还乡The Return Of The Native-第51部分

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s　a　kind　of　thing　he　of　all　men　could　appreciate。　　He　had　long　since　begun　to　sigh　again　for　Eustacia；　indeed；　it　may　be　asserted　that　signing　the　marriage　register　with　Thomasin　was　the　natural　signal　to　his　heart　to　return　to　its　first　quarters；　and　that　the　extra　plication　of　Eustacia’s　marriage　was　the　one　addition　required　to　make　that　return　pulsory。　
Thus；　for　different　reasons；　what　was　to　the　rest　an　exhilarating　movement　was　to　these　two　a　riding　upon　the　whirlwind。　　The　dance　had　e　like　an　irresistible　attack　upon　whatever　sense　of　social　order　there　was　in　their　minds；　to　drive　them　back　into　old　paths　which　were　now　doubly　irregular。　　Through　three　dances　in　succession　they　spun　their　way；　and　then；　fatigued　with　the　incessant　motion；　Eustacia　turned　to　quit　the　circle　in　which　she　had　already　remained　too　long。　　Wildeve　led　her　to　a　grassy　mound　a　few　yards　distant；　where　she　sat　down；　her　partner　standing　beside　her。　　From　the　time　that　he　addressed　her　at　the　beginning　of　the　dance　till　now　they　had　not　exchanged　a　word。　
“The　dance　and　the　walking　have　tired　you？”　he　said　tenderly。　
“No；　not　greatly。”
“It　is　strange　that　we　should　have　met　here　of　all　places；　after　missing　each　other　so　long。”
“We　have　missed　because　we　tried　to　miss；　I　suppose。”
“Yes。　But　you　began　that　proceeding—by　breaking　a　promise。”
“It　is　scarcely　worth　while　to　talk　of　that　now。
We　have　formed　other　ties　since　then—you　no　less　than　I。”
“I　am　sorry　to　hear　that　your　husband　is　ill。”
“He　is　not　ill—only　incapacitated。”
“Yes—that　is　what　I　mean。　　I　sincerely　sympathize　with　you　in　your　trouble。　　Fate　has　treated　you　cruelly。”
She　was　silent　awhile。　　“Have　you　heard　that　he　has　chosen　to　work　as　a　furze…cutter？”　she　said　in　a　low；　mournful　voice。
“It　has　been　mentioned　to　me；”　answered　Wildeve　hesitatingly。　
“But　I　hardly　believed　it。”
“It　is　true。　　What　do　you　think　of　me　as　a　furze…cutter’s　wife？”
“I　think　the　same　as　ever　of　you；　Eustacia。　　Nothing　of　that　sort　can　degrade　you—you　ennoble　the　occupation　of　your　husband。”
“I　wish　I　could　feel　it。”
“Is　there　any　chance　of　Mr。　Yeobright　getting　better？”
“He　thinks　so。　　I　doubt　it。”
“I　was　quite　surprised　to　hear　that　he　had　taken　a　cottage。　　I　thought；　in　mon　with　other　people；　that　he　would　have　taken　you　off　to　a　home　in　Paris　immediately　after　you　had　married　him。　　‘What　a　gay；　bright　future　she　has　before　her！’　I　thought。　　He　will；　I　suppose；　return　there　with　you；　if　his　sight　gets　strong　again？”
Observing　that　she　did　not　reply　he　regarded　her　more　closely。　　She　was　almost　weeping。　　Images　of　a　future　never　to　be　enjoyed；　the　revived　sense　of　her　bitter　disappointment；　the　picture　of　the　neighbour’s　suspended　ridicule　which　was　raised　by　Wildeve’s　words；　had　been　too　much　for　proud　Eustacia’s　equanimity。
Wildeve　could　hardly　control　his　own　too　forward　feelings　when　he　saw　her　silent　perturbation。　　But　he　affected　not　to　notice　this；　and　she　soon　recovered　her　calmness。　
“You　do　not　intend　to　walk　home　by　yourself？”　he　asked。　
“O　yes；”　said　Eustacia。　　“What　could　hurt　me　on　this　heath；　who　have　nothing？”
“By　diverging　a　little　I　can　make　my　way　home　the　same　as　yours。　　I　shall　be　glad　to　keep　you　pany　as　far　as　Throope　Corner。”　　Seeing　that　Eustacia　sat　on　in　hesitation　he　added；　“Perhaps　you　think　it　unwise　to　be　seen　in　the　same　road　with　me　after　the　events　of　last　summer？”
