wessex tales-第10章

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more　trouble　about　me。　　The　time　is　come　when　I　may　as　well　speak。
I　have　done　nothing；　my　crime　is　that　the　condemned　man　is　my
brother。　　Early　this　afternoon　I　left　home　at　Shottsford　to　tramp　it
all　the　way　to　Casterbridge　jail　to　bid　him　farewell。　　I　was
benighted；　and　called　here　to　rest　and　ask　the　way。　　When　I　opened
the　door　I　saw　before　me　the　very　man；　my　brother；　that　I　thought　to
see　in　the　condemned　cell　at　Casterbridge。　　He　was　in　this　chimney…
corner；　and　jammed　close　to　him；　so　that　he　could　not　have　got　out
if　he　had　tried；　was　the　executioner　who'd　come　to　take　his　life；
singing　a　song　about　it　and　not　knowing　that　it　was　his　victim　who
was　close　by；　joining　in　to　save　appearances。　　My　brother　looked　a
glance　of　agony　at　me；　and　I　knew　he　meant；　〃Don't　reveal　what　you
see；　my　life　depends　on　it。〃　　I　was　so　terror…struck　that　I　could
hardly　stand；　and；　not　knowing　what　I　did；　I　turned　and　hurried
away。'

The　narrator's　manner　and　tone　had　the　stamp　of　truth；　and　his　story
made　a　great　impression　on　all　around。　　'And　do　you　know　where　your
brother　is　at　the　present　time？'　asked　the　magistrate。

'I　do　not。　　I　have　never　seen　him　since　I　closed　this　door。'

'I　can　testify　to　that；　for　we've　been　between　ye　ever　since；'　said
the　constable。

'Where　does　he　think　to　fly　to？what　is　his　occupation？'

'He's　a　watch…and…clock…maker；　sir。'

''A　said　'a　was　a　wheelwrighta　wicked　rogue；'　said　the　constable。

'The　wheels　of　clocks　and　watches　he　meant；　no　doubt；'　said　Shepherd
Fennel。　　'I　thought　his　hands　were　palish　for's　trade。'

'Well；　it　appears　to　me　that　nothing　can　be　gained　by　retaining　this
poor　man　in　custody；'　said　the　magistrate；　'your　business　lies　with
the　other；　unquestionably。'

And　so　the　little　man　was　released　off…hand；　but　he　looked　nothing
the　less　sad　on　that　account；　it　being　beyond　the　power　of
magistrate　or　constable　to　raze　out　the　written　troubles　in　his
brain；　for　they　concerned　another　whom　he　regarded　with　more
solicitude　than　himself。　　When　this　was　done；　and　the　man　had　gone
his　way；　the　night　was　found　to　be　so　far　advanced　that　it　was
deemed　useless　to　renew　the　search　before　the　next　morning。

Next　day；　accordingly；　the　quest　for　the　clever　sheep…stealer　became
general　and　keen；　to　all　appearance　at　least。　　But　the　intended
punishment　was　cruelly　disproportioned　to　the　transgression；　and　the
sympathy　of　a　great　many　country…folk　in　that　district　was　strongly
on　the　side　of　the　fugitive。　　Moreover；　his　marvellous　coolness　and
daring　in　hob…and…nobbing　with　the　hangman；　under　the　unprecedented
circumstances　of　the　shepherd's　party；　won　their　admiration。　　So
that　it　may　be　questioned　if　all　those　who　ostensibly　made
themselves　so　busy　in　exploring　woods　and　fields　and　lanes　were
quite　so　thorough　when　it　came　to　the　private　examination　of　their
own　lofts　and　outhouses。　　Stories　were　afloat　of　a　mysterious　figure
being　occasionally　seen　in　some　old　overgrown　trackway　or　other；
remote　from　turnpike　roads；　but　when　a　search　was　instituted　in　any
of　these　suspected　quarters　nobody　was　found。　　Thus　the　days　and
weeks　passed　without　tidings。

In　brief；　the　bass…voiced　man　of　the　chimney…corner　was　never
recaptured。　　Some　said　that　he　went　across　the　sea；　others　that　he
did　not；　but　buried　himself　in　the　depths　of　a　populous　city。　　At
any　rate；　the　gentleman　in　cinder…gray　never　did　his　morning's　work
at　Casterbridge；　nor　met　anywhere　at　all；　for　business　purposes；　the
genial　comrade　with　whom　he　had　passed　an　hour　of　relaxation　in　the
lonely　house　on　the　coomb。

