还乡The Return Of The Native-第3章

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　　They　came　from　a　part　of　the　heath　a　quarter　of　a　mile　to　the　rear；　where　furze　almost　exclusively　prevailed　as　a　product。　
Every　individual　was　so　involved　in　furze　by　his　method　of　carrying　the　faggots　that　he　appeared　like　a　bush　on　legs　till　he　had　thrown　them　down。　　The　party　had　marched　in　trail；　like　a　travelling　flock　of　sheep；　that　is　to　say；　the　strongest　first；　the　weak　and　young　behind。
The　loads　were　all　laid　together；　and　a　pyramid　of　furze　thirty　feet　in　circumference　now　occupied　the　crown　of　the　tumulus；　which　was　known　as　Rainbarrow　for　many　miles　round。　　Some　made　themselves　busy　with　matches；　and　in　selecting　the　driest　tufts　of　furze；　others　in　loosening　the　bramble　bonds　which　held　the　faggots　together。　　Others；　again；　while　this　was　in　progress；　lifted　their　eyes　and　swept　the　vast　expanse　of　country　manded　by　their　position；　now　lying　nearly　obliterated　by　shade。　　In　the　valleys　of　the　heath　nothing　save　its　own　wild　face　was　visible　at　any　time　of　day；　but　this　spot　manded　a　horizon　enclosing　a　tract　of　far　extent；　and　in　many　cases　lying　beyond　the　heath　country。　　None　of　its　features　could　be　seen　now；　but　the　whole　made　itself　felt　as　a　vague　stretch　of　remoteness。　
While　the　men　and　lads　were　building　the　pile；　a　change　took　place　in　the　mass　of　shade　which　denoted　the　distant　landscape。　　Red　suns　and　tufts　of　fire　one　by　one　began　to　arise；　flecking　the　whole　country　round。　　They　were　the　bonfires　of　other　parishes　and　hamlets　that　were　engaged　in　the　same　sort　of　memoration。　　Some　were　distant；　and　stood　in　a　dense　atmosphere；　so　that　bundles　of　pale　straw…like　beams　radiated　around　them　in　the　shape　of　a　fan。　　Some　were　large　and　near；　glowing　scarlet…red　from　the　shade；　like　wounds　in　a　black　hide。　　Some　were　Maenades；　with　winy　faces　and　blown　hair。　　These　tinctured　the　silent　bosom　of　the　clouds　above　them　and　lit　up　their　ephemeral　caves；　which　seemed　thenceforth　to　bee　scalding　caldrons。　　Perhaps　as　many　as　thirty　bonfires　could　be　counted　within　the　whole　bounds　of　the　district；　and　as　the　hour　may　be　told　on　a　clock…face　when　the　figures　themselves　are　invisible；　so　did　the　men　recognize　the　locality　of　each　fire　by　its　angle　and　direction；　though　nothing　of　the　scenery　could　be　viewed。　
The　first　tall　flame　from　Rainbarrow　sprang　into　the　sky；　attracting　all　eyes　that　had　been　fixed　on　the　distant　conflagrations　back　to　their　own　attempt　in　the　same　kind。　　The　cheerful　blaze　streaked　the　inner　surface　of　the　human　circle—now　increased　by　other　stragglers；　male　and　female—with　its　own　gold　livery；　and　even　overlaid　the　dark　turf　around　with　a　lively　luminousness；　which　softened　off　into　obscurity　where　the　barrow　rounded　downwards　out　of　sight。　　It　showed　the　barrow　to　be　the　segment　of　a　globe；　as　perfect　as　on　the　day　when　it　was　thrown　up；　even　the　little　ditch　remaining　from　which　the　earth　was　dug。　　Not　a　plough　had　ever　disturbed　a　grain　of　that　stubborn　soil。　　In　the　heath’s　barrenness　to　the　farmer　lay　its　fertility　to　the　historian。　　There　had　been　no　obliteration；　because　there　had　been　no　tending。　