“Indeed　I　think　no　such　thing；”　she　said　haughtily。　　“I　shall　accept　whose　pany　I　choose；　for　all　that　may　be　said　by　the　miserable　inhabitants　of　Egdon。”
“Then　let　us　walk　on—if　you　are　ready。　　Our　nearest　way　is　towards　that　holly　bush　with　the　dark　shadow　that　you　see　down　there。”
Eustacia　arose；　and　walked　beside　him　in　the　direction　signified；　brushing　her　way　over　the　damping　heath　and　fern；　and　followed　by　the　strains　of　the　merrymakers；　who　still　kept　up　the　dance。　　The　moon　had　now　waxed　bright　and　silvery；　but　the　heath　was　proof　against　such　illumination；　and　there　was　to　be　observed　the　striking　scene　of　a　dark；　rayless　tract　of　country　under　an　atmosphere　charged　from　its　zenith　to　its　extremities　with　whitest　light。　　To　an　eye　above　them　their　two　faces　would　have　appeared　amid　the　expanse　like　two　pearls　on　a　table　of　ebony。　
On　this　account　the　irregularities　of　the　path　were　not　visible；　and　Wildeve　occasionally　stumbled；　whilst　Eustacia　found　it　necessary　to　perform　some　graceful　feats　of　balancing　whenever　a　small　tuft　of　heather　or　root　of　furze　protruded　itself　through　the　grass　of　the　narrow　track　and　entangled　her　feet。　　At　these　junctures　in　her　progress　a　hand　was　invariably　stretched　forward　to　steady　her；　holding　her　firmly　until　smooth　ground　was　again　reached；　when　the　hand　was　again　withdrawn　to　a　respectful　distance。　
They　performed　the　journey　for　the　most　part　in　silence；　and　drew　near　to　Throope　Corner；　a　few　hundred　yards　from　which　a　short　path　branched　away　to　Eustacia’s　house。　　By　degrees　they　discerned　ing　towards　them　a　pair　of　human　figures；　apparently　of　the　male　sex。　
When　they　came　a　little　nearer　Eustacia　broke　the　silence　by　saying；　“One　of　those　men　is　my　husband。　　He　promised　to　e　to　meet　me。”
“And　the　other　is　my　greatest　enemy；”　said　Wildeve。　
“It　looks　like　Diggory　Venn。”
“That　is　the　man。”
“It　is　an　awkward　meeting；”　said　she；　“but　such　is　my　fortune。　　He　knows　too　much　about　me；　unless　he　could　know　more；　and　so　prove　to　himself　that　what　he　now　knows　counts　for　nothing。　　Well；　let　it　be—you　must　deliver　me　up　to　them。”
“You　will　think　twice　before　you　direct　me　to　do　that。　　Here　is　a　man　who　has　not　forgotten　an　item　in　our　meetings　at　Rainbarrow—he　is　in　pany　with　your　husband。　　Which　of　them；　seeing　us　together　here；　will　believe　that　our　meeting　and　dancing　at　the　gipsy　party　was　by　chance？”
“Very　well；”　she　whispered　gloomily。　　“Leave　me　before　they　e　up。”
Wildeve　bade　her　a　tender　farewell；　and　plunged　across　the　fern　and　furze；　Eustacia　slowly　walking　on。　　In　two　or　three　minutes　she　met　her　husband　and　his　panion。　
“My　journey　ends　here　for　tonight；　reddleman；”　said　Yeobright　as　soon　as　he　perceived　her。　　“I　turn　back　with　this　lady。　　Good　night。”
“Good　night；　Mr。　Yeobright；”　said　Venn。　　“I　hope　to　see　you　better　soon。”
The　moonlight　shone　directly　upon　Venn’s　face　as　he　spoke；　and　revealed　all　its　lines　to　Eustacia。　　He　was　looking　suspiciously　at　her。　　That　Venn’s　keen　eye　had　discerned　what　Yeobright’s　feeble　vision　had　not—a　man　in　the　act　of　withdrawing　from　Eustacia’s　side—was　within　the　limits　of　the　probable。　
