还乡The Return Of The Native-第43部分

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It　was　nearly　nine　o’clock　when　he　began　to　ascend　the　vale　towards　Mistover；　but　the　long　days　of　summer　being　at　their　climax；　the　first　obscurity　of　evening　had　only　just　begun　to　tan　the　landscape。　　At　this　point　of　his　journey　Christian　heard　voices；　and　found　that　they　proceeded　from　a　pany　of　men　and　women　who　were　traversing　a　hollow　ahead　of　him；　the　tops　only　of　their　heads　being　visible。　
He　paused　and　thought　of　the　money　he　carried。　　It　was　almost　too　early　even　for　Christian　seriously　to　fear　robbery；　nevertheless　he　took　a　precaution　which　ever　since　his　boyhood　he　had　adopted　whenever　he　carried　more　than　two　or　three　shillings　upon　his　person—a　precaution　somewhat　like　that　of　the　owner　of　the　Pitt　Diamond　when　filled　with　similar　misgivings。　　He　took　off　his　boots；　untied　the　guineas；　and　emptied　the　contents　of　one　little　bag　into　the　right　boot；　and　of　the　other　into　the　left；　spreading　them　as　flatly　as　possible　over　the　bottom　of　each；　which　was　really　a　spacious　coffer　by　no　means　limited　to　the　size　of　the　foot。　　Pulling　them　on　again　and　lacing　them　to　the　very　top；　he　proceeded　on　his　way；　more　easy　in　his　head　than　under　his　soles。　
His　path　converged　towards　that　of　the　noisy　pany；　and　on　ing　nearer　he　found　to　his　relief　that　they　were　several　Egdon　people　whom　he　knew　very　well；　while　with　them　walked　Fairway；　of　Blooms…End。
“What！　Christian　going　too？”　said　Fairway　as　soon　as　he　recognized　the　newer。　　“You’ve　got　no　young　woman　nor　wife　to　your　name　to　gie　a　gown…piece　to；　I’m　sure。”
“What　d’ye　mean？”　said　Christian。　
“Why；　the　raffle。　　The　one　we　go　to　every　year。　
Going　to　the　raffle　as　well　as　ourselves？”
“Never　knew　a　word　o’t。　Is　it　like　cudgel　playing　or　other　sportful　forms　of　bloodshed？　　I　don’t　want　to　go；　thank　you；　Mister　Fairway；　and　no　offence。”
“Christian　don’t　know　the　fun　o’t；　and　‘twould　be　a　fine　sight　for　him；”　said　a　buxom　woman。　　“There’s　no　danger　at　all；　Christian。　　Every　man　puts　in　a　shilling　apiece；　and　one　wins　a　gown…piece　for　his　wife　or　sweetheart　if　he’s　got　one。”
“Well；　as　that’s　not　my　fortune　there’s　no　meaning　in　it　to　me。　　But　I　should　like　to　see　the　fun；　if　there’s　nothing　of　the　black　art　in　it；　and　if　a　man　may　look　on　without　cost　or　getting　into　any　dangerous　wrangle？”
“There　will　be　no　uproar　at　all；”　said　Timothy。　　“Sure；　Christian；　if　you’d　like　to　e　we’ll　see　there’s　no　harm　done。”
“And　no　ba’dy　gaieties；　I　suppose？　　You　see；　neighbours；　if　so；　it　would　be　setting　father　a　bad　example；　as　he　is　so　light　moral’d。　But　a　gown…piece　for　a　shilling；　and　no　black　art—‘tis　worth　looking　in　to　see；　and　it　wouldn’t　hinder　me　half　an　hour。　　Yes；　I’ll　e；　if　you’ll　step　a　little　way　towards　Mistover　with　me　afterwards；　supposing　night　should　have　closed　in；　and　nobody　else　is　going　that　way？”
One　or　two　promised；　and　Christian；　diverging　from　his　direct　path；　turned　round　to　the　right　with　his　panions　towards　the　Quiet　Woman。