The　grass　has　long　been　green　on　the　graves　of　Shepherd　Fennel　and
his　frugal　wife；　the　guests　who　made　up　the　christening　party　have
mainly　followed　their　entertainers　to　the　tomb；　the　baby　in　whose
honour　they　all　had　met　is　a　matron　in　the　sere　and　yellow　leaf。
But　the　arrival　of　the　three　strangers　at　the　shepherd's　that　night；
and　the　details　connected　therewith；　is　a　story　as　well　known　as
ever　in　the　country　about　Higher　Crowstairs。

March　1883。




THE　WITHERED　ARM




CHAPTER　IA　LORN　MILKMAID



It　was　an　eighty…cow　dairy；　and　the　troop　of　milkers；　regular　and
supernumerary；　were　all　at　work；　for；　though　the　time　of　year　was　as
yet　but　early　April；　the　feed　lay　entirely　in　water…meadows；　and　the
cows　were　'in　full　pail。'　　The　hour　was　about　six　in　the　evening；
and　three…fourths　of　the　large；　red；　rectangular　animals　having　been
finished　off；　there　was　opportunity　for　a　little　conversation。

'He　do　bring　home　his　bride　to…morrow；　I　hear。　　They've　come　as　far
as　Anglebury　to…day。'

The　voice　seemed　to　proceed　from　the　belly　of　the　cow　called　Cherry；
but　the　speaker　was　a　milking…woman；　whose　face　was　buried　in　the
flank　of　that　motionless　beast。

'Hav'　anybody　seen　her？'　said　another。

There　was　a　negative　response　from　the　first。　　'Though　they　say
she's　a　rosy…cheeked；　tisty…tosty　little　body　enough；'　she　added；
and　as　the　milkmaid　spoke　she　turned　her　face　so　that　she　could
glance　past　her　cow's　tail　to　the　other　side　of　the　barton；　where　a
thin；　fading　woman　of　thirty　milked　somewhat　apart　from　the　rest。

'Years　younger　than　he；　they　say；'　continued　the　second；　with　also　a
glance　of　reflectiveness　in　the　same　direction。

'How　old　do　you　call　him；　then？'

'Thirty　or　so。'

'More　like　forty；'　broke　in　an　old　milkman　near；　in　a　long　white
pinafore　or　'wropper；'　and　with　the　brim　of　his　hat　tied　down；　so
that　he　looked　like　a　woman。　　''A　was　born　before　our　Great　Weir　was
builded；　and　I　hadn't　man's　wages　when　I　laved　water　there。'

The　discussion　waxed　so　warm　that　the　purr　of　the　milk…streams
became　jerky；　till　a　voice　from　another　cow's　belly　cried　with
authority；　'Now　then；　what　the　Turk　do　it　matter　to　us　about　Farmer
Lodge's　age；　or　Farmer　Lodge's　new　mis'ess？　　I　shall　have　to　pay　him
nine　pound　a　year　for　the　rent　of　every　one　of　these　milchers；
whatever　his　age　or　hers。　　Get　on　with　your　work；　or　'twill　be　dark
afore　we　have　done。　　The　evening　is　pinking　in　a'ready。'　　This
speaker　was　the　dairyman　himself；　by　whom　the　milkmaids　and　men　were
employed。

Nothing　more　was　said　publicly　about　Farmer　Lodge's　wedding；　but　the
first　woman　murmured　under　her　cow　to　her　next　neighbour；　''Tis　hard
for　SHE；'　signifying　the　thin　worn　milkmaid　aforesaid。

'O　no；'　said　the　second。　　'He　ha'n't　spoke　to　Rhoda　Brook　for
years。'

When　the　milking　was　done　they　washed　their　pails　and　hung　them　on　a
many…forked　stand　made　of　the　peeled　limb　of　an　oak…tree；　set
upright　in　the　earth；　and　resembling　a　colossal　antlered　horn。　　The
majority　then　dispersed　in　various　directions　homeward。　　The　thin
woman　who　had　not　spoken　was　joined　by　a　boy　of　twelve　or
thereabout；　and　the　twain　went　away　up　the　field　also。

Their　course　lay　apart　from　that　of　the　others；　to　a　lonely　spot
high　above　the　water…meads；　and　not　far　from　the　border　of　Egdon
Heath；　whose　dark　countenance　was　visible　in　the　distance　as　they
drew　nigh　to　their　home。

'They've　just　been　saying　down　in　barton　that　your　father　brings　his
young　wife　home　from　Anglebury　to…morrow；'　the　woman　observed。　　'I
shall　want　to　send　you　for　a　few　things　to　market；　and　you'll　be
pretty　sure　to　meet　'em。'

'Yes；　mother；'　said　the　boy。　　'Is　father　married　then？'

'Yes　。　。　。　You　can　give　her　a　look；　and　tell　me　what's　she's　like；
if　you　do　see　her。'

'Yes；　mother。'

