wessex tales-第7章

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shine　of　the　wet　slates　that　covered　it。　　He　turned　aside；　and；
finding　it　empty；　stood　under　the　pent…roof　for　shelter。

While　he　stood；　the　boom　of　the　serpent　within　the　adjacent　house；
and　the　lesser　strains　of　the　fiddler；　reached　the　spot　as　an
accompaniment　to　the　surging　hiss　of　the　flying　rain　on　the　sod；　its
louder　beating　on　the　cabbage…leaves　of　the　garden；　on　the　eight　or
ten　beehives　just　discernible　by　the　path；　and　its　dripping　from　the
eaves　into　a　row　of　buckets　and　pans　that　had　been　placed　under　the
walls　of　the　cottage。　　For　at　Higher　Crowstairs；　as　at　all　such
elevated　domiciles；　the　grand　difficulty　of　housekeeping　was　an
insufficiency　of　water；　and　a　casual　rainfall　was　utilized　by
turning　out；　as　catchers；　every　utensil　that　the　house　contained。
Some　queer　stories　might　be　told　of　the　contrivances　for　economy　in
suds　and　dish…waters　that　are　absolutely　necessitated　in　upland
habitations　during　the　droughts　of　summer。　　But　at　this　season　there
were　no　such　exigencies；　a　mere　acceptance　of　what　the　skies
bestowed　was　sufficient　for　an　abundant　store。

At　last　the　notes　of　the　serpent　ceased　and　the　house　was　silent。
This　cessation　of　activity　aroused　the　solitary　pedestrian　from　the
reverie　into　which　he　had　lapsed；　and；　emerging　from　the　shed；　with
an　apparently　new　intention；　he　walked　up　the　path　to　the　house…
door。　　Arrived　here；　his　first　act　was　to　kneel　down　on　a　large
stone　beside　the　row　of　vessels；　and　to　drink　a　copious　draught　from
one　of　them。　　Having　quenched　his　thirst　he　rose　and　lifted　his　hand
to　knock；　but　paused　with　his　eye　upon　the　panel。　　Since　the　dark
surface　of　the　wood　revealed　absolutely　nothing；　it　was　evident　that
he　must　be　mentally　looking　through　the　door；　as　if　he　wished　to
measure　thereby　all　the　possibilities　that　a　house　of　this　sort
might　include；　and　how　they　might　bear　upon　the　question　of　his
entry。

In　his　indecision　he　turned　and　surveyed　the　scene　around。　　Not　a
soul　was　anywhere　visible。　　The　garden…path　stretched　downward　from
his　feet；　gleaming　like　the　track　of　a　snail；　the　roof　of　the　little
well　（mostly　dry）；　the　well…cover；　the　top　rail　of　the　garden…gate；
were　varnished　with　the　same　dull　liquid　glaze；　while；　far　away　in
the　vale；　a　faint　whiteness　of　more　than　usual　extent　showed　that
the　rivers　were　high　in　the　meads。　　Beyond　all　this　winked　a　few
bleared　lamplights　through　the　beating　dropslights　that　denoted
the　situation　of　the　county…town　from　which　he　had　appeared　to　come。
The　absence　of　all　notes　of　life　in　that　direction　seemed　to　clinch
his　intentions；　and　he　knocked　at　the　door。

Within；　a　desultory　chat　had　taken　the　place　of　movement　and　musical
sound。　　The　hedge…carpenter　was　suggesting　a　song　to　the　company；
which　nobody　just　then　was　inclined　to　undertake；　so　that　the　knock
afforded　a　not　unwelcome　diversion。

'Walk　in！'　said　the　shepherd　promptly。

The　latch　clicked　upward；　and　out　of　the　night　our　pedestrian
appeared　upon　the　door…mat。　　The　shepherd　arose；　snuffed　two　of　the
nearest　candles；　and　turned　to　look　at　him。

Their　light　disclosed　that　the　stranger　was　dark　in　complexion　and
not　unprepossessing　as　to　feature。　　His　hat；　which　for　a　moment　he
did　not　remove；　hung　low　over　his　eyes；　without　concealing　that　they
were　large；　open；　and　determined；　moving　with　a　flash　rather　than　a
glance　round　the　room。　　He　seemed　pleased　with　his　survey；　and；
baring　his　shaggy　head；　said；　in　a　rich　deep　voice；　'The　rain　is　so
heavy；　friends；　that　I　ask　leave　to　come　in　and　rest　awhile。'

'To　be　sure；　stranger；'　said　the　shepherd。　　'And　faith；　you've　been
lucky　in　choosing　your　time；　for　we　are　having　a　bit　of　a　fling　for
a　glad　causethough；　to　be　sure；　a　man　could　hardly　wish　that　glad
cause　to　happen　more　than　once　a　year。'

