wessex tales-第15章

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I'm　bound　to　admit！　　I　like　the　look　of　the　place；　it　is　truly　as
suitable　for　the　cure　as　any　I　ever　saw。　　'Twas　a　knowing…man　that
sent　'ee；　whoever　he　was。'

'You　can　contrive　for　me　all　that's　necessary？'　she　said
breathlessly。

'You　should　really　have　gone　to　the　governor　of　the　jail；　and　your
doctor　with　'ee；　and　given　your　name　and　addressthat's　how　it　used
to　be　done；　if　I　recollect。　　Still；　perhaps；　I　can　manage　it　for　a
trifling　fee。'

'O；　thank　you！　　I　would　rather　do　it　this　way；　as　I　should　like　it
kept　private。'

'Lover　not　to　know；　eh？'

'Nohusband。'

'Aha！　　Very　well。　　I'll　get　ee'　a　touch　of　the　corpse。'

'Where　is　it　now？'　she　said；　shuddering。

'It？HE；　you　mean；　he's　living　yet。　　Just　inside　that　little　small
winder　up　there　in　the　glum。'　　He　signified　the　jail　on　the　cliff
above。

She　thought　of　her　husband　and　her　friends。　　'Yes；　of　course；'　she
said；　'and　how　am　I　to　proceed？'

He　took　her　to　the　door。　　'Now；　do　you　be　waiting　at　the　little
wicket　in　the　wall；　that　you'll　find　up　there　in　the　lane；　not　later
than　one　o'clock。　　I　will　open　it　from　the　inside；　as　I　shan't　come
home　to　dinner　till　he's　cut　down。　　Good…night。　　Be　punctual；　and　if
you　don't　want　anybody　to　know　'ee；　wear　a　veil。　　Ahonce　I　had
such　a　daughter　as　you！'

She　went　away；　and　climbed　the　path　above；　to　assure　herself　that
she　would　be　able　to　find　the　wicket　next　day。　　Its　outline　was　soon
visible　to　hera　narrow　opening　in　the　outer　wall　of　the　prison
precincts。　　The　steep　was　so　great　that；　having　reached　the　wicket；
she　stopped　a　moment　to　breathe；　and；　looking　back　upon　the　water…
side　cot；　saw　the　hangman　again　ascending　his　outdoor　staircase。　　He
entered　the　loft　or　chamber　to　which　it　led；　and　in　a　few　minutes
extinguished　his　light。

The　town　clock　struck　ten；　and　she　returned　to　the　White　Hart　as　she
had　come。



CHAPTER　IXA　RENCOUNTER



It　was　one　o'clock　on　Saturday。　　Gertrude　Lodge；　having　been
admitted　to　the　jail　as　above　described；　was　sitting　in　a　waiting…
room　within　the　second　gate；　which　stood　under　a　classic　archway　of
ashlar；　then　comparatively　modern；　and　bearing　the　inscription；
'COVNTY　JAIL：　　1793。'　　This　had　been　the　facade　she　saw　from　the
heath　the　day　before。　　Near　at　hand　was　a　passage　to　the　roof　on
which　the　gallows　stood。

The　town　was　thronged；　and　the　market　suspended；　but　Gertrude　had
seen　scarcely　a　soul。　　Having　kept　her　room　till　the　hour　of　the
appointment；　she　had　proceeded　to　the　spot　by　a　way　which　avoided
the　open　space　below　the　cliff　where　the　spectators　had　gathered；
but　she　could；　even　now；　hear　the　multitudinous　babble　of　their
voices；　out　of　which　rose　at　intervals　the　hoarse　croak　of　a　single
voice　uttering　the　words；　'Last　dying　speech　and　confession！'　　There
had　been　no　reprieve；　and　the　execution　was　over；　but　the　crowd
still　waited　to　see　the　body　taken　down。

Soon　the　persistent　girl　heard　a　trampling　overhead；　then　a　hand
beckoned　to　her；　and；　following　directions；　she　went　out　and　crossed
the　inner　paved　court　beyond　the　gatehouse；　her　knees　trembling　so
that　she　could　scarcely　walk。　　One　of　her　arms　was　out　of　its
sleeve；　and　only　covered　by　her　shawl。

On　the　spot　at　which　she　had　now　arrived　were　two　trestles；　and
before　she　could　think　of　their　purpose　she　heard　heavy　feet
descending　stairs　somewhere　at　her　back。　　Turn　her　head　she　would
not；　or　could　not；　and；　rigid　in　this　position；　she　was　conscious　of
a　rough　coffin　passing　her　shoulder；　borne　by　four　men。　　It　was
open；　and　in　it　lay　the　body　of　a　young　man；　wearing　the　smockfrock
of　a　rustic；　and　fustian　breeches。　　The　corpse　had　been　thrown　into
the　coffin　so　hastily　that　the　skirt　of　the　smockfrock　was　hanging
over。　　The　burden　was　temporarily　deposited　on　the　trestles。

