wessex tales-第27章

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murmured。　　'Why；　indeed；　should　I　have　come　to…night？　　Such　folk　as
I　are　not　wanted　here　at　these　times；　naturally。　　And　I　have　no
business　herespoiling　other　people's　happiness。'

'Phil；'　said　his　mother；　with　a　tear　in　her　eye；　but　with　a　thinness
of　lip　and　severity　of　manner　which　were　presumably　not　more　than
past　events　justified；　'since　you　speak　like　that　to　me；　I'll　speak
honestly　to　you。　　For　these　three　years　you　have　taken　no　thought
for　us。　　You　left　home　with　a　good　supply　of　money；　and　strength　and
education；　and　you　ought　to　have　made　good　use　of　it　all。　　But　you
come　back　like　a　beggar；　and　that　you　come　in　a　very　awkward　time
for　us　cannot　be　denied。　　Your　return　to…night　may　do　us　much　harm。
But　mindyou　are　welcome　to　this　home　as　long　as　it　is　mine。　　I
don't　wish　to　turn　you　adrift。　　We　will　make　the　best　of　a　bad　job；
and　I　hope　you　are　not　seriously　ill？'

'O　no。　　I　have　only　this　infernal　cough。'

She　looked　at　him　anxiously。　　'I　think　you　had　better　go　to　bed　at
once；'　she　said。

'WellI　shall　be　out　of　the　way　there；'　said　the　son　wearily。
'Having　ruined　myself；　don't　let　me　ruin　you　by　being　seen　in　these
togs；　for　Heaven's　sake。　　Who　do　you　say　Sally　is　going　to　be
married　toa　Farmer　Darton？'

'Yesa　gentleman…farmerquite　a　wealthy　man。　　Far　better　in
station　than　she　could　have　expected。　　It　is　a　good　thing；
altogether。'

'Well　done；　little　Sal！'　said　her　brother；　brightening　and　looking
up　at　her　with　a　smile。　　'I　ought　to　have　written；　but　perhaps　I
have　thought　of　you　all　the　more。　　But　let　me　get　out　of　sight。　　I
would　rather　go　and　jump　into　the　river　than　be　seen　here。　　But　have
you　anything　I　can　drink？　　I　am　confoundedly　thirsty　with　my　long
tramp。'

'Yes；　yes；　we　will　bring　something　upstairs　to　you；'　said　Sally；
with　grief　in　her　face。

'Ay；　that　will　do　nicely。　　But；　Sally　and　mother'　　He　stopped；　and
they　waited。　　'Mother；　I　have　not　told　you　all；'　he　resumed　slowly；
still　looking　on　the　floor　between　his　knees。　　'Sad　as　what　you　see
of　me　is；　there's　worse　behind。'

His　mother　gazed　upon　him　in　grieved　suspense；　and　Sally　went　and
leant　upon　the　bureau；　listening　for　every　sound；　and　sighing。
Suddenly　she　turned　round；　saying；　'Let　them　come；　I　don't　care！
Philip；　tell　the　worst；　and　take　your　time。'

'Well；　then；'　said　the　unhappy　Phil；　'I　am　not　the　only　one　in　this
mess。　　Would　to　Heaven　I　were！　　But'

'O；　Phil！'

'I　have　a　wife　as　destitute　as　I。'

'A　wife？'　said　his　mother。

'Unhappily！'

'A　wife！　　Yes；　that　is　the　way　with　sons！'

'And　besides'　said　he。

'Besides！　　O；　Philip；　surely'

'I　have　two　little　children。'

'Wife　and　children！'　whispered　Mrs。　Hall；　sinking　down　confounded。

'Poor　little　things！'　said　Sally　involuntarily。

His　mother　turned　again　to　him。　　'I　suppose　these　helpless　beings
are　left　in　Australia？'

'No。　　They　are　in　England。'

'Well；　I　can　only　hope　you've　left　them　in　a　respectable　place。'

'I　have　not　left　them　at　all。　　They　are　herewithin　a　few　yards　of
us。　　In　short；　they　are　in　the　stable。'

'Where？'

'In　the　stable。　　I　did　not　like　to　bring　them　indoors　till　I　had
seen　you；　mother；　and　broken　the　bad　news　a　bit　to　you。　　They　were
very　tired；　and　are　resting　out　there　on　some　straw。'

Mrs。　Hall's　fortitude　visibly　broke　down。　　She　had　been　brought　up
not　without　refinement；　and　was　even　more　moved　by　such　a　collapse
of　genteel　aims　as　this　than　a　substantial　dairyman's　widow　would　in
ordinary　have　been　moved。　　'Well；　it　must　be　borne；'　she　said；　in　a
low　voice；　with　her　hands　tightly　joined。　　'A　starving　son；　a
starving　wife；　starving　children！　　Let　it　be。　　But　why　is　this　come
to　us　now；　to…day；　to…night？　　Could　no　other　misfortune　happen　to
helpless　women　than　this；　which　will　quite　upset　my　poor　girl's
chance　of　a　happy　life？　　Why　have　you　done　us　this　wrong；　Philip？
What　respectable　man　will　come　here；　and　marry　open…eyed　into　a
family　of　vagabonds？'

