armadale-第56章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



〃With　all　my　heart；〃　said　Allan；　in　his　good…humored　way。　〃I　know
lots　of　tunes；　but　the　worst　of　it　is；　the　words　escape　me。　I
wonder　if　I　can　remember　one　of　Moore's　Melodies？　My　poor　mother
used　to　be　fond　of　teaching　me　Moore's　Melodies　when　I　was　a
boy。〃

〃Whose　melodies？〃　asked　Mrs。　Pentecost。　〃Moore's？　Aha！　I　know　Tom
Moore　heart。〃

〃Perhaps　in　that　case　you　will　he　good　enough　to　help　me；　ma'am；
if　my　memory　breaks　down；〃　rejoined　Allan。　〃I'll　take　the　easiest
melody　in　the　whole　collection；　if　you'll　allow　me。　Everybody
knows　it'Eveleen's　Bower。'　〃

〃I'm　familiar；　in　a　general　sort　of　way；　with　the　national
melodies　of　England；　Scotland；　and　Ireland；〃　said　Pedgift　Junior。
〃I'll　accompany　you；　sir；　with　the　greatest　pleasure。　This　is　the
sort　of　thing；　I　think。〃　He　seated　himself　cross…legged　on　the
roof　of　the　cabin；　and　burst　into　a　complicated　musical
improvisation　wonderful　to　heara　mixture　of　instrumental
flourishes　and　groans；　a　jig　corrected　by　a　dirge；　and　a　dirge
enlivened　by　a　jig。　〃That's　the　sort　of　thing；〃　said　young
Pedgift；　with　his　smile　of　supreme　confidence。　〃Fire　away；　sir！〃

Mrs。　Pentecost　elevated　her　trumpet；　and　Allan　elevated　his
voice。　〃Oh；　weep　for　the　hour　when　to　Eveleen's　Bower〃　He
stopped；　the　accompaniment　stopped；　the　audience　waited。　〃It's　a
most　extraordinary　thing；〃　said　Allan；　〃I　thought　I　had　the　next
line　on　the　tip　of　my　tongue；　and　it　seems　to　have　escaped　me。
I'll　begin　again；　if　you　have　no　objection。　'Oh；　weep　for　the
hour　when　to　Eveleen's　Bower'　〃

〃　'The　lord　of　the　valley　with　false　vows　came；'　〃　said　Mrs。
Pentecost。

〃Thank　you；　ma'am；〃　said　Allan。　〃Now　I　shall　get　on　smoothly。
'Oh；　weep　for　the　hour　when　to　Eveleen's　Bower；　the　lord　of　the
valley　with　false　vows　came。　The　moon　was　shining　bright'　〃

〃No！〃　said　Mrs。　Pentecost。

〃I　beg　your　pardon；　ma'am；〃　remonstrated　Allan。　〃　'The　moon　was。
shining　bright'　〃

〃The　moon　wasn't　doing　anything　of　the　kind；〃　said　Mrs。
Pentecost。

Pedgift　Junior；　foreseeing　a　dispute；　persevered　_sotto　voce_
with　the　accompaniment；　in　the　interests　of　harmony。

〃Moore's　own　words；　ma'am；〃　said　Allan；　〃in　my　mother's　copy　of
the　Melodies。〃

〃Your　mother's　copy　was　wrong；〃　retorted　Mrs。　Pentecost。　〃Didn't
I　tell　you　just　now　that　I　knew　Tom　Moore　by　heart？〃

Pedgift　Junior's　peace…making　concertina　still　flourished　and
groaned　in　the　minor　key。

〃Well；　what　_did_　the　moon　do？〃　asked　Allan；　in　despair。

〃What　the　moon　_ought_　to　have　done；　sir；　or　Tom　Moore　wouldn't
have　written　it　so；〃　rejoined　Mrs。　Pentecost。　〃　'The　moon　hid　her
light　from　the　heaven　that　night；　and　wept　behind　her　clouds　o'er
the　maiden's　shame！'　I　wish　that　young　man　would　leave　off
playing；〃　added　Mrs。　Pentecost；　venting　her　rising　irritation　on
Gustus　Junior。　〃I've　had　enough　of　himhe　tickles　my　ears。〃

〃Proud；　I'm　sure；　ma'am；〃　said　the　unblushing　Pedgift。　〃The　whole
science　of　music　consists　in　tickling　the　ears。〃

〃We　seem　to　be　drifting　into　a　sort　of　argument；〃　remarked　Major
Milroy；　placidly。　〃Wouldn't　it　be　better　if　Mr。　Armadale　went　on
with　his　song？〃

〃Do　go　on；　Mr。　Armadale！〃　added　the　major's　daughter。　〃Do　go　on；
Mr。　Pedgift！〃

〃One　of　them　doesn't　know　the　words；　and　the　other　doesn't　know
the　music；〃　said　Mrs。　Pentecost。　〃Let　them　go　on　if　they　can！〃

〃Sorry　to　disappoint　you；　ma'am；〃　said　Pedgift　Junior；　〃I'm　ready
to　go　on　myself　to　any　extent。　Now；　Mr。　Armadale！〃

