还乡The Return Of The Native-第6部分

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like　Planets—signified　wood；　such　as　hazel…branches；　thorn…faggots；　and　stout　billets。　　Fires　of　the　last…mentioned　materials　were　rare；　and　though　paratively　small　in　magnitude　beside　the　transient　blazes；　now　began　to　get　the　best　of　them　by　mere　long　continuance。　　The　great　ones　had　perished；　but　these　remained。　　They　occupied　the　remotest　visible　positions—sky…backed　summits　rising　out　of　rich　coppice　and　plantation　districts　to　the　north；　where　the　soil　was　different；　and　heath　foreign　and　strange。　
Save　one；　and　this　was　the　nearest　of　any；　the　moon　of　the　whole　shining　throng。　　It　lay　in　a　direction　precisely　opposite　to　that　of　the　little　window　in　the　vale　below。　　Its　nearness　was　such　that；　notwithstanding　its　actual　smallness；　its　glow　infinitely　transcended　theirs。
This　quiet　eye　had　attracted　attention　from　time　to　time；　and　when　their　own　fire　had　bee　sunken　and　dim　it　attracted　more；　some　even　of　the　wood　fires　more　recently　lighted　had　reached　their　decline；　but　no　change　was　perceptible　here。　
“To　be　sure；　how　near　that　fire　is！”　said　Fairway。　
“Seemingly。　I　can　see　a　fellow　of　some　sort　walking　round　it。
Little　and　good　must　be　said　of　that　fire；　surely。”
“I　can　throw　a　stone　there；”　said　the　boy。
“And　so　can　I！”　said　Grandfer　Cantle。　
“No；　no；　you　can’t；　my　sonnies。　　That　fire　is　not　much　less　than　a　mile　off；　for　all　that　‘a　seems　so　near。”
“’Tis　in　the　heath；　but　no　furze；”　said　the　turf…cutter。
“’Tis　cleft…wood；　that’s　what　‘tis；”　said　Timothy　Fairway。　　“Nothing　would　burn　like　that　except　clean　timber。　　And　‘tis　on　the　knap　afore　the　old　captain’s　house　at　Mistover。　　Such　a　queer　mortal　as　that　man　is！　To　have　a　little　fire　inside　your　own　bank　and　ditch；　that　nobody　else　may　enjoy　it　or　e　anigh　it！　And　what　a　zany　an　old　chap　must　be；　to　light　a　bonfire　when　there’s　no　youngsters　to　please。”
“Cap’n　Vye　has　been　for　a　long　walk　today；　and　is　quite　tired　out；”　said　Grandfer　Cantle；　“so　‘tisn’t　likely　to　be　he。”
“And　he　would　hardly　afford　good　fuel　like　that；”　said　the　wide　woman。　
“Then　it　must　be　his　granddaughter；”　said　Fairway。　
“Not　that　a　body　of　her　age　can　want　a　fire　much。”
“She　is　very　strange　in　her　ways；　living　up　there　by　herself；　and　such　things　please　her；”　said　Susan。
“She’s　a　well…favoured　maid　enough；”　said　Humphrey　the　furze…cutter；　“especially　when　she’s　got　one　of　her　dandy　gowns　on。”
“That’s　true；”　said　Fairway。　　“Well；　let　her　bonfire　burn　an’t　will。　　Ours　is　well…nigh　out　by　the　look　o’t。”
“How　dark　‘tis　now　the　fire’s　gone　down！”　said　Christian　Cantle；　looking　behind　him　with　his　hare　eyes。　　“Don’t　ye　think　we’d　better　get　home…along；　neighbours？　　The　heth　isn’t　haunted；　I　know；　but　we’d　better　get　home。。。。Ah；　what　was　that？”
“Only　the　wind；”　said　the　turf…cutter。
“I　don’t　think　Fifth…of…Novembers　ought　to　be　kept　up　by　night　except　in　towns。　　It　should　be　by　day　in　outstep；　ill…accounted　places　like　this！”
“Nonsense；　Christian。　　Lift　up　your　spirits　like　a　man！　Susy；　dear；　you　and　I　will　have　a　jig—hey；　my　honey？before　‘tis　quite　too　dark　to　see　how　well…favoured　you　be　still；　though　so　many　summers　have　passed　since　your　husband；　a　son　of　a　witch；　snapped　you　up　from　me。”