'Nor　less；'　spoke　up　a　woman。　　'For　'tis　best　to　get　your　family
over　and　done　with；　as　soon　as　you　can；　so　as　to　be　all　the　earlier
out　of　the　fag　o't。'

'And　what　may　be　this　glad　cause？'　asked　the　stranger。

'A　birth　and　christening；'　said　the　shepherd。

The　stranger　hoped　his　host　might　not　be　made　unhappy　either　by　too
many　or　too　few　of　such　episodes；　and　being　invited　by　a　gesture　to
a　pull　at　the　mug；　he　readily　acquiesced。　　His　manner；　which；　before
entering；　had　been　so　dubious；　was　now　altogether　that　of　a　careless
and　candid　man。

'Late　to　be　traipsing　athwart　this　coombhey？'　said　the　engaged　man
of　fifty。

'Late　it　is；　master；　as　you　say。I'll　take　a　seat　in　the　chimney…
corner；　if　you　have　nothing　to　urge　against　it；　ma'am；　for　I　am　a
little　moist　on　the　side　that　was　next　the　rain。'

Mrs。　Shepherd　Fennel　assented；　and　made　room　for　the　self…invited
comer；　who；　having　got　completely　inside　the　chimney…corner；
stretched　out　his　legs　and　his　arms　with　the　expansiveness　of　a
person　quite　at　home。

'Yes；　I　am　rather　cracked　in　the　vamp；'　he　said　freely；　seeing　that
the　eyes　of　the　shepherd's　wife　fell　upon　his　boots；　'and　I　am　not
well　fitted　either。　　I　have　had　some　rough　times　lately；　and　have
been　forced　to　pick　up　what　I　can　get　in　the　way　of　wearing；　but　I
must　find　a　suit　better　fit　for　working…days　when　I　reach　home。'

'One　of　hereabouts？'　she　inquired。

'Not　quite　thatfurther　up　the　country。'

'I　thought　so。　　And　so　be　I；　and　by　your　tongue　you　come　from　my
neighbourhood。'

'But　you　would　hardly　have　heard　of　me；'　he　said　quickly。　　'My　time
would　be　long　before　yours；　ma'am；　you　see。'

This　testimony　to　the　youthfulness　of　his　hostess　had　the　effect　of
stopping　her　cross…examination。

'There　is　only　one　thing　more　wanted　to　make　me　happy；'　continued
the　new…comer。　　'And　that　is　a　little　baccy；　which　I　am　sorry　to　say
I　am　out　of。'

'I'll　fill　your　pipe；'　said　the　shepherd。

'I　must　ask　you　to　lend　me　a　pipe　likewise。'

'A　smoker；　and　no　pipe　about　'ee？'

'I　have　dropped　it　somewhere　on　the　road。'

The　shepherd　filled　and　handed　him　a　new　clay　pipe；　saying；　as　he
did　so；　'Hand　me　your　baccy…boxI'll　fill　that　too；　now　I　am　about
it。'

The　man　went　through　the　movement　of　searching　his　pockets。

'Lost　that　too？'　said　his　entertainer；　with　some　surprise。

'I　am　afraid　so；'　said　the　man　with　some　confusion。　　'Give　it　to　me
in　a　screw　of　paper。'　　Lighting　his　pipe　at　the　candle　with　a
suction　that　drew　the　whole　flame　into　the　bowl；　he　resettled
himself　in　the　corner　and　bent　his　looks　upon　the　faint　steam　from
his　damp　legs；　as　if　he　wished　to　say　no　more。

Meanwhile　the　general　body　of　guests　had　been　taking　little　notice
of　this　visitor　by　reason　of　an　absorbing　discussion　in　which　they
were　engaged　with　the　band　about　a　tune　for　the　next　dance。　　The
matter　being　settled；　they　were　about　to　stand　up　when　an
interruption　came　in　the　shape　of　another　knock　at　the　door。

At　sound　of　the　same　the　man　in　the　chimney…corner　took　up　the　poker
and　began　stirring　the　brands　as　if　doing　it　thoroughly　were　the　one
aim　of　his　existence；　and　a　second　time　the　shepherd　said；　'Walk
in！'　　In　a　moment　another　man　stood　upon　the　straw…woven　door…mat。
He　too　was　a　stranger。

