redgauntlet-第78部分

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r　north…country　cattle。'




CHAPTER　XVII

NARRATIVE　OF　DARSIE　LATIMER

Our　history　must　now；　as　the　old　romancers　wont　to　say；　'leave　to　tell'　of　the　quest　of　Alan　Fairford；　and　instruct　our　readers　of　the　adventures　which　befell　Darsie　Latimer；　left　as　he　was　in　the　precarious　custody　of　his　self…named　tutor；　the　Laird　of　the　Lochs　of　Solway；　to　whose　arbitrary　pleasure　he　found　it　necessary　for　the　present　to　conform　himself。

In　consequence　of　this　prudent　resolution；　and　although　he　did　not　assume　such　a　disguise　without　some　sensations　of　shame　and　degradation；　Darsie　permitted　Cristal　Nixon　to　place　over　his　face；　and　secure　by　a　string；　one　of　those　silk　masks　which　ladies　frequently　wore　to　preserve　their　complexions；　when　exposed　to　the　air　during　long　journeys　on　horseback。　　He　remonstrated　somewhat　more　vehemently　against　the　long　riding…　skirt；　which　converted　his　person　from　the　waist　into　the　female　guise；　but　was　obliged　to　concede　this　point　also。

The　metamorphosis　was　then　complete；　for　the　fair　reader　must　be　informed；　that　in　those　rude　times；　the　ladies；　when　they　honoured　the　masculine　dress　by　assuming　any　part　of　it；　wore　just　such　hats；　coats；　and　waistcoats　as　the　male　animals　themselves　made　use　of；　and　had　no　notion　of　the　elegant　compromise　betwixt　male　and　female　attire；　which　has　now　acquired；　PAR　EXCELLENCE；　the　name　of　a　HABIT。　　Trolloping　things　our　mothers　must　have　looked；　with　long　square…cut　coats；　lacking　collars；　and　with　waistcoats　plentifully　supplied　with　a　length　of　pocket；　which　hung　far　downwards　from　the　middle。　　But　then　they　had　some　advantage　from　the　splendid　colours；　lace；　and　gay　embroidery　which　masculine　attire　then　exhibited；　and；　as　happens　in　many　similar　instances；　the　finery　of　the　materials　made　amends　for　the　want　of　symmetry　and　grace　of　form　in　the　garments　themselves。　　But　this　is　a　digression。

In　the　court　of　the　old　mansion；　half　manor…place；　half　farm…　house；　or　rather　a　decayed　manor…house；　converted　into　an　abode　for　a　Cumberland　tenant；　stood　several　saddled　horses。　　Four　or　five　of　them　were　mounted　by　servants　or　inferior　retainers；　all　of　whom　were　well　armed　with　sword；　pistol；　and　carabine。　　But　two　had　riding　furniture　for　the　use　of　femalesthe　one　being　accoutred　with　a　side…saddle；　the　other　with　a　pillion　attached　to　the　saddle。

Darsie's　heart　beat　quicker　within　him；　he　easily　comprehended　that　one　of　these　was　intended　for　his　own　use；　and　his　hopes　suggested　that　the　other　was　designed　for　that　of　the　fair　Green　Mantle；　whom；　according　to　his　established　practice；　he　had　adopted　for　the　queen　of　his　affections；　although　his　opportunities　of　holding　communication　with　her　had　not　exceeded　the　length　of　a　silent　supper　on　one　occasion；　and　the　going　down　a　country…dance　on　another。　　This；　however；　was　no　unwonted　mood　of　passion　with　Darsie　Latimer；　upon　whom　Cupid　was　used　to　triumph　only　in　the　degree　of　a　Mahratta　conqueror；　who　overruns　a　province　with　the　rapidity　of　lightning；　but　finds　it　impossible　to　retain　it　beyond　a　very　brief　space。　　Yet　this　new　love　was　rather　more　serious　than　the　scarce　skinned…up　wounds　which　his　friend　Fairford　used　to　ridicule。　　The　damsel　had　shown　a　sincere　interest　in　his　behalf；　and　the　air　of　mystery　with　which　that　interest　was　veiled；　gave　her；　to　his　lively　imagination；　the　character　of　a　benevolent　and　protecting　spirit；　as　much　as　that　of　a　beautiful　female。