This　was　addressed　to　Susan　Nunsuch；　and　the　next　circumstance　of　which　the　beholders　were　conscious　was　a　vision　of　the　matron’s　broad　form　whisking　off　towards　the　space　whereon　the　fire　had　been　kindled。　　She　was　lifted　bodily　by　Mr。　Fairway’s　arm；　which　had　been　flung　round　her　waist　before　she　had　bee　aware　of　his　intention。　　The　site　of　the　fire　was　now　merely　a　circle　of　ashes　flecked　with　red　embers　and　sparks；　the　furze　having　burnt　pletely　away。　　Once　within　the　circle　he　whirled　her　round　and　round　in　a　dance。　　She　was　a　woman　noisily　constructed；　in　addition　to　her　enclosing　framework　of　whalebone　and　lath；　she　wore　pattens　summer　and　winter；　in　wet　weather　and　in　dry；　to　preserve　her　boots　from　wear；　and　when　Fairway　began　to　jump　about　with　her；　the　clicking　of　the　pattens；　the　creaking　of　the　stays；　and　her　screams　of　surprise；　formed　a　very　audible　concert。
“I’ll　crack　thy　numskull　for　thee；　you　mandy　chap！”　said　Mrs。　Nunsuch；　as　she　helplessly　danced　round　with　him；　her　feet　playing　like　drumsticks　among　the　sparks。　　“My　ankles　were　all　in　a　fever　before；　from　walking　through　that　prickly　furze；　and　now　you　must　make　‘em　worse　with　these　vlankers！”
The　vagary　of　Timothy　Fairway　was　infectious。　　The　turf…cutter　seized　old　Olly　Dowden；　and；　somewhat　more　gently；　poussetted　with　her　likewise。　　The　young　men　were　not　slow　to　imitate　the　example　of　their　elders；　and　seized　the　maids；
Grandfer　Cantle　and　his　stick　jigged　in　the　form　of　a　three…legged　object　among　the　rest；　and　in　half　a　minute　all　that　could　be　seen　on　Rainbarrow　was　a　whirling　of　dark　shapes　amid　a　boiling　confusion　of　sparks；　which　leapt　around　the　dancers　as　high　as　their　waists。　　The　chief　noises　were　women’s　shrill　cries；　men’s　laughter；　Susan’s　stays　and　pattens；　Olly　Dowden’s　“heu…heu…heu！”　and　the　strumming　of　the　wind　upon　the　furze…bushes；　which　formed　a　kind　of　tune　to　the　demoniac　measure　they　trod。　　Christian　alone　stood　aloof；　uneasily　rocking　himself　as　he　murmured；　“They　ought　not　to　do　it—how　the　vlankers　do　fly！　‘tis　tempting　the　Wicked　one；　‘tis。”
“What　was　that？”　said　one　of　the　lads；　stopping。　
“Ah—where？”　said　Christian；　hastily　closing　up　to　the　rest。　
The　dancers　all　lessened　their　speed。　
“’Twas　behind　you；　Christian；　that　I　heard　it—down　here。”
“Yes—‘tis　behind　me！”　Christian　said。　　“Matthew；　Mark；
Luke；　and　John；　bless　the　bed　that　I　lie　on；　four　angels　guard—“
“Hold　your　tongue。　　What　is　it？”　said　Fairway。　
“Hoi…i…i…i！”　cried　a　voice　from　the　darkness。　
“Halloo…o…o…o！”　said　Fairway。　
“Is　there　any　cart　track　up　across　here　to　Mis’ess　Yeobright’s；　of　Blooms…End？”　came　to　them　in　the　same　voice；　as　a　long；　slim　indistinct　figure　approached　the　barrow。　
“Ought　we　not　to　run　home　as　hard　as　we　can；　neighbours；　as　‘tis　getting　late？”　said　Christian。　　“Not　run　away　from　one　another；　you　know；　run　close　together；　I　mean。”　“Scrape　up　a　few　stray　locks　of　furze；　and　make　a　blaze；　so　that　we　can　see　who　the　man　is；”　said　Fairway。　
When　the　flame　arose　it　revealed　a　young　man　in　tight　raiment；　and　red　from　top　to　toe。　　“Is　there　a　track　across　here　to　Mis’ess　Yeobright’s　house？”　he　repeated。　
“Ay—keep　along　the　path　down　there。”
“I　mean　a　way　two　horses　and　a　van　can　travel　over？”
“Well；　yes；　you　can　get　up　the　vale　below　here　with　time。　　The　track　is　rough；　but　if　you’ve　got　a　light　your　horses　may　pick　along　wi’　care。　　Have　ye　brought　your　cart　far　up；　neighbour　reddleman？”
