wessex tales-第26章

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your　half…crown　to　see。'

'Well；　may　your　opinion　do　you　good。　　Mine's　a　different　one。'　　And
turning　the　conversation　from　the　philosophical　to　the　practical；
Darton　expressed　a　hope　that　the　said　Sally　had　received　what　he'd
sent　on　by　the　carrier　that　day。

Johns　wanted　to　know　what　that　was。

'It　is　a　dress；'　said　Darton。　　'Not　exactly　a　wedding…dress；　though
she　may　use　it　as　one　if　she　likes。　　It　is　rather　serviceable　than
showysuitable　for　the　winter　weather。'

'Good；'　said　Johns。　　'Serviceable　is　a　wise　word　in　a　bridegroom。　　I
commend　ye；　Charles。'

'For；'　said　Darton；　'why　should　a　woman　dress　up　like　a　rope…dancer
because　she's　going　to　do　the　most　solemn　deed　of　her　life　except
dying？'

'Faith；　why？　　But　she　will；　because　she　will；　I　suppose；'　said
Dairyman　Johns。

'H'm；'　said　Darton。

The　lane　they　followed　had　been　nearly　straight　for　several　miles；
but　it　now　took　a　turn；　and　winding　uncertainly　for　some　distance
forked　into　two。　　By　night　country　roads　are　apt　to　reveal　ungainly
qualities　which　pass　without　observation　during　day；　and　though
Darton　had　travelled　this　way　before；　he　had　not　done　so　frequently；
Sally　having　been　wooed　at　the　house　of　a　relative　near　his　own。　　He
never　remembered　seeing　at　this　spot　a　pair　of　alternative　ways
looking　so　equally　probable　as　these　two　did　now。　　Johns　rode　on　a
few　steps。

'Don't　be　out　of　heart；　sonny；'　he　cried。　　'Here's　a　handpost。
Enochcome　and　climm　this　post；　and　tell　us　the　way。'

The　lad　dismounted；　and　jumped　into　the　hedge　where　the　post　stood
under　a　tree。

'Unstrap　the　baskets；　or　you'll　smash　up　that　wine！'　cried　Darton；
as　the　young　man　began　spasmodically　to　climb　the　post；　baskets　and
all。

'Was　there　ever　less　head　in　a　brainless　world？'　said　Johns。　　'Here；
simple　Nocky；　I'll　do　it。'　　He　leapt　off；　and　with　much　puffing
climbed　the　post；　striking　a　match　when　he　reached　the　top；　and
moving　the　light　along　the　arm；　the　lad　standing　and　gazing　at　the
spectacle。

'I　have　faced　tantalization　these　twenty　years　with　a　temper　as　mild
as　milk！'　said　Japheth；　'but　such　things　as　this　don't　come　short　of
devilry！'　　And　flinging　the　match　away；　he　slipped　down　to　the
ground。

'What's　the　matter？'　asked　Darton。

'Not　a　letter；　sacred　or　heathennot　so　much　as　would　tell　us　the
way　to　the　great　fireplaceever　I　should　sin　to　say　it！　　Either　the
moss　and　mildew　have　eat　away　the　words；　or　we　have　arrived　in　a
land　where　the　natyves　have　lost　the　art　o'　writing；　and　should　ha'
brought　our　compass　like　Christopher　Columbus。'

'Let　us　take　the　straightest　road；'　said　Darton　placidly；　'I　shan't
be　sorry　to　get　there'tis　a　tiresome　ride。　　I　would　have　driven　if
I　had　known。'

'Nor　I　neither；　sir；'　said　Enoch。　　'These　straps　plough　my　shoulder
like　a　zull。　　If　'tis　much　further　to　your　lady's　home；　Maister
Darton；　I　shall　ask　to　be　let　carry　half　of　these　good　things　in　my
innerdshee；　hee！'

'Don't　you　be　such　a　reforming　radical；　Enoch；'　said　Johns　sternly。
'Here；　I'll　take　the　turkey。'

This　being　done；　they　went　forward　by　the　right…hand　lane；　which
ascended　a　hill；　the　left　winding　away　under　a　plantation。　　The　pit…
a…pat　of　their　horses'　hoofs　lessened　up　the　slope；　and　the　ironical
directing…post　stood　in　solitude　as　before；　holding　out　its　blank
arms　to　the　raw　breeze；　which　brought　a　snore　from　the　wood　as　if
Skrymir　the　Giant　were　sleeping　there。



