Somehow, I felt more hopeful of my prospects10, when, with the bright sunshine of July around us, I found myself spinning at the rate of fifty miles per hour by the express train--the motion was almost as imperceptible as the speed was exhilarating--and swiftly passed the scenes on either side, the broad green fields of growing grain, the grassy11 paddocks, the village churches, the snug12 and picturesque13 homesteads of Warwick and Worcestershire. We glided14 past Rugby, where Caradoc had erewhile conned15 his tasks in that great Elizabethan pile which is built of white brick with stone angles and cornices, and where in the playing fields he had gallantly16 learned to keep his wicket with that skill which made him our prime regimental bat and bowler17 too. Coventry next, where of course we laughed as we thought of "peeping Tom" and Earl Leofric's pretty countess, when we saw its beautiful and tapering18 spires19 rise over the dark and narrow streets below. Anon, we paused amid the busy but grimy world of Birmingham, which furnishes half the world with the implements20 of destruction; Stafford, with its ruined castle on a well-wooded eminence21; and ere long we halted in quaint22 old Chester by the Dee, where the stately red stone tower of the cathedral rises darkly over its picturesque thoroughfares of the middle ages. There the rail went no farther then; but a carriage sent by Sir Madoc awaited us at the station, and we had before us the prospect9 of a delightful23 drive for nearly thirty miles amid the beautiful Welsh hills ere we reached his residence.
"This whiff of the country is indeed delightful!" exclaimed Caradoc, as we bowled along on a lovely July evening, the changing shadows of the rounded hills deepening as the sun verged24 westward25; "it makes one half inclined to cut the service, and turn farmer or cattle-breeding squire--even to chuck ambition, glory, and oneself away upon a landed heiress, if such could be found ready to hand."
"Even upon Winifred Lloyd, with her dairy-farms in the midland counties, eh?"
Phil coloured a little, but laughed good-humouredly as he replied,
"Well, I must confess that she is somewhat more than my weakness--at present."
At Aber-something we found a relay of fresh horses, sent on by Sir Madoc, awaiting us, the Welsh roads not being quite so smooth as a billiard-table; and there certain hoarse26 gurgling expletives, uttered by ostlers and stable-boys, might have warned us that we were in the land of Owen and Hughes, Griffiths and Davies, and all the men of the Twelve Royal Tribes, even if there had not been the green mountains towering into the blue sky, and the pretty little ivy-covered inn, at the porch of which sat a white-haired harper (on the watch for patrons and customers), performing the invariable "Jenny Jones" or Ar-hyd-y-nos (the live-long night), and all the while keeping a sharp Celtic eye to the expected coin.
Everything around us indicated that we were drawing nearer to the abode27 of Sir Madoc, and that ere long--in an hour or so, perhaps--I should again see one who, by name as well as circumstance, was a star that I feared and hoped would greatly influence all my future. The Eastern war, and, more than all, the novelty of any war after forty years of European peace, occupied keenly the minds of all thinking people. My regiment7 was already gone, and I certainly should soon have to follow it. I knew that, individually and collectively, all bound for the seat of the coming strife28 had a romantic and even melancholy29 interest, in the hearts of women especially; and I was not without some hope that this sentiment might add to my chances of finding favour with the rather haughty30 Estelle Cressingham.
It was a glorious summer evening when our open barouche swept along the white dusty road that wound by the base of Mynedd Hiraethrog, that wild and bleak31 mountain chain which rises between the Dee and its tributaries32 the Elwey and the Aled. Westward in the distance towered blue Snowdon, above the white floating clouds of mist, with all its subordinate peaks. In the immediate33 foreground were a series of beautiful hills that were glowing, and, to the eye, apparently vibrating, under a burning sunset. The Welsh woods were in all the wealth of their thickest foliage34--the umbrageous35 growth of centuries; and where the boughs36 cast their deepest shadows, the dun deer and the fleet hare lurked37 among the fragrant38 fern, and the yellow sunlight fell in golden patches on the passing runnel, that leaped flashing from rock to rock, to mingle39 with the Alwen, or crept slowly and stealthily under the long rank grass towards Llyn-Aled.
That other accessories might not be wanting to remind us that we were in the land of the Cymri, we passed occasionally the Carneddau, or heaps of stones that mark the old places of battle or burial; and perched high on the hills the Hafodtai or summer farms, where enormous flocks of sheep--the boasted Welsh mutton--were pasturing. Then we heard at times the melancholy sound of the horn, by which inmates40 summon the shepherds to their meals, and the notes of which, when waking the echoes of the silent glen, have an effect so weird42 and mournful.
"By Jove, but we have a change here, Phil," said I, "a striking change, indeed, from the hot and dusty gravelled yard of Winchester barracks, the awkward squads44 at incessant45 drill with dumb-bell, club, or musket46; the pipeclay, the pacing-stick, and the tap of the drum!"
