还乡The Return Of The Native-第32章

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“She　is　melancholy；　then？”　inquired　Clym。　
“She　mopes　about　by　herself；　and　don’t　mix　in　with　the　people。”
“Is　she　a　young　lady　inclined　for　adventures？”
“Not　to　my　knowledge。”
“Doesn’t　join　in　with　the　lads　in　their　games；　to　get　some　sort　of　excitement　in　this　lonely　place？”
“No。”
“Mumming；　for　instance？”
“No。　Her　notions　be　different。　　I　should　rather　say　her　thoughts　were　far　away　from　here；　with　lords　and　ladies　she’ll　never　know；　and　mansions　she’ll　never　see　again。”
Observing　that　Clym　appeared　singularly　interested　Mrs。　Yeobright　said　rather　uneasily　to　Sam；　“You　see　more　in　her　than　most　of　us　do。　　Miss　Vye　is　to　my　mind　too　idle　to　be　charming。　　I　have　never　heard　that　she　is　of　any　use　to　herself　or　to　other　people。　　Good　girls　don’t　get　treated　as　witches　even　on　Egdon。”
“Nonsense—that　proves　nothing　either　way；”　said　Yeobright。
“Well；　of　course　I　don’t　understand　such　niceties；”　said　Sam；　withdrawing　from　a　possibly　unpleasant　argument；
“and　what　she　is　we　must　wait　for　time　to　tell　us。　　The　business　that　I　have　really　called　about　is　this；　to　borrow　the　longest　and　strongest　rope　you　have。　　The　captain’s　bucket　has　dropped　into　the　well；　and　they　are　in　want　of　water；　and　as　all　the　chaps　are　at　home　today　we　think　we　can　get　it　out　for　him。　　We　have　three　cart…ropes　already；　but　they　won’t　reach　to　the　bottom。”
Mrs。　Yeobright　told　him　that　he　might　have　whatever　ropes　he　could　find　in　the　outhouse；　and　Sam　went　out　to　search。　　When　he　passed　by　the　door　Clym　joined　him；　and　acpanied　him　to　the　gate。　
“Is　this　young　witch…lady　going　to　stay　long　at　Mistover？”　he　asked。　
“I　should　say　so。”
“What　a　cruel　shame　to　ill…use　her；　She　must　have　suffered　greatly—more　in　mind　than　in　body。”
“’Twas　a　graceless　trick—such　a　handsome　girl；　too。　　You　ought　to　see　her；　Mr。　Yeobright；　being　a　young　man　e　from　far；　and　with　a　little　more　to　show　for　your　years　than　most　of　us。”
“Do　you　think　she　would　like　to　teach　children？”　said　Clym。　
Sam　shook　his　head。　　“Quite　a　different　sort　of　body　from　that；　I　reckon。”
“O；　it　was　merely　something　which　occurred　to　me。　　It　would　of　course　be　necessary　to　see　her　and　talk　it　over—not　an　easy　thing；　by　the　way；　for　my　family　and　hers　are　not　very　friendly。”
“I’ll　tell　you　how　you　mid　see　her；　Mr。　Yeobright；”　said　Sam。　　“We　are　going　to　grapple　for　the　bucket　at　six　o’clock　tonight　at　her　house；　and　you　could　lend　a　hand。　　There’s　five　or　six　ing；　but　the　well　is　deep；　and　another　might　be　useful；　if　you　don’t　mind　appearing　in　that　shape。　　She’s　sure　to　be　walking　round。”
“I’ll　think　of　it；”　said　Yeobright；　and　they　parted。　
He　thought　of　it　a　good　deal；　but　nothing　more　was　said　about　Eustacia　inside　the　house　at　that　time。　　Whether　this　romantic　martyr　to　superstition　and　the　melancholy　mummer　he　had　conversed　with　under　the　full　moon　were　one　and　the　same　person　remained　as　yet　a　problem。　


3　… The　First　Act　in　a　Timeworn　Drama


The　afternoon　was　fine；　and　Yeobright　walked　on　the　heath　for　an　hour　with　his　mother。　　When　they　reached　the　lofty　ridge　which　divided　the　valley　of　Blooms…End　from　the　adjoining　valley　they　stood　still　and　looked　round。　　The　Quiet　Woman　Inn　was　visible　on　the　low　margin　of　the　heath　in　one　direction；　and　afar　on　the　other　hand　rose　Mistover　Knap。　
“You　mean　to　call　on　Thomasin？”　he　inquired。　
“Yes。　But　you　need　not　e　this　time；”　said　his　mother。　
“In　that　case　I’ll　branch　off　here；　Mother。　　I　am　going　to　Mistover。”
Mrs。　Yeobright　turned　to　him　inquiringly。　
“I　am　going　to　help　them　get　the　bucket　out　of　the　captain’s　well；”　he　continued。　　“As　it　is　so　very　deep　I　may　be　useful。　　And　I　should　like　to　see　this　Miss　Vye—not　so　much　for　her　good　looks　as　for　another　reason。”