When　they　entered　the　large　mon　room　of　the　inn　they　found　assembled　there　about　ten　men　from　among　the　neighbouring　population；　and　the　group　was　increased　by　the　new　contingent　to　double　that　number。　　Most　of　them　were　sitting　round　the　room　in　seats　divided　by　wooden　elbows　like　those　of　crude　cathedral　stalls；　which　were　carved　with　the　initials　of　many　an　illustrious　drunkard　of　former　times　who　had　passed　his　days　and　his　nights　between　them；　and　now　lay　as　an　alcoholic　cinder　in　the　nearest　churchyard。　　Among　the　cups　on　the　long　table　before　the　sitters　lay　an　open　parcel　of　light　drapery—the　gown…piece；　as　it　was　called—which　was　to　be　raffled　for。　　Wildeve　was　standing　with　his　back　to　the　fireplace　smoking　a　cigar；　and　the　promoter　of　the　raffle；　a　packman　from　a　distant　town；　was　expatiating　upon　the　value　of　the　fabric　as　material　for　a　summer　dress。　
“Now；　gentlemen；”　he　continued；　as　the　newers　drew　up　to　the　table；　“there’s　five　have　entered；　and　we　want　four　more　to　make　up　the　number。　　I　think；　by　the　faces　of　those　gentlemen　who　have　just　e　in；　that　they　are　shrewd　enough　to　take　advantage　of　this　rare　opportunity　of　beautifying　their　ladies　at　a　very　trifling　expense。”
Fairway；　Sam；　and　another　placed　their　shillings　on　the　table；　and　the　man　turned　to　Christian。　
“No；　sir；”　said　Christian；　drawing　back；　with　a　quick　gaze　of　misgiving。　　“I　am　only　a　poor　chap　e　to　look　on；　an　it　please　ye；　sir。　　I　don’t　so　much　as　know　how　you　do　it。　　If　so　be　I　was　sure　of　getting　it　I　would　put　down　the　shilling；　but　I　couldn’t　otherwise。”
“I　think　you　might　almost　be　sure；”　said　the　pedlar。　　“In　fact；　now　I　look　into　your　face；　even　if　I　can’t　say　you　are　sure　to　win；　I　can　say　that　I　never　saw　anything　look　more　like　winning　in　my　life。”
“You’ll　anyhow　have　the　same　chance　as　the　rest　of　us；”　said　Sam。
“And　the　extra　luck　of　being　the　last　er；”　said　another。　
“And　I　was　born　wi’　a　caul；　and　perhaps　can　be　no　more　ruined　than　drowned？”　Christian　added；　beginning　to　give　way。　
Ultimately　Christian　laid　down　his　shilling；　the　raffle　began；　and　the　dice　went　round。　　When　it　came　to　Christian’s　turn　he　took　the　box　with　a　trembling　hand；　shook　it　fearfully；　and　threw　a　pair…royal。　Three　of　the　others　had　thrown　mon　low　pairs；　and　all　the　rest　mere　points。　
“The　gentleman　looked　like　winning；　as　I　said；”　observed　the　chapman　blandly。　　“Take　it；　sir；　the　article　is　yours。”
“Haw…haw…haw！”　said　Fairway。　　“I’m　damned　if　this　isn’t　the　quarest　start　that　ever　I　knowed！”
“Mine？”　asked　Christian；　with　a　vacant　stare　from　his　target　eyes。　　“I—I　haven’t　got　neither　maid；　wife；　nor　widder　belonging　to　me　at　all；　and　I’m　afeard　it　will　make　me　laughed　at　to　ha’e　it；　Master　Traveller。　　What　with　being　curious　to　join　in　I　never　thought　of　that！　　What　shall　I　do　wi’　a　woman’s　clothes　in　MY　bedroom；　and　not　lose　my　decency！”
“Keep　‘em；　to　be　sure；”　said　Fairway；　“if　it　is　only　for　luck。　　Perhaps　‘twill　tempt　some　woman　that　thy　poor　carcase　had　no　power　over　when　standing　empty…handed。”
“Keep　it；　certainly；”　said　Wildeve；　who　had　idly　watched　the　scene　from　a　distance。　
The　table　was　then　cleared　of　the　articles；　and　the　men　began　to　drink。　
“Well；　to　be　sure！”　said　Christian；　half　to　himself。　　“To　think　I　should　have　been　born　so　lucky　as　this；　and　not　have　found　it　out　until　now！　What　curious　creatures　these　dice　be—powerful　rulers　of　us　all；　and　yet　at　my　mand！　I　am　sure　I　never　need　be　afeared　of　anything　after　this。”　　He　handled　the　dice　fondly　one　by　one。　　“Why；　sir；”　he　said　in　a　confidential　whisper　to　Wildeve；　who　was　near　his　left　hand；　“if　I　could　only　use　this　power　that’s　in　me　of　multiplying　money　I　might　do　some　good　to　a　near　relation　of　yours；　seeing　what　I’ve　got　about　me　of　hers—eh？”　He　tapped　one　of　his　money…laden　boots　upon　the　floor。　
