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！
falsetto； like the notes of a split reed； he quavered forth a quaint
old ditty。
Now Christmas is come；
Let us beat up the drum；
And call all our neighbors together；
And when they appear；
Let us make them such cheer；
As will keep out the wind and the weather； etc。
The supper had disposed every one to gayety； and an old harper was
summoned from the servants' hall； where he had been strumming all
the evening； and to all appearance comforting himself with some of the
squire's home…brewed。 He was a kind of hanger…on； I was told； of the
establishment； and； though ostensibly a resident of the village； was
oftener to be found in the squire's kitchen than his own home； the old
gentleman being fond of the sound of 〃harp in hall。〃
The dance； like most dances after supper； was a merry one； some of
the older folks joined in it； and the squire himself figured down
several couple with a partner； with whom he affirmed he had danced
at every Christmas for nearly half a century。 Master Simon； who seemed
to be a kind of connecting link between the old times and the new； and
to be withal a little antiquated in the taste of his
accomplishments； evidently piqued himself on his dancing； and was
endeavoring to gain credit by the heel and toe； rigadoon； and other
graces of the ancient school； but he had unluckily assorted himself
with a little romping girl from boarding…school； who； by her wild
vivacity； kept him continually on the stretch； and defeated all his
sober attempts at elegance：… such are the ill…assorted matches to
which antique gentlemen are unfortunately prone！
The young Oxonian； on the contrary； had led out one of his maiden
aunts； on whom the rogue played a thousand little knaveries with
impunity： he was full of practical jokes； and his delight was to tease
his aunts and cousins； yet； like all madcap youngsters； he was a
universal favorite among the women。 The most interesting couple in the
dance was the young officer and a ward of the squire's； a beautiful
blushing girl of seventeen。 From several shy glances which I had
noticed in the course of the evening； I suspected there was a little
kindness growing up between them； and； indeed； the young soldier was
just the hero to captivate a romantic girl。 He was tall； slender；
and handsome； and； like most young British officers of late years； had
picked up various small accomplishments on the continent… he could
talk French and Italian… draw landscapes； sing very tolerably… dance
divinely； but； above all； he had been wounded at Waterloo：… what
girl of seventeen； well read in poetry and romance； could resist
such a mirror of chivalry and perfection！
The moment the dance was over； he caught up a guitar； and； lolling
against the old marble fireplace； in an attitude which I am half
inclined to suspect was studied； began the little French air of the
Troubadour。 The squire； however； exclaimed against having any thing on
Christmas eve but good old English； upon which the young minstrel；
casting up his eye for a moment； as if in an effort of memory；
struck into another strain； and； with a charming air of gallantry；
gave Herrick's 〃Night…Piece to Julia。〃
Her eyes the glow…worm lend thee；
The shooting stars attend thee；
And the elves also；
Whose little eyes glow
Like the sparks of fire； befriend thee。
No Will o' the Wisp mislight thee；
No snake nor slow…worm bite thee；
But on； on thy way；
Not making a stay；
Since ghost there is none to affright thee；
Then let not the dark thee cumber；
What though the moon does slumber；
The stars of the night
Will lend thee their light；
Like tapers clear without number。
Then； Julia； let me woo thee；
Thus； thus to come unto me；
And when I shall meet
Thy silvery feet；
My soul I'll pour into thee。
The song might or might not have been intended in compliment to
the fair Julia； for so I found his partner was called； she； however；
was certainly unconscious of any such application； for she never
looked at the singer； but kept her eyes cast upon the floor。 Her
face was suffused； it is true； with a beautiful blush； and there was a
gentle heaving of the bosom； but all that was doubtless caused by
the exercise of the dance； indeed； so great was her indifference； that
she amused herself with plucking to pieces a choice bouquet of
hot…house flowers； and by the time the song was concluded the
nosegay lay in ruins on the floor。
The party now broke up for the night with the kind…hearted old
custom of shaking hands。 As I passed through the hall； on my way to my
chamber； the dying embers of the Yule clog still sent forth a dusky
glow； and had it not been the season when 〃no spirit dares stir
abroad；〃 I should have been half tempted to steal from my room at
midnight； and peep whether the fairies might not be at their revels
about the hearth。
My chamber was in the old part of the mansion； the ponderous
furniture of which might have been fabricated in the days of the
giants。 The room was panelled with cornices of heavy carved work； in
which flowers and grotesque faces were strangely intermingled； and a
row of black…looking portraits stared mournfully at me from the walls。
The bed was of rich； though faded damask； with a lofty tester； and
stood in a niche opposite a bow window。 I had scarcely got into bed
when a strain of music seemed to break forth in the air just below the
window。 I listened； and found it proceeded from a band； which I
concluded to be the waifs from some neighboring village。 They went
round the house； playing under the windows。 I drew aside the
curtains to hear them more distinctly。 The moonbeams fell through
the upper part of the casement； partially lighting up the antiquated
apartment。 The sounds； as they receded； became more soft and aerial；
and seemed to accord with the quiet and moonlight。 I listened and
listened… they became more and more tender and remote； and； as they
gradually died away； my head sunk upon the pillow； and I fell asleep。
THE END
。