write, little Dora is drawing up a programme of the dances, and marking off, she says, those which she means to have with you.'"
Here I paused; but seeing they expected to hear more, for the writer was a friend of us all, I read on coolly, and with an air of as much unconsciousness as I could assume:
"Lady Estelle Cressingham is with us--by the way, she seems to know you, and would, I think, like to see more of you. She is a very fine girl, though not pure Welsh; but that she cannot help--it is her misfortune, not her fault. We have also a fellow here, though I don't quite know how he got introduced--Hawkesby Guilfoyle, who met her abroad at Ems, or Baden-Baden, or one of those places where one meets everybody, and he seems uncommonly26 attentive--so much so, that I wonder her mother permits it; but he seems to have some special power or influence over the old lady, though his name is not as yet, or ever likely to be, chronicled by Burke or Debrett. In lieu of the goat which your regiment lost in Barbadoes, Winifred has a beautiful pet one, a magnificent animal, which she means to present to the Welsh Fusileers. Tell them so. And now, for yourself, I will take no refusal, and Winny and Dora will take none either; so pack your traps, and come off so soon as you can get leave. You need not, unless you choose, bring horses; we have plenty of cavalry27 here. Hope you will be able to stay till the 12th, and have a shot at the grouse28. Meanwhile, believe me, my dear Hardinge, yours, &c., Madoc Meredyth Lloyd.'"
"Kindly29 written, and so like the jolly style of the old Baronet," said Gwynne. "I have ridden with him once or twice in the hunting-field--on a borrowed mount, of course," added poor Charley; who had only his pay, and, being an enthusiast30 in his profession, was no lounger in the service.
"But what is there in all this that perplexes you?" asked Caradoc, who, I suppose, had been attentively31 observing me. As he spoke32, I coloured visibly, feeling the while that I did so.
"The difficulty about leave, perhaps," I stammered33.
"You'll go, of course," said Caradoc. "His place--Craigaderyn Court--is one of the finest in North Wales; his daughters are indeed charming; and you are certain to meet only people of the best style there."
"Yet he seems to doubt this--what is his name?--Guilfoyle, however," said I.
"What of that? One swallow--you know the adage34. I should go, if I had the invitation. His eldest35 daughter has, I have heard, in her own right, no end of coal-mines somewhere, and many grassy36 acres of dairy farms in the happy hunting-grounds of the midland counties."
"By Jove," murmured Gwynne, as he lit a fresh cigar; "she should be the girl for me."
"But I have another inducement than even the fair Winny," said I.
"Oho! Lady--"
"Sir Madoc," said I hastily, "is an old friend of my family, and having known me from infancy37, he almost views me as a son. Don't mistake me," I added, reddening with positive annoyance38 at the hearty39 laugh my admission elicited40; "Miss Lloyd and I are old friends too, and know each other a deuced deal too well to tempt41 the perils42 of matrimony together. We have no draughts43 ready for the East, nor will there be yet awhile; even our last recruits are not quite licked into shape."
"No," sighed Gwynne, who had a special charge of the said "licking into shape."
"And so, as the spring drills are over, I shall try my luck with old R----."
The person thus bluntly spoken of was the lieutenant-colonel of the dep?t battalion--one who kept a pretty tight hand over us all in general, and the subalterns in particular.
"Stay," I exclaimed suddenly; "here is a postscript44. 'Bring Caradoc of yours with you, and Gwynne, too, if you can. Winny has mastered the duet the former sent her, and is anxious to try it over with him."
"Caradoc will only be too happy, if the genius who presides over us in the orderly-room is propitious," said Phil, colouring and laughing.
"Thank Sir Madoc for me, old fellow," said Gwynne, half sadly. "Tell him that the Fates have made me musketry instructor45, and that daily I have that
'Delightful46 task! to rear the tender thought,
To teach the young idea how to shoot'--
to set up Taffy and Giles Chawbacon in the Hythe position, and drill them to fire without closing both eyes and blazing in the air."
"'In the lawn,' adds Sir Madoc, 'we are to have everything--from waltzing to croquet (which, being an old fellow, and being above insteps and all that sort of thing, I think the slowest game known), and from cliquot and sparkling hock to bottled stout47 and bitter beer--unlimited flirtation48 too, according to that wag, Dora.'"
"A tempting49 bill of fare, especially with two such hostesses," said Gwynne; "but for me to quit Winchester is impossible. Even the stale dodge50 of 'urgent private affairs' won't serve me. Such droll51 ideas of the service old Sir Madoc must have, to think that three of us could leave the dep?t, and all at once too!"
"I shall try my luck, however."
"And I too," rejoined Caradoc. "I am entitled to leave. Price of ours will take my guards for me. Wales will be glorious in this hot month. I did all the dear old Principality last year--went over every foot of Snowdonia, leaving nothing undone52, from singing 'Jenny Jones' to dancing a Welsh jig53 at a harvest-home."
"But you didn't go over Snowdonia with such a girl as Winifred Lloyd?"
