还乡The Return Of The Native-第69章

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y　the　same　long　shadow　of　the　housetop　that　he　had　seen　lying　there　times　out　of　number　while　his　mother　lived。　
Thomasin　was　not　in　her　room；　and　he　found　her　in　the　front　garden。　　“I　have　long　been　wanting；　Thomasin；”　he　began；　“to　say　something　about　a　matter　that　concerns　both　our　futures。”
“And　you　are　going　to　say　it　now？”　she　remarked　quickly；　colouring　as　she　met　his　gaze。　　“Do　stop　a　minute；　Clym；　and　let　me　speak　first；　for　oddly　enough；　I　have　been　wanting　to　say　something　to　you。”
“By　all　means　say　on；　Tamsie。”
“I　suppose　nobody　can　overhear　us？”　she　went　on；　casting　her　eyes　around　and　lowering　her　voice。　　“Well；　first　you　will　promise　me　this—that　you　won’t　be　angry　and　call　me　anything　harsh　if　you　disagree　with　what　I　propose？”
Yeobright　promised；　and　she　continued：　“What　I　want　is　your　advice；　for　you　are　my　relation—I　mean；　a　sort　of　guardian　to　me—aren’t　you；　Clym？”
“Well；　yes；　I　suppose　I　am；　a　sort　of　guardian。　　In　fact；　I　am；　of　course；”　he　said；　altogether　perplexed　as　to　her　drift。　
“I　am　thinking　of　marrying；”　she　then　observed　blandly。　　“But　I　shall　not　marry　unless　you　assure　me　that　you　approve　of　such　a　step。　　Why　don’t　you　speak？”
“I　was　taken　rather　by　surprise。　　But；　nevertheless；　I　am　very　glad　to　hear　such　news。　　I　shall　approve；　of　course；　dear　Tamsie。　　Who　can　it　be？　　I　am　quite　at　a　loss　to　guess。　　No　I　am　not—‘tis　the　old　doctor！not　that　I　mean　to　call　him　old；　for　he　is　not　very　old　after　all。　　Ah—I　noticed　when　he　attended　you　last　time！”
“No；　no；”　she　said　hastily。　　“’Tis　Mr。　Venn。”
Clym’s　face　suddenly　became　grave。
“There；　now；　you　don’t　like　him；　and　I　wish　I　hadn’t　mentioned　him！”　she　exclaimed　almost　petulantly。　　“And　I　shouldn’t　have　done　it；　either；　only　he　keeps　on　bothering　me　so　till　I　don’t　know　what　to　do！”
Clym　looked　at　the　heath。　　“I　like　Venn　well　enough；”
he　answered　at　last。　　“He　is　a　very　honest　and　at　the　same
time　astute　man。　　He　is　clever　too；　as　is　proved　by　his
having　got　you　to　favour　him。　　But　really；　Thomasin；　he　is
not　quite—“
“Gentleman　enough　for　me？　　That　is　just　what　I　feel。　　I　am　sorry　now　that　I　asked　you；　and　I　won’t　think　any　more　of　him。　　At　the　same　time　I　must　marry　him　if　I　marry　anybody—that　I　WILL　say！”
“I　don’t　see　that；”　said　Clym；　carefully　concealing　every　clue　to　his　own　interrupted　intention；　which　she　plainly　had　not　guessed。　　“You　might　marry　a　professional　man；　or　somebody　of　that　sort；　by　going　into　the　town　to　live　and　forming　acquaintances　there。”
“I　am　not　fit　for　town　life—so　very　rural　and　silly　as　I　always　have　been。　　Do　not　you　yourself　notice　my　countrified　ways？”
“Well；　when　I　came　home　from　Paris　I　did；　a　little；　but　I　don’t　now。”
“That’s　because　you　have　got　countrified　too。　　O；　I　couldn’t　live　in　a　street　for　the　world！　Egdon　is　a　ridiculous　old　place；　but　I　have　got　used　to　it；　and　I　couldn’t　be　happy　anywhere　else　at　all。”
“Neither　could　I；”　said　Clym。　
“Then　how　could　you　say　that　I　should　marry　some　town　man？　　I　am　sure；　say　what　you　will；　that　I　must　marry　Diggory；　if　I　marry　at　all。　　He　has　been　kinder　to　me　than　anybody　else；　and　has　helped　me　in　many　ways　that　I　don’t　know　of！”　Thomasin　almost　pouted　now。
“Yes；　he　has；”　said　Clym　in　a　neutral　tone。　　“Well；　I　wish　with　all　my　heart　that　I　could　say；　marry　him。　　But　I　cannot　forget　what　my　mother　thought　on　that　matter；　and　it　goes　rather　against　me　not　to　respect　her　opinion。　　There　is　too　much　reason　why　we　should　do　the　little　we　can　to　respect　it　now。”
“Very　well；　then；”　sighed　Thomasin。　　“I　will　say　no　more。”