By　this　time　the　young　woman's　state　was　such　that　a　gray　mist
seemed　to　float　before　her　eyes；　on　account　of　which；　and　the　veil
she　wore；　she　could　scarcely　discern　anything：　　it　was　as　though　she
had　nearly　died；　but　was　held　up　by　a　sort　of　galvanism。

'Now！'　said　a　voice　close　at　hand；　and　she　was　just　conscious　that
the　word　had　been　addressed　to　her。

By　a　last　strenuous　effort　she　advanced；　at　the　same　time　hearing
persons　approaching　behind　her。　　She　bared　her　poor　curst　arm；　and
Davies；　uncovering　the　face　of　the　corpse；　took　Gertrude's　hand；　and
held　it　so　that　her　arm　lay　across　the　dead　man's　neck；　upon　a　line
the　colour　of　an　unripe　blackberry；　which　surrounded　it。

Gertrude　shrieked：　　'the　turn　o'　the　blood；'　predicted　by　the
conjuror；　had　taken　place。　　But　at　that　moment　a　second　shriek　rent
the　air　of　the　enclosure：　　it　was　not　Gertrude's；　and　its　effect
upon　her　was　to　make　her　start　round。

Immediately　behind　her　stood　Rhoda　Brook；　her　face　drawn；　and　her
eyes　red　with　weeping。　　Behind　Rhoda　stood　Gertrude's　own　husband；
his　countenance　lined；　his　eyes　dim；　but　without　a　tear。

'D…n　you！　what　are　you　doing　here？'　he　said　hoarsely。

'Hussyto　come　between　us　and　our　child　now！'　cried　Rhoda。　　'This
is　the　meaning　of　what　Satan　showed　me　in　the　vision！　　You　are　like
her　at　last！'　　And　clutching　the　bare　arm　of　the　younger　woman；　she
pulled　her　unresistingly　back　against　the　wall。　　Immediately　Brook
had　loosened　her　hold　the　fragile　young　Gertrude　slid　down　against
the　feet　of　her　husband。　　When　he　lifted　her　up　she　was　unconscious。

The　mere　sight　of　the　twain　had　been　enough　to　suggest　to　her　that
the　dead　young　man　was　Rhoda's　son。　　At　that　time　the　relatives　of
an　executed　convict　had　the　privilege　of　claiming　the　body　for
burial；　if　they　chose　to　do　so；　and　it　was　for　this　purpose　that
Lodge　was　awaiting　the　inquest　with　Rhoda。　　He　had　been　summoned　by
her　as　soon　as　the　young　man　was　taken　in　the　crime；　and　at
different　times　since；　and　he　had　attended　in　court　during　the
trial。　　This　was　the　'holiday'　he　had　been　indulging　in　of　late。
The　two　wretched　parents　had　wished　to　avoid　exposure；　and　hence　had
come　themselves　for　the　body；　a　waggon　and　sheet　for　its　conveyance
and　covering　being　in　waiting　outside。

Gertrude's　case　was　so　serious　that　it　was　deemed　advisable　to　call
to　her　the　surgeon　who　was　at　hand。　　She　was　taken　out　of　the　jail
into　the　town；　but　she　never　reached　home　alive。　　Her　delicate
vitality；　sapped　perhaps　by　the　paralyzed　arm；　collapsed　under　the
double　shock　that　followed　the　severe　strain；　physical　and　mental；
to　which　she　had　subjected　herself　during　the　previous　twenty…four
hours。　　Her　blood　had　been　'turned'　indeedtoo　far。　　Her　death　took
place　in　the　town　three　days　after。

Her　husband　was　never　seen　in　Casterbridge　again；　once　only　in　the
old　market…place　at　Anglebury；　which　he　had　so　much　frequented；　and
very　seldom　in　public　anywhere。　　Burdened　at　first　with　moodiness
and　remorse；　he　eventually　changed　for　the　better；　and　appeared　as　a
chastened　and　thoughtful　man。　　Soon　after　attending　the　funeral　of
his　poor　young　wife　he　took　steps　towards　giving　up　the　farms　in
Holmstoke　and　the　adjoining　parish；　and；　having　sold　every　head　of
his　stock；　he　went　away　to　Port…Bredy；　at　the　other　end　of　the
county；　living　there　in　solitary　lodgings　till　his　death　two　years
later　of　a　painless　decline。　　It　was　then　found　that　he　had
bequeathed　the　whole　of　his　not　inconsiderable　property　to　a
reformatory　for　boys；　subject　to　the　payment　of　a　small　annuity　to
Rhoda　Brook；　if　she　could　be　found　to　claim　it。

