Nor did Gibraltar seem to improve upon a closer acquaintance. Its joys and amusements, what were they after London and the shires? Racing8! the idea was too preposterous9. Half-a-dozen tinpot nags10 without pace or breeding, cantering round a Graveyard11 and finishing in a trot12. What[186] sort of sport was that to offer the Duke’s Own, which had always had its own regimental drag to witness the great events at home, and which kept open house in its luncheon13 tent at Ascot and Goodwood and upon Epsom Downs? The hunting too! heaven save the mark! To talk of hunting with the sweepings14 of a few second-rate kennels15, dignified16 with the name of a pack, when the huntsman was a local genius, and foxes were said to be so scarce or so little enterprising that it was often necessary to have recourse to a red herring! What was such hunting to men who had been constantly out (so they said) with the Heythorp, the Bramham Moor17, the Pytchley and Quorn?
These were the earliest impressions of Gibraltar prevailing18 among the officers of the Duke’s Own. But our friends eventually[187] changed their tone. By their first contemptuous abstention, they found, in the first place, that they lost all the fun that was going, and, next, that, although the sport was second-rate, they could not excel in it even when they tried. One or two of the Duke’s Own, who were said to be in all the secrets of the Dawson and John Scott stables, went in for some of the plates and cups at the autumn meeting, and signally failed in everything. Later on, when the hunting season really began, and they turned out in a body in red coats and the most undeniable tops, to cut everybody down, they were chagrined19 to find that it was much more difficult to follow than they supposed. Red coats and mahogany tops were nowhere at the end of the first burst. One or two men were completely thrown out; a few tried the breakneck[188] country between ‘the Rivers’ only to crane at length and turn back from the precipices20 and steep inclines. After that first day the Duke’s Own spoke21 more respectfully of the Calpe Hunt. By and bye they became less critical in other respects, and at length, when they had been some six months on the Rock, entered as fully22 into its amusements, and enjoyed them as thoroughly23 as the oldest stagers in the place.
There was one person, however, connected with the Duke’s Own who highly appreciated Gibraltar from the first. Mrs. Cavendish-Diggle found the station extremely to her taste. A bride still in the hey-day of her married life, full of satisfaction at the importance of her position as the commanding officer’s wife, with the attention she thereby24 received from all the Duke’s Own, Letitia found soldiering, particularly[189] at Gibraltar, everything that could be desired. But what she enjoyed most of all was the chance she now had of bullying25 the brother who hitherto had had it all his own way at home. Ernest might be the most worthy26 at Farrington Hall, but in the Duke’s Own he was under Colonel Diggle’s command, and Colonel Diggle was now unquestionably under that of his wife. How the exquisite27 and self-sufficient Diggle had succumbed28 was a mystery which will probably remain unexplained till the curtain lectures of the Diggle couple are given to the world. Then it will no doubt transpire29 that in the exercise of those inquisitorial functions which every wife naturally arrogates30 to herself, Letitia had come across certain damaging facts connected with the Colonel’s antecedents which put him completely under his partner’s thumb. That[190] Mrs. Diggle would come ere long to command the regiment was already plainly apparent to all, and the fact was not hailed with particular joy in the corps31. Petticoat government in a regiment is not the most successful with, nor is it the most palatable32 to, those most closely concerned. Letitia’s temper was a little too imperious to be pleasant. She made nipping remarks, and snubbed and put people down in a way they hated but were powerless to resent. ‘Oh! how can you say so, Major Greathed! You are wrong, quite wrong. She married Lord Chigford’s second son. But then you can’t be expected to know;’ or ‘It’s not what I have been accustomed to, Mrs. Moxon. In my father’s house the housekeeper33 looked to these things. But then of course you—’ which might be taken to imply that Mrs. Moxon had been brought up[191] very differently, and could not be expected to know what was what. Or she lectured the youngsters when they came within her reach, which was only when they wanted leave, knowing that without her good word they could not expect an hour. ‘I hear you are getting sadly in debt, Mr. Mauleverer. I shall write to Sir George.’ ‘So you were not at church parade last Sunday, Mr. Smythe. The Colonel was quite cross.’ ‘Don’t get entangled34 by any of these bright-eyed scorpions35, Mr. Curzon. You see I know all about it. Carmen Molinaro would never do for you.’ All of which irritated and exasperated36 the officers of the Duke’s Own very considerably37.