“But　you　are　not　bound　to　obey　my　wishes。　　I　merely　say　what　I　think。”
“O　no—I　don’t　want　to　be　rebellious　in　that　way；”　she　said　sadly。　　“I　had　no　business　to　think　of　him—I　ought　to　have　thought　of　my　family。　　What　dreadfully　bad　impulses　there　are　in　me！”　Her　lips　trembled；　and　she　turned　away　to　hide　a　tear。　
Clym；　though　vexed　at　what　seemed　her　unaccountable　taste；　was　in　a　measure　relieved　to　find　that　at　any　rate　the　marriage　question　in　relation　to　himself　was　shelved。　　Through　several　succeeding　days　he　saw　her　at　different　times　from　the　window　of　his　room　moping　disconsolately　about　the　garden。　　He　was　half　angry　with　her　for　choosing　Venn；　then　he　was　grieved　at　having　put　himself　in　the　way　of　Venn’s　happiness；　who　was；　after　all；　as　honest　and　persevering　a　young　fellow　as　any　on　Egdon；　since　he　had　turned　over　a　new　leaf。　　In　short；　Clym　did　not　know　what　to　do。　
When　next　they　met　she　said　abruptly；　“He　is　much　more　respectable　now　than　he　was　then！”
“Who？　　O　yes—Diggory　Venn。”
“Aunt　only　objected　because　he　was　a　reddleman。”
“Well；　Thomasin；　perhaps　I　don’t　know　all　the　particulars　of　my　mother’s　wish。　　So　you　had　better　use　your　own　discretion。”
“You　will　always　feel　that　I　slighted　your　mother’s　memory。”
“No；　I　will　not。　　I　shall　think　you　are　convinced　that；　had　she　seen　Diggory　in　his　present　position；　she　would　have　considered　him　a　fitting　husband　for　you。　　Now；　that’s　my　real　feeling。　　Don’t　consult　me　any　more；　but　do　as　you　like；　Thomasin。　　I　shall　be　content。”
It　is　to　be　supposed　that　Thomasin　was　convinced；　for　a　few　days　after　this；　when　Clym　strayed　into　a　part　of　the　heath　that　he　had　not　lately　visited；　Humphrey；　who　was　at　work　there；　said　to　him；　“I　am　glad　to　see　that　Mrs。　Wildeve　and　Venn　have　made　it　up　again；　seemingly。”
“Have　they？”　said　Clym　abstractedly。　
“Yes；　and　he　do　contrive　to　stumble　upon　her　whenever　she　walks　out　on　fine　days　with　the　chiel。　　But；　Mr。　Yeobright；　I　can’t　help　feeling　that　your　cousin　ought　to　have　married　you。　　‘Tis　a　pity　to　make　two　chimleycorners　where　there　need　be　only　one。　　You　could　get　her　away　from　him　now；　‘tis　my　belief；　if　you　were　only　to　set　about　it。”
“How　can　I　have　the　conscience　to　marry　after　having　driven　two　women　to　their　deaths？　　Don’t　think　such　a　thing；　Humphrey。　　After　my　experience　I　should　consider　it　too　much　of　a　burlesque　to　go　to　church　and　take　a　wife。　　In　the　words　of　Job；　‘I　have　made　a　covenant　with　mine　eyes；　when　then　should　I　think　upon　a　maid？’”
“No；　Mr。　Clym；　don’t　fancy　that　about　driving　two　women　to　their　deaths。　　You　shouldn’t　say　it。”
“Well；　we’ll　leave　that　out；”　said　Yeobright。　　“But　anyhow　God　has　set　a　mark　upon　me　which　wouldn’t　look　well　in　a　love…making　scene。　　I　have　two　ideas　in　my　head；　and　no　others。　　I　am　going　to　keep　a　night…school；　and　I　am　going　to　turn　preacher。　　What　have　you　got　to　say　to　that；　Humphrey？”
“I’ll　e　and　hear　‘ee　with　all　my　heart。”
“Thanks。　‘Tis　all　I　wish。”
As　Clym　descended　into　the　valley　Thomasin　came　down　by　the　other　path；　and　met　him　at　the　gate。　　“What　do　you　think　I　have　to　tell　you；　Clym？”　she　said；　looking　archly　over　her　shoulder　at　him。　
“I　can　guess；”　he　replied。　
She　scrutinized　his　face。　　“Yes；　you　guess　right。　　It　is　going　to　be　after　all。　　He　thinks　I　may　as　well　make　up　my　mind；　and　I　have　got　to　think　so　too。　　It　is　to　be　on　the　twenty…fifth　of　next　month；　if　you　don’t　object。”
“Do　what　you　think　right；　dear。　　I　am　only　too　glad　that　you
see　your　way　clear　to　happiness　again。　　My　sex　owes　you
every　amends　for　the　treatment　you　received　in　days　gone　by。”*

