还乡The Return Of The Native-第22部分

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　with　an　alacrity　unusual　in　her　during　these　most　sorrowful　days　of　her　life。　　At　the　time　that　Eustacia　was　listening　to　the　rick…makers’　conversation　on　Clym’s　return；　Thomasin　was　climbing　into　a　loft　over　her　aunt’s　fuelhouse；　where　the　store…apples　were　kept；　to　search　out　the　best　and　largest　of　them　for　the　ing　holiday…time。
The　loft　was　lighted　by　a　semicircular　hole；　through　which　the　pigeons　crept　to　their　lodgings　in　the　same　high　quarters　of　the　premises；　and　from　this　hole　the　sun　shone　in　a　bright　yellow　patch　upon　the　figure　of　the　maiden　as　she　knelt　and　plunged　her　naked　arms　into　the　soft　brown　fern；　which；　from　its　abundance；　was　used　on　Egdon　in　packing　away　stores　of　all　kinds。　　The　pigeons　were　flying　about　her　head　with　the　greatest　unconcern；　and　the　face　of　her　aunt　was　just　visible　above　the　floor　of　the　loft；　lit　by　a　few　stray　motes　of　light；　as　she　stood　halfway　up　the　ladder；　looking　at　a　spot　into　which　she　was　not　climber　enough　to　venture。　
“Now　a　few　russets；　Tamsin。　　He　used　to　like　them　almost　as　well　as　ribstones。”
Thomasin　turned　and　rolled　aside　the　fern　from　another　nook；　where　more　mellow　fruit　greeted　her　with　its　ripe　smell。　　Before　picking　them　out　she　stopped　a　moment。　
“Dear　Clym；　I　wonder　how　your　face　looks　now？”　she　said；　gazing　abstractedly　at　the　pigeon…hole。　which　admitted　the　sunlight　so　directly　upon　her　brown　hair　and　transparent　tissues　that　it　almost　seemed　to　shine　through　her。　
“If　he　could　have　been　dear　to　you　in　another　way；”　said　Mrs。　Yeobright　from　the　ladder；　“this　might　have　been　a　happy　meeting。”
“Is　there　any　use　in　saying　what　can　do　no　good；　Aunt？”
“Yes；”　said　her　aunt；　with　some　warmth。　　“To　thoroughly　fill　the　air　with　the　past　misfortune；　so　that　other　girls　may　take　warning　and　keep　clear　of　it。”
Thomasin　lowered　her　face　to　the　apples　again。　　“I　am　a　warning　to　others；　just　as　thieves　and　drunkards　and　gamblers　are；”　she　said　in　a　low　voice。　　“What　a　class　to　belong　to！　Do　I　really　belong　to　them？　　‘Tis　absurd！　Yet　why；　Aunt；　does　everybody　keep　on　making　me　think　that　I　do；　by　the　way　they　behave　towards　me？　　Why　don’t　people　judge　me　by　my　acts？　　Now；　look　at　me　as　I　kneel　here；　picking　up　these　apples—do　I　look　like　a　lost　woman？。。。I　wish　all　good　women　were　as　good　as　I！”　she　added　vehemently。　
“Strangers　don’t　see　you　as　I　do；”　said　Mrs。　Yeobright；
“they　judge　from　false　report。　　Well；　it　is　a　silly　job；　and　I　am　partly　to　blame。”
“How　quickly　a　rash　thing　can　be　done！”　replied　the　girl。　　Her　lips　were　quivering；　and　tears　so　crowded　themselves　into　her　eyes　that　she　could　hardly　distinguish　apples　from　fern　as　she　continued　industriously　searching　to　hide　her　weakness。　
“As　soon　as　you　have　finished　getting　the　apples；”　her　aunt　said；　descending　the　ladder；　“e　down；　and　we’ll　go　for　the　holly。　　There　is　nobody　on　the　heath　this　afternoon；　and　you　need　not　fear　being　stared　at。　　We　must　get　some　berries；　or　Clym　will　never　believe　in　our　preparations。”
Thomasin　came　down　when　the　apples　were　collected；　and　together　they　went　through　the　white　palings　to　the　heath　beyond。　　The　open　hills　were　airy　and　clear；　and　the　remote　atmosphere　appeared；　as　it　often　appears　on　a　fine　winter　day；　in　distinct　planes　of　illumination　independently　toned；　the　rays　which　lit　the　nearer　tracts　of　landscape　streaming　visibly　across　those　further　off；　a　stratum　of　ensaffroned　light　was　imposed　on　a　stratum　of　deep　blue；　and　behind　these　lay　still　remoter　scenes　wrapped　in　frigid　grey。　
