Joan Grant, in the middle of the chatter9, edged her mare10 near to a sprightly11 horse-woman who had just dismissed Michael with a playful tap of her whip across his cheek.
"You are Miss Bingham? Ah, I guessed it."
"By what token?"
"By your beauty, shall we say? Gossip has so much to tell about it, and about the Vicarage garden, with Nidd River swirling13 past the ferry-steps."
They eyed each other with the wariness14 of duellists. "The good Vicar is fortunate in his garden," assented15 Miss Bingham, with the most charming courtesy.
"And in his water-nymphs, 'twould seem. I think you would be like some comely16 dream—on an April evening, say, with the young leafage of the trees for halo."
"Oh, it is pleasant to be flattered! But why this praise of me? We were strangers not an hour ago."
"I have heard so much of you. You were so kind to the men who sortied from Knaresborough and returned with wounds. You sat by the ferry-steps—all like a good angel—and bound their hurts afresh when they smarted. Oh, indeed, we have heard of your pleasant skill in healing."
While they faced each other, there came the thud and racket of horse-hoofs down the road. The rider drew rein17 amid a swirl12 of dust, cleared his eyes with a hand that trembled, and looked from one face to another. His tired face lit up when at last he saw the Governor of Knaresborough.
"Give you good-day, sir. I was riding to seek aid from you."
"The devil you were," growled18 the other. "The man sups lean who trusts to my help, Graham. Knaresborough's in other hands since—since Marston."
"It would be. I had forgotten that. But you're here."
"What is your need, lad?"
"A few men to help me, over at Norton Conyers. I rode to ask if you could lend them me."
"All of us, if we're needed. We were jesting on the road here, for lack of other occupation. What is it? But, first, is your uncle safe—tough Reginald Graham? I love him as I love the steep rock-face of Knaresborough."
"It was this way. My uncle would have me near him at Marston. We were with Rupert on the right wing, and were close behind one of the Riding Metcalfs—I know not which, for they're all big men and as like as two peas in a pod—and saw him cut Cromwell through the throat. We were together when we broke the Roundheads and pursued too far. It was when we came to the ditch again, and found Leslie there with his Scots, that I lost Sir Reginald. I took a wound or two in the stampede that followed, and was laid by in a little farmstead near Wilstrop Wood. The good-wife was kind to me—said she had lost a bairn of her own not long since, trampled19 down by flying horsemen at the gate."
"Ay, lad; but why d'ye not get forward with your news of Sir Reginald?"
"Because I cannot trust myself to speak of him without some folly20 in my throat. Give me time, sir—give me time. I got about again in a day or two, and stumbled home somehow to Norton Conyers. And I—I met a black procession—all like a nightmare, it was—journeying to the kirkyard. So I joined them; and one man nudged another, and asked who this was coming in his tatters to the burial without mourning-gear. And I pointed21 to my wounds and laughed. 'Mourning-gear enough,' said I. 'Mourners go in blood and tatters since Marston.' And then, they tell me, I fell, and lay where I fell. That was all I knew, till I got up next day with all my limbs on fire."
There was silence among those looking on—a deep and reverent22 silence. This youngster, out of battle and great pain, had captured some right-of-way to the attention of strong men.
"When I was about again, they told me how it chanced. Sir Reginald took a mortal hurt at Marston, but rode with the best of his strength to Norton Conyers. He found Lady Graham at the gate, waiting for news of him; and he stooped from saddle, so they say, and kissed her. 'I could not die away from you, wife,' he said."
"Ay," growled the Governor, "he was like that—a hard fighter, and a lover so devout23 that his wife had reason to be proud."
"She tried to help him get from horse; but he shook his head. 'The stairs are wide enough,' was all his explanation. Then he rode in at the main door and up the stair, and bent24 his head low to enter the big bed-chamber. He got from the saddle to the bed, lay with his eyes on fire with happiness, and so died."
