还乡The Return Of The Native-第25章

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look　suggested　isolation；　but　it　revealed　something　more。　　As　is　usual　with　bright　natures；　the　deity　that　lies　ignominiously　chained　within　an　ephemeral　human　carcase　shone　out　of　him　like　a　ray。　
The　effect　upon　Eustacia　was　palpable。　　The　extraordinary　pitch　of　excitement　that　she　had　reached　beforehand　would；　indeed；　have　caused　her　to　be　influenced　by　the　most　monplace　man。　　She　was　troubled　at　Yeobright’s　presence。　
The　remainder　of　the　play　ended—the　Saracen’s　head　was　cut　off；　and　Saint　George　stood　as　victor。　　Nobody　mented；　any　more　than　they　would　have　mented　on　the　fact　of　mushrooms　ing　in　autumn　or　snowdrops　in　spring。　　They　took　the　piece　as　phlegmatically　as　did　the　actors　themselves。　　It　was　a　phase　of　cheerfulness　which　was；　as　a　matter　of　course；　to　be　passed　through　every　Christmas；　and　there　was　no　more　to　be　said。　
They　sang　the　plaintive　chant　which　follows　the　play；　during　which　all　the　dead　men　rise　to　their　feet　in　a　silent　and　awful　manner；　like　the　ghosts　of　Napoleon’s　soldiers　in　the　Midnight　Review。　　Afterwards　the　door　opened；　and　Fairway　appeared　on　the　threshold；　acpanied　by　Christian　and　another。　　They　had　been　waiting　outside　for　the　conclusion　of　the　play；　as　the　players　had　waited　for　the　conclusion　of　the　dance。
“e　in；　e　in；”　said　Mrs。　Yeobright；　and　Clym　went　forward　to　wele　them。　　“How　is　it　you　are　so　late？　　Grandfer　Cantle　has　been　here　ever　so　long；　and　we　thought　you’d　have　e　with　him；　as　you　live　so　near　one　another。”
“Well；　I　should　have　e　earlier；”　Mr。　Fairway　said　and　paused　to　look　along　the　beam　of　the　ceiling　for　a　nail　to　hang　his　hat　on；　but；　finding　his　accustomed　one　to　be　occupied　by　the　mistletoe；　and　all　the　nails　in　the　walls　to　be　burdened　with　bunches　of　holly；　he　at　last　relieved　himself　of　the　hat　by　ticklishly　balancing　it　between　the　candle…box　and　the　head　of　the　clock…case。　　“I　should　have　e　earlier；　ma’am；”　he　resumed；　with　a　more　posed　air；　“but　I　know　what　parties　be；　and　how　there’s　none　too　much　room　in　folks’　houses　at　such　times；　so　I　thought　I　wouldn’t　e　till　you’d　got　settled　a　bit。”
“And　I　thought　so　too；　Mrs。　Yeobright；”　said　Christian　earnestly；　“but　Father　there　was　so　eager　that　he　had　no　manners　at　all；　and　left　home　almost　afore　‘twas　dark。　　I　told　him　‘twas　barely　decent　in　a’　old　man　to　e　so　oversoon；　but　words　be　wind。”
“Klk！　I　wasn’t　going　to　bide　waiting　about；　till　half　the　game　was　over！　I’m　as　light　as　a　kite　when　anything’s　going　on！”　crowed　Grandfer　Cantle　from　the　chimneyseat。　
Fairway　had　meanwhile　concluded　a　critical　gaze　at　Yeobright。　　“Now；　you　may　not　believe　it；”　he　said　to　the　rest　of　the　room；　“but　I　should　never　have　knowed　this　gentleman　if　I　had　met　him　anywhere　off　his　own　he’th—he’s　altered　so　much。”
“You　too　have　altered；　and　for　the　better；　I　think　Timothy；”　said　Yeobright；　surveying　the　firm　figure　of　Fairway。　
“Master　Yeobright；　look　me　over　too。　　I　have　altered　for　the　better；　haven’t　I；　hey？”　said　Grandfer　Cantle；　rising　and　placing　himself　something　above　half　a　foot　from　Clym’s　eye；　to　induce　the　most　searching　criticism。　
“To　be　sure　we　will；”　said　Fairway；　taking　the　candle　and　moving　it　over　the　surface　of　the　Grandfer’s　countenance；　the　subject　of　his　scrutiny　irradiating　himself　with　light　and　pleasant　smiles；　and　giving　himself　jerks　of　juvenility。　
“You　haven’t　changed　much；”　said　Yeobright。　
“If　there’s　any　difference；　Grandfer　is　younger；”　appended　Fairway　decisively。　
“And　yet　not　my　own　doing；　and　I　feel　no　pride　in　it；”　said　the　pleased　ancient。　　“But　I　can’t　be　cured　of　my　vagaries；　them　I　plead　guilty　to。　　Yes；　Master　Cantle　always　was　that；　as　we　know。　　But　I　am　nothing　by　the　side　of　you；　Mister　Clym。”
