登陆注册
15287500000033

第33章 THE ADVENTURE OF THE LITTLE OLD LADY(5)

It could not be.I am his host.And what build of man is he, Barbara? Say he is not my size.""No, Phil dear; he is taller by a hand's breadth.""Ah," sighed Philip, with intense relief, "then it must be Rupert! Poor Rupert!""Now," said Barbara, "forget all about it, and have a good holiday with the boys.The evening is distant yet.""I wish it were here!" Phil exclaimed fervently as he ran off.

Philip at once sought out Rupert, and, slipping his hand into his arm, led him away from the others.He wanted to break the news gently.

"I say, Rupert," he said, "you remember that crossbow of mine you wanted so much?"Rupert remembered.

"Well, it is yours," said Philip."And I want you to ride Tiger oftener than you do." (Tiger was Philip's most prized horse.)Rupert was beginning to be mystified, but he could see that all this was but the preamble to something more important.

"And, Rupert," Philip continued, "you know how keen we all are to smash those Roundheads, don't you?"Rupert knew.

"But it isn't always possible, you understand, for everyone to fight and be in the front, is it? Some have to do quieter work where they are not seen, haven't they?"Rupert agreed, a little impatiently."But Phil," he added, "what does all this mean? What do you want me to do?""Well," said Philip, "I can't tell you everything; but to-night it may be necessary for some of us to ride to Portallan, and one to stay behind, and I thought I would try to make it easier for you to be the one to stay behind, that's all.It must be you, I'm afraid, poor old fellow!"The reader paused again.

"I LIKE THAT BIT ABOUT SPELLING," SAID JACK.

"I THINK BARBARA AND PHILIP WERE VERY LUCKY," SAID ROBERT."THERE'S NO FUNLIKE THAT NOW.WY IS ALL THE FUN IN THE PAST?""I THINK IT'S FUN TO GO FOR A CARAVAN-TOUR," SAID MISS REDSTONE; "ANDTHAT'S IN THE PRESENT."

"OH, YES," SAID ROBERT, "THAT'S FUN, NO DOUBT; BUT IT DOESN'T COMPARE WITHFIGHTING AGAINST ROUNDHEADS."

"I THINK BARBARA WAS MOST HORRIBLY LUCKY," SAID HESTER, " BECAUSE, OFCOURSE, THE STRANGER WAS--"

"HUSH!" SAID THE AUTHOR; AND SHE BEGAN TO READ ONCE MORE.

The day wore on slowly.Barbara did her best to go through the household duties naturally, but the tension was severe.She was perpetually conscious of a fear that, after all, in spite of his confidence in his skill, the stranger might have been tracked and pursued.

She had, indeed, in the peace of the afternoon, but just dismissed the suspicion, when the white face of Philip appearing suddenly at the door of the library, where she was sitting, brought back all her tremors.

"Roundheads!" he gasped.

Her heart stood still."Oh, if father were here!" was all she could murmur moaningly, as the clatter of hoofs rung out in the courtyard.

A minute later old Digger tottered in shaking like a reed, followed by an officer and three soldiers.Barbara rose to meet them, biting her lips to repress her emotion "What is it?" she inquired coldly.

"Guard the doors and the windows! said the Captain to his men, ignoring her.He looked round the room, and then condescended to reply.

"We are seeking a rebel," he said."He has been traced to this neighbourhood, and it would be natural for him to seek hospitality here.

The Myddeltons are fond of such dirt."

"This roof shelters no rebels," said Barbara simply.

"Colonel Myddelton, this doddering old fool tells me," said the Captain, indicating Digger, "is away.""Clearly," said Barbara, "or your language would be more guarded.""And no one has come seeking refuge?" the Captain pursued, adding, to Barbara's intense relief: "But asking questions is sheer waste of breath.Ihave no time to talk.We must search the house."Barbara sank into her chair again.Surely they must hear the beating of her heart, she thought.Oh, anything, anything to appear calm! The risk was double--first, that they might themselves discover the secret place;secondly, that in tapping the walls, as they were even now doing, they might give her signal to the fugitive, and thus cause him to betray himself.She buried her face in her embroidery, but was aware that the Captain's eyes were on her.The soldiers were passing round the room slowly, thoroughly.In the stress of her perturbation Barbara rose and moved to the door, controlling her agitation with a tremendous effort.

"Follow the lady," said the Captain to one of the soldiers."Don't lose sight of her for a moment." ("The minx knows something," he muttered in his moustache.)"You brute!" cried Philip, drawing his sword."Do you dare to order my sister to be dogged? Come on." And he made a lunge at the Roundhead.

"Steady!" said the Captain, parrying the thrust--"steady, young fellow!"Barbara, catching at the door, screamed and swooned.

Philip thrust at him again.

"Be still," muttered the Captain; "we must have no bloodshed here." And he twitched the weapon from the boy's hand, adding: "Very well, I withdraw the order.Carry your sister to her room, and my soldier shall merely stand sentinel at her door.Another word, you puppy, and I'll have you in irons!"With an effort Philip obeyed, remembering the duty the night held for him;and he and Digger together carried Barbara to her room, followed by the soldier, who took up his stand at the door.

