登陆注册
5362700000022

第22章

'How can you say that!' he cried, the beams upon his face turning to a lurid cloud in a moment. 'How can you understand military terms who've never had a sword in your life. I shouldn't take him with the sword at all.. He went on with eager sulkiness, 'I should take him with my pistol. I should pull off my right glove, and throw back my goat-skin; then I should open my priming-pan, prime, and cast about--no, I shouldn't, that's wrong; I should draw my right pistol, and as soon as loaded, seize the weapon by the butt; then at the word "Cock your pistol" I should--'

'Then there is plenty of time to give such words of command in the heat of battle?' said Anne innocently.

'No!' said the yeoman, his face again in flames. 'Why, of course I am only telling you what WOULD be the word of command IF--there now! you la--'

'I didn't; 'pon my word I didn't!'

'No, I don't think you did; it was my mistake. Well, then I come smartly to Present, looking well along the barrel--along the barrel--and fire. Of course I know well enough how to engage the enemy!

But I expect my old uncle has been setting you against me.'

'He has not said a word,' replied Anne; 'though I have heard of you, of course.'

'What have you heard. Nothing good, I dare say. It makes my blood boil within me!'

'O, nothing bad,' said she assuringly. 'Just a word now and then.'

'Now, come, tell me, there's a dear. I don't like to be crossed.

It shall be a sacred secret between us. Come, now!'

Anne was embarrassed, and her smile was uncomfortable. 'I shall not tell you,' she said at last.

'There it is again!' said the yeoman, throwing himself into a despair. 'I shall soon begin to believe that my name is not worth sixpence about here!'

'I tell you 'twas nothing against you,' repeated Anne.

'That means it might have been for me,' said Festus, in a mollified tone. 'Well, though, to speak the truth, I have a good many faults, some people will praise me, I suppose. 'Twas praise?'

'It was.'

'Well, I am not much at farming, and I am not much in company, and I am not much at figures, but perhaps I must own, since it is forced upon me, that I can show as fine a soldier's figure on the Esplanade as any man of the cavalry.'

'You can,' said Anne; for though her flesh crept in mortal terror of his irascibility, she could not resist the fearful pleasure of leading him on. 'You look very well; and some say, you are--'

'What. Well, they say I am good-looking. I don't make myself, so 'tis no praise. Hullo! what are you looking across there for?'

'Only at a bird that I saw fly out of that tree,' said Anne.

'What. Only at a bird, do you say?' he heaved out in a voice of thunder. 'I see your shoulders a-shaking, young madam. Now don't you provoke me with that laughing. By God, it won't do!'

'Then go away!' said Anne, changed from mirthfulness to irritation by his rough manner. 'I don't want your company, you great bragging thing. You are so touchy there's no bearing with you. Go away!'

'No, no, Anne; I am wrong to speak to you so. I give you free liberty to say what you will to me. Say I am not a bit of a soldier, or anything. Abuse me--do now, there's a dear. I'm scum, I'm froth, I'm dirt before the besom--yes!'

'I have nothing to say, sir. Stay where you are till I am out of this field.'

'Well, there's such command in your looks that I ha'n't heart to go against you. You will come this way to-morrow at the same time?

Now, don't be uncivil.'

She was too generous not to forgive him, but the short little lip murmured that she did not think it at all likely she should come that way to-morrow.

'Then Sunday?' he said.

'Not Sunday,' said she.

'Then Monday--Tuesday--Wednesday, surely?' he went on experimentally.

She answered that she should probably not see him on either day, and, cutting short the argument, went through the wicket into the other field. Festus paused, looking after her; and when he could no longer see her slight figure he swept away his deliberations, began singing, and turned off in the other direction.

同类推荐
  • 云蕉馆纪谈

    云蕉馆纪谈

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 易图通变

    易图通变

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 原善

    原善

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 春明丛说

    春明丛说

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 本草便读

    本草便读

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 甘地自传(中小学生必读丛书)

    甘地自传(中小学生必读丛书)

    莫罕达斯·卡拉姆昌德·甘地,被世人尊称为“圣雄”。印度独立运动领袖,国大党领袖,20世纪非暴力主义倡导者。生于吠舍家庭,信奉印度教中的毗湿奴派。1947年印巴分治,甘地为没有实现印巴统一而深感遗憾。1948年1月30曰,甘地在晚祷的会场被一名极端的印度教徒枪杀。
  • 校草的恋爱手册

