the hand of ethelberta-第63章

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and　get　on　to　Anglebury？　　We　may　rest　an　hour　or　two　there；　unless
you　feel　really　in　want　of　a　meal。'

'No。　　I'll　leave　eating　to　merrier　men；　who　have　no　sister　in　the
hands　of　a　cursed　old　Vandal。'

'Very　well；'　said　Mountclere。　　'We'll　go　on　at　once。'

An　additional　half…hour　elapsed　before　they　were　fairly　started；　the
lateness　and　abruptness　of　their　arrival　causing　delay　in　getting　a
conveyance　ready：　　the　tempestuous　night　had　apparently　driven　the
whole　town；　gentle　and　simple；　early　to　their　beds。　　And　when　at
length　the　travellers　were　on　their　way　the　aspect　of　the　weather
grew　yet　more　forbidding。　　The　rain　came　down　unmercifully；　the
booming　wind　caught　it；　bore　it　across　the　plain；　whizzed　it　against
the　carriage　like　a　sower　sowing　his　seed。　　It　was　precisely　such
weather；　and　almost　at　the　same　season；　as　when　Picotee　traversed
the　same　moor；　stricken　with　her　great　disappointment　at　not　meeting
Christopher　Julian。

Further　on　for　several　miles　the　drive　lay　through　an　open　heath；
dotted　occasionally　with　fir　plantations；　the　trees　of　which　told
the　tale　of　their　species　without　help　from　outline　or　colour；　they
spoke　in　those　melancholy　moans　and　sobs　which　give　to　their　sound　a
solemn　sadness　surpassing　even　that　of　the　sea。　　From　each　carriage…
lamp　the　long　rays　stretched　like　feelers　into　the　air；　and　somewhat
cheered　the　way；　until　the　insidious　damp　that　pervaded　all　things
above；　around；　and　underneath；　overpowered　one　of　them；　and　rendered
every　attempt　to　rekindle　it　ineffectual。　　Even　had　the　two　men's
dislike　to　each　other's　society　been　less；　the　general　din　of　the
night　would　have　prevented　much　talking；　as　it　was；　they　sat　in　a
rigid　reticence　that　was　almost　a　third　personality。　　The　roads　were
laid　hereabouts　with　a　light　sandy　gravel；　which；　though　not
clogging；　was　soft　and　friable。　　It　speedily　became　saturated；　and
the　wheels　ground　heavily　and　deeply　into　its　substance。

At　length；　after　crossing　from　ten　to　twelve　miles　of　these　eternal
heaths　under　the　eternally　drumming　storm；　they　could　discern
eyelets　of　light　winking　to　them　in　the　distance　from　under　a
nebulous　brow　of　pale　haze。　　They　were　looking　on　the　little　town　of
Havenpool。　　Soon　after　this　cross…roads　were　reached；　one　of　which；
at　right　angles　to　their　present　direction；　led　down　on　the　left　to
that　place。　　Here　the　man　stopped；　and　informed　them　that　the　horses
would　be　able　to　go　but　a　mile　or　two　further。

'Very　well；　we　must　have　others　that　can；'　said　Mountclere。　　'Does
our　way　lie　through　the　town？'

'No；　sirunless　we　go　there　to　change　horses；　which　I　thought　to
do。　　The　direct　road　is　straight　on。　　Havenpool　lies　about　three
miles　down　there　on　the　left。　　But　the　water　is　over　the　road；　and
we　had　better　go　round。　　We　shall　come　to　no　place　for　two　or　three
miles；　and　then　only　to　Flychett。'

'What's　Flychett　like？'

'A　trumpery　small　bit　of　a　village。'

'Still；　I　think　we　had　better　push　on；'　said　Sol。　　'I　am　against
running　the　risk　of　finding　the　way　flooded　about　Havenpool。'

'So　am　I；'　returned　Mountclere。

'I　know　a　wheelwright　in　Flychett；'　continued　Sol；　'and　he　keeps　a
beer…house；　and　owns　two　horses。　　We　could　hire　them；　and　have　a　bit
of　sommat　in　the　shape　of　victuals；　and　then　get　on　to　Anglebury。
Perhaps　the　rain　may　hold　up　by　that　time。　　Anything's　better　than
going　out　of　our　way。'

'Yes。　　And　the　horses　can　last　out　to　that　place；'　said　Mountclere。
'Up　and　on　again；　my　man。'

On　they　went　towards　Flychett。　　Still　the　everlasting　heath；　the
black　hills　bulging　against　the　sky；　the　barrows　upon　their　round
summits　like　warts　on　a　swarthy　skin。　　The　storm　blew　huskily　over
bushes　of　heather　and　furze　that　it　was　unable　materially　to
disturb；　and　the　travellers　proceeded　as　before。　　But　the　horses
were　now　far　from　fresh；　and　the　time　spent　in　reaching　the　next
village　was　quite　half　as　long　as　that　taken　up　by　the　previous
heavy　portion　of　the　drive。　　When　they　entered　Flychett　it　was　about
three。

