bcornwell.sharpstiger-第35部分

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od　knows　why。　Besides；　Harry　Hickson　says　he　knows　some　clean　girls；　but　of　
　course　they　always　say　that。　Still；　if　you　want　to　ruin　your　eyes　reading　the　Bible；　go　ahead；　but　there　ain't　no　mercury　that　will　give　you　your　sight　back。'
　Lawford　said　nothing　for　a　few　seconds。　'Maybe　I　will　e　with　you；'　he　finally　said　shyly；　staring　down　at　the　table。
　'Learning　how　the　other　half　lives？'　Sharpe　asked　with　a　grin。
　'Something　like　that；'　Lawford　mumbled。
　〃Well　enough；　I　tell　you。　Give　us　some　cash　and　a　willing　couple　of　frows　and　we　can　live　like　kings。　We'll　make　this　the　last　drink；　eh？　Don't　want　to　lower　the　flag；　do　we？'
　Lawford　was　now　deep　red。　'You　won't；　of　course；　tell　anyone　about　this　when　we're　back？'
　'Me？'　Sharpe　pretended　to　be　astonished　at　the　very　idea。　'My　lips　are　gummed　together。　Not　a　word；　promise。'
　Lawford　worried　that　he　was　letting　his　dignity　slide；　but　he　did　not　want　to　lose　Sharpe's　approval。　The　Lieutenant　was　being　fascinated　by　the　younger　man's　confidence；　and　envied　the　way　in　which　Sharpe　so　instinctively　negotiated　a　wicked　world　and　he　wished　he　could　find　the　same　easy　ability　in　himself。　He　thought　briefly　of　the　Bible　waiting　back　in　the　barracks；　and　of　his　mother's　advice　to　read　it　diligently；　but　then　he　decided　to　hell　with　them　both。　He　drained　his　arrack；　picked　up　his　musket　and　followed　Sharpe　into　the　dusk。
　Every　house　in　the　city　was　prepared　for　the　siege。　Storehouses　were　filled　with　food　and　valuables　were　being　hastily　concealed　in　case　the　enemy　armies　broke　through　the　wall。　Holes　were　dug　in　gardens　and　filled　with　coins　and　jewellery；　and　in　some　of　the　wealthier　houses　whole　rooms　were　concealed　by　false　walls　so　that　the　women　could　be　hidden　away　when　the　invaders　rampaged　through　the　streets。
　
　Mary　helped　General　Appah　Rao's　household　prepare　for　that　ordeal。　She　felt　guilty；　not　because　she　came　from　the　army　that　was　imposing　this　threatened　misery　on　the　city；　but　because　she　had　unexpectedly　found　herself　happy　in　Rao's　sprawling　home。
　When　General　Appah　Rao　had　first　taken　her　away　fromSharpe　she　had　been　frightened；　but　the　General　had　taken　her　to　his　own　house　and　there　reassured　her　of　her　safety。　'We　must　clean　you；'　the　General　told　her；　'and　let　that　eye　heal。'　He　treated　her　gently；　but　with　a　measure　of　reserve　that　sprang　from　her　dishevelled　looks　and　her　presumed　history。　The　General　did　not　believe　that　Mary　was　the　most　suitable　addition　to　his　household；　but　she　spoke　English　and　Appah　Rao　was　shrewd　enough　to　reckon　that　a　mand　of　English　would　be　a　profitable　acplishment　in　Mysore's　future　and　he　had　three　sons　who　would　have　to　survive　in　that　future。　'In　time；'　Rao　told　Mary；　'you　can　join　your　man；　but　it's　best　he　should　settle　in　first。'
　But　now；　after　a　week　in　the　General's　household；　Mary　did　not　want　to　leave。　For　a　start　the　house　was　filled　with　women　who　had　taken　her　into　their　care　and　treated　her　with　a　kindness　that　astonished　her。　The　General's　wife；　Lakshmi；　was　a　tall　plump　woman　with　prematurely　grey　hair　and　an　infectious　laugh。　She　had　two　grown　unmarried　daughters　and；　though　there　was　a　score　of　female　servants；　Mary　was　surprised　to　discover　that　Lakshmi　and　her　daughters　shared　the　work　of　the　big　house。　They　did　not　sweep　it　or　draw　water　…　those　tasks　were　for　the　lowest　of　the　servants　…　but　Lakshmi　loved　to　be　in　the　kitchen　from　where　her　laughter　rippled　out　into　the　rest　of　the　house。
