the pigeon pie-第7部分

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surrounded　with　perils；　and　thus；　while　Lucy　trembled　in　an　agony　of

fright　in　her　warm　bed；　Rose　walked　forth　with　a　firm　and　fearless

step　through　the　dark　gusty　night；　heedless　of　the　rain　that　pattered

round　her；　and　the　wild　wind　that　snatched　at　her　cloak　and　gown；　and

flapped　her　hood　into　her　eyes。



She　was　not　afraid　of　fancied　terrors；　and　real　perils　and　anxieties

were　at　this　moment　lost　in　the　bounding　of　her　young　heart　at　the

thought　of　seeing；　touching；　speaking　to　her　brother；　her　dear

Edmund。　　She　had　been　eleven　years　old　when　they　last　had　parted；　the

morning　of　the　battle　of　Naseby；　and　he　was　five　years　older；　but

they　had　always　been　very　happy　and　fond　companions　and　playfellows

as　long　as　she　could　remember；　and　she　alone　had　been　on　anything

like　an　equality　with　him；　or　missed　him　with　a　feeling　of　personal

loss；　that　had　been　increased　by　the　death　of　her　elder　sister；　Mary。



Quickly；　and　concealing　her　light　as　much　as　possible；　she　walked

down　the　damp　ash…strewn　paths　of　the　kitchen…garden；　and　came　out

into　the　overgrown　and　neglected　shrubbery；　or　pleasance；　where　the

long　wet…laden　shoots　came　beating　in　her　face；　and　now　and　then

seeming　to　hold　her　back；　and　strange　rustlings　were　heard　that　would

have　frightened　a　maiden　of　a　less　stout　and　earnest　heart。　　Her

anxiety　was　lest　she　should　be　confused　by　the　unwonted　aspect　of

things　in　the　dark；　and　miss　the　path；　and　very；　very　long　did　it

seem；　while　her　light　would　only　show　her　leaves　glistening　with　wet。

At　last　she　gained　a　clearer　space；　the　border　of　a　field：　　something

dark　rose　before　her；　she　knew　the　outline　of　the　shed；　and　entered

the　lower　part。　　It　was　meant　for　a　cart…shed；　with　a　loft　above　for

hay　or　straw；　but　the　cart　had　been　lost　or　broken；　and　there　was

only　a　heap　of　rubbish　in　the　corner；　by　which　the　children　were　wont

to　climb　up　to　inspect　their　kittens。　　Here　Rose　was　for　a　moment

startled　by　a　glare　close　to　her　of　what　looked　like　two　fiery　lamps

in　the　darkness；　but　the　next　instant　a　long；　low；　growling　sound

explained　it；　and　the　tabby　stripes　of　the　cat　quickly　darted　across

her　lantern's　range　of　light。　　She　heard　a　slight　rustling　above；　and

ventured　to　call；　in　a　low　whisper；　〃Edmund。〃



〃Is　that　you；　Walter？〃　and　as　Rose　proceeded　to　mount　the　pile　of

rubbish；　his　pale　and　haggard　face　looked　down　at　her。



〃What？　　Rose　herself！　　I　did　not　think　you　would　have　come　on　such　a

night　as　this。　　Can　you　come　up？　　Shall　I　help　you？〃



〃Thank　you。　　Take　the　lantern　firsttake　care。　　There。　　Now　the

basket　and　the　cloak。〃　　And　this　done；　with　Edmund's　hand；　Rose

scrambled　up　into　the　loft。　　It　was　only　the　height　of　the　roof；　and

there　was　not　room；　even　in　the　middle；　to　stand　upright；　the　rain

soaked　through　the　old　thatch；　the　floor　was　of　rough　boards；　and

there　was　but　very　little　of　the　hay　that　had　served　as　a　bed　for　the

kittens。



〃O　Edmund；　this　is　a　wretched　place！〃　exclaimed　Rose；　as；　crouching

by　his　side；　one　hand　in　his；　and　the　other　round　his　neck；　she　gazed

around。



〃Better　than　a　prison；〃　he　answered。　　〃I　only　wish　I　knew　that　others

were　in　as　good　a　one。　　And　youwhy；　Rose；　how　you　are　altered；　you

