wessex tales-第6章

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held　the　lock　of　hair　against　the　child's　head；　and　set　up　the
photograph　on　the　table　behind；　so　that　he　could　closely　compare　the
features　each　countenance　presented。　　There　were　undoubtedly　strong
traces　of　resemblance；　the　dreamy　and　peculiar　expression　of　the
poet's　face　sat；　as　the　transmitted　idea；　upon　the　child's；　and　the
hair　was　of　the　same　hue。

'I'm　damned　if　I　didn't　think　so！'　murmured　Marchmill。　　'Then　she
DID　play　me　false　with　that　fellow　at　the　lodgings！　　Let　me　see：
the　datesthe　second　week　in　August　。　。　。　the　third　week　in　May　。　。
。　Yes　。　。　。　yes　。　。　。　Get　away；　you　poor　little　brat！　　You　are
nothing　to　me！'

1893。




THE　THREE　STRANGERS




Among　the　few　features　of　agricultural　England　which　retain　an
appearance　but　little　modified　by　the　lapse　of　centuries；　may　be
reckoned　the　high；　grassy　and　furzy　downs；　coombs；　or　ewe…leases；　as
they　are　indifferently　called；　that　fill　a　large　area　of　certain
counties　in　the　south　and　south…west。　　If　any　mark　of　human
occupation　is　met　with　hereon；　it　usually　takes　the　form　of　the
solitary　cottage　of　some　shepherd。

Fifty　years　ago　such　a　lonely　cottage　stood　on　such　a　down；　and　may
possibly　be　standing　there　now。　　In　spite　of　its　loneliness；
however；　the　spot；　by　actual　measurement；　was　not　more　than　five
miles　from　a　county…town。　　Yet　that　affected　it　little。　　Five　miles
of　irregular　upland；　during　the　long　inimical　seasons；　with　their
sleets；　snows；　rains；　and　mists；　afford　withdrawing　space　enough　to
isolate　a　Timon　or　a　Nebuchadnezzar；　much　less；　in　fair　weather；　to
please　that　less　repellent　tribe；　the　poets；　philosophers；　artists；
and　others　who　'conceive　and　meditate　of　pleasant　things。'

Some　old　earthen　camp　or　barrow；　some　clump　of　trees；　at　least　some
starved　fragment　of　ancient　hedge　is　usually　taken　advantage　of　in
the　erection　of　these　forlorn　dwellings。　　But；　in　the　present　case；
such　a　kind　of　shelter　had　been　disregarded。　　Higher　Crowstairs；　as
the　house　was　called；　stood　quite　detached　and　undefended。　　The　only
reason　for　its　precise　situation　seemed　to　be　the　crossing　of　two
footpaths　at　right　angles　hard　by；　which　may　have　crossed　there　and
thus　for　a　good　five　hundred　years。　　Hence　the　house　was　exposed　to
the　elements　on　all　sides。　　But；　though　the　wind　up　here　blew
unmistakably　when　it　did　blow；　and　the　rain　hit　hard　whenever　it
fell；　the　various　weathers　of　the　winter　season　were　not　quite　so
formidable　on　the　coomb　as　they　were　imagined　to　be　by　dwellers　on
low　ground。　　The　raw　rimes　were　not　so　pernicious　as　in　the　hollows；
and　the　frosts　were　scarcely　so　severe。　　When　the　shepherd　and　his
family　who　tenanted　the　house　were　pitied　for　their　sufferings　from
the　exposure；　they　said　that　upon　the　whole　they　were　less
inconvenienced　by　'wuzzes　and　flames'　（hoarses　and　phlegms）　than
when　they　had　lived　by　the　stream　of　a　snug　neighbouring　valley。

The　night　of　March　28；　182…；　was　precisely　one　of　the　nights　that
were　wont　to　call　forth　these　expressions　of　commiseration。　　The
level　rainstorm　smote　walls；　slopes；　and　hedges　like　the　clothyard
shafts　of　Senlac　and　Crecy。　　Such　sheep　and　outdoor　animals　as　had
no　shelter　stood　with　their　buttocks　to　the　winds；　while　the　tails
of　little　birds　trying　to　roost　on　some　scraggy　thorn　were　blown
inside…out　like　umbrellas。　　The　gable…end　of　the　cottage　was　stained
with　wet；　and　the　eavesdroppings　flapped　against　the　wall。　　Yet
never　was　commiseration　for　the　shepherd　more　misplaced。　　For　that
cheerful　rustic　was　entertaining　a　large　party　in　glorification　of
the　christening　of　his　second　girl。