CHAPTER　II



Three　miles　to　the　left　of　the　travellers；　along　the　road　they　had
not　followed；　rose　an　old　house　with　mullioned　windows　of　Ham…hill
stone；　and　chimneys　of　lavish　solidity。　　It　stood　at　the　top　of　a
slope　beside　King's…Hintock　village…street；　and　immediately　in　front
of　it　grew　a　large　sycamore…tree；　whose　bared　roots　formed　a
convenient　staircase　from　the　road　below　to　the　front　door　of　the
dwelling。　　Its　situation　gave　the　house　what　little　distinctive　name
it　possessed；　namely；　'The　Knap。'　　Some　forty　yards　off　a　brook
dribbled　past；　which；　for　its　size；　made　a　great　deal　of　noise。　　At
the　back　was　a　dairy　barton；　accessible　for　vehicles　and　live…stock
by　a　side　'drong。'　　Thus　much　only　of　the　character　of　the　homestead
could　be　divined　out　of　doors　at　this　shady　evening…time。

But　within　there　was　plenty　of　light　to　see　by；　as　plenty　was
construed　at　Hintock。　　Beside　a　Tudor　fireplace；　whose　moulded　four…
centred　arch　was　nearly　hidden　by　a　figured　blue…cloth　blower；　were
seated　two　womenmother　and　daughterMrs。　Hall；　and　Sarah；　or
Sally；　for　this　was　a　part　of　the　world　where　the　latter
modification　had　not　as　yet　been　effaced　as　a　vulgarity　by　the　march
of　intellect。　　The　owner　of　the　name　was　the　young　woman　by　whose
means　Mr。　Darton　proposed　to　put　an　end　to　his　bachelor　condition　on
the　approaching　day。

The　mother's　bereavement　had　been　so　long　ago　as　not　to　leave　much
mark　of　its　occurrence　upon　her　now；　either　in　face　or　clothes。　　She
had　resumed　the　mob…cap　of　her　early　married　life；　enlivening　its
whiteness　by　a　few　rose…du…Barry　ribbons。　　Sally　required　no　such
aids　to　pinkness。　　Roseate　good…nature　lit　up　her　gaze；　her　features
showed　curves　of　decision　and　judgment；　and　she　might　have　been
regarded　without　much　mistake　as　a　warm…hearted；　quick…spirited；
handsome　girl。

She　did　most　of　the　talking；　her　mother　listening　with　a　half…absent
air；　as　she　picked　up　fragments　of　red…hot　wood　ember　with　the
tongs；　and　piled　them　upon　the　brands。　　But　the　number　of　speeches
that　passed　was　very　small　in　proportion　to　the　meanings　exchanged。
Long　experience　together　often　enabled　them　to　see　the　course　of
thought　in　each　other's　minds　without　a　word　being　spoken。　　Behind
them；　in　the　centre　of　the　room；　the　table　was　spread　for　supper；
certain　whiffs　of　air　laden　with　fat　vapours；　which　ever　and　anon
entered　from　the　kitchen；　denoting　its　preparation　there。

'The　new　gown　he　was　going　to　send　you　stays　about　on　the　way　like
himself；'　Sally's　mother　was　saying。

'Yes；　not　finished；　I　daresay；'　cried　Sally　independently。　　'Lord；　I
shouldn't　be　amazed　if　it　didn't　come　at　all！　　Young　men　make　such
kind　promises　when　they　are　near　you；　and　forget　'em　when　they　go
away。　　But　he　doesn't　intend　it　as　a　wedding…gownhe　gives　it　to　me
merely　as　a　gown　to　wear　when　I　likea　travelling…dress　is　what　it
would　be　called　by　some。　　Come　rathe　or　come　late　it　don't　much
matter；　as　I　have　a　dress　of　my　own　to　fall　back　upon。　　But　what
time　is　it？'

She　went　to　the　family　clock　and　opened　the　glass；　for　the　hour　was
not　otherwise　discernible　by　night；　and　indeed　at　all　times　was
rather　a　thing　to　be　investigated　than　beheld；　so　much　more　wall
than　window　was　there　in　the　apartment。　　'It　is　nearly　eight；'　said
she。

'Eight　o'clock；　and　neither　dress　nor　man；'　said　Mrs。　Hall。

'Mother；　if　you　think　to　tantalize　me　by　talking　like　that；　you　are
much　mistaken！　　Let　him　be　as　late　as　he　willor　stay　away
altogetherI　don't　care；'　said　Sally。　　But　a　tender；　minute　quaver
in　the　negation　showed　that　there　was　something　forced　in　that
statement。

Mrs。　Hall　perceived　it；　and　drily　observed　that　she　was　not　so　sure
about　Sally　not　caring。　　'But　perhaps　you　don't　care　so　much　as　I
do；　after　all；'　she　said。　　'For　I　see　what　you　don't；　that　it　is　a
good　and　flourishing　match　for　you；　a　very　honourable　offer　in　Mr。
Darton。　　And　I　think　I　see　a　kind　husband　in　him。　　So　pray　God
'twill　go　smooth；　and　wind　up　well。'

