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！
with a feeling of contempt for the slowness and dulness
of the young man。
A grin spread over his good…natured features。
〃It don't look like it；〃 he said； nodding towards
the yard。 Emma turned to catch the meaning of his
remark。 Old Martha stood in the middle of a mob of
poultry scattering handfuls of grain around her。 The
turkey…cock； with the bronzed sheen of his feathers and
the purple…red of his wattles； the gamecock； with the
glowing metallic lustre of his Eastern plumage； the hens；
with their ochres and buffs and umbers and their scarlet
combs； and the drakes； with their bottle…green heads；
made a medley of rich colour； in the centre of which the
old woman looked like a withered stalk standing amid a
riotous growth of gaily…hued flowers。 But she threw the
grain deftly amid the wilderness of beaks； and her
quavering voice carried as far as the two people who were
watching her。 She was still harping on the theme of
death coming to the farm。
〃I knew 'twere a…coming。 There's been signs an'
warnings。〃
〃Who's dead； then； old Mother？〃 called out the young
man。
〃'Tis young Mister Ladbruk；〃 she shrilled back；
〃they've just a…carried his body in。 Run out of the way
of a tree that was coming down an' ran hisself on to an
iron post。 Dead when they picked un up。 Aye； I knew
'twere coming。〃
And she turned to fling a handful of barley at a
belated group of guinea…fowl that came racing toward her。
* * * *
The farm was a family property； and passed to the
rabbit…shooting cousin as the next…of…kin。 Emma Ladbruk
drifted out of its history as a bee that had wandered in
at an open window might flit its way out again。 On a
cold grey morning she stood waiting； with her boxes
already stowed in the farm cart； till the last of the
market produce should be ready； for the train she was to
catch was of less importance than the chickens and butter
and eggs that were to be offered for sale。 From where
she stood she could see an angle of the long latticed
window that was to have been cosy with curtains and gay
with bowls of flowers。 Into her mind came the thought
that for months； perhaps for years； long after she had
been utterly forgotten； a white； unheeding face would be
seen peering out through those latticed panes； and a weak
muttering voice would be heard quavering up and down
those flagged passages。 She made her way to a narrow
barred casement that opened into the farm larder。 Old
Martha was standing at a table trussing a pair of
chickens for the market stall as she had trussed them for
nearly fourscore years。
THE LULL
I'VE asked Latimer Springfield to spend Sunday with
us and stop the night；〃 announced Mrs。 Durmot at the
breakfast…table。
〃I thought he was in the throes of an election；〃
remarked her husband。
〃Exactly； the poll is on Wednesday； and the poor man
will have worked himself to a shadow by that time。
Imagine what electioneering must be like in this awful
soaking rain； going along slushy country roads and
speaking to damp audiences in draughty schoolrooms； day
after day for a fortnight。 He'll have to put in an
appearance at some place of worship on Sunday morning；
and he can come to us immediately afterwards and have a
thorough respite from everything connected with politics。
I won't let him even think of them。 I've had the picture
of Cromwell dissolving the Long Parliament taken down
from the staircase； and even the portrait of Lord
Rosebery's 'Ladas' removed from the smoking…room。 And
Vera；〃 added Mrs。 Durmot； turning to her sixteen…year…old
niece； 〃be careful what colour ribbon you wear in your
hair； not blue or yellow on any account； those are the
rival party colours； and emerald green or orange would be
almost as bad； with this Home Rule business to the fore。〃
〃On state occasions I always wear a black ribbon in
my hair；〃 said Vera with crushing dignity。
Latimer Springfield was a rather cheerless； oldish
young man； who went into politics somewhat in the spirit
in which other people might go into half…mourning。
Without being an enthusiast； however； he was a fairly
strenuous plodder； and Mrs。 Durmot had been reasonably
near the mark in asserting that he was working at high
pressure over this election。 The restful lull which his
hostess enforced on him was decidedly welcome； and yet
the nervous excitement of the contest had too great a
hold on him to be totally banished。
〃I know he's going to sit up half the night working
up points for his final speeches；〃 said Mrs。 Durmot
regretfully； 〃however； we've kept politics at arm's
length all the afternoon and evening。 More than that we
cannot do。〃
〃That remains to be seen；〃 said Vera； but she said
it to herself。
Latimer had scarcely shut his bedroom door before he
was immersed in a sheaf of notes and pamphlets； while a
fountain…pen and pocket…book were brought into play for
the due marshalling of useful facts and discreet
fictions。 He had been at work for perhaps thirty…five
minutes； and the house was seemingly consecrated to the
healthy slumber of country life； when a stifled squealing
and scuffling in the passage was followed by a loud tap
at his door。 Before he had time to answer； a much…
encumbered Vera burst into the room with the question； 〃I
say； can I leave these here？〃
〃These〃 were a small black pig and a lusty specimen
of black…red gamecock。
Latimer was moderately fond of animals； and
particularly interested in small livestock rearing from
the economic point of view； in fact； one of the pamphlets
on which he was at that moment engaged warmly advocated
the further development of the pig and poultry industry
in our rural districts； but he was pardonably unwilling
to share even a commodious bedroom with samples of
henroost and stye products。
〃Wouldn't they be happier somewhere outside？〃 he
asked； tactfully expressing his own preference in the
matter in an apparent solicitude for theirs。
〃There is no outside；〃 said Vera impressively；
〃nothing but a waste of dark； swirling waters。 The
reservoir at Brinkley has burst。〃
〃I didn't know there was a reservoir at Brinkley；〃
said Latimer。
〃Well； there isn't now； it's jolly well all over the
place； and as we stand particularly low we're the centre
of an inland sea just at present。 You see the river has
overflowed its banks as well。〃
〃Good gracious！ Have any lives been lost？〃
〃Heaps； I should say。 The second housemaid has
already identified three bodies that have floated past
the billiard…room window as being the young man she's
engaged to。 Either she's engaged to a large assortment
of the population round here or else she's very careless
at identification。 Of course it may be the same body
coming round again