吻英文短篇小说Ateighto'clockontheeveningofthetwentiethofMayallthesixbatteriesoftheN----ReserveArtilleryBrigadehaltedforthenightinthevillageofMyestetchkiontheirwaytocamp.Whenthegeneralcommotionwasatitsheight,whilesomeofficerswerebusilyoccupiedaroundtheguns,whileothers,gatheredtogetherinthesquarenearthechurchenclosure,werelisteningtothequartermasters,amaninciviliandress,ridingastrangehorse,cameintosightroundthechurch.Thelittledun-colouredhorsewithagoodneckandashorttailcame,movingnotstraightforward,butasitweresideways,withasortofdancestep,asthoughitwerebeinglashedaboutthelegs.Whenhereachedtheofficersthemanonthehorsetookoffhishatandsaid:"HisExcellencyLieutenant-GeneralvonRabbekinvitesthegentlementodrinkteawithhimthisminute."Thehorseturned,danced,andretiredsideways;themessengerraisedhishatoncemore,andinaninstantdisappearedwithhisstrangehorsebehindthechurch."Whatthedevildoesitmean?"grumbledsomeoftheofficers,dispersingtotheirquarters."Oneissleepy,andherethisVonRabbekwithhistea!Weknowwhatteameans."Theofficersofallthesixbatteriesrememberedvividlyanincidentofthepreviousyear,whenduringmanoeuvresthey,togetherwiththeofficersofaCossackregiment,wereinthesamewayinvitedtoteabyacountwhohadanestateintheneighbourhoodandwasaretiredarmyofficer:thehospitableandgenialcountmademuchofthem,fedthem,andgavethemdrink,refusedtoletthemgototheirquartersinthevillageandmadethemstaythenight.Allthat,ofcourse,wasverynice--nothingbettercouldbedesired,buttheworstofitwas,theoldarmyofficerwassocarriedawaybythepleasureoftheyoungmen'scompanythattillsunrisehewastellingtheofficersanecdotesofhisgloriouspast,takingthemoverthehouse,showingthemexpensivepictures,oldengravings,rareguns,readingthemautographlettersfromgreatpeople,whilethewearyandexhaustedofficerslookedandlistened,longingfortheirbedsandyawningintheirsleeves;whenatlasttheirhostletthemgo,itwastoolateforsleep.MightnotthisVonRabbekbejustsuchanother?Whetherhewereornot,therewasnohelpforit.Theofficerschangedtheiruniforms,brushedthemselves,andwentalltogetherinsearchofthegentleman'shouse.InthesquarebythechurchtheyweretoldtheycouldgettoHisExcellency'sbythelowerpath--goingdownbehindthechurchtotheriver,goingalongthebanktothegarden,andthereanavenuewouldtakenthemtothehouse;orbytheupperway--straightfromthechurchbytheroadwhich,halfamilefromthevillage,ledrightuptoHisExcellency'sgranaries.Theofficersdecidedtogobytheupperway."WhatVonRabbekisit?"theywonderedontheway."SurelynottheonewhowasincommandoftheN----cavalrydivisionatPlevna?""No,thatwasnotVonRabbek,butsimplyRabbeandno'von.'""Whatlovelyweather!"Atthefirstofthegranariestheroaddividedintwo:onebranchwentstraightonandvanishedintheeveningdarkness,theotherledtotheowner'shouseontheright.Theofficersturnedtotherightandbegantospeakmoresoftly.Onbothsidesoftheroadstretchedstonegranarieswithredroofs,heavyandsullen-looking,verymuchlikebarracksofadistricttown.Aheadofthemgleamedthewindowsofthemanor-house."Agoodomen,gentlemen,"saidoneoftheofficers."Oursetteristheforemostofall;nodoubthescentsgameaheadofus."LieutenantLobytko,whowaswalkinginfront,atallandstalwartfellow,thoughentirelywithoutmoustache(hewasoverfive-and-twenty,yetforsomereasontherewasnosignofhaironhisround,well-fedface),renownedinthebrigadeforhispeculiarfacultyfordiviningthepresenceofwomenatadistance,turnedroundandsaid:"Yes,theremustbewomenhere;Ifeelthatbyinstinct."Onthethresho...