"A good ending," said the Squire25 of Nappa roughly, because he dared not give his feelings play. "What I should call a gentleman's ending—leal to King and wife. Oh, you young fool, no need to make a tragedy about it!"
Graham answered gamely to the taunt26 that braced27 him. "As for that, sir, tragedy is in the making, if no help comes to Norton Conyers. We had word this morning that a company of Roundheads was marching on the Hall—the worst of the whole brood—those who robbed the dead and dying in Wilstrop Wood."
It was not the Governor of Knaresborough who took command. Without pause for thought of precedence, Squire Metcalf lifted his voice.
The road no longer showed like a meeting-place where idle gentry29 foregathered to pass the time of day. The Governor, with some envy underlying30 all his admiration31, saw the Metcalfs swing into line behind their leader.
"Our horses are fresh," explained the Squire over shoulder, with a twinge of punctilio. "Do you follow, sir, and guard the women-folk."
"I shall guard them," said the Governor, laughing quietly.
Miss Bingham saw Joan watching the dust swirl and eddy32 in the wake of the Riding Metcalfs, saw that the girl's face was petulant33 and wistful. "He did not pause to say good-bye," she said, with gentlest sympathy.
"I did not ask him to."
"But, indeed, men are fashioned in that mould. I am older than you, child."
"So much is granted," said Joan sharply.
"And women are fashioned in their mould, too, with feet of velvet34 and the hidden claws. Yes, I am older. You drew blood there."
"Miss Bingham, I am in no mood for petty warfare35 of our sort. Our men have done enough, and they are riding out again. We women should keep still tongues, I think, and pray for better guidance."
"How does one pray? You're country-bred and I am not." The voice was gentle, but the sideways glance had venom36 in it. "It comes so easily to you, no doubt—scent of hay, and church bells ringing you across the fields, and perhaps he will meet you at the stile, to share the self-same book—is that what prayer means?"
"No," said the Governor, interposing bluntly. "Ask Lady Derby what prayer means—she who has made Lathom House a beacon37 for all time. Ask Ingilby's wife, who held Ripley for the King's wounded—ask Rupert——"
"The Prince—is he, too, among the listeners to church bells?" asked Miss Bingham airily.
"To be precise, he is. I talked yesterday with one who was at York when Rupert came to raise the siege. The Prince was spent with forced marches, dead-weary, soul and body. He had earned his praise, you would have thought; but, when they cheered him like folk gone mad, he just waited till the uproar38 ceased, and bared his head. 'The faith that is in me did it, friends, not I,' he said, and the next moment he laughed, asking for a stoup of wine."
"He cared for his body, too, 'twould seem," murmured Miss Bingham.
"A soldier does, unless by birth and habit he's an incorrigible39 fool. I've even less acquaintance than you with prayer; but I've seen the fruits of it too often, child, to sneer40 at it."
"To be named child—believe me, sir, it's incense41 to me. Miss Grant here was persuading me that I was old enough to be her mother. I was prepared to kneel at the next wayside pool and search there for grey hairs."
"Search in twenty years or so—time enough for that. Meanwhile, we have to follow these hot-headed Metcalfs, and discipline begins, Miss Bingham."
"Oh, discipline—it is as tedious as prayer."
The Governor cut short her whimsies42. "The tedium43 begins. This is no ballroom44, I would have you understand."
Miss Bingham sighed as their company got into order. "Why are not all men of that fashion?" she asked languidly. "It is so simple to obey when one hears the whip, instead of flattery, singing round one's ears."
Joan glanced at her in simple wonderment. She had no key that unlocked the tired, wayward meaning of this woman who had played many games of chess with the thing she named her heart.
The Metcalfs, meanwhile, had gone forward at a heady pace. As of old, one purpose guided them, and one rough master-mind had leadership of their hot zeal45. They encountered many piteous sights by the wayside—stragglers from Marston, Knaresborough, York—but the old Squire checked his pity.
"It's forrard, lads, forrard!" he would roar from time to time, as they were tempted46 to halt for succour of the fallen.
