登陆注册
15491400000003

第3章 CHAPTER II--THE CASWALLS OF CASTRA REGIS(1)

Mr. Salton had all his life been an early riser, and necessarily an early waker. But early as he woke on the next morning--and although there was an excuse for not prolonging sleep in the constant whirr and rattle of the "donkey" engine winches of the great ship--he met the eyes of Adam fixed on him from his berth. His grand-nephew had given him the sofa, occupying the lower berth himself. The old man, despite his great strength and normal activity, was somewhat tired by his long journey of the day before, and the prolonged and exciting interview which followed it. So he was glad to lie still and rest his body, whilst his mind was actively exercised in taking in all he could of his strange surroundings. Adam, too, after the pastoral habit to which he had been bred, woke with the dawn, and was ready to enter on the experiences of the new day whenever it might suit his elder companion. It was little wonder, then, that, so soon as each realised the other's readiness, they simultaneously jumped up and began to dress. The steward had by previous instructions early breakfast prepared, and it was not long before they went down the gangway on shore in search of the carriage.

They found Mr. Salton's bailiff looking out for them on the dock, and he brought them at once to where the carriage was waiting in the street. Richard Salton pointed out with pride to his young companion the suitability of the vehicle for every need of travel.

To it were harnessed four useful horses, with a postillion to each pair.

"See," said the old man proudly, "how it has all the luxuries of useful travel--silence and isolation as well as speed. There is nothing to obstruct the view of those travelling and no one to overhear what they may say. I have used that trap for a quarter of a century, and I never saw one more suitable for travel. You shall test it shortly. We are going to drive through the heart of England; and as we go I'll tell you what I was speaking of last night. Our route is to be by Salisbury, Bath, Bristol, Cheltenham, Worcester, Stafford; and so home."Adam remained silent a few minutes, during which he seemed all eyes, for he perpetually ranged the whole circle of the horizon.

"Has our journey to-day, sir," he asked, "any special relation to what you said last night that you wanted to tell me?""Not directly; but indirectly, everything."

"Won't you tell me now--I see we cannot be overheard--and if anything strikes you as we go along, just run it in. I shall understand."So old Salton spoke:

"To begin at the beginning, Adam. That lecture of yours on 'The Romans in Britain,' a report of which you posted to me, set me thinking--in addition to telling me your tastes. I wrote to you at once and asked you to come home, for it struck me that if you were fond of historical research--as seemed a fact--this was exactly the place for you, in addition to its being the home of your own forbears. If you could learn so much of the British Romans so far away in New South Wales, where there cannot be even a tradition of them, what might you not make of the same amount of study on the very spot. Where we are going is in the real heart of the old kingdom of Mercia, where there are traces of all the various nationalities which made up the conglomerate which became Britain.""I rather gathered that you had some more definite--more personal reason for my hurrying. After all, history can keep--except in the making!""Quite right, my boy. I had a reason such as you very wisely guessed. I was anxious for you to be here when a rather important phase of our local history occurred.""What is that, if I may ask, sir?"

"Certainly. The principal land-owner of our part of the county is on his way home, and there will be a great home-coming, which you may care to see. The fact is, for more than a century the various owners in the succession here, with the exception of a short time, have lived abroad.""How is that, sir, if I may ask?"

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 张扬魅力的女人味(女性生活百宝箱)

    张扬魅力的女人味(女性生活百宝箱)

    每个女人都有自己的气质,如同各种各样的花都有各种各样的颜色、各种各样的香、各种各样的味。她们就如同高山平原、大海小溪,各有各的美。她们不仅仅是一幅雅致的画,更是一本耐人寻味、百读不厌的书。
  • 快乐者生存

    快乐者生存

    本书的深刻用意即唤醒你那沉睡的幽默及灿烂的笑脸,与你共同度过那段“艰难”的时期,搭上幸福的快车,共创美好的明天。
  • 王牌书生
  • 随辰而安

    随辰而安

    以前没有见过海,心里想着第一眼见到海时一定觉得它特别大。当真的见到海之后,第一个念头确是觉得自己特别小。正因如此,人山人海,你我才容易走失。但庆幸的是,只要你记住我的名字,我便不会在你的生命中消失。----安初夏【】我们要听到大风吹过峡谷,才知道那就是风。我们要看到白云浮过山脉,才知道那就是云。我们要爱了,才会知道这就是爱。我们要恨了,才知道,恨也是因为爱。----顾思辰
  • 维克多的秘密

    维克多的秘密

    江似锦在梦里总是遇见一个人,反反复复好像千年之前就认识一般。一次偶然机会,穿越七生七世,寻找真爱之旅。关注《维克多的秘密》,看七生七世虐恋大剧。
  • 动脑筋故事(语文新课标课外必读第七辑)

    动脑筋故事(语文新课标课外必读第七辑)

    国家教育部颁布了最新《语文课程标准》,统称新课标,对中、小学语文教学指定了阅读书目,对阅读的数量、内容、质量以及速度都提出了明确的要求,这对于提高学生的阅读能力,培养语文素养,陶冶情操,促进学生终身学习和终身可持续发展,对于提高广大人民的文学素养具有极大的意义。
  • 殇天路

    殇天路

    将玄幻主义和历史相结合,展开了一幅气势磅礴的史诗风画卷。东汉末年,正魔决战昆仑山,华岳门绝代天骄玄殇,以一己之力独守阆风巅,弑魔尊,战魔神,挡数万追兵,终因寡不敌众,魂散四方。十年后,韶龄小童陆凌云,受父亲遗命,携上古神剑重返华岳门,游万界,诛神魔,踏天之路,开始谱写一曲逆天强者的铮铮战歌!
  • 红尘宝鉴

    红尘宝鉴

    这是一段精彩传奇的经历,一个亘古永恒的传说。因为千古不变的宿命,一切的因果都将在这一世做出个了结。天劫降临,洪荒乱世,群妖并起!圣光大陆、魔法大陆、极北冰原、神弃之地、极南之地等各方大陆烽烟四起诸派征伐!浩荡神州,官府、仙派、教会各有算计,面对这哀鸿遍野又将演绎怎样的故事?主角来自一团迷雾为了挚爱行走在人间,诛杀妖魔、对抗异族、闯荡小仙界,与妖魔、异族、魔修、仙派、官府发生了这样那样的故事……精彩的人物背景、环境设置、跌宕起伏的故事情节,还有主角和作者对人生的感悟,让你可以在迷茫与困顿之中放飞梦想寻找到自己的人生方向!来吧,排遣寂寞寻找快乐继续你我人生的执着……
  • TFBOYS之樱花的约定

    TFBOYS之樱花的约定

    黎茉雪,六岁父母离异.从小就过着被父母虐的生活……林依洁,因为从小父母不经常管她……心灵脆弱的她却在班级中被人嘲笑的时候故装坚强。诺青夏,只有没几个朋友的,甚至没有朋友的学生。……因为成绩优异,王俊凯、王源、易烊千玺、黎茉雪、林依洁、诺青夏考近了重庆八中……
  • 你不可不知的健脑益智100招

    你不可不知的健脑益智100招

    人脑不仅是一切心理活动的器官,而且还是人体适应内、外环境的各种行为的始发者和各机能系统活动的协调者。人脑是一个特殊器官,既是身体的一部分,更是与精神、思维密不可分的重要器官,因此,健脑才能益智。人脑需要有多种营养物质来滋补,才能有效地推迟和抑制脑细胞的衰老退化。