登陆注册
19848000000036

第36章

When she drew near to the miller and her mother she perceived that they were engaged in a conversation of that peculiar kind which is all the more full and communicative from the fact of definitive words being few. In short, here the game was succeeding which with herself had failed. It was pretty clear from the symptoms, marks, tokens, telegraphs, and general byplay between widower and widow, that Miller Loveday must have again said to Mrs. Garland some such thing as he had said before, with what result this time she did not know.

As the situation was delicate, Anne halted awhile apart from them.

The trumpet-major, quite ignorant of how his cause was entered into by the white-coated man in the distance (for his father had not yet told him of his designs upon Mrs. Garland), did not advance, but stood still by the gate, as though he were attending a princess, waiting till he should be called up. Thus they lingered, and the day began to break. Mrs. Garland and the miller took no heed of the time, and what it was bringing to earth and sky, so occupied were they with themselves; but Anne in her place and the trumpet-major in his, each in private thought of no bright kind, watched the gradual glory of the east through all its tones and changes. The world of birds and insects got lively, the blue and the yellow and the gold of Loveday's uniform again became distinct; the sun bored its way upward, the fields, the trees, and the distant landscape kindled to flame, and the trumpet-major, backed by a lilac shadow as tall as a steeple, blazed in the rays like a very god of war.

It was half-past three o'clock. A short time after, a rattle of horses and wheels reached their ears from the quarter in which they gazed, and there appeared upon the white line of road a moving mass, which presently ascended the hill and drew near.

Then there arose a huzza from the few knots of watchers gathered there, and they cried, 'Long live King Jarge!. The cortege passed abreast. It consisted of three travelling-carriages, escorted by a detachment of the German Legion. Anne was told to look in the first carriage--a post-chariot drawn by four horses--for the King and Queen, and was rewarded by seeing a profile reminding her of the current coin of the realm; but as the party had been travelling all night, and the spectators here gathered were few, none of the royal family looked out of the carriage windows. It was said that the two elder princesses were in the same carriage, but they remained invisible. The next vehicle, a coach and four, contained more princesses, and the third some of their attendants.

'Thank God, I have seen my King!' said Mrs. Garland, when they had all gone by.

Nobody else expressed any thankfulness, for most of them had expected a more pompous procession than the bucolic tastes of the King cared to indulge in; and one old man said grimly that that sight of dusty old leather coaches was not worth waiting for. Anne looked hither and thither in the bright rays of the day, each of her eyes having a little sun in it, which gave her glance a peculiar golden fire, and kindled the brown curls grouped over her forehead to a yellow brilliancy, and made single hairs, blown astray by the night, look like lacquered wires. She was wondering if Festus were anywhere near, but she could not see him.

Before they left the ridge they turned their attention towards the Royal watering-place, which was visible at this place only as a portion of the sea-shore, from which the night-mist was rolling slowly back. The sea beyond was still wrapped in summer fog, the ships in the roads showing through it as black spiders suspended in the air. While they looked and walked a white jet of smoke burst from a spot which the miller knew to be the battery in front of the King's residence, and then the report of guns reached their ears.

This announcement was answered by a salute from the Castle of the adjoining Isle, and the ships in the neighbouring anchorage. All the bells in the town began ringing. The King and his family had arrived.

同类推荐
  • 弘戒法仪

    弘戒法仪

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 後鑒錄

    後鑒錄

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 张畹香医案

    张畹香医案

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 颜元集

    颜元集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Heartbreak House

    Heartbreak House

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 王石管理日志

    王石管理日志

    本书通过管理日志的形式,再现个性十足的职业经理人王石对于企业运营管理的思考、感悟和实践,展示了他是如何缔造一个优秀的现代公司标本以及如何打造一支优秀的职业经理人团队的过程。
  • 幕后邪徒

    幕后邪徒

    邪徒一握美人手,其他男人通通打酱油。残忍?七夜说:李礼很有原则,从不杀人!善良?成文基咬牙切齿:李礼吃肉都带着骨头!Mia:爱上李礼是很危险的事情,不爱他却生不如死!轮到左小雨:什么?李礼吗?本小姐独家包养的,都别围观了!
  • 你凭什么影响世界:比尔·盖茨送给年轻人的创业礼物

