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Loveday was noticing the threads of rain descending across its interior shade, Festus Derriman walked up and entered it for shelter, which, owing to the lumber within, it but scantily afforded to a man who would have been a match for one of Frederick William's Patagonians. It was an excellent opportunity for helping on her scheme.
I wish I wasn't no more afraid of the French than you be; but being in the Locals, Maister Derriman, I assure ye I dream of having to defend my country every night; and I don't like the dream at all. 'You should take it careless, Cripplestraw, as I do; and 'twould soon come natural to you not to mind it at all. Well, a fine fellow is not everything, you know. O no.
'I wish I had known of it before. John appeared disturbed at the sudden charge. He murmured that he could not deny it, and then hastily turned from her and followed Derriman, whom he saw before him on the bridge. 'Derriman! he shouted. Festus started and looked round. 'Well, trumpet-major, he said blandly.
Gazing at her over the hedge was Festus Derriman, mounted on such an incredibly tall animal that he could see to her very feet over the thick and broad thorn fence. She no sooner recognized him than she withdrew her glance; but as his eyes were fixed steadily upon her this was a futile manoeuvre. 'I saw you look round! he exclaimed crossly. 'What have I done to make you behave like that?
'Faith, perhaps you'd look pale, said Noakes, with an envious glance upon Festus's daring manner, 'if you had a wife and family depending upon ye! 'I'll take three frog-eating Frenchmen single-handed! rejoined Derriman, still flourishing his sword. 'They have as good swords as you; as you will soon find, said another of the yeomen.
In short, I hope from my heart you will be, and I say so very often to folk in fact, I pray at night for't. 'O! cuss you! you needn't pray about it. 'No, Maister Derriman, I won't. 'Of course my sword will do its duty. That's enough. And now be off with ye. Festus gloomily returned to his uncle's room and found that Anne was just leaving.
He was walking past one of the churches when a wedding-party came forth, the bride and bridegroom being Matilda and Festus Derriman.
"Surely," I says to myself when I see ye a-coming, "surely Maister Festus is fuming like that because there's no chance of the enemy coming this year after all." 'Cr-r-ripplestraw! I have been wounded to the heart, replied Derriman, with a lurid brow. 'And the man yet lives, and you wants yer horse-pistols instantly? Certainly, Maister F
'Festus Derriman rode by half-an-hour ago, and talked to her over the hedge. John guessed the rest, and, after standing on the threshold in silence awhile, walked away towards the camp. All this time his brother Robert had been hastening along in pursuit of the woman who had withdrawn from the scene to avoid the exposure and complete overthrow which would have resulted had she remained.
Festus Derriman had remained in the Royal watering-place all that day, his horse being sick at stables; but, wishing to coax or bully from his uncle a remount for the coming summer, he set off on foot for Oxwell early in the evening.
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