are　my　young　lady　now！　　And　how　does　my　dear　mother？〃



〃Pretty　well。　　I　could　hardly　prevail　on　her　not　to　come　here　to…

night；　but　it　would　have　been　too　much；　she　is　so　weak；　and　takes

cold　so　soon。　　But；　Edmund；　how　pale　you　are；　how　weary！　　Have　you

slept？　　I　fear　not；　on　these　hard　boardsyour　wound；　too。〃



〃It　hardly　deserves　such　a　dignified　name　as　a　wound；〃　said　Edmund。

〃I　am　more　hungry　than　aught　else；　I　could　have　slept　but　for　hunger；

and　now〃as　he　spoke　he　was　opening　the　basket〃I　shall　be　lodged

better；　I　fear；　than　a　king；　with　that　famous　cloak。　　What　a　notable

piece　of　pasty！　　Well　done；　Rose！　　Are　you　housewife？　　Store　of

candles；　too。　　This　is　noble！〃



〃How　hungry　you　must　be！　　How　long　is　it　since　you　have　eaten？〃



〃Grey　sent　his　servant　into　a　village　to　buy　some　bread　and　cheese；

we　divided　it　when　we　parted；　and　it　lasted　me　until　this　morning。

Since　then　I　have　fasted。〃



〃Dear　brother；　I　wish　I　could　do　more　for　you；　but　till　Mr。　Enderby

goes；　I　cannot；　for　the　soldiers　are　about　the　kitchen；　and　our　maid；

Deborah；　talks　too　much　to　be　trustworthy；　though　she　is　thoroughly

faithful。〃



〃This　is　excellent　fare；〃　said　Edmund；　eating　with　great　relish。

〃And　now　tell　me　of　yourselves。　　My　mother　is　feeble　and　unwell；　you

say？〃



〃Never　strong；　but　tolerably　well　at　present。〃



〃So　Walter　said。　　By　the　way；　Walter　is　a　fine　spirited　fellow。　　I

should　like　to　have　him　with　me　if　we　take　another　African　voyage。〃



〃He　would　like　nothing　better；　poor　fellow。　　But　what　strange　things

you　have　seen　and　done　since　we　met！　　How　little　we　thought　that

morning　that　it　would　be　six　years　before　we　should　sit　side　by　side

again！　　And　Prince　Rupert　is　kind　to　you？〃



〃He　treats　me　like　a　son　or　brother：　　never　was　man　kinder；〃　said

Edmund；　warmly。　　〃But　the　children？　　I　must　see　them　before　I　depart。

Little　Lucy；　is　she　as　bold　and　pert　as　she　was　as　a　young　child？〃



〃Little　changed；〃　said　Rose；　smiling；　and　telling　her　brother　the

adventures　at　the　dinner。



As　cheerfully　as　might　be　they　talked　till　Edmund　had　finished　his

meal；　and　then　Rose　begged　him　to　let　her　examine　and　bind　up　the

wound。　　It　was　a　sword…cut　on　the　right　shoulder；　and；　though　not

very　deep；　had　become　stiff　and　painful　from　neglect；　and　had　soaked

his　sleeve　deeply　with　blood。　　Rose's　dexterous　fingers　applied　the

salve　and　linen　she　had　brought；　and　she　promised　that　at　her　next

visit　she　would　bring　him　some　clean　clothes；　which　was　what　he　said

he　most　wished　for。　　Then　she　arranged　the　large　horseman's　cloak；

the　hay；　and　his　own　mantle；　so　well　as　to　form；　he　said；　the　most

luxurious　resting　place　he　had　seen　since　he　left　Dunbar；　and　rolled

up　in　this　he　lay；　his　head　supported　on　his　hand；　talking　earnestly

with　her　on　the　measures　next　to　be　taken　for　his　safety；　and　on　the

state　of　the　family。　　He　must　be　hidden　there　till　the　chase　was　a

little　slackened；　and　then　escape；　by　Bosham　or　some　other　port；　to

the　royal　fleet；　which　was　hovering　on　the　coast。　　Money；　however

how　was　he　to　get　a　passage　without　it？



〃The　Prince；　at　partingheaven　knows　he　has　little　enough　himself

gave　me　twenty　gold　crowns；　which　he　said　was　my　share　of　prize…money

for　our　captures；〃　said　Edmund；　〃but　this　is　the　last　of　them。〃



〃And　I　don't　know　how　we　can　get　any；〃　said　Rose。　　〃We　never　see