This　individual　was　one　of　a　type　radically　different　from　the
first。　　There　was　more　of　the　commonplace　in　his　manner；　and　a
certain　jovial　cosmopolitanism　sat　upon　his　features。　　He　was
several　years　older　than　the　first　arrival；　his　hair　being　slightly
frosted；　his　eyebrows　bristly；　and　his　whiskers　cut　back　from　his
cheeks。　　His　face　was　rather　full　and　flabby；　and　yet　it　was　not
altogether　a　face　without　power。　　A　few　grog…blossoms　marked　the
neighbourhood　of　his　nose。　　He　flung　back　his　long　drab　greatcoat；
revealing　that　beneath　it　he　wore　a　suit　of　cinder…gray　shade
throughout；　large　heavy　seals；　of　some　metal　or　other　that　would
take　a　polish；　dangling　from　his　fob　as　his　only　personal　ornament。
Shaking　the　water…drops　from　his　low…crowned　glazed　hat；　he　said；　'I
must　ask　for　a　few　minutes'　shelter；　comrades；　or　I　shall　be　wetted
to　my　skin　before　I　get　to　Casterbridge。'

'Make　yourself　at　home；　master；'　said　the　shepherd；　perhaps　a　trifle
less　heartily　than　on　the　first　occasion。　　Not　that　Fennel　had　the
least　tinge　of　niggardliness　in　his　composition；　but　the　room　was
far　from　large；　spare　chairs　were　not　numerous；　and　damp　companions
were　not　altogether　desirable　at　close　quarters　for　the　women　and
girls　in　their　bright…coloured　gowns。

However；　the　second　comer；　after　taking　off　his　greatcoat；　and
hanging　his　hat　on　a　nail　in　one　of　the　ceiling…beams　as　if　he　had
been　specially　invited　to　put　it　there；　advanced　and　sat　down　at　the
table。　　This　had　been　pushed　so　closely　into　the　chimney…corner；　to
give　all　available　room　to　the　dancers；　that　its　inner　edge　grazed
the　elbow　of　the　man　who　had　ensconced　himself　by　the　fire；　and　thus
the　two　strangers　were　brought　into　close　companionship。　　They
nodded　to　each　other　by　way　of　breaking　the　ice　of　unacquaintance；
and　the　first　stranger　handed　his　neighbour　the　family　muga　huge
vessel　of　brown　ware；　having　its　upper　edge　worn　away　like　a
threshold　by　the　rub　of　whole　generations　of　thirsty　lips　that　had
gone　the　way　of　all　flesh；　and　bearing　the　following　inscription
burnt　upon　its　rotund　side　in　yellow　letters


THERE　IS　NO　FUN
UNTiLL　i　CUM。


The　other　man；　nothing　loth；　raised　the　mug　to　his　lips；　and　drank
on；　and　on；　and　ontill　a　curious　blueness　overspread　the
countenance　of　the　shepherd's　wife；　who　had　regarded　with　no　little
surprise　the　first　stranger's　free　offer　to　the　second　of　what　did
not　belong　to　him　to　dispense。

'I　knew　it！'　said　the　toper　to　the　shepherd　with　much　satisfaction。
'When　I　walked　up　your　garden　before　coming　in；　and　saw　the　hives
all　of　a　row；　I　said　to　myself；　〃Where　there's　bees　there's　honey；
and　where　there's　honey　there's　mead。〃　　But　mead　of　such　a　truly
comfortable　sort　as　this　I　really　didn't　expect　to　meet　in　my　older
days。'　　He　took　yet　another　pull　at　the　mug；　till　it　assumed　an
ominous　elevation。

'Glad　you　enjoy　it！'　said　the　shepherd　warmly。

'It　is　goodish　mead；'　assented　Mrs。　Fennel；　with　an　absence　of
enthusiasm　which　seemed　to　say　that　it　was　possible　to　buy　praise
for　one's　cellar　at　too　heavy　a　price。　　'It　is　trouble　enough　to
makeand　really　I　hardly　think　we　shall　make　any　more。　　For　honey
sells　well；　and　we　ourselves　can　make　shift　with　a　drop　o'　small
mead　and　metheglin　for　common　use　from　the　comb…washings。〃

'O；　but　you'll　never　have　the　heart！'　reproachfully　cried　the
stranger　in　cinder…gray；　after　taking　up　the　mug　a　third　time　and
setting　it　down　empty。　　'I　love　mead；　when　'tis　old　like　this；　as　I
love　to　go　to　church　o'　Sundays；　or　to　relieve　the　needy　any　day　of
the　week。'

'Ha；　ha；　ha！'　said　the　man　in　the　chimney…corner；　who；　in　spite　of
the　taciturnity　induced　by　the　pipe　of　tobacco；　could　not　or　would
not　refrain　from　this　slight　testimony　to　his　comrade's　humour。

Now　the　old　mead　of　those　days；　brewed　of　the　purest　first…year　or
maiden　honey；　four　pounds　to　the　gallonwith　its　due　complement　of
white　of　eggs；　cinnamon；　ginger；　cloves；　mace；　rosemary；　yeast；　and
processes　of　working；　bottling；　and　cellaringtasted　remarkably
strong；　but　it　did　not　taste　so　strong　as　it　actually　was。　　Hence；
presently；　the　stranger　in　cinder…gray　at　t