wessex tales-第11章

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hope　we　might　relieve　him　of　his　heavy　load；　rather　than　from
curiosity。'

'O　no；'　said　her　husband　off…handedly。　　'These　country　lads　will
carry　a　hundredweight　once　they　get　it　on　their　backs；　besides　his
pack　had　more　size　than　weight　in　it。　　Now；　then；　another　mile　and　I
shall　be　able　to　show　you　our　house　in　the　distanceif　it　is　not
too　dark　before　we　get　there。'　　The　wheels　spun　round；　and　particles
flew　from　their　periphery　as　before；　till　a　white　house　of　ample
dimensions　revealed　itself；　with　farm…buildings　and　ricks　at　the
back。

Meanwhile　the　boy　had　quickened　his　pace；　and　turning　up　a　by…lane
some　mile　and　half　short　of　the　white　farmstead；　ascended　towards
the　leaner　pastures；　and　so　on　to　the　cottage　of　his　mother。

She　had　reached　home　after　her　day's　milking　at　the　outlying　dairy；
and　was　washing　cabbage　at　the　doorway　in　the　declining　light。
'Hold　up　the　net　a　moment；'　she　said；　without　preface；　as　the　boy
came　up。

He　flung　down　his　bundle；　held　the　edge　of　the　cabbage…net；　and　as
she　filled　its　meshes　with　the　dripping　leaves　she　went　on；　'Well；
did　you　see　her？'

'Yes；　quite　plain。'

'Is　she　ladylike？'

'Yes；　and　more。　　A　lady　complete。'

'Is　she　young？'

'Well；　she's　growed　up；　and　her　ways　be　quite　a　woman's。'

'Of　course。　　What　colour　is　her　hair　and　face？'

'Her　hair　is　lightish；　and　her　face　as　comely　as　a　live　doll's。'

'Her　eyes；　then；　are　not　dark　like　mine？'

'Noof　a　bluish　turn；　and　her　mouth　is　very　nice　and　red；　and　when
she　smiles；　her　teeth　show　white。'

'Is　she　tall？'　said　the　woman　sharply。

'I　couldn't　see。　　She　was　sitting　down。'

'Then　do　you　go　to　Holmstoke　church　to…morrow　morning：　　she's　sure
to　be　there。　　Go　early　and　notice　her　walking　in；　and　come　home　and
tell　me　if　she's　taller　than　I。'

'Very　well；　mother。　　But　why　don't　you　go　and　see　for　yourself？'

'_I_　go　to　see　her！　　I　wouldn't　look　up　at　her　if　she　were　to　pass
my　window　this　instant。　　She　was　with　Mr。　Lodge；　of　course。　　What
did　he　say　or　do？'

'Just　the　same　as　usual。'

'Took　no　notice　of　you？'

'None。'

Next　day　the　mother　put　a　clean　shirt　on　the　boy；　and　started　him
off　for　Holmstoke　church。　　He　reached　the　ancient　little　pile　when
the　door　was　just　being　opened；　and　he　was　the　first　to　enter。
Taking　his　seat　by　the　font；　he　watched　all　the　parishioners　file
in。　　The　well…to…do　Farmer　Lodge　came　nearly　last；　and　his　young
wife；　who　accompanied　him；　walked　up　the　aisle　with　the　shyness
natural　to　a　modest　woman　who　had　appeared　thus　for　the　first　time。
As　all　other　eyes　were　fixed　upon　her；　the　youth's　stare　was　not
noticed　now。

When　he　reached　home　his　mother　said；　'Well？'　before　he　had　entered
the　room。

'She　is　not　tall。　　She　is　rather　short；'　he　replied。

'Ah！'　said　his　mother；　with　satisfaction。

'But　she's　very　prettyvery。　　In　fact；　she's　lovely。'

The　youthful　freshness　of　the　yeoman's　wife　had　evidently　made　an
impression　even　on　the　somewhat　hard　nature　of　the　boy。

'That's　all　I　want　to　hear；'　said　his　mother　quickly。　　'Now；　spread
the　table…cloth。　　The　hare　you　caught　is　very　tender；　but　mind　that
nobody　catches　you。You've　never　told　me　what　sort　of　hands　she
had。'

'I　have　never　seen　'em。　　She　never　took　off　her　gloves。'

'What　did　she　wear　this　morning？'

'A　white　bonnet　and　a　silver…coloured　gownd。　　It　whewed　and　whistled
so　loud　when　it　rubbed　against　the　pews　that　the　lady　coloured　up
more　than　ever　for　very　shame　at　the　noise；　and　pulled　it　in　to　keep
it　from　touching；　but　when　she　pushed　into　her　seat；　it　whewed　more
than　ever。　　Mr。　Lodge；　he　seemed　pleased；　and　his　waistcoat　stuck
out；　and　his　great　golden　seals　hung　like　a　lord's；　but　she　seemed
to　wish　her　noisy　gownd　anywhere　but　on　her。'

