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the doom of the griffiths-第4部分
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yet delicate roundness in every limb。 Her little mob…cap was
carefully adjusted to a face which was excessively pretty; though it
never could be called handsome。 It also was round; with the
slightest tendency to the oval shape; richly coloured; though
somewhat olive in complexion; with dimples in cheek and chin; and the
most scarlet lips Owen had ever seen; that were too short to meet
over the small pearly teeth。 The nose was the most defective
feature; but the eyes were splendid。 They were so long; so lustrous;
yet at times so very soft under their thick fringe of eyelash! The
nut…brown hair was carefully braided beneath the border of delicate
lace: it was evident the little village beauty knew how to make the
most of all her attractions; for the gay colours which were displayed
in her neckerchief were in complete harmony with the complexion。
Owen was much attracted; while yet he was amused; by the evident
coquetry the girl displayed; collecting around her a whole bevy of
young fellows; for each of whom she seemed to have some gay speech;
some attractive look or action。 In a few minutes young Griffiths of
Bodowen was at her side; brought thither by a variety of idle
motives; and as her undivided attention was given to the Welsh heir;
her admirers; one by one; dropped off; to seat themselves by some
less fascinating but more attentive fair one。 The more Owen
conversed with the girl; the more he was taken; she had more wit and
talent than he had fancied possible; a self…abandon and
thoughtfulness; to boot; that seemed full of charms; and then her
voice was so clear and sweet; and her actions so full of grace; that
Owen was fascinated before he was well aware; and kept looking into
her bright; blushing face; till her uplifted flashing eye fell
beneath his earnest gaze。
While it thus happened that they were silentshe from confusion at
the unexpected warmth of his admiration; he from an unconsciousness
of anything but the beautiful changes in her flexile countenancethe
man whom Owen took for her father came up and addressed some
observation to his daughter; from whence he glided into some
commonplace though respectful remark to Owen; and at length engaging
him in some slight; local conversation; he led the way to the account
of a spot on the peninsula of Penthryn; where teal abounded; and
concluded with begging Owen to allow him to show him the exact place;
saying that whenever the young Squire felt so inclined; if he would
honour him by a call at his house; he would take him across in his
boat。 While Owen listened; his attention was not so much absorbed as
to be unaware that the little beauty at his side was refusing one or
two who endeavoured to draw her from her place by invitations to
dance。 Flattered by his own construction of her refusals; he again
directed all his attention to her; till she was called away by her
father; who was leaving the scene of festivity。 Before he left he
reminded Owen of his promise; and added …
〃Perhaps; sir; you do not know me。 My name is Ellis Pritchard; and I
live at Ty Glas; on this side of Moel Gest; anyone can point it out
to you。〃
When the father and daughter had left; Owen slowly prepared for his
ride home; but encountering the hostess; he could not resist asking a
few questions relative to Ellis Pritchard and his pretty daughter。
She answered shortly but respectfully; and then said; rather
hesitatingly …
〃Master Griffiths; you know the triad; 'Tri pheth tebyg y naill i'r
llall; ysgnbwr heb yd; mail deg heb ddiawd; a merch deg heb ei
geirda' (Three things are alike: a fine barn without corn; a fine
cup without drink; a fine woman without her reputation)。〃 She
hastily quitted him; and Owen rode slowly to his unhappy home。
Ellis Pritchard; half farmer and half fisherman; was shrewd; and
keen; and worldly; yet he was good…natured; and sufficiently generous
to have become rather a popular man among his equals。 He had been
struck with the young Squire's attention to his pretty daughter; and
was not insensible to the advantages to be derived from it。 Nest
would not be the first peasant girl; by any means; who had been
transplanted to a Welsh manor…house as its mistress; and;
accordingly; her father had shrewdly given the admiring young man
some pretext for further opportunities of seeing her。
As for Nest herself; she had somewhat of her father's worldliness;
and was fully alive to the superior station of her new admirer; and
quite prepared to slight all her old sweethearts on his account。 But
then she had something more of feeling in her reckoning; she had not
been insensible to the earnest yet comparatively refined homage which
Owen paid her; she had noticed his expressive and occasionally
handsome countenance with admiration; and was flattered by his so
immediately singling her out from her companions。 As to the hint
