The pretty little town of Golden Friars — standing1 by the margin2 of the lake, hemmed3 round by an amphitheatre of purple mountain, rich in tint4 and furrowed5 by ravines, high in air, when the tall gables and narrow windows of its ancient graystone houses, and the tower of the old church, from which every evening the curfew still rings, show like silver in the moonbeams, and the black elms that stand round throw moveless shadows upon the short level grass — is one of the most singular and beautiful sights I have ever seen.
There it rises, ‘as from the stroke of the enchanter’s wand,’ looking so light and filmy, that you could scarcely believe it more than a picture reflected on the thin mist of night.
On such a still summer night the moon shone splendidly upon the front of the George and Dragon, the comfortable graystone inn of Golden Friars, with the grandest specimen6 of the old inn-sign, perhaps, left in England. It looks right across the lake; the road that skirts its margin running by the steps of the hall-door, opposite to which, at the other side of the road, between two great posts, and framed in a fanciful wrought-iron border splendid with gilding7, swings the famous sign of St. George and the Dragon, gorgeous with colour and gold.
In the great room of the George and Dragon, three or four of the old habitués of that cozy8 lounge were refreshing9 a little after the fatigues10 of the day.
This is a comfortable chamber11, with an oak wainscot; and whenever in summer months the air is sharp enough, as on the present occasion, a fire helped to light it up; which fire, being chiefly wood, made a pleasant broad flicker12 on panel and ceiling, and yet did not make the room too hot.
On one side sat Doctor Torvey, the doctor of Golden Friars, who knew the weak point of every man in the town, and what medicine agreed with each inhabitant — a fat gentleman, with a jolly laugh and an appetite for all sorts of news, big and little, and who liked a pipe, and made a tumbler of punch at about this hour, with a bit of lemon-peel in it. Beside him sat William Peers, a thin old gentleman, who had lived for more than thirty years in India, and was quiet and benevolent13, and the last man in Golden Friars who wore a pigtail. Old Jack14 Amerald, an excaptain of the navy, with his short stout15 leg on a chair, and its wooden companion beside it, sipped16 his grog, and bawled17 in the old-fashioned navy way, and called his friends his ‘hearties.’ In the middle, opposite the hearth18, sat deaf Tom Hollar, always placid19, and smoked his pipe, looking serenely20 at the fire. And the landlord of the George and Dragon every now and then strutted21 in, and sat down in the high-backed wooden arm-chair, according to the old-fashioned republican ways of the place, and took his share in the talk gravely, and was heartily22 welcome.
“And so Sir Bale is coming home at last,” said the Doctor. “Tell us any more you heard since.”
“Nothing,” answered Richard Turnbull, the host of the George. “Nothing to speak of; only ’tis certain sure, and so best; the old house won’t look so dowly now.”
“Twyne says the estate owes a good capful o’ money by this time, hey?” said the Doctor, lowering his voice and winking23.
“Weel, they do say he’s been nout at dow. I don’t mind saying so to you, mind, sir, where all’s friends together; but he’ll get that right in time.”
“More like to save here than where he is,” said the Doctor with another grave nod.
“He does very wisely,” said Mr. Peers, having blown out a thin stream of smoke, “and creditably, to pull-up in time. He’s coming here to save a little, and perhaps he’ll marry; and it is the more creditable, if, as they say, he dislikes the place, and would prefer staying where he is.”
And having spoken thus gently, Mr. Peers resumed his pipe cheerfully.
“No, he don’t like the place; that is, I’m told he didn’t,” said the innkeeper.
“He hates it,” said the Doctor with another dark nod.
“And no wonder, if all’s true I’ve heard,” cried old Jack Amerald. “Didn’t he drown a woman and her child in the lake?”
“Hollo! my dear boy, don’t let them hear you say that; you’re all in the clouds.”
“By Jen!” exclaimed the landlord after an alarmed silence, with his mouth and eyes open, and his pipe in his hand, “why, sir, I pay rent for the house up there. I’m thankful — dear knows, I am thankful — we’re all to ourselves!”
Jack Amerald put his foot on the floor, leaving his wooden leg in its horizontal position, and looked round a little curiously25.
“Well, if it wasn’t him, it was some one else. I’m sure it happened up at Mardykes. I took the bearings on the water myself from Glads Scaur to Mardykes Jetty, and from the George and Dragon sign down here — down to the white house under Forrick Fells. I could fix a buoy26 over the very spot. Some one here told me the bearings, I’d take my oath, where the body was seen; and yet no boat could ever come up with it; and that was queer, you know, so I clapt it down in my log.”
“Ay, sir, there was some flummery like that, Captain,” said Turnbull; “for folk will be gabbin’. But ’twas his grandsire was talked o’, not him; and ‘twould play the hangment wi’ me doun here, if ’twas thought there was stories like that passin’ in the George and Dragon.’
“Well, his grandfather; ’twas all one to him, I take it.”
“There never was no proof, Captain, no more than smoke; and the family up at Mardykes wouldn’t allow the king to talk o’ them like that, sir; for though they be lang deod that had most right to be angered in the matter, there’s none o’ the name but would be half daft to think ’twas still believed, and he full out as mich as any. Not that I need care more than another, though they do say he’s a bit frowsy and short-waisted; for he can’t shouther me out o’ the George while I pay my rent, till nine hundred and ninety-nine year be rin oot; and a man, be he ne’er sa het, has time to cool before then. But there’s no good quarrellin’ wi’ teathy folk; and it may lie in his way to do the George mony an ill turn, and mony a gude one; an’ it’s only fair to say it happened a long way before he was born, and there’s no good in vexin’ him; and I lay ye a pound, Captain, the Doctor hods wi’ me.”