"No, certainly," said he, laughing, and almost reddening again. "Nature, even in my native Wales, must be more charming under such bright auspices54 and happy influence. So Wales be it, if possible. London, of course, is empty just now, and all who can get out of it will be yachting at Cowes, shooting in Scotland, fishing in Norway, backing the red at Baden-Baden, climbing the Matterhorn, or, it may be, the Peter Botte; killing55 buffaloes56 in America, or voyaging up the Nile in canoes. Rotten-row will be a desert, the opera a place of silence and cobwebs; and the irresistible57 desire to go somewhere and be doing something, no matter what, which inspires all young Britons about this time, renders Sir Madoc's invitation most tempting and acceptable."
"Till the route comes for the East," said I.
"Potting the Ruskies, and turning my musketry theory into practice, are likely to be my chief relaxations58 and excitement," said Gwynne, with a good-natured laugh, as he applied59 his hand to the brandy bottle. "At present I have other work in hand than flirting60 with countesses, or visiting heiresses. But I envy you both, and heartily61 wish you all pleasure," he added, as he shook hands and left us early, as he had several squads62 to put through that most monotonous63 of all drill (shot drill perhaps excepted)--a course of musketry--betimes in the morning.
We knew that Gwynne, who was a tall, thin, close-flanked, and square shouldered, but soldier-like fellow, had nothing but his pay; and having a mother to support, he was fain to slave as a musketry instructor, the five shillings extra daily being a great pecuniary64 object to him. He was very modest withal, and feared that, nathless his red coat and stalwart figure, his chances of an heiress, even in Cottonopolis, were somewhat slender.
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1
utterance
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| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
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2
harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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battalion
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| n.营；部队；大队(的人) | |
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fiat
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| n.命令，法令，批准；vt.批准，颁布 | |
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reign
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| n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势 | |
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7
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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laurels
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| n.桂冠，荣誉 | |
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9
perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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adjourned
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| （使）休会， （使）休庭( adjourn的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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12
edifice
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| n.宏伟的建筑物(如宫殿，教室) | |
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oblivious
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| adj.易忘的，遗忘的，忘却的，健忘的 | |
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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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15
sipping
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| v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的现在分词 ) | |
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16
specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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oar
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| n.桨，橹，划手；v.划行 | |
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manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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19
mingle
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| vt.使混合，使相混；vi.混合起来；相交往 | |
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queries
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| n.问题( query的名词复数 )；疑问；询问；问号v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的第三人称单数 )；询问 | |
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21
reticence
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| n.沉默，含蓄 | |
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itinerant
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| adj.巡回的；流动的 | |
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grotto
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| n.洞穴 | |
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promotion
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| n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传 | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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uncommonly
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| adv. 稀罕(极，非常) | |
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cavalry
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| n.骑兵；轻装甲部队 | |
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grouse
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| n.松鸡；v.牢骚，诉苦 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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enthusiast
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| n.热心人，热衷者 | |
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attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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32
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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33
stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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adage
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| n.格言，古训 | |
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eldest
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| adj.最年长的，最年老的 | |
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grassy
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| adj.盖满草的；长满草的 | |
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infancy
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| n.婴儿期；幼年期；初期 | |
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annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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elicited
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| 引出，探出( elicit的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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41
tempt
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| vt.引诱，勾引，吸引，引起…的兴趣 | |
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42
perils
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| 极大危险( peril的名词复数 )； 危险的事（或环境） | |
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43
draughts
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| n. <英>国际跳棋 | |
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44
postscript
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| n.附言，又及；(正文后的)补充说明 | |
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45
instructor
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| n.指导者，教员，教练 | |
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46
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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48
flirtation
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| n.调情，调戏，挑逗 | |
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49
tempting
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| a.诱人的, 吸引人的 | |
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50
dodge
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| v.闪开，躲开，避开；n.妙计，诡计 | |
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51
droll
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| adj.古怪的，好笑的 | |
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52
undone
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| a.未做完的，未完成的 | |
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53
jig
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| n.快步舞（曲）；v.上下晃动；用夹具辅助加工；蹦蹦跳跳 | |
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54
auspices
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| n.资助，赞助 | |
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55
killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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56
buffaloes
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| n.水牛（分非洲水牛和亚洲水牛两种）( buffalo的名词复数 )；（南非或北美的）野牛；威胁；恐吓 | |
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57
irresistible
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| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
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58
relaxations
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| n.消遣( relaxation的名词复数 )；松懈；松弛；放松 | |
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59
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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60
flirting
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| v.调情，打情骂俏( flirt的现在分词 ) | |
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61
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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62
squads
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| n.（军队中的）班( squad的名词复数 )；（暗杀）小组；体育运动的运动（代表）队；（对付某类犯罪活动的）警察队伍 | |
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63
monotonous
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| adj.单调的，一成不变的，使人厌倦的 | |
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64
pecuniary
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| adj.金钱的；金钱上的 | |
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