'Nonsense；　mother！'　said　Sally　vehemently；　while　her　face　flushed。
'Charley　isn't　the　man　to　desert　me。　　But　if　he　should　be；　and　won't
marry　me　because　Phil's　come；　let　him　go　and　marry　elsewhere。　　I
won't　be　ashamed　of　my　own　flesh　and　blood　for　any　man　in　England
not　I！'　　And　then　Sally　turned　away　and　burst　into　tears。

'Wait　till　you　are　twenty　years　older　and　you　will　tell　a　different
tale；'　replied　her　mother。

The　son　stood　up。　　'Mother；'　he　said　bitterly；　'as　I　have　come；　so　I
will　go。　　All　I　ask　of　you　is　that　you　will　allow　me　and　mine　to　lie
in　your　stable　to…night。　　I　give　you　my　word　that　we'll　be　gone　by
break　of　day；　and　trouble　you　no　further！'

Mrs。　Hall；　the　mother；　changed　at　that。　　'O　no；'　she　answered
hastily；　'never　shall　it　be　said　that　I　sent　any　of　my　own　family
from　my　door。　　Bring　'em　in；　Philip；　or　take　me　out　to　them。'

'We　will　put　'em　all　into　the　large　bedroom；'　said　Sally；
brightening；　'and　make　up　a　large　fire。　　Let's　go　and　help　them　in；
and　call　Rebekah。'　　（Rebekah　was　the　woman　who　assisted　at　the　dairy
and　housework；　she　lived　in　a　cottage　hard　by　with　her　husband；　who
attended　to　the　cows。）

Sally　went　to　fetch　a　lantern　from　the　back…kitchen；　but　her　brother
said；　'You　won't　want　a　light。　　I　lit　the　lantern　that　was　hanging
there。'

'What　must　we　call　your　wife？'　asked　Mrs。　Hall。

'Helena；'　said　Philip。

With　shawls　over　their　heads　they　proceeded　towards　the　back　door。

'One　minute　before　you　go；'　interrupted　Philip。　　'II　haven't
confessed　all。'

'Then　Heaven　help　us！'　said　Mrs。　Hall；　pushing　to　the　door　and
clasping　her　hands　in　calm　despair。

'We　passed　through　Evershead　as　we　came；'　he　continued；　'and　I　just
looked　in　at　the　〃Sow…and…Acorn〃　to　see　if　old　Mike　still　kept　on
there　as　usual。　　The　carrier　had　come　in　from　Sherton　Abbas　at　that
moment；　and　guessing　that　I　was　bound　for　this　placefor　I　think　he
knew　mehe　asked　me　to　bring　on　a　dressmaker's　parcel　for　Sally
that　was　marked　〃immediate。〃　　My　wife　had　walked　on　with　the
children。　　'Twas　a　flimsy　parcel；　and　the　paper　was　torn；　and　I
found　on　looking　at　it　that　it　was　a　thick　warm　gown。　　I　didn't　wish
you　to　see　poor　Helena　in　a　shabby　state。　　I　was　ashamed　that　you
should'twas　not　what　she　was　born　to。　　I　untied　the　parcel　in　the
road；　took　it　on　to　her　where　she　was　waiting　in　the　Lower　Barn；　and
told　her　I　had　managed　to　get　it　for　her；　and　that　she　was　to　ask　no
question。　　She；　poor　thing；　must　have　supposed　I　obtained　it　on
trust；　through　having　reached　a　place　where　I　was　known；　for　she　put
it　on　gladly　enough。　　She　has　it　on　now。　　Sally　has　other　gowns；　I
daresay。'

Sally　looked　at　her　mother；　speechless。

'You　have　others；　I　daresay！'　repeated　Phil；　with　a　sick　man's
impatience。　　'I　thought　to　myself；　〃Better　Sally　cry　than　Helena
freeze。〃　　Well；　is　the　dress　of　great　consequence？　　'Twas　nothing
very　ornamental；　as　far　as　I　could　see。'

'Nono；　not　of　consequence；'　returned　Sally　sadly；　adding　in　a
gentle　voice；　'You　will　not　mind　if　I　lend　her　another　instead　of
that　one；　will　you？'

Philip's　agitation　at　the　confession　had　brought　on　another　attack
of　the　cough；　which　seemed　to　shake　him　to　pieces。　　He　was　so
obviously　unfit　to　sit　in　a　chair　that　they　helped　him　upstairs　at
once；　and　having　hastily　given　him　a　cordial　and　kindled　the　bedroom
fire；　they　descended　to　fetch　their　unhappy　new　relations。



