还乡The Return Of The Native-第41章

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“It　is　my　own；”　answered　Wildeve　haughtily。　　“It　is　my　wife’s；　and　what　is　hers　is　mine。”
“Very　well；　let’s　make　a　beginning。”　　He　shook　the　box；　and　threw　eight；　ten；　and　nine；　the　three　casts　amounted　to　twenty…seven。
This　encouraged　Wildeve。　　He　took　the　box；　and　his　three　casts　amounted　to　forty…five。
Down　went　another　of　the　reddleman’s　sovereigns　against　his　first　one　which　Wildeve　laid。　　This　time　Wildeve　threw　fifty…one　points；　but　no　pair。　　The　reddleman　looked　grim；　threw　a　raffle　of　aces；　and　pocketed　the　stakes。　
“Here　you　are　again；”　said　Wildeve　contemptuously。　　“Double　the　stakes。”　　He　laid　two　of　Thomasin’s　guineas；　and　the　reddleman　his　two　pounds。　　Venn　won　again。　　New　stakes　were　laid　on　the　stone；　and　the　gamblers　proceeded　as　before。　
Wildeve　was　a　nervous　and　excitable　man；　and　the　game　was　beginning　to　tell　upon　his　temper。　　He　writhed；　fumed；　shifted　his　seat；　and　the　beating　of　his　heart　was　almost　audible。　　Venn　sat　with　lips　impassively　closed　and　eyes　reduced　to　a　pair　of　unimportant　twinkles；　he　scarcely　appeared　to　breathe。　　He　might　have　been　an　Arab；　or　an　automaton；　he　would　have　been　like　a　red　sandstone　statue　but　for　the　motion　of　his　arm　with　the　dice…box。
The　game　fluctuated；　now　in　favour　of　one；　now　in　favour　of　the　other；　without　any　great　advantage　on　the　side　of　either。　　Nearly　twenty　minutes　were　passed　thus。　　The　light　of　the　candle　had　by　this　time　attracted　heath…flies；　moths；　and　other　winged　creatures　of　night；　which　floated　round　the　lantern；　flew　into　the　flame；　or　beat　about　the　faces　of　the　two　players。
But　neither　of　the　men　paid　much　attention　to　these　things；　their　eyes　being　concentrated　upon　the　little　flat　stone；　which　to　them　was　an　arena　vast　and　important　as　a　battlefield。　　By　this　time　a　change　had　e　over　the　game；　the　reddleman　won　continually。　　At　length　sixty　guineas—Thomasin’s　fifty；　and　ten　of　Clym’s—had　passed　into　his　hands。　　Wildeve　was　reckless；　frantic；　exasperated。
“’Won　back　his　coat；’”　said　Venn　slily。　
Another　throw；　and　the　money　went　the　same　way。　
“’Won　back　his　hat；’”　continued　Venn。　
“Oh；　oh！”　said　Wildeve。　
“’Won　back　his　watch；　won　back　his　money；　and　went　out　of　the　door　a　rich　man；’”　added　Venn　sentence　by　sentence；　as　stake　after　stake　passed　over　to　him。　
“Five　more！”　shouted　Wildeve；　dashing　down　the　money。　
“And　three　casts　be　hanged—one　shall　decide。”
The　red　automaton　opposite　lapsed　into　silence；　nodded；　and　followed　his　example。　　Wildeve　rattled　the　box；　and　threw　a　pair　of　sixes　and　five　points。　　He　clapped　his　hands；　“I　have　done　it　this　time—hurrah！”
“There　are　two　playing；　and　only　one　has　thrown；”　said　the　reddleman；　quietly　bringing　down　the　box。　　The　eyes　of　each　were　then　so　intently　converged　upon　the　stone　that　one　could　fancy　their　beams　were　visible；　like　rays　in　a　fog。　
Venn　lifted　the　box；　and　behold　a　triplet　of　sixes　was　disclosed。　
Wildeve　was　full　of　fury。　　While　the　reddleman　was　grasping　the　stakes　Wildeve　seized　the　dice　and　hurled　them；　box　and　all；　into　the　darkness；　uttering　a　fearful　imprecation。　　Then　he　arose　and　began　stamping　up　and　down　like　a　madman。
“It　is　all　over；　then？”　said　Venn。　
“No；　no！”　cried　Wildeve。　　“I　mean　to　have　another　chance　yet。　
I　must！”
“But；　my　good　man；　what　have　you　done　with　the　dice？”
“I　threw　them　away—it　was　a　momentary　irritation。　　What　a　fool　I　am！　Here—e　and　help　me　to　look　for　them—we　must　find　them　again。”
Wildeve　snatched　up　the　lantern　and　began　anxiously　prowling　among　the　furze　and　fern。　
“You　are　not　likely　to　find　them　there；”　said　Venn；　following。　　“What　did　you　do　such　a　crazy　thing　as　that　for？　　Here’s　the　box。　　The　dice　can’t　be　far　off。”
