jeremy-第29章

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〃Isn't　Charlotte　too　lovely　to…day？〃　or　〃Really；　Mrs。　Cole；　did　you
ever　see　anything　like　Charlotte's　hair？〃　or　〃Just　a　moment；　Mrs。
Cole；　I'm　sure　you've　never　seen　such　hands　and　feet　on　any　human
being　before！〃and　it　was　impossible　to　tell　whether　or　no
Charlotte　was　moved　by　these　praises；　because　she　never　said
anything　at　all。　She　was　almost　completely　silent；　and　once；　at　the
tea…gathering　in　Cow　Farm；　when　she　suddenly　said：　〃I'm　tired；
Mama；〃　Jeremy　nearly　jumped　from　his　chair；　so　astonished　he　was。

Jeremy　had；　during　the　year　that　intervened　between　that　visit　and
this；　sometimes　thought　of　Charlotte；　and　he　had　looked　back　upon
her；　not　as　a　little　girl　but　as　something　strange；　fantastic；
wonderfully　coloured；　whom　it　would　be　interesting　to　see　again。　He
wondered　why　Mary　and　Helen　could　not　be　like　that；　instead　of
running　about　and　screaming　and　becoming　red　in　the　face。　He　said
once　to　Mary　that　she　should　imitate　Charlotte；　and　the　scene　that
followed　was　terrible。　Mary；　from　that　moment；　hated　Charlotte　with
an　overpowering　hatred。

Here　this　year　they　were　again。　Mrs。　Le　Page　with　her　long　neck；　her
beautiful　pearl　ear…rings；　her　pale　watery　eyes　and　her　tapering
fingers；　Charlotte　just　as　before；　silent；　beautiful　and　precious。
There　was　again　a　tea…　party　at　Cow　Farm；　and　on　this　occasion
Jeremy　was　asked　to　show　Hamlet。　But　Hamlet　behaved　badly；　trying　to
jump　upon　Charlotte's　white　frock　and　soil　her　blue　ribbons。
Charlotte　screamed　exactly　as　a　doll　screams　when　you　press　it　in
the　stomach；　and　Hamlet　was　so　deeply　astonished　at　the　unexpected
noise　that　he　stopped　his　bad　behaviour；　sat　on　his　hind　legs；　and
gazed　up　at　her　with　an　anxious　wondering　expression。　In　spite　of
this　unfortunate　incident；　the　visit　went　off　well；　and　Mrs。　Cole
said　that　she　had　never　seen　anything　so　lovely　as　Charlotte；　and
Mrs。　Le　Page　said；　〃No；　had　anyone　ever？〃　and　Charlotte　never　turned
a　hair。　The　final　arrangement　was　that　there　should　be　a　picnic　and
soon；　because　〃Mr。　Le　Page　has　to　return　to　Warwickshire　to　look
after　the　Estateso　tiresome；　but　I've　no　doubt　it's　all　going　to
wrack　and　ruin　without　him。〃

After　the　picnic　had　been　arranged　the　Coles　were；　frankly；　a　little
uneasy。　The　family　of　Le　Page　was　not　the　easiest　in　the　world　to
entertain；　and　the　thought　of　a　whole　day　with　Mr。　Le　Page；　who　was
a　very　black；　very　silent　gentleman　and　looked　as　though　he　were
always　counting　sums　over　in　his　head；　was　truly　alarming。　Moreover；
in　the　ordinary　way；　a　picnic；　which　depended　so　entirely　for　its
success　on　the　weather；　was　no　great　risk；　because　the　Coles　were
indifferent　to　rain；　as　all　true　Glebeshire　people　must　be。　But　that
the　Le　Pages　should　be　wet　was　quite　another　affair；　the　thought　of
a　dripping　Mrs。　Le　Page　was　intolerable；　but　of　a　dripping　Charlotte
quite　impossible；　moreover；　the　plain　but　excellent　foodpasties；
saffron　cake；　apples　and　ginger　beerenjoyed　by　the　Coles　seemed
quite　too　terrestrial　for　the　Le　Pages。　Mrs。　Le　Page　and　ginger
beer！　Charlotte　and　pasties！　。　。　。　nevertheless；　the　invitation　had
been　given　and　accepted。　The　Coles　could　but　anxiously　inspect　the
sky。　。　。