“Must　you　go？”　his　mother　asked。
“I　thought　to。”
And　they　parted。　　“There　is　no　help　for　it；”　murmured　Clym’s　mother　gloomily　as　he　withdrew。　　“They　are　sure　to　see　each　other。　　I　wish　Sam　would　carry　his　news　to　other　houses　than　mine。”
Clym’s　retreating　figure　got　smaller　and　smaller　as　it　rose　and　fell　over　the　hillocks　on　his　way。　　“He　is　tender…hearted；”　said　Mrs。　Yeobright　to　herself　while　she　watched　him；　“otherwise　it　would　matter　little。　　How　he’s　going　on！”
He　was；　indeed；　walking　with　a　will　over　the　furze；　as　straight　as　a　line；　as　if　his　life　depended　upon　it。　　His　mother　drew　a　long　breath；　and；　abandoning　the　visit　to　Thomasin；　turned　back。　　The　evening　films　began　to　make　nebulous　pictures　of　the　valleys；　but　the　high　lands　still　were　raked　by　the　declining　rays　of　the　winter　sun；　which　glanced　on　Clym　as　he　walked　forward；　eyed　by　every　rabbit　and　field…fare　around；　a　long　shadow　advancing　in　front　of　him。
On　drawing　near　to　the　furze…covered　bank　and　ditch　which　fortified　the　captain’s　dwelling　he　could　hear　voices　within；　signifying　that　operations　had　been　already　begun。　　At　the　side…entrance　gate　he　stopped　and　looked　over。　
Half　a　dozen　able…bodied　men　were　standing　in　a　line　from　the　well…mouth；　holding　a　rope　which　passed　over　the　well…roller　into　the　depths　below。　　Fairway；　with　a　piece　of　smaller　rope　round　his　body；　made　fast　to　one　of　the　standards；　to　guard　against　accidents；　was　leaning　over　the　opening；　his　right　hand　clasping　the　vertical　rope　that　descended　into　the　well。　
“Now；　silence；　folks；”　said　Fairway。
The　talking　ceased；　and　Fairway　gave　a　circular　motion　to　the　rope；　as　if　he　were　stirring　batter。　　At　the　end　of　a　minute　a　dull　splashing　reverberated　from　the　bottom　of　the　well；　the　helical　twist　he　had　imparted　to　the　rope　had　reached　the　grapnel　below。
“Haul！”　said　Fairway；　and　the　men　who　held　the　rope　began　to　gather　it　over　the　wheel。　
“I　think　we’ve　got　sommat；”　said　one　of　the　haulers…in。
“Then　pull　steady；”　said　Fairway。　
They　gathered　up　more　and　more；　till　a　regular　dripping　into　the　well　could　be　heard　below。　　It　grew　smarter　with　the　increasing　height　of　the　bucket；　and　presently　a　hundred　and　fifty　feet　of　rope　had　been　pulled　in。　
Fairway　then　lit　a　lantern；　tied　it　to　another　cord；　and　began　lowering　it　into　the　well　beside　the　first：
Clym　came　forward　and　looked　down。　　Strange　humid　leaves；　which　knew　nothing　of　the　seasons　of　the　year；　and　quaint…natured　mosses　were　revealed　on　the　wellside　as　the　lantern　descended；　till　its　rays　fell　upon　a　confused　mass　of　rope　and　bucket　dangling　in　the　dank；　dark　air。
“We’ve　only　got　en　by　the　edge　of　the　hoop—steady；　for　God’s　sake！”　said　Fairway。　
They　pulled　with　the　greatest　gentleness；　till　the　wet　bucket　appeared　about　two　yards　below　them；　like　a　dead　friend　e　to　earth　again。　　Three　or　four　hands　were　stretched　out；　then　jerk　went　the　rope；　whizz　went　the　wheel；　the　two　foremost　haulers　fell　backward；　the　beating　of　a　falling　body　was　heard；　receding　down　the　sides　of　the　well；　and　a　thunderous　uproar　arose　at　the　bottom。　　The　bucket　was　gone　again。　
“Damn　the　bucket！”　said　Fairway。　
“Lower　again；”　said　Sam。　
“I’m　as　stiff　as　a　ram’s　horn　stooping　so　long；”　said　Fairway；　standing　up　and　stretching　himself　till　his　joints　creaked。　
“Rest　a　few　minutes；　Timothy；”　said　Yeobright。　
“I’ll　take　your　place。”
The　grapnel　was　again　lowered。　　Its　smart　impact　upon　the　distant　water　reached　their　ears　like　a　kiss；　whereupon　Yeobright　knelt　down；　and　leaning　over　the　well　began　dragging　the　grapnel　round　and　round　as　Fairway　had　done。　
“Tie　a　rope　round　him—it　is　dangerous！”　cried　a　soft　and　anxious　voice　somewhere　above　them。　