　It　had　been　Lakshmi　who　had　scolded　Mary　for　being　so　dirty；　had　stripped　her　from　her　western　clothes；　forced　her　into　a　bath　and　there　untangled　and　washed　her　filthy　hair。　'You'd　be　beautiful　if　you　took　some　trouble；'　Lakshmi　had　said。
　'I　didn't　want　to　draw　attention　to　myself。'
　'When　you're　my　age；　my　dear；　no　one　pays　you　any　attention　at　all；　so　you　should　take　all　you　can　get　while　you're　young。　You　say　you're　a　widow？'
　'He　was　an　Englishman；'　Mary　said　nervously；　explainingthe　lack　of　the　marriage　mark　on　her　forehead　and　worried　lest　the　older　woman　thought　she　should　have　thrown　herself　onto　her　husband's　pyre。
　'Well；　you're　a　free　woman　now；　so　let's　make　you　expensive。'　Lakshmi　laughed　and　then；　helped　by　her　daughters；　she　first　brushed　and　then　bed　Mary's　hair；　drawing　it　back　and　then　gathering　it　into　a　bun　at　the　nape　of　her　neck。　A　cheerful　maid　brought　in　an　armful　of　clothes　and　the　women　tossed　cholis　at　her。　'Choose　one；'　Lakshmi　said。　The　choli　was　a　brief　blouse　that　covered　Mary's　breasts；　shoulders　and　upper　arms；　but　left　most　of　her　back　naked　and　Mary　instinctively　selected　the　most　modest；　but　Lakshmi　would　have　none　of　it。　'That　lovely　pale　skin　of　yours；　show　it　off！'　she　said；　and　chose　a　brief　choli　patterned　in　extravagant　swirls　of　scarlet　flowers　and　yellow　leaves。　Lakshmi　tugged　the　short　sleeves　straight。　'So　why　did　you　run　with　those　two　men？'　Lakshmi　asked。
　'There　was　a　man　back　in　the　army。　A　bad　man。　He　wanted　to　。　。　。'　Mary　stopped　and　shrugged。　'You　know。'
　'Soldiers！'　Lakshmi　said　disapprovingly。　'But　the　two　men　you　ran　away　with；　did　they　treat　you　well？'
　'Yes；　oh　yes。'　Mary　suddenly　wanted　Lakshmi's　good　opinion；　and　that　opinion　would　not　be　good　if　she　thought　that　Mary　had　run　from　the　army　with　a　lover。　'One　of　them'　…　she　told　the　lie　shyly　…　'is　my　half…brother。'
　'Ah！'　Lakshmi　said　as　though　everything　was　clear　now。　Her　husband　had　told　her　that　Mary　had　run　with　her　lover；　but　Lakshmi　decided　to　accept　Mary's　story。　'And　the　other　man？'　she　asked。
　'He's　just　a　friend　of　my　brother's。'　Mary　blushed　at　the　lie；　but　Lakshmi　did　not　seem　to　notice。　'They　were　both　protecting　me；'　Mary　explained。
　'That's　good。　That's　good。　Now；　this。'　She　held　out　a　white　petticoat　that　Mary　stepped　into。　Lakshmi　laced　it　tight　at　the　back；　then　began　hunting　through　the　pile　of　saris。'Green；'　she　said；　'that'll　suit　you；'　and　she　unfolded　a　vast　bolt　of　green　silk　that　was　four　feet　wide　and　over　twenty　feet　long。　'You　know　how　to　wear　a　sari？'　Lakshmi　asked。
　'My　mother　taught　me。'
　'In　Calcutta？'　Lakshmi　hooted。　'What　do　they　know　of　saris　in　Calcutta？　Skimpy　little　northern　things；　that's　all　they　are。　Here；　let　me。'　Lakshmi　wrapped　the　first　length　of　sari　about　Mary's　slender　waist　and　tucked　it　firmly　into　the　petticoat's　waistband；　then　she　wrapped　a　further　length　about　the　girl；　but　this　she　skilfully　nicked　into　pleated　folds　that　were　again　firmly　anchored　in　the　petticoat's　waistband。　Mary　could　easily　have　done　the　job　herself；　but　Lakshmi　took　such　pleasure　in　it　that　it　would　have　been　cruel　to　have　denied　her。　By　the　time　the　pleats　were　tucked　in　about　half　of　the　sari　had　been　used　up；　and　the　rest　Lakshmi　looped　over　Mary's　left　shoulder；　then　tugged　at　the　silk　so　that　it　fell　in　graceful　folds。　Then　she　stepped　back。　'Perfect！　Now　you　can　e　and　help　us　in　the　kitchens。　We'll　burn　those　old　clothes。'
