wessex tales-第28章

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having　in　the　interim　retired　with　her　mother…in…law　to　take　off　her
bonnet；　and　otherwise　make　herself　presentable。　　Hence　it　was
evident　that　no　further　communication　could　have　passed　between　her
and　Mr。　Darton　since　their　brief　interview　in　the　stable。

Mr。　Japheth　Johns　now　opportunely　arrived；　and　broke　up　the
restraint　of　the　company；　after　a　few　orthodox　meteorological
commentaries　had　passed　between　him　and　Mrs。　Hall　by　way　of
introduction。　　They　at　once　sat　down　to　supper；　the　present　of　wine
and　turkey　not　being　produced　for　consumption　to…night；　lest　the
premature　display　of　those　gifts　should　seem　to　throw　doubt　on　Mrs。
Hall's　capacities　as　a　provider。

'Drink　hearty；　Mr。　Johnsdrink　hearty；'　said　that　matron
magnanimously。　　'Such　as　it　is　there's　plenty　of。　　But　perhaps
cider…wine　is　not　to　your　taste？though　there's　body　in　it。'

'Quite　the　contrairy；　ma'amquite　the　contrairy；'　said　the
dairyman。　　'For　though　I　inherit　the　malt…liquor　principle　from　my
father；　I　am　a　cider…drinker　on　my　mother's　side。　　She　came　from
these　parts；　you　know。　　And　there's　this　to　be　said　for't'tis　a
more　peaceful　liquor；　and　don't　lie　about　a　man　like　your　hotter
drinks。　　With　care；　one　may　live　on　it　a　twelvemonth　without
knocking　down　a　neighbour；　or　getting　a　black　eye　from　an　old
acquaintance。'

The　general　conversation　thus　begun　was　continued　briskly；　though　it
was　in　the　main　restricted　to　Mrs。　Hall　and　Japheth；　who　in　truth
required　but　little　help　from　anybody。　　There　being　slight　call　upon
Sally's　tongue；　she　had　ample　leisure　to　do　what　her　heart　most
desired；　namely；　watch　her　intended　husband　and　her　sister…in…law
with　a　view　of　elucidating　the　strange　momentary　scene　in　which　her
mother　and　herself　had　surprised　them　in　the　stable。　　If　that　scene
meant　anything；　it　meant；　at　least；　that　they　had　met　before。　　That
there　had　been　no　time　for　explanations　Sally　could　see；　for　their
manner　was　still　one　of　suppressed　amazement　at　each　other's
presence　there。　　Darton's　eyes；　too；　fell　continually　on　the　gown
worn　by　Helena　as　if　this　were　an　added　riddle　to　his　perplexity；
though　to　Sally　it　was　the　one　feature　in　the　case　which　was　no
mystery。　　He　seemed　to　feel　that　fate　had　impishly　changed　his　vis…
a…vis　in　the　lover's　jig　he　was　about　to　foot；　that　while　the　gown
had　been　expected　to　enclose　a　Sally；　a　Helena's　face　looked　out
from　the　bodice；　that　some　long…lost　hand　met　his　own　from　the
sleeves。

Sally　could　see　that　whatever　Helena　might　know　of　Darton；　she　knew
nothing　of　how　the　dress　entered　into　his　embarrassment。　　And　at
moments　the　young　girl　would　have　persuaded　herself　that　Darton's
looks　at　her　sister…in…law　were　entirely　the　fruit　of　the　clothes
query。　　But　surely　at　other　times　a　more　extensive　range　of
speculation　and　sentiment　was　expressed　by　her　lover's　eye　than　that
which　the　changed　dress　would　account　for。

Sally's　independence　made　her　one　of　the　least　jealous　of　women。
But　there　was　something　in　the　relations　of　these　two　visitors　which
ought　to　be　explained。

Japheth　Johns　continued　to　converse　in　his　well…known　style；
interspersing　his　talk　with　some　private　reflections　on　the　position
of　Darton　and　Sally；　which；　though　the　sparkle　in　his　eye　showed
them　to　be　highly　entertaining　to　himself；　were　apparently　not　quite
communicable　to　the　company。　　At　last　he　withdrew　for　the　night；
going　off　to　the　roadside　inn　half…a…mile　back；　whither　Darton
promised　to　follow　him　in　a　few　minutes。

Half…an…hour　passed；　and　then　Mr。　Darton　also　rose　to　leave；　Sally
and　her　sister…in…law　simultaneously　wishing　him　good…night　as　they
retired　upstairs　to　their　rooms。　　But　on　his　arriving　at　the　front
door　with　Mrs。　Hall　a　sharp　shower　of　rain　began　to　come　down；　when
the　widow　suggested　that　he　should　return　to　the　fire…side　till　the
storm　ceased。