“Nor　any　o’　us；”　said　Humphrey；　in　a　low　rich　tone　of　admiration；　not　intended　to　reach　anybody’s　ears。　
“Really；　there　would　have　been　nobody　here　who　could　have　stood　as　decent　second　to　him；　or　even　third；　if　I　hadn’t　been　a　soldier　in　the　Bang…up　Locals　（as　we　was　called　for　our　smartness）；”　said　Grandfer　Cantle。　　“And　even　as　‘tis　we　all　look　a　little　scammish　beside　him。　　But　in　the　year　four　‘twas　said　there　wasn’t　a　finer　figure　in　the　whole　South　Wessex　than　I；　as　I　looked　when　dashing　past　the　shop…winders　with　the　rest　of　our　pany　on　the　day　we　ran　out　o’　Budmouth　because　it　was　thoughted　that　Boney　had　landed　round　the　point。　　There　was　I；　straight　as　a　young　poplar；　wi’　my　firelock；　and　my　bagnet；　and　my　spatterdashes；　and　my　stock　sawing　my　jaws　off；　and　my　accoutrements　sheening　like　the　seven　stars！　Yes；　neighbours；　I　was　a　pretty　sight　in　my　soldiering　days。　　You　ought　to　have　seen　me　in　four！”
“’Tis　his　mother’s　side　where　Master　Clym’s　figure　es　from；　bless　ye；”　said　Timothy。　　“I　know’d　her　brothers　well。　　Longer　coffins　were　never　made　in　the　whole　country　of　South　Wessex；　and　‘tis　said　that　poor　George’s　knees　were　crumpled　up　a　little　e’en　as　‘twas。”
“Coffins；　where？”　inquired　Christian；　drawing　nearer。
“Have　the　ghost　of　one　appeared　to　anybody；　Master　Fairway？”
“No；　no。　　Don’t　let　your　mind　so　mislead　your　ears；　Christian；　and　be　a　man；”　said　Timothy　reproachfully。　
“I　will。”　　said　Christian。　　“But　now　I　think　o’t　my　shadder　last　night　seemed　just　the　shape　of　a　coffin。　　What　is　it　a　sign　of　when　your　shade’s　like　a　coffin；　neighbours？　　It　can’t　be　nothing　to　be　afeared　of；　I　suppose？”
“Afeared；　no！”　said　the　Grandfer。　　“Faith；　I　was　never　afeard　of　nothing　except　Boney；　or　I　shouldn’t　ha’　been　the　soldier　I　was。　　Yes；　‘tis　a　thousand　pities　you　didn’t　see　me　in　four！”
By　this　time　the　mummers　were　preparing　to　leave；　but　Mrs。　Yeobright　stopped　them　by　asking　them　to　sit　down　and　have　a　little　supper。　　To　this　invitation　Father　Christmas；　in　the　name　of　them　all；　readily　agreed。　
Eustacia　was　happy　in　the　opportunity　of　staying　a　little　longer。
The　cold　and　frosty　night　without　was　doubly　frigid　to　her。　
But　the　lingering　was　not　without　its　difficulties。　　Mrs。　Yeobright；　for　want　of　room　in　the　larger　apartment；　placed　a　bench　for　the　mummers　halfway　through　the　pantry　door；　which　opened　from　the　sitting…room。　Here　they　seated　themselves　in　a　row；　the　door　being　left　open—thus　they　were　still　virtually　in　the　same　apartment。　　Mrs。　Yeobright　now　murmured　a　few　words　to　her　son；　who　crossed　the　room　to　the　pantry　door；　striking　his　head　against　the　mistletoe　as　he　passed；　and　brought　the　mummers　beef　and　bread；　cake　pastry；　mead；　and　elder…wine；　the　waiting　being　done　by　him　and　his　mother；　that　the　little　maid…servant　might　sit　as　guest。　　The　mummers　doffed　their　helmets；　and　began　to　eat　and　drink。　
“But　you　will　surely　have　some？”　said　Clym　to　the　Turkish　Knight；　as　he　stood　before　that　warrior；　tray　in　hand。　　She　had　refused；　and　still　sat　covered；　only　the　sparkle　of　her　eyes　being　visible　between　the　ribbons　which　covered　her　face。　
“None；　thank　you；”　replied　Eustacia。
“He’s　quite　a　youngster；”　said　the　Saracen　apologetically；　“and　you　must　excuse　him。　　He’s　not　one　of　the　old　set；　but　have　jined　us　because　t’other　couldn’t　e。”
“But　he　will　take　something？”　persisted　Yeobright。　
“Try　a　glass　of　mead　or　elder…wine。”
“Yes；　you　had　better　try　that；”　said　the　Saracen。　
“It　will　keep　the　cold　out　going　home…along。”
Though　Eustacia　could　not　eat　without　uncovering　her　face　she　could　drink　easily　enough　beneath　her　disguise。　　The　elder…wine　was　accordingly　accepted；　and　the　glass　vanished　inside　the　ribbons。　