II


There　was　another　reason　why　Jeremy　looked　forward　to　the　picnic
with　impatience。　A　funny　old　lady；　named　Miss　Henhouse；　who　lived
near　Cow　Farm　in　a　little　cottage　all　by　herself；　called　sometimes
upon　the　Coles　and　told　them　stories　about　the　people　and　the　place；
which　made　them　〃sit　up　in　their　chairs。〃　She　was　an　old　lady　with
sharp　eyes；　a　black　moustache　and　a　double　chin；　wore　an　old　shabby
bonnet；　grey　mittens　and　large　shoes　which　banged　after　her　as　she
walked。　She　leant　on　a　cane　with　a　silver　knob　to　it；　and　she　wore　a
huge　cameo　brooch　on　her　breast　with　a　miniature　of　herself　inside
it。　She　was　what　is　called　in　novels　〃a　character。〃　There　was　no　one
who　knew　so　much　about　Rafiel　and　its　neighbourhood；　she　had　lived
here　for　ever；　her　father　had　been　a　friend　of　Wellington's　and　had
known　members　of　the　local　Press　Gang　intimately。　It　was　from　her
that　Jeremy　heard；　in　detail；　the　famous　story　of　the　Scarlet
Admiral。　It　was；　of　course；　in　any　case；　a　well…known　story；　and
Jeremy　had　often　heard　it　before；　but　Miss　Henhouse　made　it　a　new；　a
most　vivid　and　realistic　thing。　She　sat　forward　in　her　chair；
leaning　on　her　silver…headed　cane；　her　eyes　staring　in　front　of　her；
her　two　chins　bobbing；　gazing；　gazing　as　though　it　all　had　happened
before　her　very　nose。

How　one　night　outside　Rafiel　Cove　there　was　a　terrible　storm；　and　on
the　morning　afterwards　a　wonderful；　smiling　calm；　and　how　the
village　idiot；　out　for　his　early　morning　stroll；　saw　a　splendid　ship
riding　beyond　the　Cove；　a　ship　of　gold　with　sails　of　silk　and
jewelled　masts。　As　he　watched；　from　the　ship　a　boat　pushed　out；　and
then　landed　on　the　sand　of　the　Cove　a　wonderful　company　in　cocked
hats　of　gold　lace；　plush　breeches　of　red；　and　shoes　with　diamond
buckles。　The　leader　of　them　was　a　little　man　with　a　vast　cocked　hat
and　a　splendid　sword　all　studded　with　jewels。　The　fool；　peering　over
the　hedge；　saw　him　give　orders　to　his　men；　and　then　walk；　alone；　up
the　little　winding　path；　to　the　cliff…top。　Straight　up　the　path　he
came；　then　right　past　the　fool　himself；　standing　at　last　upon　the
turnip　field　of　Farmer　Ede；　one　of　the　greatest　of　the　farmers　of
those　parts。　And　here　he　waited；　staring　out　to　sea；　his　arms
crossed；　his　eyes　very　fierce　and　very；　very　sad。　Then　a　second　time
from　the　golden　ship　a　boat　pushed　out；　cutting　its　way　through　the
glassy　seaand　there　landed　on　the　beach　a　young　man；　very
beautiful；　in　a　suit　of　blue　and　gold；　and　he；　without　a　glance　at
the　waiting　sailors；　also　slowly　climbed　the　sea…path；　and　at　last
he　too　reached　Farmer　Ede's　turnip　field。　Then　he　and　the　Scarlet
Admiral　bowed　to　one　another；　very　beautifully；　very　sadly；　and
very；　very　fiercely。　As　the　sun　rose　high　in　the　sky；　as　the　cows
passed　clumsily　down　the　lane　behind　the　field　so　the　fool；　with
eyes　staring　and　heart　thumping；　saw　these　two　fight　a　duel　to　the
death。　There　could　be　no　question；　from　the　first；　how　it　would　end。
The　beautiful　young　man　in　his　fine　blue　suit　and　his　white　cambric
shirt　had　despair　upon　his　face。　He　knew　that　his　hour　had　come。　And
the　eyes　of　the　Scarlet　Admiral　were　ever　sadder　and　ever　fiercer。
Then；　with　a　sudden　move；　a　little　turn　of　his　agile　body；　the
Scarlet　Admiral　had　the　young　man　through　the　breast。　The　young　man
threw　up　his　arms　and　cried；　and　as　the　Scarlet　Admiral　withdrew　his
sword；　dripping　with　blood　from　his　body；　the　young　man　fell
backwards　over　the　cliff　into　the　sea。　Then　the　Scarlet　Admiral
wiped　his　sword　on　the　grass　and；　slowly　and　sadly；　walked　down　the
cliff…path　even　as　he　had　walked　up。　He　joined　his　men；　they　found
their　boat；　pushed　out　to　their　ship；　and　even　as　they　landed　upon
her　she　had　disappeared。　A　moment　later　the　fool　saw　the　parson　of
Rafiel　Church　coming　round　the　corner　for　his　morning　bathe；　and　two
minutes　afterwards　nothing　human　was　to　be　seen　save　the　naked　limbs
of　the　parson　and　his　little　bundle　of　black　clothes　lying　neatly
upon　a　stone。　Then　the　fool　ran　all　the　way　home　to　his　mother　who
was　a　widow；　and　sat　and　cried　and　cried　for　the　beautiful　young　man
who　had　been　slain；　nor　would　he　eat；　nor　taste　the　excellent　Rafiel
beer；　and　he　pined　away；　and　at　last　he　died；　first　telling　this
history　to　his　mother；　who；　like　all　widows；　was　a　garulous　woman
and　loved　a　good　story。　。　。