The man who most cordially hated her, however, was the adjutant, Mr. Wheeler. He was chafed38 perpetually by her interference. Nothing was sacred to her. She[192] rushed into professional matters with all the effrontery39 of the fool. So long as she contented40 herself with favouring her pets among the soldiers’ wives Wheeler did not care. It was when she presumed to advise as to the orderly room work, the correspondence, promotions41, and daily routine, that he not unnaturally43 turned rusty44. Whether or not she read the colonel’s letters he scarcely cared, but he did resent having to prepare important despatches from her notes, or send out letters which she had obviously drafted with her own hand. Nor could he, after so many years of nearly absolute authority, readily or cheerfully resign his power in the regiment. Hitherto advancement45 for the non-commissioned officers had depended mainly upon his good word. Now it was becoming evident that their promotion42 would[193] depend in future upon that of the colonel’s wife. In one particular case which nearly affected46 a friend of ours they had fought a sharp battle; the adjutant was obstinate47, but the lady was more so, and in the end the latter won the day. It was entirely48 through Letitia’s good offices that Herbert Larkins became a colour-sergeant49 long before the ordinary time. She had taken a fancy to the young man—not, you may be sure, because of his presumed connection with the family, for of that she had not the slightest inkling—but because it had lain within his power to do her important service, and because he was a smart, well-grown fellow to boot. Letitia, like many other ill-favoured women, had a keen eye for manly50 beauty.
But she had really reason to be grateful to Herbert. One day, when he was on[194] guard upon the Upper Road, Mrs. Cavendish-Diggle, followed by her groom51, passed on their way towards the town. Something startled Letitia’s horse, and, although an excellent rider, she found he was more than she could manage. After passaging like a crab52 along the road for some hundred yards, he took to plunging53 and rearing in a way to dislodge the most accomplished54 horse-woman from her seat. The groom had ridden up alongside, but he was able to render little assistance, and his best efforts only made Letitia’s horse worse. Had not Herbert promptly55 supervened, Mrs. Diggle would undoubtedly56 have been thrown, and probably badly hurt. But with firm hand on the rein57 he soon mastered the horse, then gradually pacified58 him.
‘I’m sure, sergeant, I’m extremely[195] obliged to you,’ said Mrs. Cavendish, directly she recovered her breath. ‘What is your name? I must speak of you specially59 to the Colonel—Colonel Diggle—you know me, I presume? and I see you belong to “us.”’
‘Herbert Larkins, Madam, F company,’ said our hero briefly60, as he saluted61.
‘Thank you again, so much.’ And with that the Colonel’s wife rode off.
She did speak of him and his conduct in the most glowing terms.
‘You must do something for him, Conrad.’
‘Certainly, I’ll make him a present; or, better still, you shall—a watch, or a pencil-case, or something.’
‘No, no; something in the regiment, I mean. Promote him.’
‘He’s very young. Barely a year a[196] sergeant. I don’t see my way, I don’t indeed.’
‘There are those vacant colours in G company,’ she said, displaying a curiously62 intimate acquaintance with regimental news.
‘Colour-sergeant! Impossible!’
‘Surely not, when I ask it.’
‘It would be grossly unfair. Promotions must not go by favour.’
‘Kissing does,’ she replied, as though he might expect no such reward unless he were more obliging. It was just possible that by this time Diggle could have deprived himself of the pleasure without any acute pang63.
‘What would Mr. Wheeler say?’
‘That’s where it is. You think far more of displeasing64 Mr. Wheeler than of pleasing me. I feel hurt, Conrad; it’s not[197] what I have a right to expect, considering—’
When she got on this tack65 the Colonel threw up the sponge. He gave in about the promotion, although the adjutant, thereby making Letitia his enemy for life, tried hard to keep him up to the mark.