It　seemed　as　if　the　bonfire…makers　were　standing　in　some　radiant　upper　story　of　the　world；　detached　from　and　independent　of　the　dark　stretches　below。　　The　heath　down　there　was　now　a　vast　abyss；　and　no　longer　a　continuation　of　what　they　stood　on；　for　their　eyes；　adapted　to　the　blaze；　could　see　nothing　of　the　deeps　beyond　its　influence。　　Occasionally；　it　is　true；　a　more　vigorous　flare　than　usual　from　their　faggots　sent　darting　lights　like　aides…de…camp　down　the　inclines　to　some　distant　bush；　pool；　or　patch　of　white　sand；　kindling　these　to　replies　of　the　same　colour；　till　all　was　lost　in　darkness　again。　　Then　the　whole　black　phenomenon　beneath　represented　Limbo　as　viewed　from　the　brink　by　the　sublime　Florentine　in　his　vision；　and　the　muttered　articulations　of　the　wind　in　the　hollows　were　as　plaints　and　petitions　from　the　“souls　of　mighty　worth”　suspended　therein。　
It　was　as　if　these　men　and　boys　had　suddenly　dived　into　past　ages；　and　fetched　therefrom　an　hour　and　deed　which　had　before　been　familiar　with　this　spot。　　The　ashes　of　the　original　British　pyre　which　blazed　from　that　summit　lay　fresh　and　undisturbed　in　the　barrow　beneath　their　tread。　　The　flames　from　funeral　piles　long　ago　kindled　there　had　shone　down　upon　the　lowlands　as　these　were　shining　now。　　Festival　fires　to　Thor　and　Woden　had　followed　on　the　same　ground　and　duly　had　their　day。　　Indeed；　it　is　pretty　well　known　that　such　blazes　as　this　the　heathmen　were　now　enjoying　are　rather　the　lineal　descendants　from　jumbled　Druidical　rites　and　Saxon　ceremonies　than　the　invention　of　popular　feeling　about　Gunpowder　Plot。　
Moreover　to　light　a　fire　is　the　instinctive　and　resistant　act　of　man　when；　at　the　winter　ingress；　the　curfew　is　sounded　throughout　Nature。　　It　indicates　a　spontaneous；　Promethean　rebelliousness　against　that　fiat　that　this　recurrent　season　shall　bring　foul　times；　cold　darkness；　misery　and　death。　　Black　chaos　es；　and　the　fettered　gods　of　the　earth　say；　Let　there　be　light。　
The　brilliant　lights　and　sooty　shades　which　struggled　upon　the　skin　and　clothes　of　the　persons　standing　round　caused　their　lineaments　and　general　contours　to　be　drawn　with　Dureresque　vigour　and　dash。　　Yet　the　permanent　moral　expression　of　each　face　it　was　impossible　to　discover；　for　as　the　nimble　flames　towered；　nodded；　and　swooped　through　the　surrounding　air；　the　blots　of　shade　and　flakes　of　light　upon　the　countenances　of　the　group　changed　shape　and　position　endlessly。　　All　was　unstable；　quivering　as　leaves；　evanescent　as　lightning。　　Shadowy　eye…sockets；　deep　as　those　of　a　death’s　head；　suddenly　turned　into　pits　of　lustre：　a　lantern…jaw　was　cavernous；　then　it　was　shining；　wrinkles　were　emphasized　to　ravines；　or　obliterated　entirely　by　a　changed　ray。　　Nostrils　were　dark　wells；　sinews　in　old　necks　were　gilt　mouldings；　things　with　no　particular　polish　on　them　were　glazed；　bright　objects；　such　as　the　tip　of　a　furze…hook　one　of　the　men　carried；　were　as　glass；　eyeballs　glowed　like　little　lanterns。　　Those　whom　Nature　had　depicted　as　merely　quaint　became　grotesque；　the　grotesque　became　preternatural；　for　all　was　in　extremity。　
Hence　it　may　be　that　the　face　of　an　old　man；　who　had　like　others　been　called　to　the　heights　by　the　rising　flames；　was　not　really　the　mere　nose　and　chin　that　it　appeared　to　be；　but　an　appreciable　quantity　of　human　countenance。　　He　stood　placently　sunning　himself　in　the　heat。　　With　a　speaker；　or　stake；　he　tossed　the　outlying　scraps　of　fuel　into　the　conflagration；　looking　at　the　midst　of　the　pile；　occasionally　lifting　his　eyes　to　measure　the　height　of　the　flame；　or　to　follow　the　great　sparks　which　rose　with　it　and　sailed　away　into　darkness。　　The　beaming　sight；　and　the　penetrating　warmth；　seemed　to　breed　in　him　a　cumulative　cheerfulness；　which　soon　amounted　to　delight。　　With　his　stick　in　his　hand　he　began　to　jig　a　private　minuet；　a　bunch　of　copper　seals　shining　and　swinging　like　a　pendulum　from　under　his　waistcoat：　he　also　began　to　sing；　in　the　voice　of　a　bee　up　a　flue—