For　some　time　she　could　not　be　found；　but　eventually　she　reappeared
in　her　old　parish；absolutely　refusing；　however；　to　have　anything
to　do　with　the　provision　made　for　her。　　Her　monotonous　milking　at
the　dairy　was　resumed；　and　followed　for　many　long　years；　till　her
form　became　bent；　and　her　once　abundant　dark　hair　white　and　worn
away　at　the　foreheadperhaps　by　long　pressure　against　the　cows。
Here；　sometimes；　those　who　knew　her　experiences　would　stand　and
observe　her；　and　wonder　what　sombre　thoughts　were　beating　inside
that　impassive；　wrinkled　brow；　to　the　rhythm　of　the　alternating
milk…streams。

（'Blackwood's　Magazine；'　January　1888。）




FELLOW…TOWNSMEN




CHAPTER　I



The　shepherd　on　the　east　hill　could　shout　out　lambing　intelligence
to　the　shepherd　on　the　west　hill；　over　the　intervening　town
chimneys；　without　great　inconvenience　to　his　voice；　so　nearly　did
the　steep　pastures　encroach　upon　the　burghers'　backyards。　　And　at
night　it　was　possible　to　stand　in　the　very　midst　of　the　town　and
hear　from　their　native　paddocks　on　the　lower　levels　of　greensward
the　mild　lowing　of　the　farmer's　heifers；　and　the　profound；　warm
blowings　of　breath　in　which　those　creatures　indulge。　　But　the
community　which　had　jammed　itself　in　the　valley　thus　flanked　formed
a　veritable　town；　with　a　real　mayor　and　corporation；　and　a　staple
manufacture。

During　a　certain　damp　evening　five…and…thirty　years　ago；　before　the
twilight　was　far　advanced；　a　pedestrian　of　professional　appearance；
carrying　a　small　bag　in　his　hand　and　an　elevated　umbrella；　was
descending　one　of　these　hills　by　the　turnpike　road　when　he　was
overtaken　by　a　phaeton。

'Hullo；　Downeis　that　you？'　said　the　driver　of　the　vehicle；　a　young
man　of　pale　and　refined　appearance。　　'Jump　up　here　with　me；　and　ride
down　to　your　door。'

The　other　turned　a　plump；　cheery；　rather　self…indulgent　face　over
his　shoulder　towards　the　hailer。

'O；　good　evening；　Mr。　Barnetthanks；'　he　said；　and　mounted　beside
his　acquaintance。

They　were　fellow…burgesses　of　the　town　which　lay　beneath　them；　but
though　old　and　very　good　friends；　they　were　differently
circumstanced。　　Barnet　was　a　richer　man　than　the　struggling　young
lawyer　Downe；　a　fact　which　was　to　some　extent　perceptible　in　Downe's
manner　towards　his　companion；　though　nothing　of　it　ever　showed　in
Barnet's　manner　towards　the　solicitor。　　Barnet's　position　in　the
town　was　none　of　his　own　making；　his　father　had　been　a　very
successful　flax…merchant　in　the　same　place；　where　the　trade　was
still　carried　on　as　briskly　as　the　small　capacities　of　its　quarters
would　allow。　　Having　acquired　a　fair　fortune；　old　Mr。　Barnet　had
retired　from　business；　bringing　up　his　son　as　a　gentleman…burgher；
and；　it　must　be　added；　as　a　well…educated；　liberal…minded　young　man。

'How　is　Mrs。　Barnet？'　asked　Downe。

'Mrs。　Barnet　was　very　well　when　I　left　home；'　the　other　answered
constrainedly；　exchanging　his　meditative　regard　of　the　horse　for　one
of　self…consciousness。

Mr。　Downe　seemed　to　regret　his　inquiry；　and　immediately　took　up
another　thread　of　conversation。　　He　congratulated　his　friend　on　his
election　as　a　council…man；　he　thought　he　had　not　seen　him　since　that
event　took　place；　Mrs。　Downe　had　meant　to　call　and　congratulate　Mrs。
Barnet；　but　he　feared　that　she　had　failed　to　do　so　as　yet。

Barnet　seemed　hampered　in　his　replies。　　'WE　should　have　been　glad　to
see　you。　　Imy　wife　would　welcome　Mrs。　Downe　at　any　time；　as　you
know　。　。　。　Yes；　I　am　a　member　of　the　corporationrather　an
inexperienced　member；　some　of　them　say。　　It　is　quite　true；　and　I
should　have　declined　the　honour　as　prematurehaving　other　things　on
my　hands　just　now；　tooif　it　had　not　been　pressed　upon　me　so　very
heartily。'

'There　is　one　thing　you　have　on　your　hands　which　I　can　never　quite
see　the　necessity