“I’ve　left　it　in　the　bottom；　about　half　a　mile　back；　I　stepped　on　in　front　to　make　sure　of　the　way；　as　‘tis　night…time；　and　I　han’t　been　here　for　so　long。”
“Oh；　well　you　can　get　up；”　said　Fairway。　　“What　a　turn　it　did　give　me　when　I　saw　him！”　he　added　to　the　whole　group；　the　reddleman　included。　　“Lord’s　sake；　I　thought；　whatever　fiery　mommet　is　this　e　to　trouble　us？　　No　slight　to　your　looks；　reddleman；　for　ye　bain’t　bad…looking　in　the　groundwork；　though　the　finish　is　queer。　　My　meaning　is　just　to　say　how　curious　I　felt。　　I　half　thought　it　‘twas　the　devil　or　the　red　ghost　the　boy　told　of。”
“It　gied　me　a　turn　likewise；”　said　Susan　Nunsuch；　“for　I　had　a　dream　last　night　of　a　death’s　head。”
“Don’t　ye　talk　o’t　no　more；”　said　Christian。　　“If　he　had　a　handkerchief　over　his　head　he’d　look　for　all　the　world　like　the　Devil　in　the　picture　of　the　Temptation。”
“Well；　thank　you　for　telling　me；”　said　the　young　reddleman；　smiling　faintly。　　“And　good　night　t’ye　all。”
He　withdrew　from　their　sight　down　the　barrow。　
“I　fancy　I’ve　seen　that　young　man’s　face　before；”　said　Humphrey。　　“But　where；　or　how；　or　what　his　name　is；　I　don’t　know。”
The　reddleman　had　not　been　gone　more　than　a　few　minutes　when　another　person　approached　the　partially　revived　bonfire。　　It　proved　to　be　a　well…known　and　respected　widow　of　the　neighbourhood；　of　a　standing　which　can　only　be　expressed　by　the　word　genteel。　　Her　face；　enpassed　by　the　blackness　of　the　receding　heath；　showed　whitely；　and　with…out　half…lights；　like　a　cameo。　
She　was　a　woman　of　middle…age；　with　well…formed　features　of　the　type　usually　found　where　perspicacity　is　the　chief　quality　enthroned　within。　　At　moments　she　seemed　to　be　regarding　issues　from　a　Nebo　denied　to　others　around。　　She　had　something　of　an　estranged　mien；　the　solitude　exhaled　from　the　heath　was　concentrated　in　this　face　that　had　risen　from　it。　　The　air　with　which　she　looked　at　the　heathmen　betokened　a　certain　unconcern　at　their　presence；　or　at　what　might　be　their　opinions　of　her　for　walking　in　that　lonely　spot　at　such　an　hour；　thus　indirectly　implying　that　in　some　respect　or　other　they　were　not　up　to　her　level。　　The　explanation　lay　in　the　fact　that　though　her　husband　had　been　a　small　farmer　she　herself　was　a　curate’s　daughter；　who　had　once　dreamt　of　doing　better　things。　
Persons　with　any　weight　of　character　carry；　like　planets；　their　atmospheres　along　with　them　in　their　orbits；　and　the　matron　who　entered　now　upon　the　scene　could；　and　usually　did；　bring　her　own　tone　into　a　pany。　　Her　normal　manner　among　the　heathfolk　had　that　reticence　which　results　from　the　consciousness　of　superior　municative　power。　　But　the　effect　of　ing　into　society　and　light　after　lonely　wandering　in　darkness　is　a　sociability　in　the　er　above　its　usual　pitch；　expressed　in　the　features　even　more　than　in　words。
“Why；　‘tis　Mis’ess　Yeobright；”　said　Fairway。　　“Mis’ess　Yeobright；　not　ten　minutes　ago　a　man　was　here　asking　for　you—a　reddleman。”
“What　did　he　want？”　said　she。　
“He　didn’t　tell　us。”
“Something　to　sell；　I　suppose；　what　it　can　be　I　am　at　a　loss　to　understand。”
“I　am　glad　to　hear　that　your　son　Mr。　Clym　is　ing　home　at　Christmas；　ma’am；”　said　Sam；　the　turf…cutter。　“What　a　dog　he　used　to　be　for　bonfires！”
“Yes。　I　believe　he　is　ing；”　she　said。　
“He　must　be　a　fine　fellow　by　this　time；”　said　Fairway。　
“He　is　a　man　now；”　she　replied　quietly。
“’Tis　very　lonesome　for　‘ee　in　the　heth　tonight；　mis’ess；”　said　Christian；　ing　from　the　seclusion　he　had　hithe