Allan　opened　his　lips　to　take　up　the　unfinished　melody　where　he
had　last　left　it。　Before　he　could　utter　a　note；　the　curate
suddenly　rose；　with　a　ghastly　face；　and　a　hand　pressed
convulsively　over　the　middle　region　of　his　waistcoat。

〃What's　the　matter？〃　cried　the　whole　boating　party　in　chorus。

〃I　am　exceedingly　unwell；〃　said　the　Reverend　Samuel　Pentecost。
The　boat　was　instantly　in　a　state　of　confusion。　〃Eveleen's　Bower〃
expired　on　Allan's　lips；　and　even　the　irrepressible　concertina　of
Pedgift　was　silenced　at　last。　The　alarm　proved　to　be　quite
needless。　Mrs。　Pentecost's　son　possessed　a　mother；　and　that
mother　had　a　bag。　In　two　seconds　the　art　of　medicine　occupied　the
place　left　vacant　in　the　attention　of　the　company　by　the　art　of
music。

〃Rub　it　gently；　Sammy；〃　said　Mrs。　Pentecost。　〃I'll　get　out　the
bottles　and　give　you　a　dose。　It's　his　poor　stomach；　major。　Hold
my　trumpet；　somebodyand　stop　the　boat。　You　take　that　bottle；
Neelie；　my　dear；　and　you　take　this　one；　Mr。　Armadale；　and　give
them　to　me　as　I　want　them。　Ah；　poor　dear；　I　know　what's　the
matter　with　him！　Want　of　power　_here；_　majorcold；　acid；　and
flabby。　Ginger　to　warm　him；　soda　to　correct　him；　sal　volatile　to
hold　him　up。　There；　Sammy！　drink　it　before　it　settles；　and　then
go　and　lie　down；　my　dear；　in　that　dog…kennel　of　a　place　they　call
the　cabin。　No　more　music！〃　added　Mrs。　Pentecost；　shaking　her
forefinger　at　the　proprietor　of　the　concertina〃unless　it's　a
hymn；　and　that　I　don't　object　to。〃

Nobody　appearing　to　be　in　a　fit　frame　of　mind　for　singing　a　hymn；
the　all…accomplished　Pedgift　drew　upon　his　stores　of　local
knowledge；　and　produced　a　new　idea。　The　course　of　the　boat　was
immediately　changed　under　his　direction。　In　a　few　minutes　more；
the　company　found　themselves　in　a　little　island　creek；　with　a
lonely　cottage　at　the　far　end　of　it；　and　a　perfect　forest　of
reeds　closing　the　view　all　round　them。　〃What　do　you　say；　ladies
and　gentlemen；　to　stepping　on　shore　and　seeing　what　a
reed…cutter's　cottage　looks　like？〃　suggested　young　Pedgift。

〃We　say　yes；　to　be　sure；〃　answered　Allan。　〃I　think　our　spirits
have　been　a　little　dashed　by　Mr。　Pentecos　t's　illness　and　Mrs。
Pentecost's　bag；〃　he　added；　in　a　whisper　to　Miss　Milroy。　〃A
change　of　this　sort　is　the　very　thing　we　want　to　set　us　all　going
again。〃

He　and　young　Pedgift　handed　Miss　Milroy　out　of　the　boat。　The
major　followed。　Mrs。　Pentecost　sat　immovable　as　the　Egyptian
Sphinx；　with　her　bag　on　her　knees；　mounting　guard　over　〃Sammy〃　in
the　cabin。

〃We　must　keep　the　fun　going；　sir；〃　said　Allan；　as　he　helped　the
major　over　the　side　of　the　boat。　〃We　haven't　half　done　yet　with
the　enjoyment　of　the　day。〃

His　voice　seconded　his　hearty　belief　in　his　own　prediction　to
such　good　purpose　that　even　Mrs。　Pentecost　heard　him；　and
ominously　shook　her　head。

〃Ah！〃　sighed　the　curate's　mother；　〃if　you　were　as　old　as　I　am；
young　gentleman；　you　wouldn't　feel　quite　so　sure　of　the　enjoyment
of　the　day！〃

So；　in　rebuke　of　the　rashness　of　youth；　spoke　the　caution　of　age。
The　negative　view　is　notoriously　the　safe　view；　all　the　world
over；　and　the　Pentecost　philosophy　is；　as　a　necessary
consequence；　generally　in　the　right。

CHAPTER　IX。

FATE　OR　CHANCE？

IT　was　close　on　six　o'clock　when　Allan　and　his　friends　left　the
boat；　and　the　evening　influence　was　creeping　already；　in　its
mystery　and　its　stillness；　over　the　watery　solitude　of　the
Broads。