'Not　she！　　However；　that　will　do　now。'

These　descriptions　of　the　newly…married　couple　were　continued　from
time　to　time　by　the　boy　at　his　mother's　request；　after　any　chance
encounter　he　had　had　with　them。　　But　Rhoda　Brook；　though　she　might
easily　have　seen　young　Mrs。　Lodge　for　herself　by　walking　a　couple　of
miles；　would　never　attempt　an　excursion　towards　the　quarter　where
the　farmhouse　lay。　　Neither　did　she；　at　the　daily　milking　in　the
dairyman's　yard　on　Lodge's　outlying　second　farm；　ever　speak　on　the
subject　of　the　recent　marriage。　　The　dairyman；　who　rented　the　cows
of　Lodge；　and　knew　perfectly　the　tall　milkmaid's　history；　with　manly
kindliness　always　kept　the　gossip　in　the　cow…barton　from　annoying
Rhoda。　　But　the　atmosphere　thereabout　was　full　of　the　subject　during
the　first　days　of　Mrs。　Lodge's　arrival；　and　from　her　boy's
description　and　the　casual　words　of　the　other　milkers；　Rhoda　Brook
could　raise　a　mental　image　of　the　unconscious　Mrs　Lodge　that　was
realistic　as　a　photograph。



CHAPTER　IIIA　VISION



One　night；　two　or　three　weeks　after　the　bridal　return；　when　the　boy
was　gone　to　bed；　Rhoda　sat　a　long　time　over　the　turf　ashes　that　she
had　raked　out　in　front　of　her　to　extinguish　them。　　She　contemplated
so　intently　the　new　wife；　as　presented　to　her　in　her　mind's　eye　over
the　embers；　that　she　forgot　the　lapse　of　time。　　At　last；　wearied
with　her　day's　work；　she　too　retired。

But　the　figure　which　had　occupied　her　so　much　during　this　and　the
previous　days　was　not　to　be　banished　at　night。　　For　the　first　time
Gertrude　Lodge　visited　the　supplanted　woman　in　her　dreams。　　Rhoda
Brook　dreamedsince　her　assertion　that　she　really　saw；　before
falling　asleep；　was　not　to　be　believedthat　the　young　wife；　in　the
pale　silk　dress　and　white　bonnet；　but　with　features　shockingly
distorted；　and　wrinkled　as　by　age；　was　sitting　upon　her　chest　as　she
lay。　　The　pressure　of　Mrs。　Lodge's　person　grew　heavier；　the　blue
eyes　peered　cruelly　into　her　face；　and　then　the　figure　thrust
forward　its　left　hand　mockingly；　so　as　to　make　the　wedding…ring　it
wore　glitter　in　Rhoda's　eyes。　　Maddened　mentally；　and　nearly
suffocated　by　pressure；　the　sleeper　struggled；　the　incubus；　still
regarding　her；　withdrew　to　the　foot　of　the　bed；　only；　however；　to
come　forward　by　degrees；　resume　her　seat；　and　flash　her　left　hand　as
before。

Gasping　for　breath；　Rhoda；　in　a　last　desperate　effort；　swung　out　her
right　hand；　seized　the　confronting　spectre　by　its　obtrusive　left
arm；　and　whirled　it　backward　to　the　floor；　starting　up　herself　as
she　did　so　with　a　low　cry。

'O；　merciful　heaven！'　she　cried；　sitting　on　the　edge　of　the　bed　in　a
cold　sweat；　'that　was　not　a　dreamshe　was　here！'

She　could　feel　her　antagonist's　arm　within　her　grasp　even　nowthe
very　flesh　and　bone　of　it；　as　it　seemed。　　She　looked　on　the　floor
whither　she　had　whirled　the　spectre；　but　there　was　nothing　to　be
seen。

Rhoda　Brook　slept　no　more　that　night；　and　when　she　went　milking　at
the　next　dawn　they　noticed　how　pale　and　haggard　she　looked。　　The
milk　that　she　drew　quivered　into　the　pail；　her　hand　had　not　calmed
even　yet；　and　still　retained　the　feel　of　the　arm。　　She　came　home　to
breakfast　as　wearily　as　if　it　had　been　suppertime。

'What　was　that　noise　in　your　chimmer；　mother；　last　night？'　said　her
son。　　'You　fell　off　the　bed；　surely？'

'Did　you　hear　anything　fall？　　At　what　time？'

'Just　when　the　clock　struck　two。'

She　could　not　explain；　and　when　the　meal　was　done　went　silently
about　her　household　work；　the　boy　assisting　her；　for　he　hated　going
afield　on　the　farms；　and　she　indulged　his　reluctance。　　Between
eleven　and　twelve　the　garden…gate　clicked；　and　she　lifted　her　eyes
to　the　window。　　At　the　bottom　of　the　garden；　within　the　gate；　stood
the　woman　of　her　vision。　　Rhoda　seemed　transfixed。