The Doctor, whose business was also sensitive, nodded; and then he said, “But for all that, the story’s old, Dick Turnbull — older than you or I, my jolly good friend.”
“And best forgotten,” interposed the host of the George.
“Ay, best forgotten; but that it’s not like to be,” said the Doctor, plucking up courage. “Here’s our friend the Captain has heard it; and the mistake he has made shows there’s one thing worse than its being quite remembered, and that is, its being half remembered. We can’t stop people talking; and a story like that will see us all off the hooks, and be in folks’ mouths, still, as strong as ever.”
“Ay; and now I think on it, ’twas Dick Harman that has the boat down there — an old tar28 like myself — that told me that yarn29. I was trying for pike, and he pulled me over the place, and that’s how I came to hear it. I say, Tom, my hearty30, serve us out another glass of brandy, will you?” shouted the Captain’s voice as the waiter crossed the room; and that florid and grizzled naval31 hero clapped his leg again on the chair by its wooden companion, which he was wont32 to call his jury-mast.
“Well, I do believe it will be spoke24 of longer than we are like to hear,” said the host, “and I don’t much matter the story, if it baint told o’ the wrong man.” Here he touched his tumbler with the spoon, indicating by that little ring that Tom, who had returned with the Captain’s grog, was to replenish33 it with punch. “And Sir Bale is like to be a friend to this house. I don’t see no reason why he shouldn’t. The George and Dragon has bin27 in our family ever since the reign34 of King Charles the Second. It was William Turnbull in that time, which they called it the Restoration, he taking the lease from Sir Tony Mardykes that was then. They was but knights35 then. They was made baronets first in the reign of King George the Second; you may see it in the list of baronets and the nobility. The lease was made to William Turnbull, which came from London; and he built the stables, which they was out o’ repair, as you may read to this day in the lease; and the house has never had but one sign since — the George and Dragon, it is pretty well known in England — and one name to its master. It has been owned by a Turnbull from that day to this, and they have not been counted bad men.” A murmur36 of applause testified the assent37 of his guests. “They has been steady churchgoin’ folk, and brewed38 good drink, and maintained the best o’ characters, hereaways and farther off too, though ’tis I, Richard Turnbull, that says it; and while they pay their rent, no man has power to put them out; for their title’s as good to the George and Dragon, and the two fields, and the croft, and the grazing o’ their kye on the green, as Sir Bale Mardykes to the Hall up there and estate. So ’tis nout to me, except in the way o’ friendliness39, what the family may think o’ me; only the George and they has always been kind and friendly, and I don’t want to break the old custom.”
“Well said, Dick!” exclaimed Doctor Torvey; “I own to your conclusion; but there ain’t a soul here but ourselves — and we’re all friends, and you are your own master — and, hang it, you’ll tell us that story about the drowned woman, as you heard it from your father long ago.”
“Ay, do, and keep us to our liquor, my hearty!” cried the Captain.
Mr. Peers looked his entreaty40; and deaf Mr. Hollar, having no interest in the petition, was at least a safe witness, and, with his pipe in his lips, a cozy piece of furniture.
Richard Turnbull had his punch beside him; he looked over his shoulder. The door was closed, the fire was cheery, and the punch was fragrant41, and all friendly faces about him. So said he:
“Gentlemen, as you’re pleased to wish it, I don’t see no great harm in it; and at any rate, ’twill prevent mistakes. It is more than ninety years since. My father was but a boy then; and many a time I have heard him tell it in this very room.”
And looking into his glass he mused42, and stirred his punch slowly.
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1
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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margin
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| n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘 | |
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hemmed
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| 缝…的褶边( hem的过去式和过去分词 )； 包围 | |
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tint
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| n.淡色，浅色；染发剂；vt.着以淡淡的颜色 | |
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furrowed
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| v.犁田，开沟( furrow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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gilding
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| n.贴金箔，镀金 | |
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cozy
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| adj.亲如手足的，密切的，暖和舒服的 | |
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refreshing
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| adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的 | |
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fatigues
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| n.疲劳( fatigue的名词复数 )；杂役；厌倦；（士兵穿的）工作服 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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flicker
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| vi./n.闪烁，摇曳，闪现 | |
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13
benevolent
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| adj.仁慈的，乐善好施的 | |
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14
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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16
sipped
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| v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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17
bawled
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| v.大叫，大喊( bawl的过去式和过去分词 )；放声大哭；大声叫出；叫卖（货物） | |
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hearth
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| n.壁炉炉床，壁炉地面 | |
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placid
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| adj.安静的，平和的 | |
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serenely
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| adv.安详地，宁静地，平静地 | |
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21
strutted
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| 趾高气扬地走，高视阔步( strut的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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23
winking
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| n.瞬眼，目语v.使眼色( wink的现在分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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24
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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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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buoy
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| n.浮标；救生圈；v.支持，鼓励 | |
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bin
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| n.箱柜；vt.放入箱内；[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件 | |
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tar
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| n.柏油，焦油；vt.涂或浇柏油/焦油于 | |
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yarn
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| n.纱，纱线，纺线；奇闻漫谈，旅行轶事 | |
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hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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31
naval
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| adj.海军的，军舰的，船的 | |
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wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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33
replenish
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| vt.补充；(把…)装满；(再)填满 | |
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reign
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| n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势 | |
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35
knights
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| 骑士； （中古时代的）武士( knight的名词复数 )； 骑士； 爵士； （国际象棋中）马 | |
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murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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38
brewed
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| 调制( brew的过去式和过去分词 )； 酝酿； 沏（茶）； 煮（咖啡） | |
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39
friendliness
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| n.友谊，亲切，亲密 | |
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40
entreaty
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| n.恳求，哀求 | |
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41
fragrant
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| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
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42
mused
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| v.沉思，冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 )；沉思自语说（某事） | |
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