If　Eustacia　had　been　able　to　follow　the　reddleman　she　would　soon　have　found　striking　confirmation　of　her　thought。　　No　sooner　had　Clym　given　her　his　arm　and　led　her　off　the　scene　than　the　reddleman　turned　back　from　the　beaten　track　towards　East　Egdon；　whither　he　had　been　strolling　merely　to　acpany　Clym　in　his　walk；　Diggory’s　van　being　again　in　the　neighbourhood。　　Stretching　out　his　long　legs；　he　crossed　the　pathless　portion　of　the　heath　somewhat　in　the　direction　which　Wildeve　had　taken。　　Only　a　man　accustomed　to　nocturnal　rambles　could　at　this　hour　have　descended　those　shaggy　slopes　with　Venn’s　velocity　without　falling　headlong　into　a　pit；　or　snapping　off　his　leg　by　jamming　his　foot　into　some　rabbit　burrow。　　But　Venn　went　on　without　much　inconvenience　to　himself；　and　the　course　of　his　scamper　was　towards　the　Quiet　Woman　Inn。　　This　place　he　reached　in　about　half　an　hour；　and　he　was　well　aware　that　no　person　who　had　been　near　Throope　Corner　when　he　started　could　have　got　down　here　before　him。　
The　lonely　inn　was　not　yet　closed；　though　scarcely　an　individual　was　there；　the　business　done　being　chiefly　with　travellers　who　passed　the　inn　on　long　journeys；　and　these　had　now　gone　on　their　way。　　Venn　went　to　the　public　room；　called　for　a　mug　of　ale；　and　inquired　of　the　maid　in　an　indifferent　tone　if　Mr。　Wildeve　was　at　home。　
Thomasin　sat　in　an　inner　room　and　heard　Venn’s　voice。　　When　customers　were　present　she　seldom　showed　herself；　owing　to　her　inherent　dislike　for　the　business；　but　perceiving　that　no　one　else　was　there　tonight　she　came　out。　
“He　is　not　at　home　yet；　Diggory；”　she　said　pleasantly。　　“But　I　expected　him　sooner。　　He　has　been　to　East　Egdon　to　buy　a　horse。”
“Did　he　wear　a　light　wideawake？”
“Yes。”
“Then　I　saw　him　at　Throope　Corner；　leading　one　home；”　said　Venn　drily。　　“A　beauty；　with　a　white　face　and　a　mane　as　black　as　night。　　He　will　soon　be　here；　no　doubt。”　Rising　and　looking　for　a　moment　at　the　pure；　sweet　face　of　Thomasin；　over　which　a　shadow　of　sadness　had　passed　since　the　time　when　he　had　last　seen　her；　he　ventured　to　add；　“Mr。　Wildeve　seems　to　be　often　away　at　this　time。”
“O　yes；”　cried　Thomasin　in　what　was　intended　to　be　a　tone　of　gaiety。　　“Husbands　will　play　the　truant；　you　know。　　I　wish　you　could　tell　me　of　some　secret　plan　that　would　help　me　to　keep　him　home　at　my　will　in　the　evenings。”
“I　will　consider　if　I　know　of　one；”　replied　Venn　in　that　same　light　tone　which　meant　no　lightness。　　And　then　he　bowed　in　a　manner　of　his　own　invention　and　moved　to　go。　　Thomasin　offered　him　her　hand；　and　without　a　sigh；　though　with　food　for　many；　the　reddleman　went　out。　
When　Wildeve　returned；　a　quarter　of　an　hour　later　Thomasin　said　simply；　and　in　the　abashed　manner　usual　with　her　now；　“Where　is　the　horse；　Damon？”
“O；　I　have　not　bought　it；　after　all。　　The　man　asks　too　much。”
“But　somebody　saw　you　at　Throope　Corner　leading　it　home—a　beauty；　with　a　white　face　and　a　mane　as　black　as　night。”
“Ah！”　said　Wildeve；　fixing　his　eyes　upon　her；　“who　told　you　that？”
“Venn　the　reddleman。”
The　expression　of　Wildeve’s　face　became　curiously　condensed。　　“That　is　a　mistake—it　must　have　been　someone　else；”　he　said　slowly　and　testily；　for　he　perceived　that　Venn’s　countermoves　had　begun　again。　


4　… Rough　Coercion　Is　Employed


Those　words　of　Thomasin；　which　seemed　so　little；　but　meant　so　much；　remained　in　the　ears　of　Diggory　Venn：　“Help　me　to　keep　him　home　in　the　evenings。”
On　this　occasion　Venn　had　arrived　on　Egdon　Heath　only　to　cross　to　the　other　side—he　had　no　further　connection　with　the　interests　of　the　Yeobright　family；　and　he　had　a　business　of　his　own　to　attend　to。　　Ye