'If　she's　dark　or　fair；　and　if　she's　tallas　tall　as　I。　　And　if　she
seems　like　a　woman　who　has　ever　worked　for　a　living；　or　one　that　has
been　always　well　off；　and　has　never　done　anything；　and　shows　marks
of　the　lady　on　her；　as　I　expect　she　do。'

'Yes。'

They　crept　up　the　hill　in　the　twilight；　and　entered　the　cottage。　　It
was　built　of　mud…walls；　the　surface　of　which　had　been　washed　by　many
rains　into　channels　and　depressions　that　left　none　of　the　original
flat　face　visible；　while　here　and　there　in　the　thatch　above　a　rafter
showed　like　a　bone　protruding　through　the　skin。

She　was　kneeling　down　in　the　chimney…corner；　before　two　pieces　of
turf　laid　together　with　the　heather　inwards；　blowing　at　the　red…hot
ashes　with　her　breath　till　the　turves　flamed。　　The　radiance　lit　her
pale　cheek；　and　made　her　dark　eyes；　that　had　once　been　handsome；
seem　handsome　anew。　　'Yes；'　she　resumed；　'see　if　she　is　dark　or
fair；　and　if　you　can；　notice　if　her　hands　be　white；　if　not；　see　if
they　look　as　though　she　had　ever　done　housework；　or　are　milker's
hands　like　mine。'

The　boy　again　promised；　inattentively　this　time；　his　mother　not
observing　that　he　was　cutting　a　notch　with　his　pocket…knife　in　the
beech…backed　chair。



CHAPTER　IITHE　YOUNG　WIFE



The　road　from　Anglebury　to　Holmstoke　is　in　general　level；　but　there
is　one　place　where　a　sharp　ascent　breaks　its　monotony。　　Farmers
homeward…bound　from　the　former　market…town；　who　trot　all　the　rest　of
the　way；　walk　their　horses　up　this　short　incline。

The　next　evening；　while　the　sun　was　yet　bright；　a　handsome　new　gig；
with　a　lemon…coloured　body　and　red　wheels；　was　spinning　westward
along　the　level　highway　at　the　heels　of　a　powerful　mare。　　The　driver
was　a　yeoman　in　the　prime　of　life；　cleanly　shaven　like　an　actor；　his
face　being　toned　to　that　bluish…vermilion　hue　which　so　often　graces
a　thriving　farmer's　features　when　returning　home　after　successful
dealings　in　the　town。　　Beside　him　sat　a　woman；　many　years　his
junioralmost；　indeed；　a　girl。　　Her　face　too　was　fresh　in　colour；
but　it　was　of　a　totally　different　qualitysoft　and　evanescent；　like
the　light　under　a　heap　of　rose…petals。

Few　people　travelled　this　way；　for　it　was　not　a　main　road；　and　the
long　white　riband　of　gravel　that　stretched　before　them　was　empty；
save　of　one　small　scarce…moving　speck；　which　presently　resolved
itself　into　the　figure　of　boy；　who　was　creeping　on　at　a　snail's
pace；　and　continually　looking　behind　himthe　heavy　bundle　he
carried　being　some　excuse　for；　if　not　the　reason　of；　his
dilatoriness。　　When　the　bouncing　gig…party　slowed　at　the　bottom　of
the　incline　above　mentioned；　the　pedestrian　was　only　a　few　yards　in
front。　　Supporting　the　large　bundle　by　putting　one　hand　on　his　hip；
he　turned　and　looked　straight　at　the　farmer's　wife　as　though　he
would　read　her　through　and　through；　pacing　along　abreast　of　the
horse。

The　low　sun　was　full　in　her　face；　rendering　every　feature；　shade；
and　contour　distinct；　from　the　curve　of　her　little　nostril　to　the
colour　of　her　eyes。　　The　farmer；　though　he　seemed　annoyed　at　the
boy's　persistent　presence；　did　not　order　him　to　get　out　of　the　way；
and　thus　the　lad　preceded　them；　his　hard　gaze　never　leaving　her；
till　they　reached　the　top　of　the　ascent；　when　the　farmer　trotted　on
with　relief　in　his　lineamentshaving　taken　no　outward　notice　of　the
boy　whatever。

'How　that　poor　lad　stared　at　me！'　said　the　young　wife。

'Yes；　dear；　I　saw　that　he　did。'

'He　is　one　of　the　village；　I　suppose？'

'One　of　the　neighbourhood。　　I　think　he　lives　with　his　mother　a　mile
or　two　off。'

'He　knows　who　we　are；　no　doubt？'

'O　yes。　　You　must　expect　to　be　stared　at　just　at　first；　my　pretty
Gertrude。'

'I　do；though　I　think　the　poor　boy　may　have　looked　at　us　in　the
hope　we　might　relieve　him　of　his　heavy　load；　rather　than　from
curiosity。'