下载辰思小说免费APP
’What，didn’tyouknowofthemistaketillnow？’askedoneoftheseofthenew-comers。’Why，whenIwasdroppingoverthehillbythecross-roadsIlookedbackandsawthatmantalkingtothemessenger，andhemusthavetoldhimthetruth。’ThespeakerpointedtoFestus。Theyturnedtheirindignanteyesfulluponhim。Thathehadsportedwiththeirdeepestfeelings，whileknowingtherumourtobebaseless，wassoonapparenttoall。
’Beathimblackandbluewiththeflatofourblades！’shoutedtwoorthree，turningtheirhorses’headstodropbackuponDerriman，inwhichmovetheywerefollowedbymostoftheparty。
ButFestus，foreseeingdangerfromtheunexpectedrevelation，hadalreadyjudiciouslyplacedafewinterveningyardsbetweenhimselfandhisfellow-yeomen，andnow，clappingspurstohishorse，rattledlikethunderandlightninguptheroadhomeward。Hisreadyflightaddedhotnesstotheirpursuit，andasherodeandlookedfearfullyoverhisshoulderhecouldseethemfollowingwithenragedfacesanddrawnswords，apositionwhichtheykeptupforadistanceofmorethanamile。Thenhehadthesatisfactionofseeingthemdropoffonebyone，andsoonheandhispantingchargerremainedaloneonthehighway。
Hestoppedandreflectedhowtoturnthisrebufftoadvantage。
Baulkedinhisprojectofenteringthewatering-placeandenjoyingcongratulationsuponhispatrioticbearingduringtheadvance，hesulkilyconsideredthathemightbeabletomakesomeuseofhisenforcedretirementbyridingtoOvercombeandglorifyinghimselfintheeyesofMissGarlandbeforethetruthshouldhavereachedthathamlet。Havingthusdecidedhespurredoninabettermood。
Bythistimethevolunteerswereonthemarch，andasDerrimanascendedtheroadhemettheOvercombecompany，inwhichtrudgedMillerLovedayshouldertoshoulderwiththeothersubstantialhouseholdersoftheplaceanditsneighbourhood，dulyequippedwithpouches，cross-belts，firelocks，flint-boxes，pickers，worms，magazines，priming-horns，heel-ball，andpomatum。Therewasnothingtobegainedbyfurthersuppressionofthetruth，andbrieflyinformingthemthatthedangerwasnotsoimmediateashadbeensupposed，Festusgallopedon。Attheendofanothermilehemetalargenumberofpikemen，includingBobLoveday，whomtheyeomanresolvedtosounduponthewhereaboutsofAnne。ThecircumstancesweresuchastoleadBobtospeakmorefranklythanhemighthavedoneonreflection，andhetoldFestusthedirectioninwhichthewomenhadbeensent。ThenFestusinformedthegroupthatthereportofinvasionwasfalse，uponwhichtheyallturnedtogohomewardwithgreatlyrelievedspirits。
BobwalkedbesideDerriman’shorseforsomedistance。Lovedayhadinstantlymadeuphismindtogoandlookforthewomen，andeasetheiranxietybylettingthemknowthegoodnewsassoonaspossible。ButhesaidnothingofthistoFestusduringtheirreturntogether；nordidFestustellBobthathealsohadresolvedtoseekthemout，andbyanticipatingeveryoneelseinthatenterprise，makeofitagloriousopportunityforbringingMissGarlandtohersensesabouthim。Hestillresentedtheduckingthathehadreceivedatherhands，andwasnotdisposedtoletthatinsultpasswithoutobtainingsomesortofsweetrevenge。
AssoonastheyhadpartedFestuscanteredonoverthehill，meetingonhiswaytheLongpuddlevolunteers，sixtyrankandfile，underCaptainCunningham；theCasterbridgecompany，ninetystrong(knownasthe’ConsiderationCompany’inthosedays)，underCaptainStrickland；andothers——allwithanxiousfacesandcoveredwithdust。Justpassingthewordtothemandleavingthemathalt，heproceededrapidlyonwardinthedirectionofKing’s-Bere。Nobodyappearedontheroadforsometime，tillafterarideofseveralmileshemetastraycorporalofvolunteers，whotoldFestusinanswertohisinquirythathehadcertainlypassednogigfullofwomenofthekinddescribed。Believingthathehadmissedthembyfollowingthehighway，Derrimanturnedbackintoalanealongwhichtheymighthavechosentojourneyforprivacy’ssake，notwithstandingthebadnessanduncertaintyofitstrack。Arriv
