the pigeon pie-第11部分

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gentleman…like　bearing　as　Edmund；　prisoner　though　he　was。　　〃Now；

madam；　to　your　own　chamber。　　You　will　all　meet　to…morrow。〃



〃Good…night；　mother；〃　said　Edmund。　　〃Sleep　well；　think　this　is　but　a

dream；　and　only　remember　that　your　eldest　son　is　in　your　own　house。〃



〃Good…night；　my　brave　boy；〃　said　Lady　Woodley；　as　she　embraced　him

ardently。　　〃A　comfort；　indeed；　I　have　in　knowing　that　with　your

father's　face　you　have　his　steadfast；　loving；　unselfish　heart。　　We

meet　to…morrow。　　GOD'S　blessing　be　upon　you；　my　boy。〃



And　tenderly　embracing　the　children　she　left　the　hall；　followed　by　a

soldier；　who　was　to　guard　her　door；　and　allow　no　one　to　enter。

Edmund　next　kissed　his　sisters　and　little　Charles；　affectionately

wishing　them　good…night；　and　assuring　the　sobbing　Lucy　of　his　pardon。

Rose　whispered　to　him　to　say　something　to　comfort　Deborah；　who

continued　to　weep　piteously。



〃Deborah；〃　he　said；　〃I　must　thank　you　for　your　long　faithful　service

to　my　mother　in　her　poverty　and　distress。　　I　am　sure　you　knew　not

that　you　were　doing　me　any　harm。〃



〃Oh；　sir；〃　cried　poor　Deborah；　〃Oh　don't　speak　so　kind！　　I　had　rather

stand　up　to　be　a　mark　for　all　the　musketeers　in　the　Parliament　army

than　be　where　I　am　now。〃



Edmund　did　not　hear　half　what　she　said；　for　he　and　Walter　were

obliged　to　hasten　upstairs　to　the　chamber　which　was　to　be　their

prison　for　the　night。　　Rose；　at　the　same　time；　led　away　the　children；

poor　little　Charles　almost　asleep　in　the　midst　of　the　confusion。



Deborah's　troubles　were　not　over　yet；　the　captain　called　for　supper；

and　seeing　Walter's　basket　of　fish；　ordered　her　to　prepare　them　at

once　for　him。　　Afraid　to　refuse；　she　took　them　down　to　the　kitchen；

and　proceeded　to　her　cookery；　weeping　and　lamenting　all　the　time。



〃Oh；　the　sweet　generous…hearted　young　gentleman！　　That　I　should　have

been　the　death　of　such　as　he；　and　he　thanking　me　for　my　poor

services！　　'Tis　little　I　could　do；　with　my　crooked　temper；　that

plagues　all　I　love　the　very　best；　and　my　long　tongue！　　Oh　that　it　had

been　bitten　out　at　the　root！　　I　wishI　wish　I　was　a　mark　for　all　the

musketeers　in　the　Parliament　army　this　minute！　　And　Diggory；　the

rogue！　　Oh；　after　having　known　him　all　my　life；　who　would　have

thought　of　his　turning　informer？　　Why　was　not　he　killed　in　the　great

fight？　　It　would　have　broke　my　heart　less。〃



And　having　set　her　fish　to　boil；　Deborah　sank　on　the　chair；　her　apron

over　her　head；　and　proceeded　to　rock　herself　backwards　and　forwards

as　before。　　She　was　startled　by　a　touch；　and　a　lumpish　voice；

attempted　to　be　softened　into　an　insinuating　tone。　　〃I　say；　Deb；

don't　take　on。〃



She　sprung　up　as　if　an　adder　had　stung　her；　and　jumped　away　from　him。

〃Ha！　is　it　you？　　Dost　dare　to　speak　to　an　honest　girl？〃



〃Come；　come；　don't　be　fractious；　my　pretty　one；〃　said　Diggory；　in　the

amiable　tones　that　had　once　gained　her　heart。



But　now　her　retort　was　in　a　still　sharper；　more　angry　key。　　〃Your'n；

indeed！　　I'd　rather　stand　up　to　be　a　mark　for　all　the　musketeers　in

the　Parliament　army；　as　poor　Master　Edmund　is　like　to　be；　all　along

of　you。　　O　Diggory　Stokes；〃　she　added　ruefully；　〃I'd　not　have

believed　it　of　you；　if　my　own　father　had　sworn　it。〃



