the pigeon pie-第16部分

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the　misbehaviour　each　of　them　had　been　guilty　of。　　Walter　did　not

show　his　contrition　much　in　manner；　but　it　was　real；　and　he　proved　it

by　many　a　struggle　with　his　self…willed　overbearing　temper。　　It　was　a

real　resolution　that　he　took　now；　and　in　a　spirit　of　humility；　which

made　him　glad　to　pray　that　what　was　past　might　be　forgiven；　and　that

he　might　be　helped　for　the　future。　　That　was　the　first　time　Walter

had　ever　kept　up　his　attention　through　the　whole　service；　but　it　all

came　home　to　him　now。



Each　of　that　little　congregation　had　their　own　sorrow　of　heart；　their

own　prayer　and　thanksgiving；　to　pour　out　in　secret；　but　all　could

join　in　one　thank…offering　for　the　safety　of　the　heir　of　that　house；

all　joined　in　one　prayer　for　the　rescue　of　their　hunted　King；　and　for

the　restoration　of　their　oppressed　and　afflicted　Church。



*　*　*



Nine　years　had　passed　away；　and　Forest　Lea　still　stood　among　the

stumps　of　its　cut…down　trees；　but　one　fair　long　day　in　early　June

there　was　much　that　was　changed　in　its　aspect。　　The　park　was

carefully　mown　and　swept；　the　shrubs　were　trained　back；　the　broken

windows　were　repaired；　and　within　the　hall　the　appearance　of

everything　was　still　more　strikingly　cheerful；　as　the　setting　sun

looked　smilingly　in　at　the　western　window。　　Green　boughs　filled　the

hearth；　and　were　suspended　round　the　walls；　fresh　branches　of　young

oak　leaves；　tasselled　with　the　pale　green　catkins；　the　helmets　and

gauntlets　hanging　on　the　wall　were　each　adorned　with　a　spray；　and

polished　to　the　brightest；　the　chairs　and　benches　were　ranged　round

the　long　table；　covered　with　a　spotless　cloth；　and　bearing　in　the

middle　a　large　bowl　filled　with　oak　boughs；　roses；　lilac；　honey…

suckle；　and　all　the　pride　of　the　garden。



At　the　head　of　the　table　sat；　less　pale；　and　her　face　beaming　with

deep；　quiet；　heartfelt　joy；　Lady　Woodley　herself；　and　near　her　were

Dr。　Bathurst　and　his　happy　daughter；　who　in　a　few　days　more　were　to

resume　their　abode　in　his　own　parsonage。　　Opposite　to　her　was　a　dark

soldierly　sun…burnt　man；　on　whose　countenance　toil；　weather；　and

privation　had　set　their　traces；　but　whose　every　tone　and　smile　told

of　the　ecstasy　of　being　once　more　at　home。



Merry　faces　were　at　each　side　of　the　table；　Walter；　grown　up　into　a

tall　noble…looking　youth　of　two…and…twenty；　particularly　courteous

and　gracious　in　demeanour；　and　most　affectionate　to　his　mother；

Charles；　a　gentle　sedate　boy　of　fifteen；　so　much　given　to　books　and

gravity；　that　his　sisters　called　him　their　little　scholar；　Rose；　with

the　same　sweet　thoughtful　face；　active　step；　and　helpful　hand；　that

she　had　always　possessed；　but　very　pale；　and　more　pensive　and　grave

than　became　a　time　of　rejoicing；　as　if　the　cares　and　toils　of　her

youth　had　taken　away　her　light　heart；　and　had　given　her　a　soft

subdued　melancholy　that　was　always　the　same。　　She　was　cheerful　when

others　were　cast　down　and　overwhelmed；　but　when　they　were　gay；　she；

though　not　sorrowful；　seemed　almost　grave；　in　spite　of　her　sweet

smiles　and　ready　sympathy。　　Yet　Rose　was　very　happy；　no　less　happy

than　Eleanor；　with　her　fair；　lovely；　laughing　face；　or　…



〃But　where　is　Lucy？〃　Edmund　asked；　as　he　saw　her　chair　vacant。



〃Lucy？〃　said　Rose；　〃she　will　come　in　a　moment。　　She　is　going　to　bring

in　the　dish　you　especially　ordered；　and　which　Deborah　wonders　at。〃



〃Good；　faithful　Deborah！〃　said　Edmund。　　〃Did　she　never　find　a　second

love？〃



〃Oh　no；　never；〃　said　Eleanor。　　〃She　says　she　has　seen　enough　of　men

in　her　time。〃



〃She　is　grown　sharper　than　ever；〃　said　Walter；　〃now　she　is　Mistress

Housekeeper　Deborah；　I　shall　pity　the　poor　maidens　under　her。〃



〃She　will　always　be　kind　in　the　main；〃　rejoined　Rose。



〃And　did　you　ever　hear　what　became　of　that　precious　sweetheart　of

hers？〃　asked　Edmund。



〃Hanged　for　sheep　stealing；〃　replied　Walter；　〃according　to　the　report

of　Sylvester　Enderby。　　But　hush；　for　enter〃



There　entered　Lucy；　smiling　and　blushing；　her　dark　hair　decorated

with　the　spray　of　oak；　and　her　hands　supporting　a　great　pewter　dish；

in　which　stood　a　noble　pie；　of　pale…brown；　well…baked　crust；

garnished　with　many　a　pair　of　little　claws；　showing　what　were　the

contents。　　She　set　it　down　in　the　middle　of　the　table；　just　opposite

to　Walter。　　The　grace　was　said；　the　supper　began；　and　great　was　the

merriment　when　Walter；　raising　a　whole　pigeon　on　his　fork；　begged　to

know　if　Rose　had　appetite　enough　for　it；　and　if　she　still　possessed

the　spirit　of　a　wolf。　　〃And；〃　said　he；　as　they　finished；　〃now　Rose

will　never　gainsay　me　more　when　I　sing　…





〃For　forty　years　our　Royal　throne

Has　been　his　father's　and　his　own；

Nor　is　there　anyone　but　he

With　right　can　there　a　sharer　be。

For　who　better　may

The　right　sceptre　sway；

Than　he　whose　right　it　is　to　reign？

Then　look　for　no　peace；

For　the　war　will　never　cease

Till　the　King　enjoys　his　own　again。



〃Then　far　upon　the　distant　hill

My　hope　has　cast　her　anchor　still；

Until　I　saw　the　peaceful　dove

Bring　home　the　branch　I　dearly　love。

And　there　did　I　wait

Till　the　waters　abate

That　did　surround　my　swimming　brain；

For　rejoice　could　never　I

Till　I　heard　the　joyful　cry

That　the　King　enjoys　his　own　again！〃











End