Yet in this captious1 and intenible sieve2,
I still pour in the waters of my love.”
—Alls Well That Ends Well.
Gabriel Harford was not a man who made many friends, his great reserve, and a certain fastidious taste gave him an undeserved reputation for pride and exclusiveness. Moreover, all that he had gone through since Hilary’s angry dismissal had tended to bring out the sterner and sadder side of his nature. He was respected as an indefatigable3 worker, but few really appreciated him.
Fortunately, he had found his complement4 in Joscelyn Hey-worth, a cheerful, buoyant and extremely sociable5 young officer, whose friendship had done much to save him from falling a prey6 to the bitterness too apt to overtake those who defend an unpopular truth.
He had also one other firm friend in the regiment7—Major Locke, a grey-haired, middle-aged8 man, who had served in the German wars.
The Major was a character, and anyone looking at him as he sat one cold April evening in the chimney corner of a snug9 room at Gloucester would have fancied from his melancholy10 voice and long, grave face that he was a most strait-laced Puritan. Voice and face alike belied11 him, however, for he was, in truth, the wag of the regiment; and an occasional twinkle in his light grey eyes led a few shrewd people to suspect that he usually had a hand in the practical jokes which now and then relieved the tedium12 of the campaign. His jokes were always of a good-natured order, and had done much to keep up the men’s spirits through that hard winter, with its arduous13 night marches, its privations and its desultory14 warfare15.
Town after town had yielded to Sir William Waller, but the net result of the war was at present small.
On this evening the officers had dispersed16 soon after supper, weary with thirty-six hours of difficult manoeuvring, and one or two sharp skirmishes but they had been triumphantly17 successful in cutting through Prince Maurice’s army, owing to Waller’s skilful18 tactics, and all were now inclined to snatch a good night’s rest in the comfortable quarters assigned them at Gloucester.
Gabriel, dead beat with sheer hard work, had fallen sound asleep in a high-backed arm-chair by the fire long before the others had satisfied their hunger; he woke, however, with a start as they rose from the table, responding sleepily to the general “good night,” but loth to stir from his nook.
“Come, my boy,” said the Major, “why sleep dog-fashion when, for once, you may have a bed like a good Christian19?”
“I will wait till Captain Heyworth comes back,” said Gabriel stretching himself and yawning in truly canine20 fashion.
“And that will not be over soon, for he will linger at Mr. Bennett’s house, chatting to pretty Mistress Coriton, his promised bride.”
“’Tis like enough,” said Gabriel, with a sigh, recalling a glimpse he had had of Clemency21 Coriton’s love-lit eyes as her betrothed22 had marched past the gabled house in the Close that evening. How they contrasted with those dark grey eyes which had flashed with such haughty23 defiance24 as Hilary had spoken her last hard words to him—“I will look on your face no more!”
“H’m,” said the Major, “here he comes an I mistake not just as I had hit on a first rate trick to play him. No, ’tis one that knocks—see who it is, my boy, we want no visitors at this hour.”
Gabriel crossed the room and threw open the door. A tall, handsome man, apparently25 about thirty, stood without, his long, tawny26 red hair, his fawn-coloured cloak, lined with scarlet27, his rakish-looking hat with its sweeping28 feathers, together with the scarlet ribbons which were the badge of the Royalists, made him rather a startling apparition29 in the Puritan city of Gloucester, and especially at Sir William Waller’s headquarters.
“Is Major Locke within? they told me I should find him here,” he said in a voice which had something peculiarly genial30 in its mellow31 tones..
“The Major is here, sir,” said Gabriel, ushering32 him in and wondering much who he could be.
“What, you, Squire33 Norton!” exclaimed Major Locke in astonishment34, as he greeted him civilly, but with marked coldness—“Colonel Norton, at your service,” said the visitor, with a short laugh that entirely35 lacked the pleasantness of his voice in speaking. “You are surprised to see me in the godly city of Gloucester.”
“Well, sir, you are certainly the last person I should have desired as a visitor,” said the Major, bluntly.
“Major Locke was my most frank and outspoken36 neighbour,” said Norton, turning with one of his flashing smiles to Gabriel. “Next to a good friend commend me to a whole-hearted enemy who hates with a righteous and altogether thorough hatred37. But, my worthy38 Major, you, as one of the godly party, should really obey all Scriptural injunctions. Is it not written, ‘If thine enemy thirst, give him drink’?”
“Lieutenant39 Harford,” said the Major, in his most lugubrious40 voice, “see that this gentleman has all that he requires. And in the meantime, Colonel Norton, I must ask you to explain your presence here.”
“I accompanied a friend of mine who was allowed to pass the gates to-night with a letter from Prince Maurice to Sir William Waller. Your General is now writing the answer, and I had leave to seek you out on a private matter.”
“I desire no private dealing41 with you, sir,” said the Major, stiffly.
Norton laughed as he replied, “If Lieutenant Harford, who has so courteously42 heaped coals of fire on my head by filling me this excellent cup of sack, will withdraw, I will explain to you what I mean, Major. I assure you my intentions are wholly honourable43.”
