按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
have heard people say that he is a ten times greater man than other
folks； indeed； it stands to reason that he must be different from
the rest； else people would not be so eager to see him。 Do you
think； child； that people would be fools enough to run a matter of
twenty or thirty miles to see the king； provided King George … '
'Haven't the French a king？' I demanded。
'Yes；' said the old man； 'or something much the same； and a queer
one he is； not quite so big as King George； they say； but quite as
terrible a fellow。 What of him？'
'Suppose he should come to Norman Cross！'
'What should he do at Norman Cross； child？'
'Why； you were talking about the vipers in your bag breaking their
hearts； and so on； and their king coming to help them。 Now；
suppose the French king should hear of his people being in trouble
at Norman Cross； and … '
'He can't come； child；' said the old man； rubbing his hands； 'the
water lies between。 The French don't like the water； neither
vipers nor Frenchmen take kindly to the water； child。'
When the old man left the country； which he did a few days after
the conversation which I have just related； he left me the reptile
which he had tamed and rendered quite harmless by removing the
fangs。 I was in the habit of feeding it with milk； and frequently
carried it abroad with me in my walks。
CHAPTER V
The tent … Man and woman … Dark and swarthy … Manner of speaking …
Bad money … Transfixed … Faltering tone … Little basket … High
opinion … Plenty of good … Keeping guard … Tilted cart … Rubricals
… Jasper … The right sort … The horseman of the lane … John Newton
… The alarm … Gentle brothers。
ONE day it happened that； being on my rambles； I entered a green
lane which I had never seen before； at first it was rather narrow；
but as I advanced it became considerably wider； in the middle was a
driftway with deep ruts； but right and left was a space carpeted
with a sward of trefoil and clover； there was no lack of trees；
chiefly ancient oaks； which； flinging out their arms from either
side； nearly formed a canopy； and afforded a pleasing shelter from
the rays of the sun； which was burning fiercely above。 Suddenly a
group of objects attracted my attention。 Beneath one of the
largest of the trees； upon the grass； was a kind of low tent or
booth； from the top of which a thin smoke was curling； beside it
stood a couple of light carts； whilst two or three lean horses or
ponies were cropping the herbage which was growing nigh。 Wondering
to whom this odd tent could belong； I advanced till I was close
before it； when I found that it consisted of two tilts； like those
of waggons； placed upon the ground and fronting each other；
connected behind by a sail or large piece of canvas which was but
partially drawn across the top； upon the ground； in the intervening
space； was a fire； over which； supported by a kind of iron crowbar；
hung a caldron； my advance had been so noiseless as not to alarm
the inmates； who consisted of a man and woman； who sat apart； one
on each side of the fire； they were both busily employed … the man
was carding plaited straw； whilst the woman seemed to be rubbing
something with a white powder； some of which lay on a plate beside
her； suddenly the man looked up； and； perceiving me； uttered a
strange kind of cry； and the next moment both the woman and himself
were on their feet and rushing out upon me。
I retreated a few steps； yet without turning to flee。 I was not；
however； without apprehension； which； indeed； the appearance of
these two people was well calculated to inspire： the woman was a
stout figure； seemingly between thirty and forty； she wore no cap；
and her long hair fell on either side of her head like horse…tails
half…way down her waist； her skin was dark and swarthy； like that
of a toad； and the expression of her countenance was particularly
evil； her arms were bare； and her bosom was but half concealed by a
slight bodice； below which she wore a coarse petticoat； her only
other article of dress。 The man was somewhat younger； but of a
figure equally wild； his frame was long and lathy； but his arms
were remarkably short； his neck was rather bent； he squinted
slightly； and his mouth was much awry； his complexion was dark；
but； unlike that of the woman； was more ruddy than livid； there was
a deep scar on his cheek； something like the impression of a
halfpenny。 The dress was quite in keeping with the figure： in his
hat； which was slightly peaked； was stuck a peacock's feather； over
a waistcoat of hide； untanned and with the hair upon it； he wore a
rough jerkin of russet hue； smallclothes of leather； which had
probably once belonged to a soldier； but with which pipeclay did
not seem to have come in contact for many a year； protected his
lower man as far as the knee； his legs were cased in long stockings
of blue worsted； and on his shoes he wore immense old…fashioned
buckles。
Such were the two beings who now came rushing upon me； the man was
rather in advance； brandishing a ladle in his hand。
'So I have caught you at last；' said he； 'I'll teach ye； you young
highwayman； to come skulking about my properties！'
Young as I was； I remarked that his manner of speaking was
different from that of any people with whom I had been in the habit
of associating。 It was quite as strange as his appearance； and yet
it nothing resembled the foreign English which I had been in the
habit of hearing through the palisades of the prison； he could
scarcely be a foreigner。
'Your properties！' said I； 'I am in the King's Lane。 Why did you
put them there； if you did not wish them to be seen？'
'On the spy；' said the woman； 'hey？ I'll drown him in the sludge
in the toad…pond over the hedge。'
'So we will；' said the man； 'drown him anon in the mud！'
'Drown me； will you？' said I； 'I should like to see you！ What's
all this about？ Was it because I saw you with your hands full of
straw plait； and my mother there … '
'Yes；' said the woman； 'what was I about？'
MYSELF。 How should I know？ Making bad money； perhaps！
And it will be as well here to observe； that at this time there was
much bad money in circulation in the neighbourhood； generally
supposed to be fabricated by the prisoners； so that this false coin
and straw plait formed the standard subjects of conversation at
Norman Cross。
'I'll strangle thee；' said the beldame； dashing at me。 'Bad money；
is it？'
'Leave him to me； wifelkin；' said the man； interposing； 'you shall
now see how I'll baste him down the lane。'
MYSELF。 I tell you what； my chap； you had better put down that
thing of yours； my father lies concealed within my tepid breast；
and if to me you offer any harm or wrong； I'll call him forth to
help me with his forked tongue。
MAN。 What