The whole thing would have been a job of the worst kind had Herbert been less worthy. But he had really developed into an excellent soldier, smart, personable, and thoroughly well up in his work. He had his drill-book at his fingers’ ends, and could handle a squad66 as well as any man in the corps. He had learnt by heart all the details of interior economy, and was fully competent to take the charge and payment of a company, or to do credit to his regiment in any position in which he might be[198] placed. All this Mr. Wheeler was forced to admit; and although he cherished a grudge67 against Herbert on account of what had passed, he so loved a good soldier that he could not bear malice68 long.
Colour-Sergeant Larkins was indeed fast becoming a very prominent person in the corps. Some backbiting69 and no little jealousy70 existed, no doubt, but he was the sort of man to soon outgrow71 and outlive such feelings. There was much in his manner and address to make him generally popular. His bright face, his cheerful voice, his manly straightforward72 ways, commended him of themselves. But he had other claims to the suffrages73 of his fellows. His old skill in games had not deserted74 him, and soldiers are very like schoolboys in their admiration75 and respect for personal prowess. The Duke’s Own eleven, thanks[199] to Herbert’s batting and bowling76, won every match always at the North Front. His brother sergeants77 felt lucky if they could secure him for a hand of fives. In all other gymnastic exercises he came equally well to the front. At the garrison78 athletic79 sports, which presently came off, as they always do, upon the racecourse at the North Front, he carried everything before him, to the intense gratification of his comrades in the corps.
The name of Sergeant Larkins was indeed on every lip that day. All the world of Gibraltar was present. His Excellency the Governor came in state, so did the general, second in command, and officers of all grades with their wives; crowds of soldiers of all the regiments80 in garrison were there, and all cheered Herbert to the echo as he carried off the hurdle-race in magnificent[200] style. As for the Duke’s Own, a lot of them, frantic81 with delight, got him on their shoulders, and were carrying him about in triumph, when some one came up, and with a hurried nervous manner, said,
‘Sergeant Larkins; where’s Sergeant Larkins?’
‘Who wants him?’ said a dozen voices, thinking perhaps the governor had asked him to dinner, or the Queen had sent to make him a general on the spot.
‘An old friend. The oldest he’s got, I think he’ll say, when he sees me and hears my name.’
His enthusiastic supporters dropped Herbert, who came forward to speak to the inquirer.
‘It’s himself, himself, by all that’s holy! Hercules Albert, don’t you remember me?’ cried the man, as he seized both Herbert’s[201] hands, shaking them furiously, and seeming to wish to hug him in his arms.
It was the old Sergeant Larkins, his stepfather, for whom he had so long searched in vain.
‘I heard them calling out the name, and it sounded so queer that I thought I’d have a look at you. How you’ve grown! But tell me all about yourself. Quick, lad. I want to hear, and the mother she—’
‘She’s all right and well, I hope,’ Herbert asked, as soon as he could put in a word. ‘Let’s go to her at once. How comes it I’ve never seen you before?’
‘Only landed from Malta on transfer last week, myself, the missus, and three of the bairns, that’s how it was. But come along, come to the mother at once; she’ll be crazy with delight when she sees you, and so will all the rest.’