　In　the　mornings　Mary　taught　the　General's　three　small　boys　English。　They　were　bright　children　and　learned　quickly　and　the　hours　passed　pleasantly　enough。　In　the　afternoons　she　helped　in　the　household　chores；　but　in　the　early　evening　it　was　her　job　to　light　the　oil　lamps　about　the　house　and　it　was　that　duty　that　threw　Mary　into　the　pany　of　Kunwar　Singh　who；　at　about　the　same　time　as　the　lamps　were　lit；　went　round　the　house　ensuring　that　the　shutters　were　barred　and　the　outer　doors　and　gates　either　locked　or　guarded。　He　was　the　chief　of　Appah　Rao's　bodyguard；　but　his　duties　were　more　concerned　the　the　household　than　with　the　General　who　had　enough　soldiers　surrounding　him　wherever　he　went　in　the　city。　Kunwar　Singh；　Mary　learned；　was　a　distant　relation　of　the　General；　but　there　was　something　oddly　sad　about　the　tall　young　man　whose　manners　were　so　courteous　but　also　so　distant。'We　don't　talk　about　it；'　Lakshmi　said　to　Mary　one　afternoon　when　they　were　both　hulling　rice。
　'I'm　sorry　I　asked。'
　'His　father　was　disgraced；　you　see；'　Lakshmi　went　on　enthusiastically。　'And　so　the　whole　family　was　disgraced。　Kunwar's　father　managed　some　of　our　land　near　Sedasseer；　and　he　stole　from　us！　Stole！　And　when　he　was　found　out；　instead　of　throwing　himself　on　my　husband's　mercy；　he　became　a　bandit。　The　Tippoo's　men　caught　him　in　the　end　and　cut　his　head　off。　Poor　Kunwar。　It's　hard　to　live　down　that　sort　of　disgrace。'
　'Is　it　a　worse　disgrace　than　having　been　married　to　an　Englishman？'　Mary　asked　miserably；　for　somehow；　in　this　lively　house；　she　did　feel　obscurely　ashamed。　She　was　half　English　herself；　but　under　Lakshmi's　swamping　affection；　she　kept　remembering　her　mother　who　had　been　rejected　by　her　own　people　for　marrying　an　Englishman。
　'A　disgrace？　Married　to　an　Englishman？　What　nonsense　you　do　talk；　girl！'　Lakshmi　said；　and　the　next　day　she　took　care　to　send　Mary　to　deliver　a　present　of　food　to　the　young　deposed　Rajah　of　Mysore　who　survived　at　the　Tippoo's　mercy　in　a　small　house　just　east　of　the　Inner　Palace。　'But　you　can't　go　alone；'　Lakshmi　said；　'not　with　the　streets　full　of　soldiers。　Kunwar！'　And　Lakshmi　saw　the　blush　of　happiness　on　Mary's　face　as　she　set　off　in　the　tall　Kunwar　Singh's　protective　pany。
　Mary　was　happy；　but　she　felt　guilty。　She　knew　she　ought　to　try　and　find　Shaipe　for　she　suspected　he　must　be　missing　her；　but　she　was　suddenly　so　content　in　Appah　Rao's　household　that　she　did　not　want　to　disturb　that　happiness　by　returning　to　her　old　world。　She　felt　at　home　and；　though　the　city　was　surrounded　by　enemies；　she　felt　oddly　safe。　One　day；　she　supposed；　she　would　have　to　find　Sharpe；　and　perhaps　everything　would　turn　out　well　on　that　day；　but　Mary　did　nothing　to　hasten　it。　She　just　felt　guilty　and　made　sure　that　she　did　not　start　lighting　the　lamps　until　she　heard　the　first　shutter　bar　fall。
　And　Lakshmi；　who　had　been　wondering　just　where　she　might　find　poor　disgraced　Kunwar　Singh　a　suitable　bride；　chuckled。
　
　Once　the　British　and　Hyderabad　armies　had　made　their　permanent　encampment　to　the　west　of　Seringapatam　the　siege　settled　into　a　pattern　that　both　sides　recognized。　The　allied　armies　stayed　well　out　of　the　range　of　even　the　largest　cannon　on　the　city's　wall　and　far　beyond　the　reach　of　any　rocket；　but　they　established　a　picquet　line　facing　an　earth…banked　aqueduct　that　wended　its　way　through　the　fi