还乡The Return Of The Native-第77部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


“I　never　had　the　nerve　to　stand　fire；”　faltered　Christian。　　“But　as　to　marrying；　I　own　I’ve　asked　here　and　there；　though　without　much　fruit　from　it。　　Yes；　there’s　some　house　or　other　that　might　have　had　a　man　for　a　master—such　as　he　is—that’s　now　ruled　by　a　woman　alone。　　Still　it　might　have　been　awkward　if　I　had　found　her；　for；　d’ye　see；　neighbours；　there’d　have　been　nobody　left　at　home　to　keep　down　Father’s　spirits　to　the　decent　pitch　that　bees　a　old　man。”
“And　you’ve　your　work　cut　out　to　do　that；　my　son；”　said　Grandfer　Cantle　smartly。　　“I　wish　that　the　dread　of　infirmities　was　not　so　strong　in　me！I’d　start　the　very　first　thing　tomorrow　to　see　the　world　over　again！　　But　seventy…one；　though　nothing　at　home；　is　a　high　figure　for　a　rover。。。。Ay；　seventy…one；　last　Candlemasday。　　Gad；　I’d　sooner　have　it　in　guineas　than　in　years！”
And　the　old　man　sighed。
“Don’t　you　be　mournful；　Grandfer；”　said　Fairway。　　“Empt　some　more　feathers　into　the　bed…tick；　and　keep　up　yer　heart。　　Though　rather　lean　in　the　stalks　you　be　a　green…leaved　old　man　still。　　There’s　time　enough　left　to　ye　yet　to　fill　whole　chronicles。”
“Begad；　I’ll　go　to　‘em；　Timothy—to　the　married　pair！”
said　Granfer　Cantle　in　an　encouraged　voice；　and　starting
round　briskly。　　“I’ll　go　to　‘em　tonight　and　sing
a　wedding　song；　hey？　　‘Tis　like　me　to　do　so；　you　know；
and　they’d　see　it　as　such。　　My　‘Down　in　Cupid’s　Gardens’
was　well　liked　in　four；　still；　I’ve　got　others　as　good；
and　even　better。　　What　do　you　say　to　my

She　cal’…led　to’　her　love’
From　the　lat’…tice　a…bove；
‘O　e　in’　from　the　fog…gy　fog’…gy　dew’。’

‘Twould　please　‘em　well　at　such　a　time！　Really；　now　I　e　to　think　of　it；　I　haven’t　turned　my　tongue　in　my　head　to　the　shape　of　a　real　good　song　since　Old　Midsummer　night；　when　we　had　the　‘Barley　Mow’　at　the　Woman；　and　‘tis　a　pity　to　neglect　your　strong　point　where　there’s　few　that　have　the　pass　for　such　things！”
“So　‘tis；　so　‘tis；”　said　Fairway。　　“Now　gie　the　bed　a　shake　down。　　We’ve　put　in　seventy　pounds　of　best　feathers；　and　I　think　that’s　as　many　as　the　tick　will　fairly　hold。　　A　bit　and　a　drap　wouldn’t　be　amiss　now；　I　reckon。　　Christian；　maul　down　the　victuals　from　corner…cupboard　if　canst　reach；　man；　and　I’ll　draw　a　drap　o’　sommat　to　wet　it　with。”
They　sat　down　to　a　lunch　in　the　midst　of　their　work；　feathers　around；　above；　and　below　them；　the　original　owners　of　which　occasionally　came　to　the　open　door　and　cackled　begrudgingly　at　sight　of　such　a　quantity　of　their　old　clothes。
“Upon　my　soul　I　shall　be　chokt；”　said　Fairway　when；　having　extracted　a　feather　from　his　mouth；　he　found　several　others　floating　on　the　mug　as　it　was　handed　round。
“I’ve　swallered　several；　and　one　had　a　tolerable　quill；”　said　Sam　placidly　from　the　corner。
“Hullo—what’s　that—wheels　I　hear　ing？”　Grandfer　Cantle　exclaimed；　jumping　up　and　hastening　to　the　door。　　“Why；　‘tis　they　back　again—I　didn’t　expect　‘em　yet　this　half…hour。　　To　be　sure；　how　quick　marrying　can　be　done　when　you　are　in　the　mind　for’t！”
“O　yes；　it　can　soon　be　DONE；”　said　Fairway；　as　if　something　should　be　added　to　make　the　statement　plete。