Wildeve　turned　the　light　eagerly　upon　the　spot　where　Venn　had　found　the　box；　and　mauled　the　herbage　right　and　left。　　In　the　course　of　a　few　minutes　one　of　the　dice　was　found。　　They　searched　on　for　some　time；　but　no　other　was　to　be　seen。
“Never　mind；”　said　Wildeve；　“let’s　play　with　one。”
“Agreed；”　said　Venn。　
Down　they　sat　again；　and　remenced　with　single　guinea　stakes；　and　the　play　went　on　smartly。　　But　Fortune　had　unmistakably　fallen　in　love　with　the　reddleman　tonight。　　He　won　steadily；　till　he　was　the　owner　of　fourteen　more　of　the　gold　pieces。　　Seventy…nine　of　the　hundred　guineas　were　his；　Wildeve　possessing　only　twenty…one。　The　aspect　of　the　two　opponents　was　now　singular。　　Apart　from　motions；　a　plete　diorama　of　the　fluctuations　of　the　game　went　on　in　their　eyes。　　A　diminutive　candle…flame　was　mirrored　in　each　pupil；　and　it　would　have　been　possible　to　distinguish　therein　between　the　moods　of　hope　and　the　moods　of　abandonment；　even　as　regards　the　reddleman；　though　his　facial　muscles　betrayed　nothing　at　all。　　Wildeve　played　on　with　the　recklessness　of　despair。　
“What’s　that？”　he　suddenly　exclaimed；　hearing　a　rustle；　and　they　both　looked　up。　
They　were　surrounded　by　dusky　forms　between　four　and　five　feet　high；　standing　a　few　paces　beyond　the　rays　of　the　lantern。　　A　moment’s　inspection　revealed　that　the　encircling　figures　were　heath…croppers；　their　heads　being　all　towards　the　players；　at　whom　they　gazed　intently。　
“Hoosh！”　said　Wildeve；　and　the　whole　forty　or　fifty　animals　at　once　turned　and　galloped　away。　　Play　was　again　resumed。　
Ten　minutes　passed　away。　　Then　a　large　death’s　head　moth　advanced　from　the　obscure　outer　air；　wheeled　twice　round　the　lantern；　flew　straight　at　the　candle；　and　extinguished　it　by　the　force　of　the　blow。　　Wildeve　had　just　thrown；　but　had　not　lifted　the　box　to　see　what　he　had　cast；　and　now　it　was　impossible。　
“What　the　infernal！”　he　shrieked。　　“Now；　what　shall　we　do？　　Perhaps　I　have　thrown　six—have　you　any　matches？”
“None；”　said　Venn。　
“Christian　had　some—I　wonder　where　he　is。　　Christian！”
But　there　was　no　reply　to　Wildeve’s　shout；　save　a　mournful　whining　from　the　herons　which　were　nesting　lower　down　the　vale。　　Both　men　looked　blankly　round　without　rising。　　As　their　eyes　grew　accustomed　to　the　darkness　they　perceived　faint　greenish　points　of　light　among　the　grass　and　fern。　　These　lights　dotted　the　hillside　like　stars　of　a　low　magnitude。　
“Ah—glowworms；”　said　Wildeve。　　“Wait　a　minute。　
We　can　continue　the　game。”
Venn　sat　still；　and　his　panion　went　hither　and　thither　till　he　had　gathered　thirteen　glowworms—as　many　as　he　could　find　in　a　space　of　four　or　five　minutes—upon　a　fox…glove　leaf　which　he　pulled　for　the　purpose。　　The　reddleman　vented　a　low　humorous　laugh　when　he　saw　his　adversary　return　with　these。　　“Determined　to　go　on；　then？”　he　said　drily。
“I　always　am！”　said　Wildeve　angrily。　　And　shaking　the　glowworms　from　the　leaf　he　ranged　them　with　a　trembling　hand　in　a　circle　on　the　stone；　leaving　a　space　in　the　middle　for　the　descent　of　the　dice…box；　over　which　the　thirteen　tiny　lamps　threw　a　pale　phosphoric　shine。　　The　game　was　again　renewed。　　It　happened　to　be　that　season　of　the　year　at　which　glowworms　put　forth　their　greatest　brilliancy；　and　the　light　they　yielded　was　more　than　ample　for　the　purpose；　since　it　is　possible　on　such　nights　to　read　the　handwriting　of　a　letter　by　the　light　of　two　or　three。　
The　incongruity　between　the　men’s　deeds　and　their　environment　was　great。　　Amid　the　soft　juicy　vegetation　of　the　hollow　in　which　they　sat；　the　motionless　and　the　uninhabited　solitude；　intruded　the　chink　of　guineas；　the　rattle　of　dice；　the　exclamations　of　the　reckless　players。　
Wildeve　had　lifted　the　box　as　soon　as　the　lights　were　obtained；　and　the　solitary　die　proclaimed　that　the　game　was　still　against　him。