'Now；　where's　the　inn？'　said　Mountclere；　yawning。

'Just　on　the　knap；'　Sol　answered。　　''Tis　a　little　small　place；　and
we　must　do　as　well　as　we　can。'

They　pulled　up　before　a　cottage；　upon　the　whitewashed　front　of　which
could　be　seen　a　square　board　representing　the　sign。　　After　an
infinite　labour　of　rapping　and　shouting；　a　casement　opened　overhead；
and　a　woman's　voice　inquired　what　was　the　matter。　　Sol　explained；
when　she　told　them　that　the　horses　were　away　from　home。

'Now　we　must　wait　till　these　are　rested；'　growled　Mountclere。　　'A
pretty　muddle！'

'It　cannot　be　helped；'　answered　Sol；　and　he　asked　the　woman　to　open
the　door。　　She　replied　that　her　husband　was　away　with　the　horses　and
van；　and　that　they　could　not　come　in。

Sol　was　known　to　her；　and　he　mentioned　his　name；　but　the　woman　only
began　to　abuse　him。

'Come；　publican；　you'd　better　let　us　in；　or　we'll　have　the　law
for't；'　rejoined　Sol；　with　more　spirit。　　'You　don't　dare　to　keep
nobility　waiting　like　this。'

'Nobility！'

'My　mate　hev　the　title　of　Honourable；　whether　or　no；　so　let's　have
none　of　your　slack；'　said　Sol。

'Don't　be　a　fool；　young　chopstick；'　exclaimed　Mountclere。　　'Get　the
door　opened。'

'I　willin　my　own　way；'　said　Sol　testily。　　'You　mustn't　mind　my
trading　upon　your　quality；　as　'tis　a　case　of　necessity。　　This　is　a
woman　nothing　will　bring　to　reason　but　an　appeal　to　the　higher
powers。　　If　every　man　of　title　was　as　useful　as　you　are　to…night；
sir；　I'd　never　call　them　lumber　again　as　long　as　I　live。'

'How　singular！'

'There's　never　a　bit　of　rubbish　that　won't　come　in　use　if　you　keep
it　seven　years。'

'If　my　utility　depends　upon　keeping　you　company；　may　I　go　to　h…
for　lacking　every　atom　of　the　virtue。'

'Hear；　hear！　　But　it　hardly　is　becoming　in　me　to　answer　up　to　a　man
so　much　older　than　I；　or　I　could　say　more。　　Suppose　we　draw　a　line
here　for　the　present；　sir；　and　get　indoors？'

'Do　what　you　will；　in　Heaven's　name。'

A　few　more　words　to　the　woman　resulted　in　her　agreeing　to　admit　them
if　they　would　attend　to　themselves　afterwards。　　This　Sol　promised；
and　the　key　of　the　door　was　let　down　to　them　from　the　bedroom　window
by　a　string。　　When　they　had　entered；　Sol；　who　knew　the　house　well；
busied　himself　in　lighting　a　fire；　the　driver　going　off　with　a
lantern　to　the　stable；　where　he　found　standing…room　for　the　two
horses。　　Mountclere　walked　up　and　down　the　kitchen；　mumbling　words
of　disgust　at　the　situation；　the　few　of　this　kind　that　he　let　out
being　just　enough　to　show　what　a　fearfully　large　number　he　kept　in。

'A…calling　up　people　at　this　time　of　morning！'　the　woman
occasionally　exclaimed　down　the　stairs。　　'But　folks　show　no　mercy
upon　their　flesh　and　bloodnot　one　bit　or　mite。'

'Now　never　be　stomachy；　my　good　soul；'　cried　Sol　from　the　fireplace；
where　he　stood　blowing　the　fire　with　his　breath。　　'Only　tell　me
where　the　victuals　bide；　and　I'll　do　all　the　cooking。　　We'll　pay
like　princesespecially　my　mate。'

'There's　but　little　in　house；'　said　the　sleepy　woman　from　her
bedroom。　　'There's　pig's　fry；　a　side　of　bacon；　a　conger　eel；　and
pickled　onions。'

'Conger　eel？'　said　Sol　to　Mountclere。

'No；　thank　you。'

'Pig's　fry？'

'No；　thank　you。'

'Well；　then；　tell　me　where　the　bacon　is；'　shouted　Sol　to　the　woman。

'You　must　find　it；'　came　again　down　the　stairs。　　''Tis　somewhere　up
in　chimley；　but　in　which　part　I　can't　mind。　　Really　I　don't　know
whether　I　be　upon　my　head　or　my　heels；　and　my　brain　is　all　in　a
spin；　wi'　being　rafted　up　in　such　a　larry！'