    校草的恋爱手册

    “你惹火我了,今晚独守空房!”她嚣张的冲着他吼……他是曾经的王者,可是,只有在她面前,分分秒秒怂成了狗。——化身小奶狗的时候:“嗯~~老婆我错了,我再也不敢了,原谅我吧~~”——化身小狼狗的时候:“抱歉好像没有什么用,还是抱着你好了,我知道错了。”——小狼狗转换成老狗哔:“来,坐过来,我们好好谈谈,到底是谁错了!”她忍无可忍,美目怒瞪他:“信不信我让你变单身狗!”他立马不要脸的凑上去偷吻她:“老婆我错了,真的知道错了,检讨书也写了,嘴巴你也抽了……”她:!!!!!【超级甜宠,1V1身心干净,相信我,恶魔真的能把甜心宠到无法无天。】
  • 我的救赎你的爱

    我的救赎你的爱

    初见孟观涛,我是被闺蜜跟丈夫联手背叛的“怨妇”,前夫的一脚,踢掉了我三年好不容易怀上的孩子。鲜血染红白裙,我挣扎求助,却只落得一纸离婚协议。产后大出血,婆婆跟丈夫却选择袖手旁观,坐等我死!他英雄一般的出现,不但从鬼门关把我拉了回来,还给我一顶“孟太太”的帽子!走投无路的我,只好选择成为他的太太,却没想到这男人娶我是别有用心!“婚前协议一,必须每天打理丈夫的饮食起居生活。”“没问题。”“二,必须每天打理好小主子的饮食起居生活,每天负责陪他们玩,保证小主子们心情愉快开心!”“额,你有孩子?”“小主子是我的狗跟猫!”
  • 第七个夜

    第七个夜

    《第7个夜》是一个故事集,收录了一百多个非常精短的离奇故事。每个故事都非常有特色,在形式上,用尽量少的语言讲述一个故事;在内容上,构思精巧匪夷所思。故事里面涉及我们普通生活中的方方面面,亲情,友情,爱情等等。这么短,这么精,这么离奇的故事,可以说这是以前很少见的,是区别于以前所有出版过的悬疑小说的独有特色。
  • 獒王归乡记

    獒王归乡记

    护院神犬——獒王巴勒占堆被寻獒人偷到拉萨,他巧用计谋逃脱,与“闹市魔王”成为朋友,在老索朗的帮助下走上返乡之路,但偷走他的人始终尾随着。途中,他受到诺布、益西等善心獒犬的帮助,差点落入人类的圈套但再次逃脱,与黑獒加古成为挚友,与野狼数次恶战,亲身经历了野驴争夺王位的悲剧。最终,他以德报怨,感化了偷他的人,成功返回家乡。
  • 艾尔菲斯种族学院

    艾尔菲斯种族学院

    生日那天,持握宝剑,推开时空之门,她来到了神奇的世界,不小心撞到一绝色美男在床上春光乍泄,当逃之夭夭成为通缉犯时,却无意得知他居然是这块异域的王!美男用风华的手指指向她,邪魅一笑,“四郎,今晚你给本王侍寝!”什么四郎啊?她的名字才没那么土!才不要做他的王妃!
  • 妖孽,离我远点

    妖孽,离我远点

    “死女人,你走到哪里本少爷就跟到哪里!”“死人妖,思想有多远你就给本小姐滚多远!”她,过往成谜,一心想要成为品学兼优的好学生……他,嚣张跋扈,一心想要将她拉下水陪他横行校园……她在前面跑,他在后面追……“女人,跟少爷我横行校园!”“人妖,你做梦!”追追跑跑,走走停停,在这场追逐游戏里,是谁的心在跟着沦陷……“对不起,或许,我们都错了……”樱花飞转,花开花谢,苍白了谁的容颜……
  • 女将军现代生活录

    女将军现代生活录

    一代女将重生为农村孤女,韩佳下定决心,要努力把前世没谈的恋爱补上,要做一个有理想、有抱负,有志气的人。什么?被定了亲?寡妇婆婆不喜欢?未婚夫心属青梅?还带着克夫克子命?这活脱脱是一个苦命小媳妇儿的命哟,肿么破?
  • 前方也在下雨,何必匆忙赶路

    前方也在下雨,何必匆忙赶路

    我们无法左右每一件事情的发展趋势,更无法左右每一个人的想法和态度。迢迢人生路,茫茫人海中,短短几十年光景,其实我们能做的事情并不太多,我们能接触的人也不太多。既然如此,为何要一路狂奔呢?或许前方在下雨呢!
  • 死誓

    死誓

    神秘消失的女童,到底是否真实存在?这是一起普通的绑架还是蓄意伤害?古老的玉石,七彩的风铃,毛绒的玩具……四个被命运抛弃的灵魂,上演着一段肮脏卑劣却又无奈的恩怨情仇。