which Martha Thomas had thrown out; it is enough to say that Nest was
very giddy; and that she was motherless。 She had high spirits and a
great love of admiration; or; to use a softer term; she loved to
please; men; women; and children; all; she delighted to gladden with
her smile and voice。 She coquetted; and flirted; and went to the
extreme lengths of Welsh courtship; till the seniors of the village
shook their heads; and cautioned their daughters against her
acquaintance。 If not absolutely guilty; she had too frequently been
on the verge of guilt。
Even at the time; Martha Thomas's hint made but little impression on
Owen; for his senses were otherwise occupied; but in a few days the
recollection thereof had wholly died away; and one warm glorious
summer's day; he bent his steps toward Ellis Pritchard's with a
beating heart; for; except some very slight flirtations at Oxford;
Owen had never been touched; his thoughts; his fancy; had been
otherwise engaged。
Ty Glas was built against one of the lower rocks of Moel Gest; which;
indeed; formed a side to the low; lengthy house。 The materials of
the cottage were the shingly stones which had fallen from above;
plastered rudely together; with deep recesses for the small oblong
windows。 Altogether; the exterior was much ruder than Owen had
expected; but inside there seemed no lack of comforts。 The house was
divided into two apartments; one large; roomy; and dark; into which
Owen entered immediately; and before the blushing Nest came from the
inner chamber (for she had seen the young Squire coming; and hastily
gone to make some alteration in her dress); he had had time to look
around him; and note the various little particulars of the room。
Beneath the window (which commanded a magnificent view) was an oaken
dresser; replete with drawers and cupboards; and brightly polished to
a rich dark colour。 In the farther part of the room Owen could at
first distinguish little; entering as he did from the glaring
sunlight; but he soon saw that there were two oaken beds; closed up
after the manner of the Welsh: in fact; the domitories of Ellis
Pritchard and the man who served under him; both on sea and on land。
There was the large wheel used for spinning wool; left standing on
the middle of the floor; as if in use only a few minutes before; and
around the ample chimney hung flitches of bacon; dried kids'…flesh;
and fish; that was in process of smoking for winter's store。
Before Nest had shyly dared to enter; her father; who had been
mending his nets down below; and seen Owen winding up to the house;
came in and gave him a hearty yet respectful welcome; and then Nest;
downcast and blushing; full of the consciousness which her father's
advice and conversation had not failed to inspire; ventured to join
them。 To Owen's mind this reserve and shyness gave her new charms。
It was too bright; too hot; too anything to think of going to shoot
teal till later in the day; and Owen was delighted to accept a
hesitating invitation to share the noonday meal。 Some ewe…milk
cheese; very hard and dry; oat…cake; slips of the dried kids'…flesh
broiled; after having been previously soaked in water for a few
minutes; delicious butter and fresh butter…milk; with a liquor called
〃diod griafol〃 (made from the berries of the Sorbus aucuparia;
infused in water and then fermented); composed the frugal repast; but
there was something so clean and neat; and withal such a true
welcome; that Owen had seldom enjoyed a meal so much。 Indeed; at
that time of day the Welsh squires differed from the farmers more in
the plenty and rough abundance of their manner of living than in the
refinement of style of their table。
At the present day; down in Llyn; the Welsh gentry are not a wit
behind their Saxon equals in the expensive elegances of life; but
then (when there was but one pewter…service in all Northumberland)
there was nothing in Ellis Pritchard's mode of living that grated on
the young Squire's sense of refinement。
Little was said by that young pair of wooers during the meal; the
father had all the conversation to himself; apparently heedless of
the ardent looks and inattentive mien of his guest。 As Owen became
more serious in his feelings; he grew more timid in their expression;
and at night; when they returned from their shooting…excursion; the
caress he gave Nest was almost as bashfully offered as received。
This was but the first of a series of days devoted to Nest in
reality; though at first he thought some little disguise of his
object was necessary。 The past; the future; was all forgotten in
those happy days of love。
And every worldly plan; every womanly wile was put in practice by
Ellis Pritchard and his daughter; to render his visits agreeable and
alluring。 Indeed; the very circumstance of his being welcome was
enough to attract the poor young man; to whom the feeling so produced
was new and full of charms。 He left a home where the certainty of
being t
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