Darton　accepted　her　proposal；　but　insisted　that；　as　it　was　getting
late；　and　she　was　obviously　tired；　she　should　not　sit　up　on　his
account；　since　he　could　let　himself　out　of　the　house；　and　would
quite　enjoy　smoking　a　pipe　by　the　hearth　alone。　　Mrs。　Hall　assented；
and　Darton　was　left　by　himself。　　He　spread　his　knees　to　the　brands；
lit　up　his　tobacco　as　he　had　said；　and　sat　gazing　into　the　fire；　and
at　the　notches　of　the　chimney…crook　which　hung　above。

An　occasional　drop　of　rain　rolled　down　the　chimney　with　a　hiss；　and
still　he　smoked　on；　but　not　like　a　man　whose　mind　was　at　rest。　　In
the　long　run；　however；　despite　his　meditations；　early　hours　afield
and　a　long　ride　in　the　open　air　produced　their　natural　result。　　He
began　to　doze。

How　long　he　remained　in　this　half…unconscious　state　he　did　not　know。
He　suddenly　opened　his　eyes。　　The　back…brand　had　burnt　itself　in
two；　and　ceased　to　flame；　the　light　which　he　had　placed　on　the
mantelpiece　had　nearly　gone　out。　　But　in　spite　of　these　deficiencies
there　was　a　light　in　the　apartment；　and　it　came　from　elsewhere。
Turning　his　head　he　saw　Philip　Hall's　wife　standing　at　the　entrance
of　the　room　with　a　bed…candle　in　one　hand；　a　small　brass　tea…kettle
in　the　other；　and　HIS　gown；　as　it　certainly　seemed；　still　upon　her。

'Helena！'　said　Darton；　starting　up。

Her　countenance　expressed　dismay；　and　her　first　words　were　an
apology。　　'Idid　not　know　you　were　here；　Mr。　Darton；'　she　said；
while　a　blush　flashed　to　her　cheek。　　'I　thought　every　one　had
retiredI　was　coming　to　make　a　little　water　boil；　my　husband　seems
to　be　worse。　　But　perhaps　the　kitchen　fire　can　be　lighted　up　again。'

'Don't　go　on　my　account。　　By　all　means　put　it　on　here　as　you
intended；'　said　Darton。　　'Allow　me　to　help　you。'　　He　went　forward　to
take　the　kettle　from　her　hand；　but　she　did　not　allow　him；　and　placed
it　on　the　fire　herself。

They　stood　some　way　apart；　one　on　each　side　of　the　fireplace；
waiting　till　the　water　should　boil；　the　candle　on　the　mantel　between
them；　and　Helena　with　her　eyes　on　the　kettle。　　Darton　was　the　first
to　break　the　silence。　　'Shall　I　call　Sally？'　he　said。

'O　no；'　she　quickly　returned。　　'We　have　given　trouble　enough
already。　　We　have　no　right　here。　　But　we　are　the　sport　of　fate；　and
were　obliged　to　come。'

'No　right　here！'　said　he　in　surprise。

'None。　　I　can't　explain　it　now；'　answered　Helena。　　'This　kettle　is
very　slow。'

There　was　another　pause；　the　proverbial　dilatoriness　of　watched　pots
was　never　more　clearly　exemplified。

Helena's　face　was　of　that　sort　which　seems　to　ask　for　assistance
without　the　owner's　knowledgethe　very　antipodes　of　Sally's；　which
was　self…reliance　expressed。　　Darton's　eyes　travelled　from　the
kettle　to　Helena's　face；　then　back　to　the　kettle；　then　to　the　face
for　rather　a　longer　time。　　'So　I　am　not　to　know　anything　of　the
mystery　that　has　distracted　me　all　the　evening？'　he　said。　　'How　is
it　that　a　woman；　who　refused　me　because　（as　I　supposed）　my　position
was　not　good　enough　for　her　taste；　is　found　to　be　the　wife　of　a　man
who　certainly　seems　to　be　worse　off　than　I？'

'He　had　the　prior　claim；'　said　she。

'What！　you　knew　him　at　that　time？'

'Yes；　yes！　　Please　say　no　more；'　she　implored。

'Whatever　my　errors；　I　have　paid　for　them　during　the　last　five
years！'

The　heart　of　Darton　was　subject　to　sudden　overflowings。　　He　was　kind
to　a　fault。　　'I　am　sorry　from　my　soul；'　he　said；　involuntarily
approaching　her。　　Helena　withdrew　a　step　or　two；　at　which　he　became
conscious　of　his　movement；　and　quickly　took　his　former　place。　　Here
he　stood　without　speaking；　and　the　little　kettle　began　to　sing。