Impossible　to　imagine　with　what　life　and　fire　old　Miss　Henhouse　gave
this　history。　You　could　see　with　your　own　eyes　the　golden　ship；　the
diamond　buckles　of　the　Scarlet　Admiral；　the　young　man's　sad　eyes；
the　parson's　black　clothes。　When　she　had　finished　it　seemed　to
Jeremy　that　it　must　have　been　just　so。　She　told　him　that　now　on　a
summer　morning　or　evening　the　Scarlet　Admiral　might　still　be　seen；
climbing　the　cliff…path；　wiping　his　sword　upon　the　grass；　gazing　out
with　sad　eyes　to　sea。　Jeremy　swore　to　himself　that　on　the　next
occasion　of　visiting　the　Cove　he　would　watch　。　。　。　he　would　watch…
but　to　no　single　human　being　would　he　speak　anything　of　this。

This　was　the　second　reason　why　he　had　looked　forward　so　eagerly　to
the　sea…picnic。




III


The　day　arrived；　and　it　was　marvellously　fineone　of　those　days　in
August　when　heat　possesses　the　world　and　holds　it　tranced　and　still；
but　has　in　the　very　strength　of　its　possession　some　scent　of　the
decay　and　chill　of　autumn　that　is　to　follow　so　close　upon　its　heels。
There　was　no　breeze；　no　wind　from　the　sea；　only　a　sky　utterly
without　cloud　and　a　world　without　sound。

Punctually　at　eleven　of　the　morning　the　splendid　Le　Page　equipage
arrived　at　Cow　Farm。　Splendid　it　was！　A　large　wagonette；　with　a
stout　supercilious　fellow　on　the　box　who　sniffed　at　the　healthy
odours　of　the　farm　and　stared　haughtily　at　Mrs。　Monk　as　though　she
should　be　ashamed　to　be　alive。　The　Coles　had　provided　a　small　plump
〃jingle〃　with　a　small　plump　pony；　their　regular　conveyance；　the　pony
was　Bob；　and　he　would　not　go　up　hills　unless　persuaded　with　sugar；
but　Jeremy　loved　him　and　would　not　have　ridden　behind　any　other
steed　in　the　whole　world。　How　contemptuously　the　big　black　horses　of
the　wagonette　gazed　down　their　nostrils　at　Bob；　and　how　superbly
Mrs。　Le　Page；　sitting　very　upright　under　her　white　sunshade；　greeted
Mrs。　Cole！

〃Dear　Mrs。　Cole。　Such　a　hot　morning；　isn't　it？　Lovely；　of　course；
but　so　hot。〃

〃I'm　afraid；〃　Jeremy　heard　his　mother　say；　〃that　your　carriage　will
never　get　down　the　Rafiel　Lane；　Mrs。　Le　Page。　We　hoped　you'd　come　in
the　dog…cart。　Plenty　of　room。　。　。〃

Superb　to　witness　the　fashion　in　which　Mrs。　Le　Page　gazed　at　the
dog…cart。

〃For　all　of　us？　。　。　。　Dear　Mrs。　Cole；　I　scarcely　thinkAnd
Charlotte's　frock　。　。　。〃

Then　Jeremy　turned　his　eyes　to　Charlotte。　She　sat　under　a　miniature
sunshade　of　white　silk　and　lace；　a　vision　of　loveliness。　She　was　a
shimmer　of　white；　a　little　white　cloud　that　had　settled　for　a　moment
upon　the　seat　of　the　carriage　to　allow　the　sun　to　dance　upon　it；　to
caress　it　with　fingers　of　fire；　so　to　separate　it　from　the　rest　of
the　world　for　ever　as　something　too　precious　to　be　touched。　Jeremy
had　never　seen　anything　so　lovely。

He　blushed　and　scraped　his　boots　the　one　against　the　other。

〃And　this　is　Jeremy？〃　said　Mrs。　Le　Page　as　though　she　said：　〃And
this　is　where　you　keep　your　little　pigs；　Mr。　Monk？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Jeremy；　blushing。

〃Charlotte；　you　know　Jeremy。　You　must　be　friends。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Charlotte；　without　moving。　Then　Jeremy　tumbled　into　the
stern　gaze　of　Mr。　Le　Page　who；　arrayed　as　he　was　in　a　very　smart
suit　of　the　whitest　flannels；　looked　with　his　black　beard　and　fierce
black　eyebrows　like　a　pirate　king　disguised。

〃How　are　you　？〃　said　Mr。　Le　Page　in　a　deep　bass　voice。

〃Very　well；　thank　you；〃　said　Jeremy。

To　tell　the　truth；　Mrs。　Cole's　heart　sadly　misgave　her　when　she　saw
the　Le　Page　family　all　sitting　up　so　new　and　so　bright　in　their　new
and　bright　carriage。　She　thought　of　the　simple　preparations　that　had
been　madethe　pasties；　the　saffron　buns　and　the　ginger　beer；　she
looked　around　her　at　the　very　plain　but　useful　garments　worn