“The　king’　call’d　down’　his　no…bles　all’；
By　one’；　by　two’；　by　three’；
Earl　Mar’…shal；　I’ll’　go　shrive’…the　queen’；
And　thou’　shalt　wend’　with　me’。
“A　boon’；　a　boon’；　quoth　Earl’　Mar…shal’；
And　fell’　on　his　bend’…ded　knee’；
That　what’…so…e’er’　the　queen’　shall　say’；
No　harm’　there…of’　may　be’。”

Want　of　breath　prevented　a　continuance　of　the　song；　and　the　breakdown　attracted　the　attention　of　a　firm…standing　man　of　middle　age；　who　kept　each　corner　of　his　crescent…shaped　mouth　rigorously　drawn　back　into　his　cheek；　as　if　to　do　away　with　any　suspicion　of　mirthfulness　which　might　erroneously　have　attached　to　him。
“A　fair　stave；　Grandfer　Cantle；　but　I　am　afeard　‘tis　too　much　for　the　mouldy　weasand　of　such　a　old　man　as　you；”　he　said　to　the　wrinkled　reveller。　　“Dostn’t　wish　th’　wast　three　sixes　again；　Grandfer；　as　you　was　when　you　first　learnt　to　sing　it？”
“Hey？”　said　Grandfer　Cantle；　stopping　in　his　dance。　
“Dostn’t　wish　wast　young　again；　I　say？　　There’s　a　hole　in　thy　poor　bellows　nowadays　seemingly。”
“But　there’s　good　art　in　me？　　If　I　couldn’t　make　a　little　wind　go　a　long　ways　I　should　seem　no　younger　than　the　most　aged　man；　should　I；　Timothy？”
“And　how　about　the　new…married　folks　down　there　at　the　Quiet　Woman　Inn？”　the　other　inquired；　pointing　towards　a　dim　light　in　the　direction　of　the　distant　highway；　but　considerably　apart　from　where　the　reddleman　was　at　that　moment　resting。　　“What’s　the　rights　of　the　matter　about　‘em？　　You　ought　to　know；　being　an　understanding　man。”
“But　a　little　rakish；　hey？　　I　own　to　it。　　Master　Cantle　is　that；　or　he’s　nothing。　　Yet　‘tis　a　gay　fault；　neigbbour　Fairway；　that　age　will　cure。”
“I　heard　that　they　were　ing　home　tonight。　　By　this　time　they　must　have　e。　　What　besides？”
“The　next　thing　is　for　us　to　go　and　wish　‘em　joy；　I　suppose？”
“Well；　no。”
“No？　　Now；　I　thought　we　must。　　I　must；　or　‘twould　be　very　unlike　me—the　first　in　every　spree　that’s　going！

“Do　thou’　put　on’　a　fri’…ar’s　coat’；
And　I’ll’　put　on’　a…no’…ther；
And　we’　will　to’　Queen　Ele’anor　go’；
Like　Fri’ar　and’　his　bro’ther。

I　met　Mis’ess　Yeobright；　the　young　bride’s　aunt；　last　night；　and　she　told　me　that　her　son　Clym　was　ing　home　a’　Christmas。　　Wonderful　clever；　‘a　believe—ah；　I　should　like　to　have　all　that’s　under　that　young　man’s　hair。　　Well；　then；　I　spoke　to　her　in　my　well…known　merry　way；　and　she　said；　‘O　that　what’s　shaped　so　venerable　should　talk　like　a　fool！’—that’s　what　she　said　to　me。　　I　don’t　care　for　her；　be　jowned　if　I　do；　and　so　I　told　her。　　‘Be　jowned　if　I　care　for　‘ee；’　I　said。　　I　had　her　there—hey？”
“I　rather　think　she　had　you；”　said　Fairway。　
“No；”　said　Grandfer　Cantle；　his　countenance　slightly　flagging。　
“’Tisn’t　so　bad　as　that　with　me？”
“Seemingly　‘tis；　however；　is　it　because　of　the　wedding　that　Clym　is　ing　home　a’　Christmas—to　make　a　new　arrangement　because　his　mother　is　now　left　in　the　house　alone？”
“Yes；　yes—that’s　it。　　But；　Timothy；　hearken　to　me；”　said　the　Grandfer　earnestly。　　“Though　known　as　such　a　joker；　I　be　an　understanding　man　if　you　catch　me　serious；　and　I　am　serious　now。　　I　can　tell　‘ee　lots　about　the　married　couple。　　Yes；　this　morning　at　six　o’clock　they　went　up　the　country　to　do　the　job；　and　neither　vell　nor　mark　have　been　seen　of　‘em　since；　though　I　reckon　that　this　afternoon　has　brought　‘em　home　again　man　and　woman—wife；　that　is。　　Isn’t　it　spoke　like　a　man；　Timothy；　and　wasn’t　Mis’ess　Yeobright　wrong　about　me？”
“Yes；　it　will　do。　　I　didn’t　know　the　two　had　walked　together　since　last　fall；　when　her　aunt　forbad　the　banns。　　How　long　has　this　new　set…to　been　in　mangling　then？　　Do　you　know；　Humphrey？”
“Yes；　how　long？”　said　Grandfer　Cantle　smartly；　likewise　turning　to　Humphrey。　　“I　ask　that　question。”
“Ever　since　her　aunt　altered　her　mind；　and　said　she　might　have　the　man　after　all；”　replied　Humphrey；　without　removing　his　eyes　from　the　fire。　　He　was　a　somewhat　solemn　young　fellow；　and　carried　the　hook　and　leather　gloves　of　a　furze…cutter；　his　legs；　by　reason　of　that　occupation；　being　sheathed　in　bulging　leggings　as　stiff　as　the　Philistine’s　greaves　of　brass。　　“That’s　why　they　went　away　to