At　former　times；　the　romance　attending　his　short…lived　attachments　had　been　of　his　own　creating；　and　had　disappeared　as　soon　as　ever　he　approached　more　closely　to　the　object　with　which　he　had　invested　it。　　On　the　present　occasion；　it　really　flowed　from　external　circumstances；　which　might　have　interested　less　susceptible　feelings；　and　an　imagination　less　lively　than　that　of　Darsie　Latimer；　young；　inexperienced；　and　enthusiastic　as　he　was。

He　watched；　therefore；　anxiously　to　whose　service　the　palfrey　bearing　the　lady's　saddle　was　destined。　　But　ere　any　female　appeared　to　occupy　it；　he　was　himself　summoned　to　take　his　seat　on　the　pillion　behind　Cristal　Nixon；　amid　the　grins　of　his　old　acquaintance　Jan　who　helped　him　to　horse；　and　the　unrestrained　laughter　of　Cicely；　who　displayed　on　the　occasion　a　case　of　teeth　which　might　have　rivalled　ivory。

Latimer　was　at　an　age　when　being　an　object　of　general　ridicule　even　to　clowns　and　milkmaids　was　not　a　matter　of　indifference；　and　he　longed　heartily　to　have　laid　his　horse…whip　across　Jan's　shoulders。　　That；　however；　was　a　solacement　of　his　feelings　which　was　not　at　the　moment　to　be　thought　of；　and　Cristal　Nixon　presently　put　an　end　to　his　unpleasant　situation；　by　ordering　the　riders　to　go　on。　　He　himself　kept　the　centre　of　the　troop；　two　men　riding　before　and　two　behind　him；　always；　as　it　seemed　to　Darsie；　having　their　eye　upon　him；　to　prevent　any　attempt　to　escape。　　He　could　see　from　time　to　time；　when　the　straight　line　of　the　road；　or　the　advantage　of　an　ascent　permitted　him；　that　another　troop　of　three　or　four　riders　followed　them　at　about　a　quarter　of　a　mile's　distance；　amongst　whom　he　could　discover　the　tall　form　of　Redgauntlet；　and　the　powerful　action　of　his　gallant　black　horse。　　He　had　little　doubt　that　Green　Mantle　made　one　of　the　party；　though　he　was　unable　to　distinguish　her　from　the　others。

In　this　manner　they　travelled　from　six　in　the　morning　until　nearly　ten　of　the　clock；　without　Darsie　exchanging　a　word　with　any　one；　for　he　loathed　the　very　idea　of　entering　into　conversation　with　Cristal　Nixon；　against　whom　he　seemed　to　feel　an　instinctive　aversion；　nor　was　that　domestic's　saturnine　and　sullen　disposition　such　as　to　have　encouraged　advances；　had　he　thought　of　making　them。

At　length　the　party　halted　for　the　purpose　of　refreshment；　but　as　they　had　hitherto　avoided　all　villages　and　inhabited　places　upon　their　route；　so　they　now　stopped　at　one　of　those　large　ruinous　Dutch　barns；　which　are　sometimes　found　in　the　fields；　at　a　distance　from　the　farm…houses　to　which　they　belong。　　Yet　in　this　desolate　place　some　preparations　had　been　made　for　their　reception。　　There　were　in　the　end　of　the　barn　racks　filled　with　provender　for　the　horses；　and　plenty　of　provisions　for　the　party　were　drawn　from　the　trusses　of　straw；　under　which　the　baskets　that　contained　them　had　been　deposited。　　The　choicest　of　these　were　selected　and　arranged　apart　by　Cristal　Nixon；　while　the　men　of　the　party　threw　themselves　upon　the　rest；　which　he　abandoned　to　their　discretion。　　In　a　few　minutes　afterwards　the　rearward　party　arrived　and　dismounted；　and　Redgauntlet　himself　entered　the　barn　with　the　green…mantled　maiden　by　his　side。　　He　presented　her　to　Darsie　with　these　words：

'It　is　time　you　two　should　know　each　other　better。　　I　promised　you　my　confidence；　Darsie；　and　the　time　is　come　for　reposing　it。　But　first　we　will　have　our　breakfast；　and　then；　when　once　more　in　the　saddle；　I　will　tell　you　that　which　it　is　necessary　that　you　should　know。　　Salute　Lilias；　Darsie。'

