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'So do I especially one, said a voice at her elbow; and a man wheeled round her, and looked in her face, which had been fully exposed to the moon. 'You who are you? she asked. 'Don't you remember, ma'am? We walked some way together towards Overcombe earlier in the summer. Matilda looked more closely, and perceived that the speaker was Derriman, in plain clothes.
But of one feature in this curious adventure he had not the least notion that Festus Derriman, misled by the darkness, the fumes of his potations, and the constant sight of Anne and Bob together, never once supposed his assailant to be any other man than Bob, believing the trumpet-major miles away.
Anne was just becoming conscious. 'O, Mr. Derriman, never, never! she murmured, sweeping her face with her hand. 'I thought he was at the bottom of it, said John. Anne opened her eyes, and started back from him. 'What is it? she said wildly. 'You are ill, my dear Miss Garland, replied John in trembling anxiety, and taking her hand. 'I am not ill, I am wearied out! she said. 'Can't we walk on?
Spite that few men live that be worthy to command ye; spite that you could rush on, marshal the troops to victory, as I may say; but then what of it? there's the unhappy fate of being smit with the eyes of a woman, and you are unmanned! Maister Derriman, who is himself, when he's got a woman round his neck like a millstone? 'It is something like that. 'I feel the case. Be you valiant?
'Well, Cripplestraw, how is it to-day? said Festus, with socially-superior heartiness. 'Middlin', considering, Maister Derriman. And how's yerself? 'Fairish. Well, now, see and clean these military boots of mine. I'll cock my foot up on this bench. This pigsty of my uncle's is not fit for a soldier to come into. 'Yes, Maister Derriman, I will. No, 'tis not fit, Maister Derriman.
'True; that's a point, sir. You would outshine 'em all, and be picked off at the very beginning as a too-dangerous brave man. 'But if I stay here and urge on the faint-hearted ones, or get up into the turret-stair by that gateway, and pop at the invaders through the loophole, I shouldn't be so completely wasted, should I? 'You would not, Mr. Derriman.
'Your servant, Mrs. Loveday, he said, 'and I will tell you at once what I come for. You will say that I take time by the forelock when I inform you that it is to push on my long-wished-for alliance wi' your daughter, as I believe she is now a free woman again. 'Thank you, Mr. Derriman, said the mother placably. 'But she is ill at present. I'll mention it to her when she is better.
A narrow plank was thrown loosely across at the point where the path traversed this stream, and when Anne reached it she at once scampered over. At the other side she turned her head to gather the probabilities of the situation, which were that Festus Derriman would overtake her even now.
While doing so she was suddenly led to draw back, drop the corner of the curtain, and blush privately in her room. She had not only been seen by Festus Derriman, but by John Loveday, who, riding along with his trumpet slung up behind him, had looked over his shoulder at the phenomenon of Derriman beneath Anne's bedroom window and seemed quite astounded at the sight.
I didn't know they were coming, though it may be in the newspaper all the time. But old Derriman keeps it so long that we never know things till they be in everybody's mouth. This Derriman was a squireen living near, who was chiefly distinguished in the present warlike time by having a nephew in the yeomanry.
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