The　shore　in　these　wild　regions　was　not　like　the　shore　elsewhere。
Firm　as　it　looked；　the　garden　ground　in　front　of　the
reed…cutter's　cottage　was　floating　ground；　that　rose　and　fell　and
oozed　into　puddles　under　the　pressure　of　the　foot。　The　boatmen
who　guided　the　visitors　warned　them　to　keep　to　the　path；　and
pointed　through　gaps　in　the　reeds　and　pollards　to　grassy　places；
on　which　strangers　would　have　walked　confidently；　where　the　crust
of　earth　was　not　strong　enough　to　bear　the　weight　of　a　child　over
the　unfathomed　depths　of　slime　and　water　beneath。　The　solitary
cottage；　built　of　planks　pitched　black；　stood　on　ground　that　had
been　steadied　and　strengthened　by　resting　it　on　piles。　A　little
wooden　tower　rose　at　one　end　of　the　roof；　and　served　as　a　lookout
post　in　the　fowling　season。　From　this　elevation　the　eye　ranged
far　and　wide　over　a　wilderness　of　winding　water　and　lonesome
marsh。　If　the　reed…cutter　had　lost　his　boat；　he　would　have　been
as　completely　isolated　from　all　communication　with　town　or
village　as　if　his　place　of　abode　had　been　a　light…vessel　instead
of　a　cottage。　Neither　he　nor　his　family　complained　of　their
solitude；　or　looked　in　any　way　the　rougher　or　the　worse　for　it。
His　wife　received　the　visitors　hospitably；　in　a　snug　little　room；
with　a　raftered　ceiling；　and　windows　which　looked　like　windows　in
a　cabin　on　board　ship。　His　wife's　father　told　stories　of　the
famous　days　when　the　smugglers　came　up　from　the　sea　at　night；
rowing　through　the　net…work　of　rivers　with　muffled　oars　till　they
gained　the　lonely　Broads；　and　sank　their　spirit　casks　in　the
water；　far　from　the　coast…guard's　reach。　His　wild　little　children
played　at　hide…and…seek　with　the　visitors；　and　the　visitors
ranged　in　and　out　of　the　cottage；　and　round　and　round　the　morsel
of　firm　earth　on　which　it　stood；　surprised　and　delighted　by　the
novelty　of　all　they　saw。　The　one　person　who　noticed　the　advance
of　the　eveningthe　one　person　who　thought　of　the　flying　time　and
the　stationary　Pentecosts　in　the　boatwas　young　Pedgift。　That
experienced　pilot　of　the　Broads　looked　askance　at　his　watch；　and
drew　Allan　aside　at　the　first　opportunity。

〃I　don't　wish　to　hurry　you；　Mr。　Armadale；〃　said　Pedgift　Junior；
〃but　the　time　is　getting　on；　and　there's　a　lady　in　the　case。　〃

〃A　lady？〃　repeated　Allan。

〃Yes；　sir；〃　rejoined　young　Pedgift。　〃A　lady　from　London；
connected　（if　you'll　allow　me　to　jog　your　memory）　with　a
pony…chaise　and　white　harness。〃

〃Good　heavens；　the　governess！〃　cried　Allan。　〃Why；　we　have
forgotten　all　about　her！〃

〃Don't　be　alarmed；　sir；　there's　plenty　of　time；　if　we　only　get
into　the　boat　again。　This　is　how　it　stands；　Mr。　Armadale。　We
settled；　if　you　remember；　to　have　the　gypsy　tea…making　at　the
next　'Broad'　to　thisHurle　Mere？〃

〃Certainly；〃　said　Allan。　〃Hurle　Mere　is　the　place　where　my　friend
Midwinter　has　promised　to　come　and　meet　us。〃

〃Hurle　Mere　is　where　the　governess　will　be；　sir；　if　your　coachman
follows　my　directions；〃　pursued　young　Pedgift。　〃We　have　got
nearly　an　hour's　punting　to　do；　along　the　twists　and　turns　of　the
narrow　waters　（which　they　call　The　Sounds　here）　between　this　and
Hurle　Mere；　and　according　to　my　calculations　we　must　get　on　board
again　in　five　minutes；　if　we　are　to　be　in　time　to　meet　the
governess　and　to　meet　your　friend。〃

〃We　mustn't　miss　my　friend　on　any　account；〃　said　Allan；　〃or　the
governess；　either；　of　course。　I'll　tell　the　major。〃

Major　Milroy　was　at　that　moment　preparing　to　mount　the　wooden
watch…tower　of　the　cottage　to　see　the　view。　The　ever　useful
Pedgift　volunteered　to　go　up　with　him；　and　rattle　off　all　the
necessary　local　explanations　in　half　the　time　which　the
reed…cutter　would　occupy　in　describing　his　own　neighborhood　to　a
stranger。

Allan　remained　standing　in　front　of　the　cottage；　more　quiet　and
more　thoughtful　than　usual。　His　interview　with　young　Pedgift　had
brought　his　absent　friend　to　his　memory　for　the　first　time　since
the　picnic　party　had　started。　He　was　surprised　that　Midwinter；　so
much　in　his　thoughts　on　all　other　occasions；　should　have　been　so
long　out　of　his　thoughts　now。　Something　troubled　him；　like　a
sense　of　self…reproach；　as　his　mind　reverted　to　the　faithful
friend　at　home；　toiling　hard　over　the　steward's　books；　in　his
interests　and　for　his　sake。　〃Dear　old　fellow；〃　thought　Allan；　〃I
shall　be　so　glad　to　see　him　at　the　Mere；　the　day's　pleasure　won't