The Major made an expressive44 gesture of the shoulders, evidently doubting whether he and his visitor put the same construction on that last word. Gabriel bowed and was about to leave the room when his friend checked him.
“Do not go, Lieutenant,” he said, decidedly. “I wish to have you present as long as Colonel Norton remains45.”
“As you will,” said Norton, easily. “I am here entirely in your interest, sir.”
The Major drummed impatiently on the table.
“You seem to doubt that I have an eye to your interests,” said Norton, laughing.
“Well, sir, I have known you all your life, and I dare swear ’tis the first time you have considered anyone except yourself,” said Major Locke, sententiously.
“You have a cursed long memory,” said Norton, cheerfully. “But look you, Major, I know for a certainty that, early to-morrow, Prince Maurice will send troops to besiege46 your house. The Manor47 is in a position which will serve his purpose, and he intends to have a garrison48 there. Your property will be ruined, your household turned out, or should they resist, made prisoners, or mayhap, slaughtered49. With one word you can save such a disaster.”
“And pray what word may that be?” said the Major, frowning.
“Your word of honour that you will give me your daughter Helena in marriage.”
The Major flushed angrily.
“Sir,” he said, indignantly, “to that request you have already had your answer.”
“But the times have changed, Major, and I warn you that your answer had best change with them. Do you not see that I have your whole property in my power? Speak only this word and I will contrive50 that the Manor shall not be attacked, the Prince will easily be diverted from his plan, and I will get a special letter of protection for your whole household.”
“Rather than see my daughter wedded51 to you,” said the Major, sternly, “I would kill her with my own hand.”
“I believe you would, my sturdy Virginius,” said Norton, with a laugh. “However, I trust you will not come across her. To-morrow, when the Manor yields to Prince Maurice, my first thought shall be to take pretty Mistress Helena under my protection—no need in time of war for parsons or bridal ceremonies.”
At that the Major sprang forward white with anger, and struck Norton on the mouth.
“Curse you!” cried the Colonel, drawing his sword. “If you will force a quarrel upon me, let us fight it out at once; but I call the Lieutenant to witness that the provocation——”
“Hold your lying tongue, sir,” said the Major, pushing back the table and whipping out his sword, and the next moment the sharp clash of the blades rang through the room.
Gabriel was entirely absorbed in watching the combatants; he did not notice that a stalwart gentleman, with long, light brown hair and a short, pointed52 beard, had quietly opened the door behind him, and he started violently when Sir William Waller strode across the room, Joscelyn Heyworth closing the door as he followed his chief.
“Gentlemen!” exclaimed the General, striking up their swords. “What is the meaning of this?”
“Sir,” said the Major, “I was bound to avenge53 a gross insult to my daughter.”
“You must not fight a duel54 here,” said Sir William, sternly. “Colonel Norton has a free pass, and I am bound to see that he returns in safety to Prince Maurice.”
“It is an entirely private matter, sir,” said Norton. “It will be a satisfaction to us both to carry the matter through.”
“Very possibly,” said Waller, giving Norton a keen glance with his blue-grey eyes, and quickly taking the measure of the man. “But private affairs, sir, must ever yield to public duties. Your companion awaits you, with my letter in reply to the Prince. I wish you good night, sir.”
Norton, with a shrug55 of the shoulders sheathed56 his sword, donned his doublet and cloak, and, with a sweeping bow, waved his hat in farewell.
“Good-night, gentlemen,” he said, with easy courtesy. “Major, to our next merry meeting!” and with an ironical57 smile and a mockingly profound bow to his enemy he strode out of the room.
“I crave58 your pardon, sir,” said Major Locke, “but when that wolf in sheep’s clothing shamelessly proclaimed his wicked designs on my child I could not restrain myself.”
“Well, Major, we will say no more of the matter,” said Waller. “I can well understand that your feelings as a father overpowered all remembrance of your duty as an officer.”
“Sir, I implore59 you to let me ride home at once and place my daughter out of this villain’s reach. He tells me that early to-morrow Prince Maurice intends to attack my Manor House, with a view to having a garrison there.”
“These outlying garrisons60 are the curse of the country,” said Waller, stroking his moustache meditatively61. “Is your house capable of standing62 a siege if we sent a detachment to help them?”
“No, sir, not at such short notice, though it could be made a formidable place had we time.”
“I cannot let you go off on a private errand to-night, Major. You are indispensable to me, and I have given my word to Massey that I will join him at Tewkesbury early tomorrow morning. We must march from here in three hours’ time.”
The poor Major moved away with a look of such despair that Waller, always a most kindly63 and considerate man, hastily turned over in his mind two or three schemes for aiding him.
“You say you could place your daughter out of Norton’s reach. Where could you place her?”
“Here, sir, in Gloucester, under the care of my trusty friend, Alderman Pury. I know he would shelter her.”
“Well, let your servant ride home now and fetch the lady, rejoining you to-morrow evening at Tewkesbury.”