CHAPTER　III



It　was　with　strange　feelings　that　the　girl　and　her　mother；　lately　so
cheerful；　passed　out　of　the　back　door　into　the　open　air　of　the
barton；　laden　with　hay　scents　and　the　herby　breath　of　cows。　　A　fine
sleet　had　begun　to　fall；　and　they　trotted　across　the　yard　quickly。
The　stable…door　was　open；　a　light　shone　from　itfrom　the　lantern
which　always　hung　there；　and　which　Philip　had　lighted；　as　he　said。
Softly　nearing　the　door；　Mrs。　Hall　pronounced　the　name　'Helena！'

There　was　no　answer　for　the　moment。　　Looking　in　she　was　taken　by
surprise。　　Two　people　appeared　before　her。　　For　one；　instead　of　the
drabbish　woman　she　had　expected；　Mrs。　Hall　saw　a　pale；　dark…eyed；
ladylike　creature；　whose　personality　ruled　her　attire　rather　than
was　ruled　by　it。　　She　was　in　a　new　and　handsome　gown；　of　course；　and
an　old　bonnet。　　She　was　standing　up；　agitated；　her　hand　was　held　by
her　companionnone　else　than　Sally's　affianced；　Farmer　Charles
Darton；　upon　whose　fine　figure　the　pale　stranger's　eyes　were　fixed；
as　his　were　fixed　upon　her。　　His　other　hand　held　the　rein　of　his
horse；　which　was　standing　saddled　as　if　just　led　in。

At　sight　of　Mrs。　Hall　they　both　turned；　looking　at　her　in　a　way
neither　quite　conscious　nor　unconscious；　and　without　seeming　to
recollect　that　words　were　necessary　as　a　solution　to　the　scene。　　In
another　moment　Sally　entered　also；　when　Mr。　Darton　dropped　his
companion's　hand；　led　the　horse　aside；　and　came　to　greet　his
betrothed　and　Mrs。　Hall。

'Ah！'　he　said；　smilingwith　something　like　forced　composure'this
is　a　roundabout　way　of　arriving；　you　will　say；　my　dear　Mrs。　Hall。
But　we　lost　our　way；　which　made　us　late。　　I　saw　a　light　here；　and
led　in　my　horse　at　oncemy　friend　Johns　and　my　man　have　gone　back
to　the　little　inn　with　theirs；　not　to　crowd　you　too　much。　　No　sooner
had　I　entered　than　I　saw　that　this　lady　had　taken　temporary　shelter
hereand　found　I　was　intruding。'

'She　is　my　daughter…in…law；'　said　Mrs。　Hall　calmly。　　'My　son；　too；
is　in　the　house；　but　he　has　gone　to　bed　unwell。'

Sally　had　stood　staring　wonderingly　at　the　scene　until　this　moment；
hardly　recognizing　Darton's　shake　of　the　hand。　　The　spell　that　bound
her　was　broken　by　her　perceiving　the　two　little　children　seated　on　a
heap　of　hay。　　She　suddenly　went　forward；　spoke　to　them；　and　took　one
on　her　arm　and　the　other　in　her　hand。

'And　two　children？'　said　Mr。　Darton；　showing　thus　that　he　had　not
been　there　long　enough　as　yet　to　understand　the　situation。

'My　grandchildren；'　said　Mrs。　Hall；　with　as　much　affected　ease　as
before。

Philip　Hall's　wife；　in　spite　of　this　interruption　to　her　first
rencounter；　seemed　scarcely　so　much　affected　by　it　as　to　feel　any
one's　presence　in　addition　to　Mr。　Darton's。　　However；　arousing
herself　by　a　quick　reflection；　she　threw　a　sudden　critical　glance　of
her　sad　eyes　upon　Mrs。　Hall；　and；　apparently　finding　her
satisfactory；　advanced　to　her　in　a　meek　initiative。　　Then　Sally　and
the　stranger　spoke　some　friendly　words　to　each　other；　and　Sally　went
on　with　the　children　into　the　house。　　Mrs。　Hall　and　Helena　followed；
and　Mr。　Darton　followed　these；　looking　at　Helena's　dress　and
outline；　and　listening　to　her　voice　like　a　man　in　a　dream。

By　the　time　the　others　reached　the　house　Sally　had　already　gone
upstairs　with　the　tired　children。　　She　rapped　against　the　wall　for
Rebekah　to　come　in　and　help　to　attend　to　them；　Rebekah's　house　being
a　little　'spit…and…dab'　cabin　leaning　against　the　substantial　stone…
work　of　Mrs。　Hall's　taller　erection。　　When　she　came　a　bed　was　made
up　for　the　little　ones；　and　some　supper　given　to　them。　　On
descending　the　stairs　after　seeing　this　done　Sally　went　to　the
sitting…room。　　Young　Mrs。　Hall　entered　it　just　in　advance　of　her；
having　in　the　interim　retired　with　her　mother…in…law　to　take　off　her
bonnet；　and　otherwise　make　herself　presentable。　　Hence　it　was
ev