He　arose　and　followed　the　Grandfer；　and　the　rest　also　went　to　the　door。　　In　a　moment　an　open　fly　was　driven　past；　in　which　sat　Venn　and　Mrs。　Venn；　Yeobright；　and　a　grand　relative　of　Venn’s　who　had　e　from　Budmouth　for　the　occasion。　　The　fly　had　been　hired　at　the　nearest　town；　regardless　of　distance　and　cost；　there　being　nothing　on　Egdon　Heath；　in　Venn’s　opinion；　dignified　enough　for　such　an　event　when　such　a　woman　as　Thomasin　was　the　bride；　and　the　church　was　too　remote　for　a　walking　bridal…party。
As　the　fly　passed　the　group　which　had　run　out　from　the　homestead　they　shouted　“Hurrah！”　and　waved　their　hands；　feathers　and　down　floating　from　their　hair；　their　sleeves；　and　the　folds　of　their　garments　at　every　motion；　and　Grandfer　Cantle’s　seals　dancing　merrily　in　the　sunlight　as　he　twirled　himself　about。　　The　driver　of　the　fly　turned　a　supercilious　gaze　upon　them；　he　even　treated　the　wedded　pair　themselves　with　something　like　condescension；　for　in　what　other　state　than　heathen　could　people；　rich　or　poor；　exist　who　were　doomed　to　abide　in　such　a　world’s　end　as　Egdon？　　Thomasin　showed　no　such　superiority　to　the　group　at　the　door；　fluttering　her　hand　as　quickly　as　a　bird’s　wing　towards　them；　and　asking　Diggory；　with　tears　in　her　eyes；　if　they　ought　not　to　alight　and　speak　to　these　kind　neighbours。　　Venn；　however；　suggested　that；　as　they　were　all　ing　to　the　house　in　the　evening；　this　was　hardly　necessary。
After　this　excitement　the　saluting　party　returned　to　their　occupation；　and　the　stuffing　and　sewing　were　soon　afterwards　finished；　when　Fairway　harnessed　a　horse；　wrapped　up　the　cumbrous　present；　and　drove　off　with　it　in　the　cart　to　Venn’s　house　at　Stickleford。　

Yeobright；　having　filled　the　office　at　the　wedding　service　which　naturally　fell　to　his　hands；　and　afterwards　returned　to　the　house　with　the　husband　and　wife；　was　indisposed　to　take　part　in　the　feasting　and　dancing　that　wound　up　the　evening。　　Thomasin　was　disappointed。　
“I　wish　I　could　be　there　without　dashing　your　spirits；”　he　said。　　“But　I　might　be　too　much　like　the　skull　at　the　banquet。”
“No；　no。”
“Well；　dear；　apart　from　that；　if　you　would　excuse　me；　I　should　be　glad。　　I　know　it　seems　unkind；　but；　dear　Thomasin；　I　fear　I　should　not　be　happy　in　the　pany—there；　that’s　the　truth　of　it。　　I　shall　always　be　ing　to　see　you　at　your　new　home；　you　know；　so　that　my　absence　now　will　not　matter。”
“Then　I　give　in。　　Do　whatever　will　be　most　fortable　to　yourself。”
Clym　retired　to　his　lodging　at　the　housetop　much　relieved；　and　occupied　himself　during　the　afternoon　in　noting　down　the　heads　of　a　sermon；　with　which　he　intended　to　initiate　all　that　really　seemed　practicable　of　the　scheme　that　had　originally　brought　him　hither；　and　that　he　had　so　long　kept　in　view　under　various　modifications；　and　through　evil　and　good　report。　　He　had　tested　and　weighed　his　convictions　again　and　again；　and　saw　no　reason　to　alter　them；　though　he　had　considerably　lessened　his　plan。　　His　eyesight；　by　long　humouring　in　his　native　air；　had　grown　stronger；　but　not　sufficiently　strong　to　warrant　his　attempting　his　extensive　educational　project。　　Yet　he　did　not　repine—there　was　still　more　than　enough　of　an　unambitious　sort　to　tax　all　his　energies　and　occupy　all　his　hours。　
Evening　drew　on；　and　sounds　of　life　and　movement　in　the　lower　part　of　the　domicile　became　more　pronounced；　the　gate　in　the　palings　clicking　incessantly。　　The　party　was　to　be　an　early　one；　and　all　the　guests　were　assembled　long　before　it　was　dark。　　Yeobright　went　down　the　back　staircase　and　into　the　heath　by　another　path　than　that　in　front；　intending　to　walk　in　the　open　air　till　the　party　was　over；　when　he　would　return　to　wish　Thomasin　and　her　husband　good…bye　as　they　departed。　　His　steps　were　insensibly　bent　towards　Mistover　by　the　path　that　he　had　followed　on　that　terrible　morning　when　he　learnt　the　strange　news　from　Susan’s　boy。　