“My servant, sir, is the veriest dolt64; I could not trust him with so risky65 a piece of work. Prince Maurice’s army is in the near neighbourhood.”
“Sir,” said Gabriel, coming forward, eagerly, “I beg you to let me serve Major Locke in this matter. I was at school at Gloucester and know the neighbourhood well.”
“So ho, young knight-errant!” said Waller, with his genial laugh. “You are in hot haste to rescue this fair lady, and I like you the better for it. But you are somewhat young for so hazardous66 a venture. We cannot tell what tricks this Colonel Norton may devise.”
“If there were two of us, sir,” said Joscelyn Heyworth, “we might the better outwit him.”
“So you would have me spare my galloper67 also? Well, tomorrow’s march is like to be a straightforward68 matter, not a difficult bit of manoeuvring like to-day. Rejoin the regiment to-morrow evening at Tewkesbury, and in the interval69 do what you can for Major Locke.”
“We must leave our horses in Gloucester until we return with Mistress Helena,” said Gabriel. “They are hackneyed out with all the work they have had.”
“True. Latimer was sore spent,” said Joscelyn Heyworth. “I will send my man Moirison to hire fresh horses, and by-the-bye, Major, I think we shall do well to take him with us, he is a shrewd fellow, and three horsemen will make a better escort for your daughter.”
“Well, gentlemen, I can only accept your help very gratefully,” said Major Locke. “To have my little Nell safely sheltered in Gloucester will ease my mind greatly. While you see to the horses, I will write her a letter telling her what I would have her do.”
“I would have spared you if I could rightly have done so, Major,” said Waller, pausing with his hand on the door. “But a man who has been through the German wars is worth his weight in gold, and I am bound to think first of the public weal.”
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1
captious
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| adj.难讨好的，吹毛求疵的 | |
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sieve
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| n.筛，滤器，漏勺 | |
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indefatigable
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| adj.不知疲倦的，不屈不挠的 | |
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complement
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| n.补足物，船上的定员；补语；vt.补充，补足 | |
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sociable
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| adj.好交际的，友好的，合群的 | |
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6
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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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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middle-aged
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| adj.中年的 | |
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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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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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belied
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| v.掩饰( belie的过去式和过去分词 )；证明（或显示）…为虚假；辜负；就…扯谎 | |
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tedium
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| n.单调；烦闷 | |
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13
arduous
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| adj.艰苦的，费力的，陡峭的 | |
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desultory
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| adj.散漫的，无方法的 | |
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warfare
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| n.战争(状态)；斗争；冲突 | |
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dispersed
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| adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的 | |
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triumphantly
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| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
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skilful
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| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
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19
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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canine
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| adj.犬的，犬科的 | |
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clemency
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| n.温和，仁慈，宽厚 | |
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betrothed
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| n. 已订婚者 动词betroth的过去式和过去分词 | |
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haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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tawny
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| adj.茶色的，黄褐色的；n.黄褐色 | |
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scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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apparition
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| n.幽灵，神奇的现象 | |
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genial
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| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
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mellow
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| adj.柔和的；熟透的；v.变柔和；(使)成熟 | |
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ushering
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的现在分词 ) | |
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squire
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| n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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outspoken
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| adj.直言无讳的，坦率的，坦白无隐的 | |
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hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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lugubrious
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| adj.悲哀的，忧郁的 | |
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dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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courteously
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| adv.有礼貌地，亲切地 | |
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honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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expressive
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| adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的 | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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besiege
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| vt.包围，围攻，拥在...周围 | |
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manor
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| n.庄园，领地 | |
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garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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slaughtered
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| v.屠杀，杀戮，屠宰( slaughter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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contrive
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| vt.谋划，策划；设法做到；设计，想出 | |
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51
wedded
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| adj.正式结婚的；渴望…的，执著于…的v.嫁，娶，（与…）结婚( wed的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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52
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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53
avenge
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| v.为...复仇，为...报仇 | |
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54
duel
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| n./v.决斗；(双方的)斗争 | |
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55
shrug
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| v.耸肩(表示怀疑、冷漠、不知等) | |
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56
sheathed
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| adj.雕塑像下半身包在鞘中的；覆盖的；铠装的；装鞘了的v.将（刀、剑等）插入鞘( sheathe的过去式和过去分词 )；包，覆盖 | |
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ironical
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| adj.讽刺的，冷嘲的 | |
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crave
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| vt.渴望得到，迫切需要，恳求，请求 | |
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implore
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| vt.乞求，恳求，哀求 | |
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garrisons
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| 守备部队，卫戍部队( garrison的名词复数 ) | |
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61
meditatively
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| adv.冥想地 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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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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dolt
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| n.傻瓜 | |
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risky
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| adj.有风险的，冒险的 | |
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hazardous
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| adj.(有)危险的，冒险的；碰运气的 | |
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67
galloper
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| 骑马奔驰的人，飞驰的马，旋转木马； 轻野炮 | |
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straightforward
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| adj.正直的，坦率的；易懂的，简单的 | |
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interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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