第73章

Nowthesefinenativescamealong，singing，fortheirverylives，asongthelikeofwhichsetdownherewouldoustmybookfrommodestpeople，andmakeeverybodysay，’thismannevercanhavelovedLorna。’

Therefore，thelessofthatthebetter；onlyIthought，’whatadifferencefromthegoodlypsalmsofthealehouse!’

Havingfinishedtheircanticle，whichcontainedmoremirththanmelody，theydrewthemselvesup，inasortofwaysupposedbythemtobemilitary，eachmanwithheelandelbowstruckintothoseofhisneighbour，andsalutedtheKing’sCommissioner。’Why，whereareyourofficers？’askedMasterStickles；’howisitthatyouhavenoofficers？’Uponthistherearoseageneralgrin，andaknowinglookpassedalongtheirfaces，evenuptothemanbythegatepost。’Areyougoingtotellme，ornot，’saidJeremy，’whatisbecomeofyourofficers？’

’Plaisezur，’saidonelittlefellowatlast，beingnoddedatbytheresttospeak，inrightofhisknowneloquence；’hustouldHarfizers，asawornonadeofun，nowKing’smanhiszellworcoom，apupposevortocommanduslaike。’

’Anddoyoumeantosay，youvillains，’criedJeremy，scarceknowingwhethertolaugh，ortoswear，orwhattodo；’thatyourofficerstooktheirdismissalthus，andletyoucomeonwithoutthem？’

’Whatcould’emdo？’askedthelittleman，withreasoncertainlyonhisside：’huszent’emabouttheirbusiness，andtheywasgladenoughtogoo。’

’Well!’saidpoorJeremy，turningtome；’aprettystateofthings，John!Threescorecobblers，andfarmingmen，plasterers，tailors，andkettles-to-mend；andnotamantokeeporderamongthem，exceptmyblessedself，John!AndItrowthereisnotoneamongthemcouldhitallin-doorflying。TheDooneswillmakeriddlesofallofus。’

However，hehadbetterhopeswhenthesonsofDevonappeared，astheydidinaboutanhour’stime；finefellows，andeagertoprovethemselves。Thesehadnotdiscardedtheirofficers，butmarchedingoodobediencetothem，andwerequitepreparedtofightthemenofSomerset(ifneedbe)inadditiontotheDoones。Andtherewasscarcelyamanamongthembutcouldhavetrouncedthreeoftheyellowmen，andwouldhavedoneitgladlytoo，inhonouroftheredfacings。

’Doyoumeantosuppose，MasterJeremyStickles，’saidI，lookingonwithamazement，beholdingalsoallourmaidensattheupstairwindowswondering；’thatwe，mymotherawidowwoman，andIayoungmanofsmallestate，cankeepandsupportallthesepreciousfellows，bothyellowones，andredones，untiltheyhavetakentheDooneGlen？’

’Godforbidit，myson!’hereplied，layingafingeruponhislip：’Nay，nay，Iamnotoftheshabbyorder，whenIhavethestringsofgovernment。Killyoursheepatfamineprices，andkneadyourbreadatafigureexpressingtherigoursoflastwinter。LetAnniemakeoutthebilleveryday，andIatnightwilldoubleit。

Youmaytakemywordforit，MasterJohn，thisspring-harvestshallbringyouinthreetimesasmuchaslastautumn’sdid。Iftheycheatedyouintown，mylad，youshallhaveyourchangeinthecountry。Takethybill，andwritedownquickly。’

Howeverthisdidnotmeetmyviewsofwhatanhonestmanshoulddo；andIwenttoconsultmymotheraboutit，asalltheaccountswouldbemadeinhername。

DearmotherthoughtthatiftheKingpaidonlyhalfagainasmuchasotherpeoplewouldhavetopay，itwouldbeperhapstheproperthing；thehalfbeingdueforloyalty：andhereshequotedanancientsaying，——

TheKingandhisstaff。

Beamanandahalf：

which，accordingtoherjudgment，ruledbeyonddisputethelawofthepresentquestion。Toarguewithherafterthat(whichshebroughtupwithsuchtriumph)

wouldhavebeenworsethanuseless。ThereforeIjusttoldAnnietomakethebillsatathirdbelowthecurrentmarketprices；sothattheupshotwouldbefair。Shepromisedmehonestlythatshewould；butwithatwinkleinherbrightblueeyes，whichshemusthavecaughtfromTomFaggus。Italwayshasappearedtomethatsternanddownrighthonestyuponmoneymattersisathingnotunderstoodofwomen；betheyasgoodasgoodcanbe。

Theyellowsandtheredstogethernumberedahundredandtwentymen，mostofwhomsleptinourbarnsandstacks；andbesidesthesewehadfifteentroopersoftheregulararmy。Youmaysupposethatallthecountrywasturnedupsidedownaboutit；andthefolkwhocametoseethemdrill——bynomeansaneedlessexercise——wereagreaterplaguethanthesoldiers