They　reached　the　place　where　the　hollies　grew；　which　was　in　a　conical　pit；　so　that　the　tops　of　the　trees　were　not　much　above　the　general　level　of　the　ground。　　Thomasin　stepped　up　into　a　fork　of　one　of　the　bushes；　as　she　had　done　under　happier　circumstances　on　many　similar　occasions；　and　with　a　small　chopper　that　they　had　brought　she　began　to　lop　off　the　heavily　berried　boughs。　
“Don’t　scratch　your　face；”　said　her　aunt；　who　stood　at　the　edge　of　the　pit；　regarding　the　girl　as　she　held　on　amid　the　glistening　green　and　scarlet　masses　of　the　tree。　　“Will　you　walk　with　me　to　meet　him　this　evening？”
“I　should　like　to。　　Else　it　would　seem　as　if　I　had　forgotten　him；”　said　Thomasin；　tossing　out　a　bough。　　“Not　that　that　would　matter　much；　I　belong　to　one　man；　nothing　can　alter　that。　　And　that　man　I　must　marry；　for　my　pride’s　sake。”
“I　am　afraid—“　began　Mrs。　Yeobright。　
“Ah；　you　think；　‘That　weak　girl—how　is　she　going　to　get　a　man　to　marry　her　when　she　chooses？’　But　let　me　tell　you　one　thing；　Aunt：　Mr。　Wildeve　is　not　a　profligate　man；　any　more　than　I　am　an　improper　woman。　　He　has　an　unfortunate　manner；　and　doesn’t　try　to　make　people　like　him　if　they　don’t　wish　to　do　it　of　their　own　accord。”
“Thomasin；”　said　Mrs。　Yeobright　quietly；　fixing　her　eye　upon　her　niece；　“do　you　think　you　deceive　me　in　your　defence　of　Mr。　Wildeve？”
“How　do　you　mean？”
“I　have　long　had　a　suspicion　that　your　love　for　him　has　changed　its　colour　since　you　have　found　him　not　to　be　the　saint　you　thought　him；　and　that　you　act　a　part　to　me。”
“He　wished　to　marry　me；　and　I　wish　to　marry　him。”
“Now；　I　put　it　to　you：　would　you　at　this　present　moment　agree　to　be　his　wife　if　that　had　not　happened　to　entangle　you　with　him？”
Thomasin　looked　into　the　tree　and　appeared　much　disturbed。　　“Aunt；”　she　said　presently；　“I　have；　I　think；　a　right　to　refuse　to　answer　that　question。”
“Yes；　you　have。”
“You　may　think　what　you　choose。　　I　have　never　implied　to　you　by　word　or　deed　that　I　have　grown　to　think　otherwise　of　him；　and　I　never　will。　　And　I　shall　marry　him。”
“Well；　wait　till　he　repeats　his　offer。　　I　think　he　may　do　it；　now　that　he　knows—something　I　told　him。　　I　don’t　for　a　moment　dispute　that　it　is　the　most　proper　thing　for　you　to　marry　him。　　Much　as　I　have　objected　to　him　in　bygone　days；　I　agree　with　you　now；　you　may　be　sure。　　It　is　the　only　way　out　of　a　false　position；　and　a　very　galling　one。”
“What　did　you　tell　him？”
“That　he　was　standing　in　the　way　of　another　lover　of　yours。”
“Aunt；”　said　Thomasin；　with　round　eyes；　“what　DO　you　mean？”
“Don’t　be　alarmed；　it　was　my　duty。　　I　can　say　no　more　about　it　now；　but　when　it　is　over　I　will　tell　you　exactly　what　I　said；　and　why　I　said　it。”
Thomasin　was　perforce　content。　
“And　you　will　keep　the　secret　of　my　would…be　marriage　from　Clym　for　the　present？”　she　next　asked。　
“I　have　given　my　word　to。　　But　what　is　the　use　of　it？　　He　must　soon　know　what　has　happened。　　A　mere　look　at　your　face　will　show　him　that　something　is　wrong。”