“What　do　you　mean？”　said　Wildeve。　
“That’s　a　secret。　　Well；　I　must　be　going　now。”　　He　looked　anxiously　towards　Fairway。　
“Where　are　you　going？”　Wildeve　asked。
“To　Mistover　Knap。　　I　have　to　see　Mrs。　Thomasin　there—　that’s　all。”
“I　am　going　there；　too；　to　fetch　Mrs。　Wildeve。　　We　can　walk　together。”
Wildeve　became　lost　in　thought；　and　a　look　of　inward　illumination　came　into　his　eyes。　　It　was　money　for　his　wife　that　Mrs。　Yeobright　could　not　trust　him　with。　　“Yet　she　could　trust　this　fellow；”　he　said　to　himself。　　“Why　doesn’t　that　which　belongs　to　the　wife　belong　to　the　husband　too？”
He　called　to　the　pot…boy　to　bring　him　his　hat；　and　said；　“Now；　Christian；　I　am　ready。”
“Mr。　Wildeve；”　said　Christian　timidly；　as　he　turned　to　leave　the　room；　“would　you　mind　lending　me　them　wonderful　little　things　that　carry　my　luck　inside　‘em；　that　I　might　practise　a　bit　by　myself；　you　know？”　He　looked　wistfully　at　the　dice　and　box　lying　on　the　mantlepiece。　
“Certainly；”　said　Wildeve　carelessly。　　“They　were　only　cut　out　by　some　lad　with　his　knife；　and　are　worth　nothing。”　And　Christian　went　back　and　privately　pocketed　them。　
Wildeve　opened　the　door　and　looked　out。　　The　night　was　warm　and　cloudy。　　“By　Gad！　‘tis　dark；”　he　continued。　　“But　I　suppose　we　shall　find　our　way。”
“If　we　should　lose　the　path　it　might　be　awkward；”　said　Christian。　　“A　lantern　is　the　only　shield　that　will　make　it　safe　for　us。”
“Let’s　have　a　lantern　by　all　means。”　　The　stable　lantern　was　fetched　and　lighted。　　Christian　took　up　his　gownpiece；　and　the　two　set　out　to　ascend　the　hill。　
Within　the　room　the　men　fell　into　chat　till　their　attention　was　for　a　moment　drawn　to　the　chimney…corner。　　This　was　large；　and；　in　addition　to　its　proper　recess；　contained　within　its　jambs；　like　many　on　Egdon；　a　receding　seat；　so　that　a　person　might　sit　there　absolutely　unobserved；　provided　there　was　no　fire　to　light　him　up；　as　was　the　case　now　and　throughout　the　summer。　　From　the　niche　a　single　object　protruded　into　the　light　from　the　candles　on　the　table。　　It　was　a　clay　pipe；　and　its　colour　was　reddish。　　The　men　had　been　attracted　to　this　object　by　a　voice　behind　the　pipe　asking　for　a　light。
“Upon　my　life；　it　fairly　startled　me　when　the　man　spoke！”　said　Fairway；　handing　a　candle。　　“Oh—‘tis　the　reddleman！　　You’ve　kept　a　quiet　tongue；　young　man。”
“Yes；　I　had　nothing　to　say；”　observed　Venn。　　In　a　few　minutes　he　arose　and　wished　the　pany　good　night。　
Meanwhile　Wildeve　and　Christian　had　plunged　into　the　heath。　
It　was　a　stagnant；　warm；　and　misty　night；　full　of　all　the　heavy　perfumes　of　new　vegetation　not　yet　dried　by　hot　sun；　and　among　these　particularly　the　scent　of　the　fern。　　The　lantern；　dangling　from　Christian’s　hand；　brushed　the　feathery　fronds　in　passing　by；　disturbing　moths　and　other　winged　insects；　which　flew　out　and　alighted　upon　its　horny　panes。　
“So　you　have　money　to　carry　to　Mrs。　Wildeve？”　said　Christian’s　panion；　after　a　silence。　　“Don’t　you　think　it　very　odd　that　it　shouldn’t　be　given　to　me？”
“As　man　and　wife　be　one　flesh；　‘twould　have　been　all　the　same；　I　should　think；”　said　Christian。　　“But　my　strict　documents　was；　to　give　the　money　into　Mrs。　Wildeve’s　hand—and　‘tis　well　to　do　things　right。”
“No　doubt；”　said　Wildeve。　　Any　person　who　had　known　the　circumstances　might　have　perceived　that　Wildeve　was　mortified　by　the　discovery　that　the　matter　in　transit　was　mon