Sally　would　not　listen　to　misgivings。　　Of　course　it　would　go
smoothly；　she　asserted。　　'How　you　are　up　and　down；　mother！'　she　went
on。　　'At　this　moment；　whatever　hinders　him；　we　are　not　so　anxious　to
see　him　as　he　is　to　be　here；　and　his　thought　runs　on　before　him；　and
settles　down　upon　us　like　the　star　in　the　east。　　Hark！'　she
exclaimed；　with　a　breath　of　relief；　her　eyes　sparkling。　　'I　heard
something。　　Yeshere　they　are！'

The　next　moment　her　mother's　slower　ear　also　distinguished　the
familiar　reverberation　occasioned　by　footsteps　clambering　up　the
roots　of　the　sycamore。

'Yes　it　sounds　like　them　at　last；'　she　said。　　'Well；　it　is　not　so
very　late　after　all；　considering　the　distance。'

The　footfall　ceased；　and　they　arose；　expecting　a　knock。　　They　began
to　think　it　might　have　been；　after　all；　some　neighbouring　villager
under　Bacchic　influence；　giving　the　centre　of　the　road　a　wide　berth；
when　their　doubts　were　dispelled　by　the　new…comer's　entry　into　the
passage。　　The　door　of　the　room　was　gently　opened；　and　there
appeared；　not　the　pair　of　travellers　with　whom　we　have　already　made
acquaintance；　but　a　pale…faced　man　in　the　garb　of　extreme　poverty
almost　in　rags。

'O；　it's　a　trampgracious　me！'　said　Sally；　starting　back。

His　cheeks　and　eye…orbits　were　deep　concavesrather；　it　might　be；
from　natural　weakness　of　constitution　than　irregular　living；　though
there　were　indications　that　he　had　led　no　careful　life。　　He　gazed　at
the　two　women　fixedly　for　a　moment：　　then　with　an　abashed；
humiliated　demeanour；　dropped　his　glance　to　the　floor；　and　sank　into
a　chair　without　uttering　a　word。

Sally　was　in　advance　of　her　mother；　who　had　remained　standing　by　the
fire。　　She　now　tried　to　discern　the　visitor　across　the　candles。

'Whymother；'　said　Sally　faintly；　turning　back　to　Mrs。　Hall。　　'It
is　Phil；　from　Australia！'

Mrs。　Hall　started；　and　grew　pale；　and　a　fit　of　coughing　seized　the
man　with　the　ragged　clothes。　　'To　come　home　like　this！'　she　said。
'O；　Philipare　you　ill？'

'No；　no；　mother；'　replied　he　impatiently；　as　soon　as　he　could　speak。

'But　for　God's　sake　how　do　you　come　hereand　just　now　too？'

'Well；　I　am　here；'　said　the　man。　　'How　it　is　I　hardly　know。　　I've
come　home；　mother；　because　I　was　driven　to　it。　　Things　were　against
me　out　there；　and　went　from　bad　to　worse。'

'Then　why　didn't　you　let　us　know？you've　not　writ　a　line　for　the
last　two　or　three　years。'

The　son　admitted　sadly　that　he　had　not。　　He　said　that　he　had　hoped
and　thought　he　might　fetch　up　again；　and　be　able　to　send　good　news。
Then　he　had　been　obliged　to　abandon　that　hope；　and　had　finally　come
home　from　sheer　necessitypreviously　to　making　a　new　start。　　'Yes；
things　are　very　bad　with　me；'　he　repeated；　perceiving　their
commiserating　glances　at　his　clothes。

They　brought　him　nearer　the　fire；　took　his　hat　from　his　thin　hand；
which　was　so　small　and　smooth　as　to　show　that　his　attempts　to　fetch
up　again　had　not　been　in　a　manual　direction。　　His　mother　resumed　her
inquiries；　and　dubiously　asked　if　he　had　chosen　to　come　that
particular　night　for　any　special　reason。

For　no　reason；　he　told　her。　　His　arrival　had　been　quite　at　random。
Then　Philip　Hall　looked　round　the　room；　and　saw　for　the　first　time
that　the　table　was　laid　somewhat　luxuriously；　and　for　a　larger
number　than　themselves；　and　that　an　air　of　festivity　pervaded　their
dress。　　He　asked　quickly　what　was　going　on。

'Sally　is　going　to　be　married　in　a　day　or　two；'　replied　the　mother；
and　she　explained　how　Mr。　Darton；　Sally's　intended　husband；　was
coming　there　that　night　with　the　groomsman；　Mr。　Johns；　and　other
details。　　'We　thought　it　must　be　their　step　when　we　heard　you；'　said
Mrs。　Hall。

The　needy　wanderer　looked　again　on　the　floor。　　'I　seeI　see；'　he
murmured。　　'Why；　indeed；　should　I　have　come　to…night？　　Such　folk