〃Hush；　hush；　Deb！〃　said　Diggory；　rather　sheepishly；　〃they've　done

hanging　the　folk。〃



〃Don't　be　for　putting　me　off　with　such　trash；〃　she　returned；　more

passionately；　〃you've　murdered　him　as　much　as　if　you　had　cut　his

throat；　and　pretty　nigh　Master　Walter　into　the　bargain；　and　you've

broke　my　lady's　heart；　you；　as　was　born　on　her　land　and　fed　with　her

bread。　　And　now　you　think　to　make　up　to　me；　do　you？〃



〃Wasn't　it　all　along　of　you　I　did　it？　　For　your　sake？〃



〃Well；　and　what　would　you　be　pleased　to　say　next？〃　cried　Deb；　her

voice　rising　in　shrillness　with　her　indignation。



〃Patience；　Deb；〃　said　Diggory；　showing　a　heavy　leathern　bag。　　〃No

more　toiling　in　this　ruinous　old　hall；　with　scanty　scraps；　hard

words；　and　no　wages；　but　a　tidy　little　homestead；　pig；　cow；　and

horse；　your　own。　　See　here；　Deb；〃　and　he　held　up　a　piece　of　money。



〃Silver！〃　she　exclaimed。



〃Ay；　ay；〃　said　Diggory；　grinning；　and　jingling　the　bag；　〃and　there　be

plenty　more　where　that　came　from。〃



〃It　is　the　price　of　Master　Edmund's　blood。〃



〃Don't　ye　say　that　now；　Deb；　'tis　all　for　you！〃　he　answered；　thinking

he　was　prevailing　because　she　was　less　violent；　too　stupid　to

perceive　the　difference　between　her　real　indignation　and　perpetual

scolding。



〃So　you　still　have　the　face　to　tell　me　so！〃　she　burst　out；　still　more

vehemently。　　〃I　tell　you；　I'd　rather　serve　my　lady　and　Mistress　Rose；

if　they　had　not　a　crust　to　give　me；　than　roll　in　gold　with　a　rogue

like　you。　　Get　along　with　you；　and　best　get　out　of　the　county；　for

not　a　boy　in　Dorset　but　will　cry　shame　on　you。〃



〃But　Deb；　Deb；〃　he　still　pleaded。



〃You　will　have　it；　then！〃　　And　dealing　him　a　hearty　box　on　the　ear；

away　ran　Deborah。　　Down　fell　bag；　money；　and　all；　and　Diggory　stood

gaping　and　astounded　for　a　moment；　then　proceeded　to　grope　after　the

coins　on　his　hands　and　knees。



Suddenly　a　voice　exclaimed；　〃How　now；　knave；　stealing　thy　mistress's

goods？〃　and　a　tall；　grim；　steeple…hatted　figure；　armed　with　a

formidable　halberd；　stood　over　him。



〃Good　master　corporal；〃　he　began；　trembling；　but　the　soldier　would

not　hear　him。



〃Away　with　thee；　son　of　iniquity　or　I　will　straightway　lay　mine

halberd　about　thine　ears。　　I　bethink　me　that　I　saw　thee　at　the　fight

of　Worcester；　on　the　part　of　the　man　Charles　Stuart。〃　　Here　Diggory

judged　it　prudent　to　slink　away　through　the　back　door。　　〃And　so；〃

continued　the　Puritan　corporal；　as　he　swept　the　silver　into　his

pouch；　〃and　so　the　gains　of　iniquity　fall　into　the　hands　of　the

righteous！〃



In　the　meantime　Edmund　and　Walter　had　been　conducted　up　stairs　to

Walter's　bed…room；　and　there　locked　in；　a　sentinel　standing　outside

the　door。　　No　sooner　were　they　there　than　Walter　swung　himself　round

with　a　gesture　of　rage　and　despair。　　〃The　villains！　the　rogues！　　To

be　betrayed　by　such　a　wretch；　who　has　eaten　our　bread　all　his　life。

O　Edmund；　Edmund！〃



〃It　is　a　most　unusual；　as　well　as　an　unhappy　chance；〃　returned

Edmund。　　〃Hitherto　it　has　generally　happened　that　servants　have　given

remarkable　proofs　of　fidelity。　　Of　course　this　fellow　can　have　no

attachment　for　me；　but　I　should　have　thought　my　mother's　gentle

kindness　must　have　won　the　love　of　all　who　came　near　her；　both　for

herself　and　all　belonging　to　her。〃



A　recollection　crossed　Walter：　　he　stood　for　a　few　moments　in

