第 77 节
作者:独来读网      更新:2022-11-28 19:19      字数:9322
  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