On resuming their search, the soldiers did no more than thrust their pikes up the chimney, and in a few minutes proceeded to the other rooms.

An hour later the Captain sent for Philip, who sauntered into his presence whistling a country dance.

"I am going at once," said the Captain.

Philip had it in his mind to press him ironically to stay, with a word of regret that his visit was so short; but he stifled the temptation, and simply nodded.

"But I am not in the least satisfied," the Captain continued, "and I mean to leave three soldiers behind to guard the entries and your sister's room.

No one leaves the Hall to-night."

Philip's face fell."But I must," he said."I am at school at Framshott, and we, my companions and I, must ride back to-night.""Your companions!" said the Captain.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 未来世界之危机四伏

    未来世界之危机四伏

    讲叙在未来世界,由于人类追求绝对的自由和极端的享受而导致政府权力的真空。全球体系面对全面考验,资源的枯竭,科技的绝对进步,生存空间已经掌握在所谓的少数精英手中,机器已经全面代替了人类,人类已经不在那么重要。各种财团也在侵蚀着政府权力,最终导致全球的“战国”时代
  • 鬼擘口

    鬼擘口

    民国寻宝盗墓的奇闻诡事,怪遇杂谈,尽在鬼擘口。
  • 假如世界都被设定

    假如世界都被设定

    异世大陆,一个知晓一切的人出现了。神奇的面板,神奇的设定。看穿人心,了解真相。把整个世界掌握在你的手中吧。
  • 天武神话

    天武神话

    天地三界,浩瀚无尽,百族林立,群雄争霸。热血激烈的天骄对决,绚丽多彩的武术碰撞,一位位天之骄子,强势掀起,如星辰般绽放光辉。一位来自星尘大陆重生于天界的青年,能否在这个乱天动地,却精彩绝伦的热血世界,谱写出一曲属于他的神话之歌?天之道,武之极,动乾坤,创神话…………武道之路,谁主浮沉?
  • 梦在天涯

    梦在天涯

    年少的心飘浮不定,流浪的人天下为家,行走在广阔的天地里,淡泊名利,倒乐得自在逍遥,何处去想天有多高地有多大。抬头望天,路在脚下,尘落身后,流浪不是贫穷,走得远也是一种享受。何况在这人世短暂而繁杂的尘世里,不需去做一些无所谓的事,更不能专为钱而活过。我们过了一生依旧困守在尘世的方寸之间,看不到更远的旷野。生活是一种重复,只是需要更多的勇气和更大的代价去改变,但却太难。于是我们多数过起了平凡的日子,日升日落,脚下走着,头顶压着,走不了多远就老了。有些时候你不需要想的太多,路就在脚下,想远行就开始吧!
  • 刻刀

    刻刀

    这个世界上拥有权利,可以生存的只有实力,也就是说实力是证明一切的源头,而刻刀则是一大每逢大世应运而生的帝王,物竞天择
  • 神罪:命运之子

    神罪:命运之子

    在古老而神秘的原大陆,有一处被称为荒芜之地的地方。据说那是一处被诅咒的地方。就算被称之为冒险家和征服者的哈里兰一族也对这个地方敬而远之。就连人们谈论起他都显得小心翼翼,讳莫如深。而就是这样一个地方,此时,却出现了一个稍显瘦而又稚嫩的身影!
  • 恋上皇家冷血酷公主

    恋上皇家冷血酷公主

    大家好,我是薄荷,今天给大家带来我的第一个作品,名叫《恋上皇家冷血酷公主》。有什么不好的地方请说我或者提意见,我本人不怕喷,但是希望大家不要说的太狠,也谢谢大家戳进来看我的小说。我的qq是2089829563,验证是:读者内容介绍:她,佐罗皇室的公主殿下,却因为父亲让她与死党体验高中的生活,隐秘身份女扮男装的来到了樱蓝学院,本以为美好学院生活开始的她不巧第一天去学校就被花痴围攻,被三个性格各异的帅男玩弄,她的校园生活还能继续快乐吗?面临她的是一场甜蜜的爱情,还是一场伤心的初恋?
  • 寂灭武途

    寂灭武途

    拳破虚空,脚踢山河我要成为武道历史长河中的一颗璀璨明星,用我的拳脚与当代天骄争夺传说之名,缔造属于我自己的传奇——罗峰
  • 少年来过我的盛夏

    少年来过我的盛夏

    盛夏和韩冬,多么般配的名字啊。让人一听就觉得,这两个人注定是命中一对。可他们没有想过,盛夏和寒冬,是两个极端。而盛夏和韩冬,也注定不会在一起。而盛夏和陆铭,在外国偶然相遇、相知、相恋,却因为一场事故分离。盛夏失忆,陆铭失常。他们在中国再次相逢、再次相恋,不料昔日情敌再次插足。最终盛夏的选择,会是韩冬,还是陆铭。