'Bide　where　you　be；　there's　a　dear；'　said　Sol。　　'We'll　do　it　all。
Just　tell　us　where　the　tea…caddy　is；　and　the　gridiron；　and　then　you
can　go　to　sleep　again。'

The　woman　appeared　to　take　his　advice；　for　she　gave　the　information；
and　silence　soon　reigned　upstairs。

When　one　piece　of　bacon　had　been　with　difficulty　cooked　over　the
newly…lit　fire；　Sol　said　to　Mountclere；　with　the　rasher　on　his　fork：
'Now　look　here；　sir；　I　think　while　I　am　making　the　tea；　you　ought　to
go　on　griddling　some　more　of　these；　as　you　haven't　done　nothing　at
all？'

'I　do　the　paying。　。　。　。　　Well；　give　me　the　bacon。'

'And　when　you　have　done　yours；　I'll　cook　the　man's；　as　the　poor
feller's　hungry；　I　make　no　doubt。'

Mountclere；　fork　in　hand；　then　began　with　his　rasher；　tossing　it
about　the　gridiron　in　masterly　style；　Sol　attending　to　the　tea。　　He
was　attracted　from　this　occupation　by　a　brilliant　flame　up　the
chimney；　Mountclere　exclaiming；　'Now　the　cursed　thing　is　on　fire！'

'Blow　it　outhardthat's　it！　　Well　now；　sir；　do　you　come　and　begin
upon　mine；　as　you　must　be　hungry。　　I'll　finish　the　griddling。　　Ought
we　to　mind　the　man　sitting　down　in　our　company；　as　there's　no　other
room　for　him？　　I　hear　him　coming　in。'

'O　nonot　at　all。　　Put　him　over　at　that　table。'

'And　I'll　join　him。　　You　can　sit　here　by　yourself；　sir。'

The　meal　was　despatched；　and　the　coachman　again　retired；　promising
to　have　the　horses　ready　in　about　an　hour　and　a　half。　　Sol　and
Mountclere　made　themselves　comfortable　upon　either　side　of　the
fireplace；　since　there　was　no　remedy　for　the　delay：　　after　sitting
in　silence　awhile；　they　nodded　and　slept。

How　long　they　would　have　remained　thus；　in　consequence　of　their
fatigues；　there　is　no　telling；　had　not　the　mistress　of　the　cottage
descended　the　stairs　about　two　hours　later；　after　peeping　down　upon
them　at　intervals　of　five　minutes　during　their　sleep；　lest　they
should　leave　without　her　knowledge。　　It　was　six　o'clock；　and　Sol
went　out　for　the　man；　whom　he　found　snoring　in　the　hay…loft。　　There
was　now　real　necessity　for　haste；　and　in　ten　minutes　they　were　again
on　their　way。



Day　dawned　upon　the　'Red　Lion'　inn　at　Anglebury　with　a　timid　and
watery　eye。　　From　the　shadowy　archway　came　a　shining　lantern；　which
was　seen　to　be　dangling　from　the　hand　of　a　little　bow…legged　old
manthe　hostler；　John。　　Having　reached　the　front；　he　looked　around
to　measure　the　daylight；　opened　the　lantern；　and　extinguished　it　by
a　pinch　of　his　fingers。　　He　paused　for　a　moment　to　have　the
customary　word　or　two　with　his　neighbour　the　milkman；　who　usually
appeared　at　this　point　at　this　time。

'It　sounds　like　the　whistle　of　the　morning　train；'　the　milkman　said
as　he　drew　near；　a　scream　from　the　further　end　of　the　town　reaching
their　ears。　　'Well；　I　hope；　now　the　wind's　in　that　quarter；　we　shall
ha'e　a　little　more　fine　weatherhey；　hostler？'

'What　be　ye　a　talking　o'？'

'Can　hear　the　whistle　plain；　I　say。'

'O　ay。　　I　suppose　you　do。　　But　faith；　'tis　a　poor　fist　I　can　make　at
hearing　anything。　　There；　I　could　have　told　all　the　same　that　the
wind　was　in　the　east；　even　if　I　had　not　seed　poor　Thomas　Tribble's
smoke　blowing　across　the　little　orchard。　　Joints　be　a　true
weathercock　enough　when　past　three…score。　　These　easterly　rains；
when　they　do　come；　which　is　not　often；　come　wi'　might　enough　to
squail　a　man　into　his　grave。'

'Well；　we　must　look　for　it；　hostler。　。　。　。　　Why；　what　mighty
ekkypage　is　this；　come　to　town　at　such　a　purblinking　time　of　day？'

''Tis　what　time　only　can　tellthough　'twill　not　be　long　first；'　the
hostler　replied；　as　the　driver　of　the　pair　of　horses　and　carriage
containing　Sol　and　Mountclere　slackened　pace；　and　drew　rei