Through a moss-grown gateway47, the design of Inigo Jones, we turned down the long straight avenue of limes that leads to Craigaderyn; a fine old mansion48 situated49 in a species of valley, its broad lawn overlooked by the identical craig from which it takes its name, "the Rock of Birds," a lofty and insulated mass, the resort of innumerable hawks50, wood-pigeons, and even of hoarse-croaking cormorants51 from the cliffs about Orme's Head and Llandulas. On its summit are the ruins of an ancient British fort, wherein Sir Jorwerth Goch (i. e. Red Edward) Lloyd of Craigaderyn had exterminated52 a band of Rumpers and Roundheads in the last year of Charles I., using as a war-cry the old Welsh shout of "Liberty, loyalty53, and the long head of hair!" On either side of the way spread the lawn, closely shorn and carefully rolled, the turf being like velvet54 of emerald greenness, having broad winding55 carriage-ways laid with gravel43, the bright red of which contrasted so strongly with the verdant56 hue57 of the grass. The foliage of the timber was heavy and leafy, and there, at times, could be seen the lively squirrel leaping from branch to branch of some ancient oak, in the hollow of which lay its winter store of nuts; the rabbit bounding across the path, from root to fern tuft; and the bela-goed, or yellow-breasted martin (still a denizen58 of the old Welsh woods), with rounded ears and sharp white claws, the terror of the poultry-yard, appeared occasionally, despite the gamekeeper's gun. In one place a herd41 of deer were browsing59 near the half-leafless ruins of a mighty60 oak--one so old, that Owen Glendower had once reconnoitred an English force from amid its branches.
We had barely turned into the avenue, when a gentleman and two ladies, all mounted, came galloping61 from a side path to meet us. He and one of his companions cleared the wire fence in excellent style by a flying leap; but the other, who was less pretentiously62 mounted, adroitly63 opened the iron gate with the handle of her riding switch, and came a few paces after them to meet us. They proved to be Sir Madoc and his two daughters, Winifred and Dora.
"True in the direction of time, 'by Shrewsbury clock'!" said he, cantering up; "welcome to Craigaderyn, gentlemen! We were just looking for you."
He was a fine hale-looking man, about sixty years old, with a ruddy complexion64, and a keen, clear, dark eye; his hair, once of raven65 blackness, was white as silver now, though very curly or wavy66 still; his eyebrows67 were bushy and yet dark as when in youth. He was a Welsh gentleman, full of many local prejudices and sympathies; a man of the old school--for such a school has existed in all ages, and still exists even in ours of rapid progress, scientific marvels68, and moneymaking. His manners were easy and polished, yet without anything either of style or fashion about them; for he was simple in all his tastes and ways, and was almost as plainly attired69 as one of his own farmers. His figure and costume, his rubicund71 face, round merry eyes, and series of chins, his amplitude72 of paunch and stunted73 figure, his bottle-green coat rather short in the skirts, his deep waistcoat and low-crowned hat, were all somewhat Pickwickian in their character and tout-ensemble, save that in lieu of the tights and gaiters of our old friend he wore white corded breeches, and orthodox dun-coloured top-boots with silver spurs, and instead of green goggles74 had a gold eyeglass dangling75 at the end of a black-silk ribbon. Strong riding-gloves and a heavy hammer-headed whip completed his attire70.
"Glad to see you, Harry76, and you too, Mr. Caradoc," resumed Sir Madoc, who was fond of remembering that which Phil--more a man of the world--was apt to forget or to set little store on--that he was descended77 from Sir Matthew Caradoc, who in the days of Perkin Warbeck (an epoch78 but as yesterday in Sir Madoc's estimation) was chancellor79 of Glamorgan and steward80 of Gower and Helvie; for what true Welshman is without a pedigree? "Let me look at you again, Harry. God bless me! is it possible that you, a tall fellow with a black moustache, can be the curly fair-haired boy I have so often carried on my back and saddle-bow, and taught to make flies of red spinner and drakes' wings, when we trouted together at Llyn Cwellyn among the hills yonder?"
"I think, papa, you would be more surprised if you found him a curly-pated boy still," said Miss Lloyd.
"And it is seven years since he joined the service; what a fine fellow he has grown!"
"Papa, you are quite making Mr. Hardinge blush!" said Dora, laughing.
"Almost at the top of the lieutenants81, too; there is luck for you!" he continued.
"More luck than merit, perhaps; more the Varna fever than either, Sir Madoc," said I, as he slowly relinquished82 my hand, which he had held for a few seconds in his, while looking kindly83 and earnestly into my face.
It was well browned by the sun and sea of the Windward Isles84, tolerably well whiskered and moustached too; so I fear that if the good old gentleman was seeking for some resemblance to the sweet Mary Vassal85 of the past times, he sought in vain. Our horses were all walking now; Sir Madoc rode on one side of the barouche, and his two daughters on the other.
"You saw my girls last season in town," said he; "but when you were last here, Winifred was in her first long frock, and Dora little more than a baby."
"But Craigaderyn is all unchanged, though we may be," said Winifred, whose remark had some secret point in it so far as referred to me.
"And Wales is unchanged too," added Dora; "Mr. Hardinge will find the odious86 hat of the women still lingers in the more savage87 regions; the itinerant88 harper and the goat too are not out of fashion; and we still wear our leek89 on the first of March."