money。　　Our　tenants；　if　they　pay　at　all；　pay　in　kinda　side　of

bacon；　or　a　sack　of　corn；　they　are　very　good；　poor　people；　and　love

our　mother　heartily；　I　do　believe。　　I　wish　I　knew　what　was　to　be

done。〃



〃Time　will　show；〃　said　Edmund。　　〃I　have　been　in　as　bad　a　case　as　this

ere　now；　and　it　is　something　to　be　near　you　all　again。　　So　you　like

this　place；　do　you？　　As　well　as　our　own　home？〃



Rose　shook　her　head；　and　tears　sprang　into　her　eyes。　　〃Oh　no；　Edmund；

I　try　to　think　it　home；　and　the　children　feel　it　so；　but　it　is　not

like　Woodley。　　Do　you　remember　the　dear　old　oak…tree；　with　the

branches　that　came　down　so　low；　where　you　used　to　swing　Mary　and　me？〃



〃And　the　high　branch　where　I　used　to　watch　for　my　father　coming　home

from　the　justice…meeting。　　And　the　meadow　where　the　hounds　killed　the

fox　that　had　baffled　them　so　long！　　Do　you　hear　anything　of　the　place

now；　Rose？〃



〃Mr。　Enderby　told　us　something；〃　said　Rose；　sadly。　　〃You　know　who　has

got　it；　Edmund？〃



〃Who？



〃That　Master　Priggins；　who　was　once　justices'　clerk。〃



〃Ha！〃　cried　Edmund。　　〃That　pettifogging　scrivener　in　my　father's

house！in　my　ancestors'　house！　　A　rogue　that　ought　to　have　been

branded　a　dozen　years　ago！　　I　could　have　stood　anything　but　that！

Pretty　work　he　is　making　there；　I　suppose！　　Go　on；　Rose。〃



〃O　Edmund；　you　know　it　is　but　what　the　King　himself　has　to　bear。〃



〃Neighbour's　fare！　as　you　say；〃　replied　Edmund；　with　a　short　dry

laugh。　　〃Poverty　and　wandering　I　could　bear；　peril　is　what　any　brave

man　naturally　seeks；　the　acres　that　have　been　ours　for　centuries

could　not　go　in　a　better　cause；　but　to　hear　of　a　rascal　such　as　that

in　my　father's　place　is　enough　to　drive　one　mad　with　rage！　　Come；

what　has　he　been　doing？　　How　has　he　used　the　poor　people？〃



〃He　turned　out　old　Davy　and　Madge　at　once　from　keeping　the　house；　but

Mr。　Enderby　took　them　in；　and　gave　them　a　cottage。〃



〃I　wonder　what　unlucky　fate　possessed　that　Enderby　to　take　the　wrong

side！　　Well？〃



〃He　could　not　tell　us　much　of　the　place；　for　he　cannot　endure　Master

Priggins；　and　Master　Sylvester　laughs　at　his　Puritanical　manner；　but

he　saysO　Edmundthat　the　fish…ponds　are　filled　upthose　dear　old

fish…ponds　where　the　water…lilies　used　to　blow；　and　you　once　pulled

me　out　of　the　water。〃



〃Ay；　ay！　we　shall　not　know　it　again　if　ever　our　turn　comes；　and　we

enjoy　our　own　again。　　But　it　is　of　no　use　to　think　about　such

matters。〃



〃No；　we　must　be　thankful　that　we　have　a　home　at　all；　and　are　not　like

so　many；　who　are　actually　come　to　beggary；　like　poor　Mrs。　Forde。　　You

remember　her；　our　old　clergyman's　widow。　　He　died　on　board　ship；　and

she　was　sent　for　by　her　cousin；　who　promised　her　a　home；　but　she　had

no　money；　and　was　forced　to　walk　all　the　way；　with　her　two　little

boys；　getting　a　lodging　at　night　from　any　loyal　family　who　would

shelter　her　for　the　love　of　heaven。　　My　mother　wept　when　she　saw　how

sadly　she　was　changed；　we　kept　her　with　us　a　week　to　rest　her；　and

when　she　went　she　had　our　last　gold　carolus；　little　guessing；　poor

soul；　that　it　was　our　last。　　Then；　when　she　was　gone；　my　mother

called　us　all　round　her；　and　gave　thanks　that　she　could　still　give　us

shelter　and　daily　bread。〃



〃There　is　a　Judge　above！〃　exclaimed　Edmund；　〃yet　sometimes　it　is　hard

to　believe；　when　we　se