At　moments　during　this　performance　Eustacia　was　half　in　doubt　about　the　security　of　her　position；　yet　it　had　a　fearful　joy。　　A　series　of　attentions　paid　to　her；　and　yet　not　to　her　but　to　some　imaginary　person；　by　the　first　man　she　had　ever　been　inclined　to　adore；　plicated　her　emotions　indescribably。　　She　had　loved　him　partly　because　he　was　exceptional　in　this　scene；　partly　because　she　had　determined　to　love　him；　chiefly　because　she　was　in　desperate　need　of　loving　somebody　after　wearying　of　Wildeve。　　Believing　that　she　must　love　him　in　spite　of　herself；　she　had　been　influenced　after　the　fashion　of　the　second　Lord　Lyttleton　and　other　persons；　who　have　dreamed　that　they　were　to　die　on　a　certain　day；　and　by　stress　of　a　morbid　imagination　have　actually　brought　about　that　event。　　Once　let　a　maiden　admit　the　possibility　of　her　being　stricken　with　love　for　someone　at　a　certain　hour　and　place；　and　the　thing　is　as　good　as　done。　
Did　anything　at　this　moment　suggest　to　Yeobright　the　sex　of　the　creature　whom　that　fantastic　guise　inclosed；　how　extended　was　her　scope　both　in　feeling　and　in　making　others　feel；　and　how　far　her　pass　transcended　that　of　her　panions　in　the　band？　　When　the　disguised　Queen　of　Love　appeared　before　Aeneas　a　preternatural　perfume　acpanied　her　presence　and　betrayed　her　quality。　　If　such　a　mysterious　emanation　ever　was　projected　by　the　emotions　of　an　earthly　woman　upon　their　object；　it　must　have　signified　Eustacia’s　presence　to　Yeobright　now。　　He　looked　at　her　wistfully；　then　seemed　to　fall　into　a　reverie；　as　if　he　were　forgetting　what　he　observed。　　The　momentary　situation　ended；　he　passed　on；　and　Eustacia　sipped　her　wine　without　knowing　what　she　drank。　　The　man　for　whom　she　had　pre…determined　to　nourish　a　passion　went　into　the　small　room；　and　across　it　to　the　further　extremity。　
The　mummers；　as　has　been　stated；　were　seated　on　a　bench；　one　end　of　which　extended　into　the　small　apartment；　or　pantry；　for　want　of　space　in　the　outer　room。　　Eustacia；　partly　from　shyness；　had　chosen　the　midmost　seat；　which　thus　manded　a　view　of　the　interior　of　the　pantry　as　well　as　the　room　containing　the　guests。　　When　Clym　passed　down　the　pantry　her　eyes　followed　him　in　the　gloom　which　prevailed　there。　　At　the　remote　end　was　a　door　which；　just　as　he　was　about　to　open　it　for　himself；　was　opened　by　somebody　within；　and　light　streamed　forth。
The　person　was　Thomasin；　with　a　candle；　looking　anxious；　pale；　and　interesting。　　Yeobright　appeared　glad　to　see　her；　and　pressed　her　hand。　　“That’s　right；　Tamsie；”　he　said　heartily；　as　though　recalled　to　himself　by　the　sight　of　her；　“you　have　decided　to　e　down。　　I　am　glad　of　it。”
“Hush—no；　no；”　she　said　quickly。　　“I　only　came　to　speak　to　you。”
“But　why　not　join　us？”
“I　cannot。　　At　least　I　would　rather　not。　　I　am　not　well　enough；　and　we　shall　have　plenty　of　time　together　now　you　are　going　to　be　home　a　good　long　holiday。”
“It　isn’t　nearly　so　pleasant　without　you。　　Are　you　really　ill？”
“Just　a　little；　my　old　cousin—here；”　she　said；　playfully　sweeping　her　hand　across　her　heart。
“Ah；　Mother　should　have　asked　somebody　else　to　be　present　tonight；　perhaps？”
“O　no；　indeed。　　I　merely　stepped　down；　Clym；　to　ask　you—“　Here　he　followed　her　through　the　doorway　into　the　private　room　beyond；　and；　the　door　closing；　Eustacia　and　the　mummer　who　sat　next　to　her；　the　only　other　witness　of　the　performance；　saw　and　heard　no　more。　
The　heat　flew　to　Eustacia’s　head　and　cheeks。　　She　instantly　guessed　that　Clym；　having　been　home　only　these　two　or　three　days；　had　not　as　yet　been　made　acquainted　with　Thomasin’s　painful　situation　with　regard　to　Wildeve；　and　seeing　her　living　there　just　as　she　had　been　living　before　he　left　home；　he　naturally　suspected　nothing。　　Eustacia　felt　a　wild　jealousy　of　Thomasin　on