The　guests　had　arrived　before　the　rain　began　to　fall；　and　they　were
all　now　assembled　in　the　chief　or　living　room　of　the　dwelling。　　A
glance　into　the　apartment　at　eight　o'clock　on　this　eventful　evening
would　have　resulted　in　the　opinion　that　it　was　as　cosy　and
comfortable　a　nook　as　could　be　wished　for　in　boisterous　weather。
The　calling　of　its　inhabitant　was　proclaimed　by　a　number　of　highly…
polished　sheep…crooks　without　stems　that　were　hung　ornamentally　over
the　fireplace；　the　curl　of　each　shining　crook　varying　from　the
antiquated　type　engraved　in　the　patriarchal　pictures　of　old　family
Bibles　to　the　most　approved　fashion　of　the　last　local　sheep…fair。
The　room　was　lighted　by　half…a…dozen　candles；　having　wicks　only　a
trifle　smaller　than　the　grease　which　enveloped　them；　in　candlesticks
that　were　never　used　but　at　high…days；　holy…days；　and　family　feasts。
The　lights　were　scattered　about　the　room；　two　of　them　standing　on
the　chimney…piece。　　This　position　of　candles　was　in　itself
significant。　　Candles　on　the　chimney…piece　always　meant　a　party。

On　the　hearth；　in　front　of　a　back…brand　to　give　substance；　blazed　a
fire　of　thorns；　that　crackled　'like　the　laughter　of　the　fool。'

Nineteen　persons　were　gathered　here。　　Of　these；　five　women；　wearing
gowns　of　various　bright　hues；　sat　in　chairs　along　the　wall；　girls
shy　and　not　shy　filled　the　window…bench；　four　men；　including　Charley
Jake　the　hedge…carpenter；　Elijah　New　the　parish…clerk；　and　John
Pitcher；　a　neighbouring　dairyman；　the　shepherd's　father…in…law；
lolled　in　the　settle；　a　young　man　and　maid；　who　were　blushing　over
tentative　pourparlers　on　a　life…companionship；　sat　beneath　the
corner…cupboard；　and　an　elderly　engaged　man　of　fifty　or　upward　moved
restlessly　about　from　spots　where　his　betrothed　was　not　to　the　spot
where　she　was。　　Enjoyment　was　pretty　general；　and　so　much　the　more
prevailed　in　being　unhampered　by　conventional　restrictions。
Absolute　confidence　in　each　other's　good　opinion　begat　perfect　ease；
while　the　finishing　stroke　of　manner；　amounting　to　a　truly　princely
serenity；　was　lent　to　the　majority　by　the　absence　of　any　expression
or　trait　denoting　that　they　wished　to　get　on　in　the　world；　enlarge
their　minds；　or　do　any　eclipsing　thing　whateverwhich　nowadays　so
generally　nips　the　bloom　and　bonhomie　of　all　except　the　two　extremes
of　the　social　scale。

Shepherd　Fennel　had　married　well；　his　wife　being　a　dairyman's
daughter　from　a　vale　at　a　distance；　who　brought　fifty　guineas　in　her
pocketand　kept　them　there；　till　they　should　be　required　for
ministering　to　the　needs　of　a　coming　family。　　This　frugal　woman　had
been　somewhat　exercised　as　to　the　character　that　should　be　given　to
the　gathering。　　A　sit…still　party　had　its　advantages；　but　an
undisturbed　position　of　ease　in　chairs　and　settles　was　apt　to　lead
on　the　men　to　such　an　unconscionable　deal　of　toping　that　they　would
sometimes　fairly　drink　the　house　dry。　　A　dancing…party　was　the
alternative；　but　this；　while　avoiding　the　foregoing　objection　on　the
score　of　good　drink；　had　a　counterbalancing　disadvantage　in　the
matter　of　good　victuals；　the　ravenous　appetites　engendered　by　the
exercise　causing　immense　havoc　in　the　buttery。　　Shepherdess　Fennel
fell　back　upon　the　intermediate　plan　of　mingling　short　dances　with
short　periods　of　talk　and　singing；　so　as　to　hinder　any　ungovernable
rage　in　either。　　But　this　scheme　was　entirely　confined　to　her　own
gentle　mind：　　the　shepherd　himself　was　in　the　mood　to　exhibit　the
most　reckless　phases　of　hospitality。