    你凭什么影响世界:比尔·盖茨送给年轻人的创业礼物

    本书以独特的视角通过对比尔·盖茨成功之路的分析,提炼出比尔·盖茨的创业思维和创业智慧,相信无论是创业者、管理者还是渴望成功的人都会从本书中找到能给予自己帮助的经验和策略。同时,为追求事业发展的个人和企业,带来一定得启发和借鉴。本书以独特的视角通过对比尔·盖茨成功之路的分析,提炼出比尔·盖茨的创业思维和创业智慧,相信无论是创业者、管理者还是渴望成功的人都会从本书中找到能给予自己帮助的经验和策略。同时,为追求事业发展的个人和企业,带来一定得启发和借鉴。
  • 警察与赞美诗(中小学生必读丛书)

    警察与赞美诗(中小学生必读丛书)

    在欧·亨利的作品中,我们可以读到最真实的生活,体会到最深刻的人性。欧·亨利为美国的短篇小说开创出一个新时代。自1918年起,美国设立了“欧·亨利纪念奖”,以奖励每年度的最佳短篇小说。
  • 小迷糊撞上大总裁

    小迷糊撞上大总裁

    第一次撞到他,是在一家五星级酒店。他说:“小朋友,走路小心点!”她怒了!正要发飙,却发现他已不知所踪。悲愤啊!她这爱看帅哥的毛病,什么时候才能改过来啊?第二次遇到他,是在她被相亲对象给耍了,没钱买单的时候。他对服务员说:“她的单算我的吧。”她说:“那个……蓝总,谢谢你!”他却冷淡地回了一句:“不客气!”“钱我会还你的!请问要怎么联系你?”“不必了。”他看都没看她一眼,丢下这句话就开着车子绝尘而去。第三次,她在医院里撞到了他,却将他当成透明人,跟他表妹滔滔不绝地述说着自己的遭遇。为了证明情况属实,还敞开外套露出了里面的卡通睡衣。待她反应过来,知道自己做了什么的时候,真恨不得买块豆腐撞死算了,不然找根面条上吊也行。不过,他们怎么这么有缘?如果说一次是意外,两次是偶然,第三次就肯定是缘分了。只是不知道这究竟是姻缘还是孽缘?花絮一:“我要辞职。”“可以,一百万。”“什么?”“合同上写着的,违约金是一百万。”天哪!她签的究竟是劳动合同还是卖身契啊?“你能不这么腹黑么?”“不好意思,这是天生的。”花絮二:“教你一个一夜暴富的方法。”“什么方法?”“嫁给我!我马上分一半家产给你。”本文女主平时迷糊可爱,跟小白兔似的,发起飙来却很恐怖,是典型的深藏不露型。男主冷峻腹黑,深情无限,情有独钟。这是一篇暖文,幽默、温馨和浪漫。想看虐文的亲们请绕路。简介各种无能,欢迎大家戳文,真的很好看哦!
  • 佛说信佛功德经

    佛说信佛功德经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 迟暮

    迟暮

    老人的女儿考上大学,到城市里工作,儿子和媳妇也想到城市去打工,被年轻人抛在脑后的家里弥漫着老人迟暮的悲哀。
  • 八荒神王

    八荒神王

    八荒世界是一个强者林立的世界,这里有修炼灵力的灵武者,也有修炼念力的念能使。自从古元神战后,众神陨落,自此八荒世界不再有神王,亦无人知晓成神秘密。然而千年后一个叫九夷的人打破桎梏,成为神战后唯一神王独霸一方,无人是其敌手,直到几百年之后,一个叫余越的少年横空出世······新书上传,求收藏
  • 异界纵横之灵元大陆

    异界纵横之灵元大陆

    “一切的失去也是会有得到;一切的失败也注定成功的到来;一切的辛酸也会夹杂着泪!”“得与失的交错;成与败的注定;泪与酸的融合;许是信念的支持。“不是每个人都可以当主宰,但可以纵横异界我为独尊。”
  • 元素武神

    元素武神

    九重元素海洋,横挂天地之间,它们如金字塔般层叠着,越往上元素威力越强。少年李奇得上古秘卷,沟通上层元素海洋,在屈辱中崛起,一路高歌猛进,碎万古,踏苍穹,强者无敌!