Everybody　turned。　　The　speaker　was　a　woman；　gazing　down　upon　the　group　from　an　upper　window；　whose　panes　blazed　in　the　ruddy　glare　from　the　west。　　Her　lips　were　parted　and　she　appeared　for　the　moment　to　forget　where　she　was。　
The　rope　was　accordingly　tied　round　his　waist；　and　the　work　proceeded。　　At　the　next　haul　the　weight　was　not　heavy；　and　it　was　discovered　that　they　had　only　secured　a　coil　of　the　rope　detached　from　the　bucket。　　The　tangled　mass　was　thrown　into　the　background。　　Humphrey　took　Yeobright’s　place；　and　the　grapnel　was　lowered　again。　
Yeobright　retired　to　the　heap　of　recovered　rope　in　a　meditative　mood。　　Of　the　identity　between　the　lady’s　voice　and　that　of　the　melancholy　mummer　he　had　not　a　moment’s　doubt。　　“How　thoughtful　of　her！”　he　said　to　himself。　
Eustacia；　who　had　reddened　when　she　perceived　the　effect　of　her　exclamation　upon　the　group　below；　was　no　longer　to　be　seen　at　the　window；　though　Yeobright　scanned　it　wistfully。　　While　he　stood　there　the　men　at　the　well　succeeded　in　getting　up　the　bucket　without　a　mishap。　　One　of　them　went　to　inquire　for　the　captain；　to　learn　what　orders　he　wished　to　give　for　mending　the　well…tackle。　　The　captain　proved　to　be　away　from　home；　and　Eustacia　appeared　at　the　door　and　came　out。　　She　had　lapsed　into　an　easy　and　dignified　calm；　far　removed　from　the　intensity　of　life　in　her　words　of　solicitude　for　Clym’s　safety。
“Will　it　be　possible　to　draw　water　here　tonight？”　she　inquired。　
“No；　miss；　the　bottom　of　the　bucket　is　clean　knocked　out。　　And　as　we　can　do　no　more　now　we’ll　leave　off；　and　e　again　tomorrow　morning。”
“No　water；”　she　murmured；　turning　away。　
“I　can　send　you　up　some　from　Blooms…End；”　said　Clym；　ing　forward　and　raising　his　hat　as　the　men　retired。　
Yeobright　and　Eustacia　looked　at　each　other　for　one　instant；　as　if　each　had　in　mind　those　few　moments　during　which　a　certain　moonlight　scene　was　mon　to　both。　　With　the　glance　the　calm　fixity　of　her　features　sublimed　itself　to　an　expression　of　refinement　and　warmth；　it　was　like　garish　noon　rising　to　the　dignity　of　sunset　in　a　couple　of　seconds。　
“Thank　you；　it　will　hardly　be　necessary；”　she　replied。　
“But　if　you　have　no　water？”
“Well；　it　is　what　I　call　no　water；”　she　said；　blushing；　and　lifting　her　long…lashed　eyelids　as　if　to　lift　them　were　a　work　requiring　consideration。　　“But　my　grandfather　calls　it　water　enough。　　I’ll　show　you　what　I　mean。”
She　moved　away　a　few　yards；　and　Clym　followed。　　When　she　reached　the　corner　of　the　enclosure；　where　the　steps　were　formed　for　mounting　the　boundary　bank；　she　sprang　up　with　a　lightness　which　seemed　strange　after　her　listless　movement　towards　the　well。　　It　incidentally　showed　that　her　apparent　languor　did　not　arise　from　lack　of　force。　
Clym　ascended　behind　her；　and　noticed　a　circular　burnt　patch　at　the　top　of　the　bank。　　“Ashes？”　he　said。　
“Yes；”　said　Eustacia。　　“We　had　a　little　bonfire　here　last　Fifth　of　November；　and　those　are　the　marks　of　it。”
On　that　spot　had　stood　the　fire　she　had　kindled　to　attract　Wildeve。　
“That’s　the　only　kind　of　water　we　have；”　she　continued；　tossing　a　stone　into　the　pool；　which　lay　on　the　outside　of　the　bank　like　the　white　of　an　eye　without　its　pupil。　　The　stone　fell　with　a　flounce；　but　no　Wildeve　appeared　on　the　other　side；　as　on　a　previous　occasion　there。　　“My　grandfather　says　he　lived　for　more　than　twenty　years　at　sea　on　water　twice　as　bad　as　that；”　she　went　on；　“and　considers　it　quite　good　enough　for　us　here　on　an　emergency。”
“Well；　as　a　matter　of　fact　there　are　no　impurities　in　the　water　of　these　pools　at　this　time　of　the　year。　　It　has　only　just　rained　into　them。”
She　shook　her　head。　　“I　am　managing　to　exist　in　a　wilderness；　but　I　cannot　drink　from　a　pond；”　she　said。　
Clym　looked　towards　the