友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!
恐怖书库 返回本书目录 加入书签 我的书架 我的书签 TXT全本下载 『收藏到我的浏览器』

lavengro-第149部分

快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完,想下次继续接着阅读,可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能!


'You need not be afraid;' said I; addressing myself to the man; 'I 

mean you no harm; I am a wanderer like yourself … come here to seek 

for shelter … you need not be afraid; I am a Roman chabo by 

matriculation … one of the right sort; and no mistake … Good…day to 

ye; brother; I bid ye welcome。'



The man eyed me suspiciously for a moment … then; turning to his 

horse with a loud curse; he pulled him up from his haunches; and 

led him and the cart farther down to one side of the dingle; 

muttering; as he passed me; 'Afraid!  Hm!'



I do not remember ever to have seen a more ruffianly…looking 

fellow; he was about six feet high; with an immensely athletic 

frame; his face was black and bluff; and sported an immense pair of 

whiskers; but with here and there a gray hair; for his age could 

not be much under fifty。  He wore a faded blue frock…coat; 

corduroys; and highlows; on his black head was a kind of red 

nightcap; round his bull neck a Barcelona handkerchief … I did not 

like the look of the man at all。



'Afraid!' growled the fellow; proceeding to unharness his horse; 

'that was the word; I think。'



But other figures were now already upon the scene。  Dashing past 

the other horse and cart; which by this time had reached the bottom 

of the pass; appeared an exceedingly tall woman; or rather girl; 

for she could scarcely have been above eighteen; she was dressed in 

a tight bodice and a blue stuff gown; hat; bonnet; or cap she had 

none; and her hair; which was flaxen; hung down on her shoulders 

unconfined; her complexion was fair; and her features handsome; 

with a determined but open expression … she was followed by another 

female; about forty; stout and vulgar…looking; at whom I scarcely 

glanced; my whole attention being absorbed by the tall girl。



'What's the matter; Jack?' said the latter; looking at the man。



'Only afraid; that's all;' said the man; still proceeding with his 

work。



'Afraid at what … at that lad? why; he looks like a ghost … I would 

engage to thrash him with one hand。'



'You might beat me with no hands at all;' said I; 'fair damsel; 

only by looking at me … I never saw such a face and figure; both 

regal … why; you look like Ingeborg; Queen of Norway; she had 

twelve brothers; you know; and could lick them all; though they 

were heroes:…





On Dovrefeld in Norway

Were once together seen

The twelve heroic brothers

Of Ingeborg the queen。'





'None of your chaffing; young fellow;' said the tall girl; 'or I 

will give you what shall make you wipe your face; be civil; or you 

will rue it。'



'Well; perhaps I was a peg too high;' said I; 'I ask your pardon … 

here's something a bit lower:…





As I was jawing to the gav yeck divvus

I met on the drom miro Rommany chi … '





None of your Rommany chies; young fellow;' said the tall girl; 

looking more menacingly than before; and clenching her fist; 'you 

had better be civil; I am none of your chies; and though I keep 

company with gypsies; or; to speak more proper; half…and…halfs; I 

would have you to know that I come of Christian blood and parents; 

and was born in the great house of Long Melford。'



'I have no doubt;' said I; 'that it was a great house; judging from 

your size I shouldn't wonder if you were born in a church。'



'Stay; Belle;' said the man; putting himself before the young 

virago; who was about to rush upon me; 'my turn is first' … then; 

advancing to me in a menacing attitude; he said; with a look of 

deep malignity; '〃Afraid;〃 was the word; wasn't it?'



'It was;' said I; 'but I think I wronged you; I should have said; 

aghast; you exhibited every symptom of one labouring under 

uncontrollable fear。'



The fellow stared at me with a look of stupid ferocity; and 

appeared to be hesitating whether to strike or not:  ere he could 

make up his mind; the tall girl started forward; crying; 'He's 

chaffing; let me at him'; and before I could put myself on my 

guard; she struck me a blow on the face which had nearly brought me 

to the ground。



'Enough;' said I; putting my hand to my cheek; 'you have now 

performed your promise; and made me wipe my face:  now be pacified; 

and tell me fairly the grounds of this quarrel。'



'Grounds!' said the fellow; 'didn't you say I was afraid; and if 

you hadn't; who gave you leave to camp on my ground?'



'Is it your ground?' said I。



'A pretty question;' said the fellow; 'as if all the world didn't 

know that。  Do you know who I am?'



'I guess I do;' said I; 'unless I am much mistaken; you are he whom 

folks call the 〃Flaming Tinman。〃  To tell you the truth; I'm glad 

we have met; for I wished to see you。  These are your two wives; I 

suppose; I greet them。  There's no harm done … there's room enough 

here for all of us … we shall soon be good friends; I daresay; and 

when we are a little better acquainted; I'll tell you my history。'



'Well; if that doesn't beat all!' said the fellow。



'I don't think he's chaffing now;' said the girl; whose anger 

seemed to have subsided on a sudden; 'the young man speaks civil 

enough。'



'Civil!' said the fellow; with an oath; 'but that's just like you; 

with you it is a blow; and all over。  Civil!  I suppose you would 

have him stay here; and get into all my secrets; and hear all I may 

have to say to my two morts。'



'Two morts!' said the girl; kindling up; 'where are they?  Speak 

for one; and no more。  I am no mort of yours; whatever some one 

else may be。  I tell you one thing; Black John; or Anselo; … for 

t'other ain't your name; … the same thing I told the young man 

here; be civil; or you will rue it。'



The fellow looked at the girl furiously; but his glance soon 

quailed before hers; he withdrew his eyes; and cast them on my 

little horse; which was feeding amongst the trees。  'What's this?' 

said he; rushing forward and seizing the animal。  'Why; as I am 

alive; this is the horse of that mumping villain Slingsby。'



'It's his no longer; I bought it and paid for it。'



'It's mine now;' said the fellow; 'I swore I would seize it the 

next time I found it on my beat; ay; and beat the master too。'



'I am not Slingsby。'



'All's one for that。'



'You don't say you will beat me?'



'Afraid was the word。'



'I'm sick and feeble。'



'Hold up your fists。'



'Won't the horse satisfy you?'



'Horse nor bellows either。'



'No mercy; then?'



'Here's at you。'



'Mind your eyes; Jack。  There; you've got it。  I thought so;' 

shouted the girl; as the fellow staggered back from a sharp blow in 

the eye; 'I thought he was chaffing at you all along。'



'Never mind; Anselo。  You know what to do … go in;' said the vulgar 

woman; who had hitherto not spoken a word; but who now came forward 

with all the look of a fury; 'go inapopli; you'll smash ten like 

he。'



The Flaming Tinman took her advice; and came in bent on 
返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 2 2
快捷操作: 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!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!