'Ah；　she　said　she　would　come！'　exclaimed　the　boy；　also　observing
her。

'Said　sowhen？　　How　does　she　know　us？'

'I　have　seen　and　spoken　to　her。　　I　talked　to　her　yesterday。'

'I　told　you；'　said　the　mother；　flushing　indignantly；　'never　to　speak
to　anybody　in　that　house；　or　go　near　the　place。'

'I　did　not　speak　to　her　till　she　spoke　to　me。　　And　I　did　not　go　near
the　place。　　I　met　her　in　the　road。'

'What　did　you　tell　her？'

'Nothing。　　She　said；　〃Are　you　the　poor　boy　who　had　to　bring　the
heavy　load　from　market？〃　　And　she　looked　at　my　boots；　and　said　they
would　not　keep　my　feet　dry　if　it　came　on　wet；　because　they　were　so
cracked。　　I　told　her　I　lived　with　my　mother；　and　we　had　enough　to　do
to　keep　ourselves；　and　that's　how　it　was；　and　she　said　then；　〃I'll
come　and　bring　you　some　better　boots；　and　see　your　mother。〃　　She
gives　away　things　to　other　folks　in　the　meads　besides　us。'

Mrs。　Lodge　was　by　this　time　close　to　the　doornot　in　her　silk；　as
Rhoda　had　seen　her　in　the　bed…chamber；　but　in　a　morning　hat；　and
gown　of　common　light　material；　which　became　her　better　than　silk。
On　her　arm　she　carried　a　basket。

The　impression　remaining　from　the　night's　experience　was　still
strong。　　Brook　had　almost　expected　to　see　the　wrinkles；　the　scorn；
and　the　cruelty　on　her　visitor's　face。

She　would　have　escaped　an　interview；　had　escape　been　possible。
There　was；　however；　no　backdoor　to　the　cottage；　and　in　an　instant
the　boy　had　lifted　the　latch　to　Mrs。　Lodge's　gentle　knock。

'I　see　I　have　come　to　the　right　house；'　said　she；　glancing　at　the
lad；　and　smiling。　　'But　I　was　not　sure　till　you　opened　the　door。'

The　figure　and　action　were　those　of　the　phantom；　but　her　voice　was
so　indescribably　sweet；　her　glance　so　winning；　her　smile　so　tender；
so　unlike　that　of　Rhoda's　midnight　visitant；　that　the　latter　could
hardly　believe　the　evidence　of　her　senses。　　She　was　truly　glad　that
she　had　not　hidden　away　in　sheer　aversion；　as　she　had　been　inclined
to　do。　　In　her　basket　Mrs。　Lodge　brought　the　pair　of　boots　that　she
had　promised　to　the　boy；　and　other　useful　articles。

At　these　proofs　of　a　kindly　feeling　towards　her　and　hers　Rhoda's
heart　reproached　her　bitterly。　　This　innocent　young　thing　should
have　her　blessing　and　not　her　curse。　　When　she　left　them　a　light
seemed　gone　from　the　dwelling。　　Two　days　later　she　came　again　to
know　if　the　boots　fitted；　and　less　than　a　fortnight　after　that　paid
Rhoda　another　call。　　On　this　occasion　the　boy　was　absent。

'I　walk　a　good　deal；'　said　Mrs。　Lodge；　'and　your　house　is　the
nearest　outside　our　own　parish。　　I　hope　you　are　well。　　You　don't
look　quite　well。'

Rhoda　said　she　was　well　enough；　and；　indeed；　though　the　paler　of　the
two；　there　was　more　of　the　strength　that　endures　in　her　well…defined
features　and　large　frame；　than　in　the　soft…cheeked　young　woman
before　her。　　The　conversation　became　quite　confidential　as　regarded
their　powers　and　weaknesses；　and　when　Mrs。　Lodge　was　leaving；　Rhoda
said；　'I　hope　you　will　find　this　air　agree　with　you；　ma'am；　and　not
suffer　from　the　damp　of　the　water…meads。'

The　younger　one　replied　that　there　was　not　much　doubt　of　it；　her
general　health　being　usually　good。　　'Though；　now　you　remind　me；'　she
added；　'I　have　one　little　ailment　which　puzzles　me。　　It　is　nothing
serious；　but　I　cannot　make　it　out。'

She　uncovered　her　left　hand　and　arm；　and　their　outline　confronted
Rhoda's　gaze　as　the　exact　original　of　the　limb　she　had　beheld　and
seized　in　her　dream。　　Upon　the　pink　round　surface　of　the　arm　were
faint　marks　of　an　unhealthy　colour；　as　if　produced　by　a　rough　grasp。
Rhoda's　eyes　became　riveted　on　the　discolorations；　she　fancied　that
she　discerned　in　them　the　shape　of　her