'Well；　you　might　have　been　my　wife　if　you　had　chosen；'　he　said　at
last。　　'But　that's　all　past　and　gone。　　However；　if　you　are　in　any
trouble　or　poverty　I　shall　be　glad　to　be　of　service；　and　as　your
relation　by　marriage　I　shall　have　a　right　to　be。　　Does　your　uncle
know　of　your　distress？'

'My　uncle　is　dead。　　He　left　me　without　a　farthing。　　And　now　we　have
two　children　to　maintain。'

'What；　left　you　nothing？　　How　could　he　be　so　cruel　as　that？'

'I　disgraced　myself　in　his　eyes。'

'Now；'　said　Darton　earnestly；　'let　me　take　care　of　the　children；　at
least　while　you　are　so　unsettled。　　YOU　belong　to　another；　so　I
cannot　take　care　of　you。'

'Yes　you　can；'　said　a　voice；　and　suddenly　a　third　figure　stood
beside　them。　　It　was　Sally。　　'You　can；　since　you　seem　to　wish　to？'
she　repeated。　　'She　no　longer　belongs　to　another　。　。　。　My　poor
brother　is　dead！'

Her　face　was　red；　her　eyes　sparkled；　and　all　the　woman　came　to　the
front。　　'I　have　heard　it！'　she　went　on　to　him　passionately。　　'You
can　protect　her　now　as　well　as　the　children！'　　She　turned　then　to
her　agitated　sister…in…law。　　'I　heard　something；'　said　Sally　（in　a
gentle　murmur；　differing　much　from　her　previous　passionate　words）；
'and　I　went　into　his　room。　　It　must　have　been　the　moment　you　left。
He　went　off　so　quickly；　and　weakly；　and　it　was　so　unexpected；　that　I
couldn't　leave　even　to　call　you。'

Darton　was　just　able　to　gather　from　the　confused　discourse　which
followed　that；　during　his　sleep　by　the　fire；　this　brother　whom　he
had　never　seen　had　become　worse；　and　that　during　Helena's　absence
for　water　the　end　had　unexpectedly　come。　　The　two　young　women
hastened　upstairs；　and　he　was　again　left　alone。


After　standing　there　a　short　time　he　went　to　the　front　door　and
looked　out；　till；　softly　closing　it　behind　him；　he　advanced　and
stood　under　the　large　sycamore…tree。　　The　stars　were　flickering
coldly；　and　the　dampness　which　had　just　descended　upon　the　earth　in
rain　now　sent　up　a　chill　from　it。　　Darton　was　in　a　strange　position；
and　he　felt　it。　　The　unexpected　appearance；　in　deep　poverty；　of
Helenaa　young　lady；　daughter　of　a　deceased　naval　officer；　who　had
been　brought　up　by　her　uncle；　a　solicitor；　and　had　refused　Darton　in
marriage　years　agothe　passionate；　almost　angry　demeanour　of　Sally
at　discovering　them；　the　abrupt　announcement　that　Helena　was　a
widow；　all　this　coming　together　was　a　conjuncture　difficult　to　cope
with　in　a　moment；　and　made　him　question　whether　he　ought　to　leave
the　house　or　offer　assistance。　　But　for　Sally's　manner　he　would
unhesitatingly　have　done　the　latter。

He　was　still　standing　under　the　tree　when　the　door　in　front　of　him
opened；　and　Mrs。　Hall　came　out。　　She　went　round　to　the　garden…gate
at　the　side　without　seeing　him。　　Darton　followed　her；　intending　to
speak。

Pausing　outside；　as　if　in　thought；　she　proceeded　to　a　spot　where　the
sun　came　earliest　in　spring…time；　and　where　the　north　wind　never
blew；　it　was　where　the　row　of　beehives　stood　under　the　wall。
Discerning　her　object；　he　waited　till　she　had　accomplished　it。

It　was　the　universal　custom　thereabout　to　wake　the　bees　by　tapping
at　their　hives　whenever　a　death　occurred　in　the　household；　under　the
belief　that　if　this　were　not　done　the　bees　themselves　would　pine
away　and　perish　during　the　ensuing　year。　　As　soon　as　an　interior
buzzing　responded　to　her　tap　at　the　first　hive　Mrs。　Hall　went　on　to
the　second；　and　thus　passed　down　the　row。　　As　soon　as　she　came　back
he　met　her。

'What　can　I　do　in　this　trouble；　Mrs。　Hall？'　he　said。

'Onothing；　thank　you；　nothing；'　she　said　in　a　tearful　voice；　now
just　perceiving　him。　　'We　have　called　Rebekah　and　her　husband；　and
they　will　do　everything　necessary。'　　She　told　him　in　a　few　words　the
particulars　of　her　s