The　fiddler　was　a　boy　of　those　parts；　about　twelve　years　of　age；　who
had　a　wonderful　dexterity　in　jigs　and　reels；　though　his　fingers　were
so　small　and　short　as　to　necessitate　a　constant　shifting　for　the
high　notes；　from　which　he　scrambled　back　to　the　first　position　with
sounds　not　of　unmixed　purity　of　tone。　　At　seven　the　shrill　tweedle…
dee　of　this　youngster　had　begun；　accompanied　by　a　booming　ground…
bass　from　Elijah　New；　the　parish…clerk；　who　had　thoughtfully　brought
with　him　his　favourite　musical　instrument；　the　serpent。　　Dancing　was
instantaneous；　Mrs。　Fennel　privately　enjoining　the　players　on　no
account　to　let　the　dance　exceed　the　length　of　a　quarter　of　an　hour。

But　Elijah　and　the　boy；　in　the　excitement　of　their　position；　quite
forgot　the　injunction。　　Moreover；　Oliver　Giles；　a　man　of　seventeen；
one　of　the　dancers；　who　was　enamoured　of　his　partner；　a　fair　girl　of
thirty…three　rolling　years；　had　recklessly　handed　a　new　crown…piece
to　the　musicians；　as　a　bribe　to　keep　going　as　long　as　they　had
muscle　and　wind。　　Mrs。　Fennel；　seeing　the　steam　begin　to　generate　on
the　countenances　of　her　guests；　crossed　over　and　touched　the
fiddler's　elbow　and　put　her　hand　on　the　serpent's　mouth。　　But　they
took　no　notice；　and　fearing　she　might　lose　her　character　of　genial
hostess　if　she　were　to　interfere　too　markedly；　she　retired　and　sat
down　helpless。　　And　so　the　dance　whizzed　on　with　cumulative　fury；
the　performers　moving　in　their　planet…like　courses；　direct　and
retrograde；　from　apogee　to　perigee；　till　the　hand　of　the　well…kicked
clock　at　the　bottom　of　the　room　had　travelled　over　the　circumference
of　an　hour。

While　these　cheerful　events　were　in　course　of　enactment　within
Fennel's　pastoral　dwelling；　an　incident　having　considerable　bearing
on　the　party　had　occurred　in　the　gloomy　night　without。　　Mrs。
Fennel's　concern　about　the　growing　fierceness　of　the　dance
corresponded　in　point　of　time　with　the　ascent　of　a　human　figure　to
the　solitary　hill　of　Higher　Crowstairs　from　the　direction　of　the
distant　town。　　This　personage　strode　on　through　the　rain　without　a
pause；　following　the　little…worn　path　which；　further　on　in　its
course；　skirted　the　shepherd's　cottage。

It　was　nearly　the　time　of　full　moon；　and　on　this　account；　though　the
sky　was　lined　with　a　uniform　sheet　of　dripping　cloud；　ordinary
objects　out　of　doors　were　readily　visible。　　The　sad　wan　light
revealed　the　lonely　pedestrian　to　be　a　man　of　supple　frame；　his　gait
suggested　that　he　had　somewhat　passed　the　period　of　perfect　and
instinctive　agility；　though　not　so　far　as　to　be　otherwise　than　rapid
of　motion　when　occasion　required。　　At　a　rough　guess；　he　might　have
been　about　forty　years　of　age。　　He　appeared　tall；　but　a　recruiting
sergeant；　or　other　person　accustomed　to　the　judging　of　men's　heights
by　the　eye；　would　have　discerned　that　this　was　chiefly　owing　to　his
gauntness；　and　that　he　was　not　more　than　five…feet…eight　or　nine。

Notwithstanding　the　regularity　of　his　tread；　there　was　caution　in
it；　as　in　that　of　one　who　mentally　feels　his　way；　and　despite　the
fact　that　it　was　not　a　black　coat　nor　a　dark　garment　of　any　sort
that　he　wore；　there　was　something　about　him　which　suggested　that　he
naturally　belonged　to　the　black…coated　tribes　of　men。　　His　clothes
were　of　fustian；　and　his　boots　hobnailed；　yet　in　his　progress　he
showed　not　the　mud…accustomed　bearing　of　hobnailed　and　fustianed
peasantry。

By　the　time　that　he　had　arrived　abreast　of　the　shepherd's　premises
the　rain　came　down；　or　rather　came　along；　with　yet　more　determined
violence。　　The　outskirts　of　the　little　settlement　partially　broke
the　force　of　wind　and　rain；　and　this　induced　him　to　stand　still。
The　most　salient　of　the　shepherd's　domestic　erections　was　an　empty
sty　at　the　forward　corner　of　his　hedgeless　garden；　for　in　these
latitudes　the　principle　of　masking　the　homelier　features　of　your
establishment　by　a　conventional　frontage　was　unknown。　　The
traveller's　eye　was　attracted　to　this　small　building　by　the　pallid
shine　of　the　wet　slates　that　covered　it。　　He　turned　aside；　and；
finding　it　empty；　stood　under　the　pent…roof　for　she