下载辰思小说免费APP
Whentheyreachedthebottomofthestepshestruckalightfromatinder-box，andunlockedthemiddleoneofthreedoorswhichappearedinthewhitewashedwallopposite。Theraysofthecandlefelluponthevaultandsidesofalonglowcellar，litteredwithdecayedwoodworkfromotherpartsofthehall，amongthereststair-
balusters，carvedfinials，tracerypanels，andwainscoting。Butwhatmostattractedhereyewasasmallflagstoneturnedupinthemiddleofthefloor，aheapofearthbesideit，andameasuring-tape。Derrimanwenttothecornerofthecellar，andpulledoutaclampedboxfromunderthestraw。’Youberatherheavy，mydear，eh？’hesaid，affectionatelyaddressingtheboxasheliftedit。’Butyouaregoingtobeputinasafeplace，youknow，orthatrascalwillgetholdofye，andcarryyeoffandruinme。’Hethenwithsomedifficultyloweredtheboxintothehole，rakedintheearthuponit，andloweredtheflagstone，whichhewasalongtimeinfixingtohissatisfaction。MissGarland，whowasromanticallyinterested，helpedhimtobrushawaythefragmentsoflooseearth；andwhenhehadscatteredovertheflooralittleofthestrawthatlayabout，theyagainascendedtoupperair。
’Isthisall，sir？’saidAnne。
’Justamomentlonger，honey。Willyoucomeintothegreatparlour？’
Shefollowedhimthither。
’Ifanythinghappenstomewhilethefightingisgoingon——itmaybeontheseveryfields——youwillknowwhattodo，’heresumed。’Butfirstpleasesitdownagain，there’sadear，whilstIwritewhat’sinmyhead。See，there’sthebestpaper，andanewquillthatI’veaffordedmyselffor’t。’
’Whatastrangebusiness！Idon’tthinkImuchlikeit，Mr。
Derriman，’shesaid，seatingherself。
Hehadbythistimebeguntowrite，andmurmuredashewrote——
’“Twenty-threeandahalffromN。W。Sixteenandthree-quartersfromN。E。“——There，that’sall。NowIsealitupandgiveittoyoutokeepsafetillIaskyeforit，oryouhearofmybeingtrampleddownbytheenemy。’
’Whatdoesitmean？’sheasked，asshereceivedthepaper。
’Clk！Ha！ha！Why，that’sthedistanceoftheboxfromthetwocornersofthecellar。Imeasureditbeforeyoucame。And，myhoney，tomakeallsure，iftheFrenchsoldieryareafterye，tellyourmotherthemeaningon’t，oranyotherfriend，incasetheyshouldputyetodeath，andthesecretbelost。ButthatIamsureIhopetheywon’tdo，thoughyourprettyfacewillbeasadbaittothesoldiers。Ioftenhavewishedyouwasmydaughter，honey；andyetinthesetimesthelesscaresamanhasthebetter，soIamgladyoubain’t。Shallmymandriveyouhome？’
’No，no，’shesaid，muchdepressedbythewordshehaduttered。’I
canfindmyway。Youneednottroubletocomedown。’
’Thentakecareofthepaper。Andifyououtliveme，you’llfindI
havenotforgotyou。’
FestusDerrimanhadremainedintheRoyalwatering-placeallthatday，hishorsebeingsickatstables；but，wishingtocoaxorbullyfromhisunclearemountforthecomingsummer，hesetoffonfootforOxwellearlyintheevening。Whenhedrewneartothevillage，orrathertothehall，whichwasamilefromthevillage，heovertookaslim，quick-eyedwoman，saunteringalongataleisurelypace。Shewasfashionablydressedinagreenspencer，with’Mameluke’sleeves，andworeavelvetSpanishhatandfeather。
’Goodafternoont’ye，ma’am，’saidFestus，throwingasword-and-pistolairintohisgreeting。’Youareoutforawalk？’
’IAMoutforawalk，captain，’saidthelady，whohadcriticizedhimfromthecreviceofhereye，withoutseemingtodomuchmorethancontinueherdemurelookforward，andgavethetitleasasoptohisapparentcharacter。
’Fromthetown？——I’dswearit，ma’am；’ponmyhonourIwould！’
’Yes，Iamfromthetown，sir，’saidshe。
’Ah，youareavisitor！Iknoweveryoneoftheregularinhabitants；wesoldiersareinandouttherecontinually。FestusDerriman，YeomanryCavalry，youknow。Thefactis，thewatering-placeisunderourcharge；thefolkswillbequitedependentup