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收听单词发音
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1
relegated
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| v.使降级( relegate的过去式和过去分词 )；使降职；转移；把…归类 | |
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dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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heralded
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| v.预示( herald的过去式和过去分词 )；宣布（好或重要） | |
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drenching
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| n.湿透v.使湿透( drench的现在分词 )；在某人（某物）上大量使用（某液体） | |
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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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kits
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| 衣物和装备( kit的名词复数 )； 成套用品； 配套元件 | |
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racing
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| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
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preposterous
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| adj.荒谬的，可笑的 | |
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nags
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| n.不断地挑剔或批评（某人）( nag的名词复数 )；不断地烦扰或伤害（某人）；无休止地抱怨；不断指责v.不断地挑剔或批评（某人）( nag的第三人称单数 )；不断地烦扰或伤害（某人）；无休止地抱怨；不断指责 | |
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graveyard
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| n.坟场 | |
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trot
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| n.疾走，慢跑；n.老太婆；现成译本；(复数）trots:腹泻（与the 连用）；v.小跑，快步走，赶紧 | |
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13
luncheon
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| n.午宴，午餐，便宴 | |
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sweepings
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| n.笼统的( sweeping的名词复数 )；（在投票等中的）大胜；影响广泛的；包罗万象的 | |
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kennels
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| n.主人外出时的小动物寄养处，养狗场；狗窝( kennel的名词复数 )；养狗场 | |
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dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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moor
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| n.荒野，沼泽；vt.(使)停泊；vi.停泊 | |
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prevailing
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| adj.盛行的；占优势的；主要的 | |
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chagrined
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| adj.懊恼的，苦恼的v.使懊恼，使懊丧，使悔恨( chagrin的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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precipices
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| n.悬崖，峭壁( precipice的名词复数 ) | |
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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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22
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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bullying
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| v.恐吓，威逼( bully的现在分词 )；豪；跋扈 | |
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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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exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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succumbed
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| 不再抵抗（诱惑、疾病、攻击等）( succumb的过去式和过去分词 )； 屈从； 被压垮； 死 | |
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transpire
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| v.(使)蒸发，(使)排出 ；泄露，公开 | |
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arrogates
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| v.冒称，妄取( arrogate的第三人称单数 )；没来由地把…归属（于） | |
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corps
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| n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组 | |
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palatable
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| adj.可口的，美味的；惬意的 | |
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housekeeper
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| n.管理家务的主妇，女管家 | |
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34
entangled
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| adj.卷入的；陷入的；被缠住的；缠在一起的v.使某人（某物/自己）缠绕，纠缠于（某物中），使某人（自己）陷入（困难或复杂的环境中）( entangle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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35
scorpions
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| n.蝎子( scorpion的名词复数 ) | |
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exasperated
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| adj.恼怒的 | |
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considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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38
chafed
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| v.擦热（尤指皮肤）( chafe的过去式 )；擦痛；发怒；惹怒 | |
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effrontery
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| n.厚颜无耻 | |
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contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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41
promotions
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| 促进( promotion的名词复数 )； 提升； 推广； 宣传 | |
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promotion
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| n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传 | |
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43
unnaturally
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| adv.违反习俗地；不自然地；勉强地；不近人情地 | |
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44
rusty
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| adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的 | |
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45
advancement
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| n.前进，促进，提升 | |
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46
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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47
obstinate
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| adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的 | |
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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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49
sergeant
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| n.警官，中士 | |
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50
manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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51
groom
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| vt.给（马、狗等）梳毛，照料，使...整洁 | |
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52
crab
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| n.螃蟹，偏航，脾气乖戾的人，酸苹果；vi.捕蟹，偏航，发牢骚；vt.使偏航，发脾气 | |
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53
plunging
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| adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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54
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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56
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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rein
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| n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治 | |
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58
pacified
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| 使（某人）安静( pacify的过去式和过去分词 )； 息怒； 抚慰； 在（有战争的地区、国家等）实现和平 | |
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59
specially
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| adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地 | |
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briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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61
saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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62
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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pang
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| n.剧痛，悲痛，苦闷 | |
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64
displeasing
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| 不愉快的，令人发火的 | |
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65
tack
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| n.大头钉；假缝，粗缝 | |
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66
squad
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| n.班，小队，小团体；vt.把…编成班或小组 | |
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67
grudge
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| n.不满，怨恨，妒嫉；vt.勉强给，不情愿做 | |
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68
malice
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| n.恶意，怨恨，蓄意；[律]预谋 | |
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backbiting
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| 背后诽谤 | |
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70
jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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71
outgrow
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| vt.长大得使…不再适用；成长得不再要 | |
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72
straightforward
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| adj.正直的，坦率的；易懂的，简单的 | |
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suffrages
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| （政治性选举的）选举权，投票权( suffrage的名词复数 ) | |
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74
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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75
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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76
bowling
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| n.保龄球运动 | |
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77
sergeants
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| 警官( sergeant的名词复数 )； （美国警察）警佐； （英国警察）巡佐； 陆军（或空军）中士 | |
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78
garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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79
athletic
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| adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的 | |
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regiments
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| （军队的）团( regiment的名词复数 )； 大量的人或物 | |
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81
frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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