His instinct guided him aright. When they came through the dust of thirsty roads and the dead heat of a thunderstorm that was brewing47 overhead, to the high lands overlooking Norton Conyers, they caught a glint below them of keen sunlight shining on keen steel.
"It's always my luck to be just in time, with little to spare," said Blake, the messenger, who was riding at the Squire's bridle-hand. "D'ye see them yonder?"
Metcalf saw a gently-falling slope of pasture between the Roundheads and themselves, with low hedges separating one field from another. "Tally-ho, my lads!" he laughed. "I'll give you a lead at the fences—a Yoredale sort of lead."
The Parliament men checked their horses, gaped48 up at the sudden uproar, and had scarce braced themselves for the encounter when the Metcalfs were down and into them. The weight of horseflesh, backed by speed, crashed through their bulk, lessening49 the odds50 a little. Then it was hack51, and counter, and thrust, till the storm broke overhead, as it had done at Marston, but with a livelier fury. They did not heed52 it. Time and again the yell of "A Mecca for the King!" was met by the roar of "God and the Parliament!" And Squire Metcalf, in a lull53 of the eddying54 battle, found the tart55 humour that was his help in need.
"Nay56, I'd leave half of it out, if I were ye, after what chanced in Wilstrop Wood. Fight for Parliament alone, and all its devilries."
That brought another swinging fight to a head; and the issue shifted constantly. The lightning danced about the men's armour57. The thunder never ceased, and the rain lashed58 them as if every sluice-gate of the clouds were opened.
Very stubborn it was, and the din2 of oaths and battle-cries leaped out across the thunder-roar, stifling59 it at times.
"The last shock, Meccas!" cried the Squire. "Remember Wilstrop Wood."
In the harsh middle of the conflict, the Squire aimed a blow at the foremost of the Roundheads who rode at him. His pike dinted the man's body-armour, and the haft snapped in two. Little Blake rode forward to his aid, knowing it was useless; and, with a brutish laugh, the Roundhead swung his sword up.
And then, out of the yellow murk of the sky, a friend rode down to the Squire's aid—rode faster than even Blake had done on the maddest of his escapades. Kit60, unpressed for the moment after killing61 his immediate62 adversary63, saw a blue fork of flame touch the uplifted sword and run down its length. The Roundhead's arm fell like a stone dropped from a great height, and lightning played about horse and rider till both seemed on fire. They dropped where they stood, and lay there; and for a moment no man stirred. It was as if God's hand was heavy on them all.
The Squire was the first to recover. "D'ye need any further battle, ye robbers of the dead?" he asked.
Without further parley64 they broke and fled. Panic was among them, and many who had been honest once in the grim faith they held saw wrath65 and judgment66 in this intervention67.
The Metcalfs were hot for pursuit, but their leader checked them. "Nay, lads. Leave the devil to follow his own. For our part, we're pledged to get to Norton Conyers as soon as may be."
His kinsmen68 grumbled69 at the moment; but afterwards they recalled how Rupert, by the same kind of pursuit, had lost Marston Field, and they began to understand how wise their headstrong leader was.
The sun was setting in a red mist—of rain to come—when they reached Norton Conyers; and an hour later the Governor of Knaresborough rode in with the mixed company he guarded. The men of his own garrison6, the women-folk of Knaresborough and Ripley, odds and ends of camp followers70, made up a band of Royalists tattered71 enough for the dourest Puritan's approval.
"Where is li'le Elizabeth?" asked Michael plaintively72. "For my sins, I forgot her when the Squire told us we were hunting the foxes who raided Wilstrop Wood."
"Who is Elizabeth?" snapped the Governor, in no good temper.
"Oh, a lady to her hoof-tips, sir—loyal, debonair73, a bairn in your hands when she loves you, and a devil to intruders." He turned, with the smile that brimmed out and over his Irish mouth. "Meccas all, the Governor asks who Elizabeth is. They knew in Oxford74, and praised her grace of bearing."