silence；　then　suddenly　exclaimed；　〃The　surly　rascal！　　I　verily

believe　it　was　all　spite　at　me；　for〃



〃For〃　repeated　Edmund。



〃For　rating　him　as　he　deserved；〃　answered　Walter。　　〃I　wish　I　had

given　it　to　him　more　soundly；　traitor　as　he　is。　　No；　no；　after　all；〃

added　he；　hesitating；　〃perhaps　if　I　had　been　civiller〃



〃I　should　guess　you　to　be　a　little　too　prompt　of　tongue；〃　said

Edmund；　smiling。



〃It　is　what　my　mother　is　always　blaming　me　for；〃　said　Walter；　〃but

really；　now；　Edmund；　doesn't　it　savour　of　the　crop…ear　to　be　picking

one's　words　to　every　rogue　in　one's　way？〃



〃Nay；　Walter；　you　should　not　ask　me　that　question；　just　coming　from

France。　　There　we　hold　that　the　best　token；　in　our　poverty；　that　we

are　cavaliers　and　gentlemen；　is　to　be　courteous　to　all；　high　and　low。

You　should　see　our　young　King's　frank　bright　courtesy；　and　as　to　the

little　King　Louis；　he　is　the　very　pink　of　civility　to　every　old

poissarde　in　the　streets。〃



Walter　coloured　a　little；　and　looked　confused；　then　repeated；　as　if

consoling　himself；　〃He　is　a　sullen；　spiteful；　good…for…nothing　rogue；

whom　hanging　is　too　good　for。〃



〃Don't　let　us　spend　our　whole　night　in　abusing　him；〃　said　Edmund；　〃I

want　to　make　the　most　of　you；　Walter；　for　this　our　last　sight　of　each

other。〃



〃O；　Edmund！　you　don't　meanthey　shall　notyou　shall　escape。　　Oh！　is

there　no　way　out　of　this　room？〃　cried　Walter；　running　round　it　like

one　distracted；　and　bouncing　against　the　wainscot；　as　if　he　would

shake　it　down。



〃Hush！　this　is　of　no　use；　Walter；〃　said　his　brother。　　〃The　window　is；

I　see；　too　high　from　the　ground；　and　there　is　no　escape。〃



Walter　stood　regarding　him　with　blank　dismay。



〃For　one　thing　I　am　thankful　to　them；〃　continued　Edmund；　〃I　thought

they　might　have　shot　me　down　before　my　mother's　door；　and　so　filled

the　place　with　horror　for　her　ever　after。　　Now　they　have　given　me

time　for　preparation；　and　she　will　grow　accustomed　to　the　thought　of

losing　me。〃



〃Then　you　think　there　is　no　hope？　　O　Edmund！〃



〃I　see　none。　　Sydney　is　unlikely　to　spare　a　friend　of　Prince

Rupert's。〃



Walter　squeezed　his　hands　fast　together。　　〃And　howhow　can　you？

Don't　think　me　cowardly；　Edmund；　for　that　I　will　never　be；　never〃



〃Never；　I　am　sure；〃　repeated　Edmund。



〃But　when　that　base　Puritan　threatened　me　just　nowperhaps　it　was

foolish　to　believe　himI　could　answer　him　freely　enough；　but　when　I

thought　of　dying；　then〃



〃You　have　not　stood　face　to　face　with　death　so　often　as　I　have；

Walter；〃　said　Edmund；　〃nor　have　you　led　so　wandering　and　weary　a

life。〃



〃I　thought　I　could　lead　any　sort　of　life　rather　than　die；〃　said

Walter。



〃Yes；　our　flesh　will　shrink　and　tremble　at　the　thought　of　the　Judge

we　must　meet；〃　said　Edmund；　〃but　He　is　a　gracious　Judge；　and　He　knows

that　it　is　rather　than　turn　from　our　duty　that　we　are　exposed　to

death。　　We　may　have　a　good　hope；　sinners　as　we　are　in　His　sight；　that

He　will　grant　us　His　mercy；　and　be　with　us　when　the　time　comes。　　But

it　is　late；　Walter；　we　ought　to　rest；　to　fit　ourselves　for　what　may

come　to…morrow。〃



Edmund　knelt　in　prayer；　his　young　brother　feeling　meantime　both

sorrowful　and　humiliated；　loving　Edmund　and　admiring　him　heartily；

following　what　he　had　said；　grieving　and　rebelling　at　the　fate

prepared　for　him；　and　at　the　same　time　se