Thomasin　turned　and　regarded　her　aunt　from　the　tree。　　“Now；　hearken　to　me；”　she　said；　her　delicate　voice　expanding　into　firmness　by　a　force　which　was　other　than　physical。　　“Tell　him　nothing。　　If　he　finds　out　that　I　am　not　worthy　to　be　his　cousin；　let　him。　　But；　since　he　loved　me　once；　we　will　not　pain　him　by　telling　him　my　trouble　too　soon。　　The　air　is　full　of　the　story；　I　know；　but　gossips　will　not　dare　to　speak　of　it　to　him　for　the　first　few　days。　　His　closeness　to　me　is　the　very　thing　that　will　hinder　the　tale　from　reaching　him　early。　　If　I　am　not　made　safe　from　sneers　in　a　week　or　two　I　will　tell　him　myself。”
The　earnestness　with　which　Thomasin　spoke　prevented　further　objections。　　Her　aunt　simply　said；　“Very　well。　　He　should　by　rights　have　been　told　at　the　time　that　the　wedding　was　going　to　be。　　He　will　never　forgive　you　for　your　secrecy。”
“Yes；　he　will；　when　he　knows　it　was　because　I　wished　to　spare　him；　and　that　I　did　not　expect　him　home　so　soon。
And　you　must　not　let　me　stand　in　the　way　of　your
Christmas　party。　　Putting　it　off　would　only　make　matters　worse。”
“Of　course　I　shall　not。　　I　do　not　wish　to　show　myself　beaten　before　all　Egdon；　and　the　sport　of　a　man　like　Wildeve。　　We　have　enough　berries　now；　I　think；　and　we　had　better　take　them　home。　　By　the　time　we　have　decked　the　house　with　this　and　hung　up　the　mistletoe；　we　must　think　of　starting　to　meet　him。”
Thomasin　came　out　of　the　tree；　shook　from　her　hair　and　dress　the　loose　berries　which　had　fallen　thereon；　and　went　down　the　hill　with　her　aunt；　each　woman　bearing　half　the　gathered　boughs。　　It　was　now　nearly　four　o’clock；　and　the　sunlight　was　leaving　the　vales。　　When　the　west　grew　red　the　two　relatives　came　again　from　the　house　and　plunged　into　the　heath　in　a　different　direction　from　the　first；　towards　a　point　in　the　distant　highway　along　which　the　expected　man　was　to　return。　


3　… How　a　Little　Sound　Produced　a　Great　Dream


Eustacia　stood　just　within　the　heath；　straining　her　eyes　in　the　direction　of　Mrs。　Yeobright’s　house　and　premises。　　No　light；　sound；　or　movement　was　perceptible　there。
The　evening　was　chilly；　the　spot　was　dark　and　lonely。　　She　inferred　that　the　guest　had　not　yet　e；　and　after　lingering　ten　or　fifteen　minutes　she　turned　again　towards　home。　
She　had　not　far　retraced　her　steps　when　sounds　in　front　of　her　betokened　the　approach　of　persons　in　conversation　along　the　same　path。　　Soon　their　heads　became　visible　against　the　sky。　　They　were　walking　slowly；　and　though　it　was　too　dark　for　much　discovery　of　character　from　aspect；　the　gait　of　them　showed　that　they　were　not　workers　on　the　heath。　　Eustacia　stepped　a　little　out　of　the　foot…track　to　let　them　pass。　　They　were　two　women　and　a　man；　and　the　voices　of　the　women　were　those　of　Mrs。　Yeobright　and　Thomasin。
They　went　by　her；　and　at　the　moment　of　passing　appeared　to　discern　her　dusky　form。　　There　came　to　her　ears　in　a　masculine　voice；　“Good　night！”
She　murmured　a　reply；　glided　by　them；　and　turned　round。　　She　could　not；　for　a　moment；　believe　that　chance；　unrequested；　had　brought　into　her　presence　the　soul　of　the　house　she　had　gone　to　inspect；　the　man　without　whom　her　inspection　would　not　have　been　thought　of。　
She　strained　her　eyes　to　see　them；　but　was　unable。　　Such　was　her　intentness；　however；　that　it　seemed　as　if　her　ears　were　performing　the　functions　of　seeing　as　well　as　hearing。　　This　extension　of　power　can　almost　be　believed　in　at　such　moments。　　The　deaf　Dr。　Kitto　was　probably　under　the　influence　of　a　parallel　fancy　when　he　described　his　body　as　having　bee；　by　long　endeavour；　so　sensitive　to　vibrations　that　he　had　gained　the　power　of　perceiving　by　it　as　by　ears。
She　could　follow　every　word　that　the　ramblers　uttered。　　They　were