He　did　not　turn　aside　to　the　cottage；　but　pushed　on　to　an　eminence；　whence　he　could　see　over　the　whole　quarter　that　had　once　been　Eustacia’s　home。　　While　he　stood　observing　the　darkening　scene　somebody　came　up。　　Clym；　seeing　him　but　dimly；　would　have　let　him　pass　silently；　had　not　the　pedestrian；　who　was　Charley；　recognized　the　young　man　and　spoken　to　him。　
“Charley；　I　have　not　seen　you　for　a　length　of　time；”　said　Yeobright。　　“Do　you　often　walk　this　way？”
“No；”　the　lad　replied。　　“I　don’t　often　e　outside　the　bank。”
“You　were　not　at　the　Maypole。”
“No；”　said　Charley；　in　the　same　listless　tone。　　“I　don’t　care　for　that　sort　of　thing　now。”
“You　rather　liked　Miss　Eustacia；　didn’t　you？”　Yeobright　gently　asked。　　Eustacia　had　frequently　told　him　of　Charley’s　romantic　attachment。　
“Yes；　very　much。　　Ah；　I　wish—“
“Yes？”
“I　wish；　Mr。　Yeobright；　you　could　give　me　something　to　keep　that　once　belonged　to　her—if　you　don’t　mind。”
“I　shall　be　very　happy　to。　　It　will　give　me　very　great　pleasure；　Charley。　　Let　me　think　what　I　have　of　hers　that　you　would　like。　　But　e　with　me　to　the　house；　and　I’ll　see。”
They　walked　towards　Blooms…End　together。　　When　they　reached　the　front　it　was　dark；　and　the　shutters　were　closed；　so　that　nothing　of　the　interior　could　be　seen。
“e　round　this　way；”　said　Clym。　　“My　entrance　is　at　the　back　for　the　present。”
The　two　went　round　and　ascended　the　crooked　stair　in　darkness　till　Clym’s　sitting…room　on　the　upper　floor　was　reached；　where　he　lit　a　candle；　Charley　entering　gently　behind。　　Yeobright　searched　his　desk；　and　taking　out　a　sheet　of　tissue…paper　unfolded　from　it　two　or　three　undulating　locks　of　raven　hair；　which　fell　over　the　paper　like　black　streams。　　From　these　he　selected　one；　wrapped　it　up；　and　gave　it　to　the　lad；　whose　eyes　had　filled　with　tears。　　He　kissed　the　packet；　put　it　in　his　pocket；　and　said　in　a　voice　of　emotion；　“O；　Mr。　Clym；　how　good　you　are　to　me！”
“I　will　go　a　little　way　with　you；”　said　Clym。　　And　amid　the　noise　of　merriment　from　below　they　descended。　　Their　path　to　the　front　led　them　close　to　a　little　side　window；　whence　the　rays　of　candles　streamed　across　the　shrubs。　　The　window；　being　screened　from　general　observation　by　the　bushes；　had　been　left　unblinded；　so　that　a　person　in　this　private　nook　could　see　all　that　was　going　on　within　the　room　which　contained　the　wedding　guests；　except　in　so　far　as　vision　was　hindered　by　the　green　antiquity　of　the　panes。　
“Charley；　what　are　they　doing？”　said　Clym。　　“My　sight　is　weaker　again　tonight；　and　the　glass　of　this　window　is　not　good。”
Charley　wiped　his　own　eyes；　which　were　rather　blurred　with　moisture；　and　stepped　closer　to　the　casement。　　“Mr。　Venn　is　asking　Christian　Cantle　to　sing；”　he　replied；　“and　Christian　is　moving　about　in　his　chair　as　if　he　were　much　frightened　at　the　question；　and　his　father　has　struck　up　a　stave　instead　of　him。”
“Yes；　I　can　hear　the　old　man’s　voice；”　said　Clym。　　“So　there’s　to　be　no　dancing；　I　suppose。　　And　is　Thomasin　in　the　room？　　I　see　something　moving　in　front　of　the　candles　that　resembles　her　shape；　I　think。”
“Yes。　She　do　seem　happy。　　She　is　red　in　the　face；　and　laughing　at　something　Fairway　has　said　to　her。　　O　my！”