？ The　writer　may　state　here　that　the　original　conception　of　the　story　did　not　design　a　marriage　between　Thomasin　and　Venn。　　He　was　to　have　retained　his　isolated　and　weird　character　to　the　last；　and　to　have　disappeared　mysteriously　from　the　heath；　nobody　knowing　whither—Thomasin　remaining　a　widow。　　But　certain　circumstances　of　serial　publication　led　to　a　change　of　intent。　

Readers　can　therefore　choose　between　the　endings；　and　those　with　an　austere　artistic　code　can　assume　the　more　consistent　conclusion　to　be　the　true　one。　


4　… Cheerfulness　Again　Asserts　Itself　at　Blooms…End；　and　Clym　Finds　His　Vocation


Anybody　who　had　passed　through　Blooms…End　about　eleven　o’clock　on　the　morning　fixed　for　the　wedding　would　have　found　that；　while　Yeobright’s　house　was　paratively　quiet；　sounds　denoting　great　activity　came　from　the　dwelling　of　his　nearest　neighbour；　Timothy　Fairway。　　It　was　chiefly　a　noise　of　feet；　briskly　crunching　hither　and　thither　over　the　sanded　floor　within。　　One　man　only　was　visible　outside；　and　he　seemed　to　be　later　at　an　appointment　than　he　had　intended　to　be；　for　he　hastened　up　to　the　door；　lifted　the　latch；　and　walked　in　without　ceremony。
The　scene　within　was　not　quite　the　customary　one。　　Standing　about　the　room　was　the　little　knot　of　men　who　formed　the　chief　part　of　the　Egdon　coterie；　there　being　present　Fairway　himself；　Grandfer　Cantle；　Humphrey；　Christian；　and　one　or　two　turf…cutters。　It　was　a　warm　day；　and　the　men　were　as　a　matter　of　course　in　their　shirtsleeves；　except　Christian；　who　had　always　a　nervous　fear　of　parting　with　a　scrap　of　his　clothing　when　in　anybody’s　house　but　his　own。　　Across　the　stout　oak　table　in　the　middle　of　the　room　was　thrown　a　mass　of　striped　linen；　which　Grandfer　Cantle　held　down　on　one　side；　and　Humphrey　on　the　other；　while　Fairway　rubbed　its　surface　with　a　yellow　lump；　his　face　being　damp　and　creased　with　the　effort　of　the　labour。
“Waxing　a　bed…tick；　souls？”　said　the　newer。
“Yes；　Sam；”　said　Grandfer　Cantle；　as　a　man　too　busy　to　waste　words。　　“Shall　I　stretch　this　corner　a　shade　tighter；　Timothy？”
Fairway　replied；　and　the　waxing　went　on　with　unabated　vigour。　　“’Tis　going　to　be　a　good　bed；　by　the　look　o’t；”　continued　Sam；　after　an　interval　of　silence。　　“Who　may　it　be　for？”
“’Tis　a　present　for　the　new　folks　that’s　going　to　set　up　housekeeping；”　said　Christian；　who　stood　helpless　and　overe　by　the　majesty　of　the　proceedings。
“Ah；　to　be　sure；　and　a　valuable　one；　‘a　b’lieve。”
“Beds　be　dear　to　fokes　that　don’t　keep　geese；　bain’t　they；　Mister　Fairway？”　said　Christian；　as　to　an　omniscient　being。
“Yes；”　said　the　furze…dealer；　standing　up；　giving　his　forehead　a　thorough　mopping；　and　handing　the　beeswax　to　Humphrey；　who　succeeded　at　the　rubbing　forthwith。　　“Not　that　this　couple　be　in　want　of　one；　but　‘twas　well　to　show　‘em　a　bit　of　friendliness　at　this　great　racketing　vagary　of　their　lives。　　I　set　up　both　my　own　daughters　in　one　when　they　was　married；　and　there　have　been　feathers　enough　for　another　in　the　house　the　last　twelve　months。　　Now　then；　neighbours；　I　think　we　have　laid　on　enough　wax。　　Grandfer　Cantle；　you　turn　the　tick　the　right　way　outwards；　and　then　I’ll　begin　to　shake　in　the　feathers。”
When　the　bed　was　in　proper　trim　Fairway　and　Christian　brought　forward　vast　paper　bags；　stuffed　to　the　full；　but　light　as　balloons；　and　began　to　turn　the　contents　of　each　into　the　receptacle　just　prepared。　　As　bag　after　bag　was　emptied；　airy　tufts　of　down　and　feathers　floated　about　the　room　in　increasing　quantity　till；　through　a　mishap　of　Christian’s；　who　shook　the　contents　of　one　bag　outside　the　tick；　the　atmosphere　of　the　room　became　dense　with　gigantic　flakes；　which　descended　upon　the　workers　like　a　windless　snowstorm。
“I　never　saw　such　a　clumsy　chap　as　you；　Christian；”　said　Grandfer　Cantle　severely。　　“You　might　have　been　the　son　of　a　man　that’s　never　been　outside　Blooms…End　in　his　life　for　all　the　wit　you　have。　　Really　all　the　soldiering　and　smartness　in　the　world　in　the　father　se