"And long may all this be so!" said her father; "for since those pestilent railways have come up by Shrewsbury and Chester, with their tides of tourists, greed, dissipation, and idleness are on the increase, and all our good old Welsh customs are going to Caerphilly and the devil! Without the wants of over-civilisation we were contented90; but now--Gwell y chydig gait rad, na llawr gan avrard," he added with something like an angry sigh, quoting a Welsh proverb to the effect that a little with a blessing91 is better than much with prodigality92.
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1
doffed
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| v.脱去，（尤指）脱帽( doff的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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2
compartment
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| n.卧车包房，隔间；分隔的空间 | |
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deftly
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| adv.灵巧地，熟练地，敏捷地 | |
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judiciously
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| adv.明断地，明智而审慎地 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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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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akin
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| adj.同族的，类似的 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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grassy
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| adj.盖满草的；长满草的 | |
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snug
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| adj.温暖舒适的，合身的，安全的；v.使整洁干净，舒适地依靠，紧贴；n.（英）酒吧里的私房 | |
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picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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14
glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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conned
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| adj.被骗了v.指挥操舵( conn的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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16
gallantly
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| adv. 漂亮地，勇敢地，献殷勤地 | |
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bowler
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| n.打保龄球的人，（板球的）投（球）手 | |
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tapering
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| adj.尖端细的 | |
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spires
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| n.（教堂的） 塔尖，尖顶( spire的名词复数 ) | |
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20
implements
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| n.工具( implement的名词复数 )；家具；手段；[法律]履行（契约等）v.实现( implement的第三人称单数 )；执行；贯彻；使生效 | |
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21
eminence
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| n.卓越，显赫；高地，高处；名家 | |
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quaint
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| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
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23
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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24
verged
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| 接近，逼近（verge的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
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hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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strife
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| n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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30
haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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31
bleak
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| adj.(天气)阴冷的；凄凉的；暗淡的 | |
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32
tributaries
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| n. 支流 | |
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33
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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umbrageous
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| adj.多荫的 | |
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36
boughs
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| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
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lurked
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| vi.潜伏，埋伏（lurk的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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fragrant
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| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
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mingle
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| vt.使混合，使相混；vi.混合起来；相交往 | |
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40
inmates
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| n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 ) | |
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herd
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| n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起 | |
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42
weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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43
gravel
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| n.砂跞；砂砾层；结石 | |
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44
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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45
incessant
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| adj.不停的，连续的 | |
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46
musket
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| n.滑膛枪 | |
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47
gateway
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| n.大门口，出入口，途径，方法 | |
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48
mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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49
situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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50
hawks
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| 鹰( hawk的名词复数 )； 鹰派人物，主战派人物 | |
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51
cormorants
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| 鸬鹚，贪婪的人( cormorant的名词复数 ) | |
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52
exterminated
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| v.消灭，根绝( exterminate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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53
loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
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54
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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55
winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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56
verdant
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| adj.翠绿的，青翠的，生疏的，不老练的 | |
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57
hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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58
denizen
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| n.居民，外籍居民 | |
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59
browsing
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| v.吃草( browse的现在分词 )；随意翻阅；（在商店里）随便看看；（在计算机上）浏览信息 | |
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60
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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61
galloping
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| adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
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62
pretentiously
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adroitly
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| adv.熟练地，敏捷地 | |
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64
complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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raven
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| n.渡鸟，乌鸦；adj.乌亮的 | |
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66
wavy
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| adj.有波浪的，多浪的，波浪状的，波动的，不稳定的 | |
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eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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68
marvels
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| n.奇迹( marvel的名词复数 )；令人惊奇的事物（或事例）；不平凡的成果；成就v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的第三人称单数 ) | |
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69
attired
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| adj.穿着整齐的v.使穿上衣服，使穿上盛装( attire的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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70
attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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71
rubicund
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| adj.(脸色)红润的 | |
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amplitude
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| n.广大；充足；振幅 | |
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stunted
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| adj.矮小的；发育迟缓的 | |
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74
goggles
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| n.护目镜 | |
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75
dangling
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| 悬吊着( dangle的现在分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
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76
harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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77
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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epoch
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| n.(新)时代；历元 | |
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chancellor
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| n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长 | |
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80
steward
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| n.乘务员，服务员；看管人；膳食管理员 | |
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lieutenants
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| n.陆军中尉( lieutenant的名词复数 )；副职官员；空军；仅低于…官阶的官员 | |
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82
relinquished
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| 交出，让给( relinquish的过去式和过去分词 )； 放弃 | |
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83
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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84
isles
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| 岛( isle的名词复数 ) | |
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85
vassal
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| n.附庸的；属下；adj.奴仆的 | |
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86
odious
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| adj.可憎的，讨厌的 | |
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87
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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88
itinerant
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| adj.巡回的；流动的 | |
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89
leek
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| n.韭葱 | |
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90
contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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91
blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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92
prodigality
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| n.浪费，挥霍 | |
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