A lusty braying75 sounded through the lessening thunder-claps, and a roar of laughter came from Michael's kinsmen.
"Twins are never far apart, if they can help it," said Christopher. "It is daft to worry about Elizabeth, so long as Michael's safe."
From long siege on land there comes to men something of the look that manners have whose business is with besieging76 seas. The Governor's eyes were steady and far away. He seemed bewildered by the ready laughter of these folk who had ridden in the open instead of sitting behind castle walls. But even his gravity broke down when Elizabeth came trotting77 through the press, and look about her, and found Michael. She licked his hands and face. She brayed78 a triumph-song, its harmony known only to herself.
"One has not lived amiss, when all is said," said Michael. "You will bear witness, sir, that I have captured a heart of gold."
The Governor stopped to pat Elizabeth, and she became an untamed fury on the sudden, for no reason that a man could guess.
"I—I am sorry, sir," Michael protested.
"Oh, no regrets! She is a lady to her hoof-tips, as you said, and my shins are only red-raw—not broken, as I feared."
It was well they had their spell of laughter in between what had been and what must follow. When they came to Norton Conyers, it was to find the mistress dull with grief, and hopeless. All she cared for lay buried, with pomp and ceremony enough, in the kirkyard below. She was scarcely roused by the news that fire and rapine would have raided the defenceless house if the Riding Metcalfs had not come on the stroke of need.
"I thank you, gentlemen—oh, indeed, I thank you. But nothing matters very much. He waits for me, and that is all."
She was past argument or quiet persuasion79. They ate and drank their fill that night, because they needed it—and their needs were the King's just now—and on the morrow, when they had cursed their wounds, and prayed for further sleep, and got up again for whatever chanced, they found Graham's widow still intractable. They told her that the safety of many women-folk was in her hands.
"I trust them to you," she said. "There's an old nurse of mine lives up in a fold of the hills yonder. They will not find me there, and I care little if they do. Meanwhile, I shall get down each night and morning to pray for the soul of a gallant80 gentleman who has unlocked the Gate"—her eyes were luminous81 with a temperate82 fire—"unlocked it a little ahead of me. He has left it on the latch83."
The Squire bent to her hand. "Madam," he said, his roughness broken up, as honest moorland soil is broken when it is asked to rear pleasant crops—"madam, I've a wife in Yoredale, I. She carries your sort of heart, I think. Of your charity, pray for her till I come."
"I shall pray, sir."
And so the Riding Metcalfs went from Norton Conyers, with an added burden of women-folk, but with a sense of rosemary and starshine, as if they had tarried for a while in some wayside Calvary.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
astounding
|
|
| adj.使人震惊的vt.使震惊，使大吃一惊astound的现在分词) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
din
|
|
| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
muddled
|
|
| adj.混乱的；糊涂的；头脑昏昏然的v.弄乱，弄糟( muddle的过去式)；使糊涂；对付，混日子 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
moor
|
|
| n.荒野，沼泽；vt.(使)停泊；vi.停泊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
groans
|
|
| n.呻吟，叹息( groan的名词复数 )；呻吟般的声音v.呻吟( groan的第三人称单数 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
garrison
|
|
| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
garrisons
|
|
| 守备部队，卫戍部队( garrison的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
badinage
|
|
| n.开玩笑，打趣 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
chatter
|
|
| vi.／n.喋喋不休；短促尖叫；(牙齿)打战 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
mare
|
|
| n.母马，母驴 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
sprightly
|
|
| adj.愉快的，活泼的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
swirl
|
|
| v.(使)打漩，(使)涡卷；n.漩涡，螺旋形 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
swirling
|
|
| v.旋转，打旋( swirl的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
wariness
|
|
| n. 注意,小心 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
assented
|
|
| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
comely
|
|
| adj.漂亮的，合宜的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
rein
|
|
| n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
growled
|
|
| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
trampled
|
|
| 踩( trample的过去式和过去分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
folly
|
|
| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
pointed
|
|
| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
reverent
|
|
| adj.恭敬的，虔诚的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
devout
|
|