“I　won’t　play　any　more—you’ve　been　tampering　with　the　dice；”　he　shouted。　
“How—when　they　were　your　own？”　said　the　reddleman。
“We’ll　change　the　game：　the　lowest　point　shall　win　the　stake—it　may　cut　off　my　ill　luck。　　Do　you　refuse？”
“No—go　on；”　said　Venn。　
“O；　there　they　are　again—damn　them！”　cried　Wildeve；　looking　up。　　The　heath…croppers　had　returned　noiselessly；　and　were　looking　on　with　erect　heads　just　as　before；　their　timid　eyes　fixed　upon　the　scene；　as　if　they　were　wondering　what　mankind　and　candlelight　could　have　to　do　in　these　haunts　at　this　untoward　hour。　
“What　a　plague　those　creatures　are—staring　at　me　so！”　he　said；　and　flung　a　stone；　which　scattered　them；　when　the　game　was　continued　as　before。
Wildeve　had　now　ten　guineas　left；　and　each　laid　five。　
Wildeve　threw　three　points；　Venn　two；　and　raked　in　the　coins。　　The　other　seized　the　die；　and　clenched　his　teeth　upon　it　in　sheer　rage；　as　if　he　would　bite　it　in　pieces。　　“Never　give　in—here　are　my　last　five！”　he　cried；　throwing　them　down。　
“Hang　the　glowworms—they　are　going　out。　　Why　don’t　you　burn；　you　little　fools？　　Stir　them　up　with　a　thorn。”
He　probed　the　glowworms　with　a　bit　of　stick；　and　rolled　them　over；　till　the　bright　side　of　their　tails　was　upwards。　
“There’s　light　enough。　　Throw　on；”　said　Venn。　
Wildeve　brought　down　the　box　within　the　shining　circle　and　looked　eagerly。　　He　had　thrown　ace。　　“Well　done！I　said　it　would　turn；　and　it　has　turned。”　　Venn　said　nothing；　but　his　hand　shook　slightly。　
He　threw　ace　also。　
“O！”　said　Wildeve。　　“Curse　me！”
The　die　smacked　the　stone　a　second　time。　　It　was　ace　again。　　Venn　looked　gloomy；　threw—the　die　was　seen　to　be　lying　in　two　pieces；　the　cleft　sides　uppermost。　
“I’ve　thrown　nothing　at　all；”　he　said。　
“Serves　me　right—I　split　the　die　with　my　teeth。　
Here—take　your　money。　　Blank　is　less　than　one。”
“I　don’t　wish　it。”
“Take　it；　I　say—you’ve　won　it！”　And　Wildeve　threw　the　stakes　against　the　reddleman’s　chest。　　Venn　gathered　them　up；　arose；　and　withdrew　from　the　hollow；　Wildeve　sitting　stupefied。
When　he　had　e　to　himself　he　also　arose；　and；　with　the　extinguished　lantern　in　his　hand；　went　towards　the　highroad。　　On　reaching　it　he　stood　still。　　The　silence　of　night　pervaded　the　whole　heath　except　in　one　direction；　and　that　was　towards　Mistover。　　There　he　could　hear　the　noise　of　light　wheels；　and　presently　saw　two　carriagelamps　descending　the　hill。　　Wildeve　screened　himself　under　a　bush　and　waited。
The　vehicle　came　on　and　passed　before　him。　　It　was　a　hired　carriage；　and　behind　the　coachman　were　two　persons　whom　he　knew　well。　　There　sat　Eustacia　and　Yeobright；　the　arm　of　the　latter　being　round　her　waist。　　They　turned　the　sharp　corner　at　the　bottom　towards　the　temporary　home　which　Clym　had　hired　and　furnished；　about　five　miles　to　the　eastward。　
Wildeve　forgot　the　loss　of　the　money　at　the　sight　of　his　lost　love；　whose　preciousness　in　his　eyes　was　increasing　in　geometrical　progression　with　each　new　incident　that　reminded　him　of　their　hopeless　division。　　Brimming　with　the　subtilized　misery　that　he　was　capable　of　feeling；　he　followed　the　opposite　way　towards　the　inn。　
About　the　same　moment　that　Wildeve　stepped　into　the　highway　Venn　also　had　reached　it　at　a　point　a　hundred　yards　further　on；　and　he；　hearing　the　same　wheels；　likewise　waited　till　the　carriage　should　e　up。　　When　he　saw　who　sat　therein　he　seemed　to　be　disappointed。　　Reflecting　a　minute　or　two；　during　which　interval　the　carriage　rolled　on；　he　crossed　the　road；　and　took　a　short　cut　through　the　furze　and　heath　to　a　point　where　the　turnpike　road　bent　round　in　ascending　a　hill。　　He　was　now　again　in　front　of　the　carriage；　which　presently　came　up　at　a　walking　pace。　　Venn　step