The　command　was　sudden；　and　surprised　Latimer；　whose　confusion　was　increased　by　the　perfect　ease　and　frankness　with　which　Lilias　offered　at　once　her　cheek　and　her　hand；　and　pressing　his　as　she　rather　took　it　than　gave　her　own；　said　very　frankly；　'Dearest　Darsie；　how　rejoiced　I　am　that　our　uncle　has　at　last　permitted　us　to　become　acquainted！'

Darsie's　head　turned　round；　and　it　was　perhaps　well　that　Redgauntlet　called　on　him　to　sit　down；　as　even　that　movement　served　to　hide　his　confusion。　　There　is　an　old　song　which　says

　　when　ladies　are　willing；　　　A　man　can　but　look　like　a　fool；

And　on　the　same　principle　Darsie　Latimer's　looks　at　this　unexpected　frankness　of　reception；　would　have　formed　an　admirable　vignette　for　illustrating　the　passage。　　'Dearest　Darsie；'　and　such　a　ready；　nay；　eager　salute　of　lip　and　hand！　　It　was　all　very　gracious；　no　doubtand　ought　to　have　been　received　with　much　gratitude；　but；　constituted　as　our　friend's　temper　was；　nothing　could　be　more　inconsistent　with　his　tone　of　feeling。　　If　a　hermit　had　proposed　to　him　to　club　for　a　pot　of　beer；　the　illusion　of　his　reverend　sanctity　could　not　have　been　dispelled　more　effectually　than　the　divine　qualities　of　Green　Mantle　faded　upon　the　ill…imagined　frank…heartedness　of　poor　Lilias。　　Vexed　with　her　forwardness；　and　affronted　at　having　once　more　cheated　himself；　Darsie　could　hardly　help　muttering　two　lines　of　the　song　we　have　already　quoted：

　　The　fruit　that　must　fall　without　shaking　　　Is　rather　too　mellow　for　me。

And　yet　it　was　pity　for　her　tooshe　was　a　very　pretty　young　womanhis　fancy　had　scarcely　overrated　her　in　that　respectand　the　slight　derangement　of　the　beautiful　brown　locks　which　escaped　in　natural　ringlets　from　under　her　riding…hat；　with　the　bloom　which　exercise　had　brought　into　her　cheek；　made　her　even　more　than　usually　fascinating。　　Redgauntlet　modified　the　sternness　of　his　look　when　it　was　turned　towards　her；　and　in　addressing　her；　used　a　softer　tone　than　his　usual　deep　bass。　　Even　the　grim　features　of　Cristal　Nixon　relaxed　when　he　attended　on　her；　and　it　was　then；　if　ever；　that　his　misanthropical　visage　expressed　some　sympathy　with　the　rest　of　humanity。

'How　can　she；'　thought　Latimer；　'look　so　like　an　angel；　yet　be　so　mere　a　mortal　after　all？　　How　could　so　much　seeming　modesty　have　so　much　forwardness　of　manner；　when　she　ought　to　have　been　most　reserved？　　How　can　her　conduct　be　reconciled　to　the　grace　and　ease　of　her　general　deportment？'

The　confusion　of　thoughts　which　occupied　Darsie's　imagination；　gave　to　his　looks　a　disordered　appearance；　and　his　inattention　to　the　food　which　was　placed　before　him；　together　with　his　silence　and　absence　of　mind；　induced　Lilias　solicitously　to　inquire；　whether　he　did　not　feel　some　return　of　the　disorder　under　which　he　had　suffered　so　lately。　　This　led　Mr。　Redgauntlet；　who　seemed　also　lost　in　his　own　contemplations；　to　raise　his　eyes；　and　join　in　the　same　inquiry　with　some　appearance　of　interest。　　Latimer　explained　to　both　that　he　was　perfectly　well。

'It　is　well　it　is　so；'　answered　Redgauntlet；　'for　we　have　that　before　us　which　will　brook　no　delay　from　indispositionwe　have　not；　as　Hotspur　says；　leisure　to　be　sick。'

Lilias；　on　her　part；　endeavoured　to　prevail　upon　Darsie　to　partake　of　the　food　which　she　offered　him；　with