| adj.虔诚的，虔敬的，衷心的 (n.devoutness) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
bent
|
|
| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
squire
|
|
| n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
taunt
|
|
| n.辱骂，嘲弄；v.嘲弄 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
braced
|
|
| adj.拉牢的v.支住( brace的过去式和过去分词 )；撑牢；使自己站稳；振作起来 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
bustle
|
|
| v.喧扰地忙乱，匆忙，奔忙；n.忙碌；喧闹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
gentry
|
|
| n.绅士阶级，上层阶级 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
underlying
|
|
| adj.在下面的，含蓄的，潜在的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
admiration
|
|
| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
eddy
|
|
| n.漩涡，涡流 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
petulant
|
|
| adj.性急的，暴躁的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
velvet
|
|
| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
warfare
|
|
| n.战争(状态)；斗争；冲突 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
venom
|
|
| n.毒液，恶毒，痛恨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
beacon
|
|
| n.烽火，（警告用的）闪火灯，灯塔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
uproar
|
|
| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
incorrigible
|
|
| adj.难以纠正的，屡教不改的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
sneer
|
|
| v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
incense
|
|
| v.激怒；n.香，焚香时的烟，香气 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
whimsies
|
|
| n.怪念头( whimsy的名词复数 )；异想天开；怪脾气；与众不同的幽默感 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
43
tedium
|
|
| n.单调；烦闷 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
ballroom
|
|
| n.舞厅 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
zeal
|
|
| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
tempted
|
|
| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
brewing
|
|
| n. 酿造, 一次酿造的量 动词brew的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
gaped
|
|
| v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的过去式和过去分词 )；张开，张大 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
lessening
|
|
| 减轻，减少，变小 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
odds
|
|
| n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
hack
|
|
| n.劈，砍，出租马车；v.劈，砍，干咳 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
heed
|
|
| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
lull
|
|
| v.使安静，使入睡，缓和，哄骗；n.暂停，间歇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
eddying
|
|
| 涡流，涡流的形成 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
tart
|
|
| adj.酸的；尖酸的，刻薄的；n.果馅饼；淫妇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
nay
|
|
| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
armour
|
|
| （=armor）n.盔甲；装甲部队 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
lashed
|
|
| adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
stifling
|
|
| a.令人窒息的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
kit
|
|
| n.用具包，成套工具；随身携带物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
killing
|
|
| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
immediate
|
|
| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
adversary
|
|
| adj.敌手，对手 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
parley
|
|
| n.谈判 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
wrath
|
|
| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
judgment
|
|
| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
intervention
|
|
| n.介入，干涉，干预 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
kinsmen
|
|
| n.家属，亲属( kinsman的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
grumbled
|
|
| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
followers
|
|
| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
tattered
|
|
| adj.破旧的，衣衫破的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
plaintively
|
|
| adv.悲哀地，哀怨地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
debonair
|
|
| adj.殷勤的，快乐的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
Oxford
|
|
| n.牛津（英国城市） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
braying
|
|
| v.发出驴叫似的声音( bray的现在分词 )；发嘟嘟声；粗声粗气地讲话（或大笑）；猛击 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
besieging
|
|
| 包围，围困，围攻( besiege的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
trotting
|
|
| 小跑，急走( trot的现在分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
brayed
|
|
| v.发出驴叫似的声音( bray的过去式和过去分词 )；发嘟嘟声；粗声粗气地讲话（或大笑）；猛击 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
persuasion
|
|
| n.劝说；说服；持有某种信仰的宗派 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
gallant
|
|
| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
luminous
|
|
| adj.发光的，发亮的；光明的；明白易懂的；有启发的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
temperate
|
|
| adj.温和的，温带的，自我克制的，不过分的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
latch
|
|
| n.门闩，窗闩；弹簧锁 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |