under the greenwood tree-第2章

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shearing　go。〃



〃Neighbours；　there's　time　enough　to　drink　a　sight　of　drink　now　afore

bedtime？〃　said　Mail。



〃True；　truetime　enough　to　get　as　drunk　as　lords！〃　replied　Bowman

cheerfully。



This　opinion　being　taken　as　convincing　they　all　advanced　between　the

varying　hedges　and　the　trees　dotting　them　here　and　there；　kicking

their　toes　occasionally　among　the　crumpled　leaves。　　Soon　appeared

glimmering　indications　of　the　few　cottages　forming　the　small　hamlet

of　Upper　Mellstock　for　which　they　were　bound；　whilst　the　faint　sound

of　church…bells　ringing　a　Christmas　peal　could　be　heard　floating

over　upon　the　breeze　from　the　direction　of　Longpuddle　and

Weatherbury　parishes　on　the　other　side　of　the　hills。　　A　little

wicket　admitted　them　to　the　garden；　and　they　proceeded　up　the　path

to　Dick's　house。







CHAPTER　II：　　THE　TRANTER'S







It　was　a　long　low　cottage　with　a　hipped　roof　of　thatch；　having

dormer　windows　breaking　up　into　the　eaves；　a　chimney　standing　in　the

middle　of　the　ridge　and　another　at　each　end。　　The　window…shutters

were　not　yet　closed；　and　the　fire…　and　candle…light　within　radiated

forth　upon　the　thick　bushes　of　box　and　laurestinus　growing　in　clumps

outside；　and　upon　the　bare　boughs　of　several　codlin…trees　hanging

about　in　various　distorted　shapes；　the　result　of　early　training　as

espaliers　combined　with　careless　climbing　into　their　boughs　in　later

years。　　The　walls　of　the　dwelling　were　for　the　most　part　covered

with　creepers；　though　these　were　rather　beaten　back　from　the

doorwaya　feature　which　was　worn　and　scratched　by　much　passing　in

and　out；　giving　it　by　day　the　appearance　of　an　old　keyhole。　　Light

streamed　through　the　cracks　and　joints　of　outbuildings　a　little　way

from　the　cottage；　a　sight　which　nourished　a　fancy　that　the　purpose

of　the　erection　must　be　rather　to　veil　bright　attractions　than　to

shelter　unsightly　necessaries。　　The　noise　of　a　beetle　and　wedges　and

the　splintering　of　wood　was　periodically　heard　from　this　direction；

and　at　some　little　distance　further　a　steady　regular　munching　and

the　occasional　scurr　of　a　rope　betokened　a　stable；　and　horses

feeding　within　it。



The　choir　stamped　severally　on　the　door…stone　to　shake　from　their

boots　any　fragment　of　earth　or　leaf　adhering　thereto；　then　entered

the　house　and　looked　around　to　survey　the　condition　of　things。

Through　the　open　doorway　of　a　small　inner　room　on　the　right　hand；　of

a　character　between　pantry　and　cellar；　was　Dick　Dewy's　father

Reuben；　by　vocation　a　〃tranter；〃　or　irregular　carrier。　　He　was　a

stout　florid　man　about　forty　years　of　age；　who　surveyed　people　up

and　down　when　first　making　their　acquaintance；　and　generally　smiled

at　the　horizon　or　other　distant　object　during　conversations　with

friends；　walking　about　with　a　steady　sway；　and　turning　out　his　toes

very　considerably。　　Being　now　occupied　in　bending　over　a　hogshead；

that　stood　in　the　pantry　ready　horsed　for　the　process　of　broaching；

he　did　not　take　the　trouble　to　turn　or　raise　his　eyes　at　the　entry

of　his　visitors；　well　knowing　by　their　footsteps　that　they　were　the

expected　old　comrades。



The　main　room；　on　the　left；　was　decked　with　bunches　of　holly　and

other　evergreens；　and　from　the　middle　of　the　beam　bisecting　the

ceiling　hung　the　mistletoe；　of　a　size　out　of　all　proportion　to　the

room；　and　extending　so　low　that　it　became　necessary　for　a　full…grown

person　to　walk　round　it　in　passing；　or　run　the　risk　of　entangling

his　hair。　　This　apartment　contained　Mrs。　Dewy　the　tranter's　wife；

and　the　four　remaining　children；　Susan；　Jim；　Bessy；　and　Charley；

graduating　uniformly　though　at　wide　stages　from　the　age　of　sixteen

to　that　of　four　yearsthe　eldest　of　the　series　being　separated　from

Dick　the　firstborn　by　a　nearly　equal　interval。



Some　circumstance　had　apparently　caused　much　grief　to　Charley　just

previous　to　the　entry　of　the　choir；　and　he　had　absently　taken　down　a

small　looking…glass；　holding　it　before　his　face　to　learn　how　the

human　countenance　appeared　when　engaged　in　crying；　which　survey　led

him　to　pause　at　the　various　points　in　each　wail　that　were　more　than

ordinarily　striking；　for　a　thorough　appreciation　of　the　general

effect。　　Bessy　was　leaning　against　a　chair；　and　glancing　under　the

plaits　about　the　waist　of　the　plaid　frock　she　wore；　to　notice　the

original　unfaded　pattern　of　the　material　as　there　preserved；　her

face　bearing　an　expression　of　regret　that　the　brightness　had　passed

away　from　the　visible　portions。　　Mrs。　Dewy　sat　in　a　brown　settle　by

the　side　of　the　glowing　wood　fireso　glowing　that　with　a　heedful

compression　of　the　lips　she　would　now　and　then　rise　and　put　her　hand

upon　the　hams　and　flitches　of　bacon　lining　the　chimney；　to　reassure

herself　that　they　were　not　being　broiled　instead　of　smokeda

misfortune　that　had　been　known　to　happen　now　and　then　at　Christmas…

time。



〃Hullo；　my　sonnies；　here　you　be；　then！〃　said　Reuben　Dewy　at　length；

standing　up　and　blowing　forth　a　vehement　gust　of　breath。　　〃How　the

blood　do　puff　up　in　anybody's　head；　to　be　sure；　a…stooping　like

that！　　I　was　just　going　out　to　gate　to　hark　for　ye。〃　　He　then

carefully　began　to　wind　a　strip　of　brown　paper　round　a　brass　tap　he

held　in　his　hand。　　〃This　in　the　cask　here　is　a　drop　o'　the　right

sort〃　（tapping　the　cask）；　〃'tis　a　real　drop　o'　cordial　from　the　best

picked　applesSansoms；　Stubbards；　Five…corners；　and　suchlikeyou

d'mind　the　sort；　Michael？〃　（Michael　nodded。）　　〃And　there's　a

sprinkling　of　they　that　grow　down　by　the　orchard…railsstreaked

onesrail　apples　we　d'call　'em；　as　'tis　by　the　rails　they　grow；　and

not　knowing　the　right　name。　　The　water…cider　from　'em　is　as　good　as

most　people's　best　cider　is。〃



〃Ay；　and　of　the　same　make　too；〃　said　Bowman。　　〃'It　rained　when　we

wrung　it　out；　and　the　water　got　into　it；'　folk　will　say。　　But　'tis

on'y　an　excuse。　　Watered　cider　is　too　common　among　us。〃



〃Yes；　yes；　too　common　it　is！〃　said　Spinks　with　an　inward　sigh；

whilst　his　eyes　seemed　to　be　looking　at　the　case　in　an　abstract　form

rather　than　at　the　scene　before　him。　　〃Such　poor　liquor　do　make　a

man's　throat　feel　very　melancholyand　is　a　disgrace　to　the　name　of

stimmilent。〃



〃Come　in；　come　in；　and　draw　up　to　the　fire；　never　mind　your　shoes；〃

said　Mrs。　Dewy；　seeing　that　all　except　Dick　had　paused　to　wipe　them

upon　the　door…mat。　　〃I　am　glad　that　you've　stepped　up…along　at　last；

and；　Susan；　you　run　down　to　Grammer　Kaytes's　and　see　if　you　can

borrow　some　larger　candles　than　these　fourteens。　　Tommy　Leaf；　don't

ye　be　afeard！　　Come　and　sit　here　in　the　settle。〃



This　was　addressed　to　the　young　man　before　mentioned；　consisting

chiefly　of　a　human　skeleton　and　a　smock…frock；　who　was　very　awkward

in　his　movements；　apparently　on　account　of　having　grown　so　very　fast

that　before　he　had　had　time　to　get　used　to　his　height　he　was　higher。



〃Heeheeay！〃　replied　Leaf；　letting　his　mouth　continue　to　smile

for　some　time　after　his　mind　had　done　smiling；　so　that　his　teeth

remained　in　view　as　the　most　conspicuous　members　of　his　body。



〃Here；　Mr。　Penny；〃　resumed　Mrs。　Dewy；　〃you　sit　in　this　chair。　　And

how's　your　daughter；　Mrs。　Brownjohn？〃



〃Well；　I　suppose　I　must　say　pretty　fair。〃　　He　adjusted　his

spectacles　a　quarter　of　an　inch　to　the　right。　　〃But　she'll　be　worse

before　she's　better；　'a　b'lieve。〃



〃Indeedpoor　soul！　　And　how　many　will　that　make　in　all；　four　or

five？〃



〃Five；　they've　buried　three。　　Yes；　five；　and　she　not　much　more　than

a　maid　yet。　　She　do　know　the　multiplication　table　onmistakable　well。

However；　'twas　to　be；　and　none　can　gainsay　it。〃



Mrs。　Dewy　resigned　Mr。　Penny。　　〃Wonder　where　your　grandfather　James

is？〃　she　inquired　of　one　of　the　children。　　〃He　said　he'd　drop　in　to…

night。〃



〃Out　in　fuel…house　with　grandfather　William；〃　said　Jimmy。



〃Now　let's　see　what　we　can　do；〃　was　heard　spoken　about　this　time　by

the　tranter　in　a　private　voice　to　the　barrel；　beside　which　he　had

again　established　himself；　and　was　stooping　to　cut　away　the　cork。



〃Reuben；　don't　make　such　a　mess　o'　tapping　that　barrel　as　is　mostly

made　in　this　house；〃　Mrs。　Dewy　cried　from　the　fireplace。　　〃I'd　tap　a

hundred　without　wasting　more　than　you　do　in　one。　　Such　a　squizzling…

…and　squirting　job　as　'tis　in　your　hands！　　There；　he　always　was　such

a　clumsy　man　indoors。〃



〃Ay；　ay；　I　know　you'd　tap　a　hundred　beautiful；　AnnI　know　you

would；　two　hundred；　perhaps。　　But　I　can't　promise。　　This　is　a'　old

cask；　and　the　wood's　rotted　away　about　the　tap…hole。　　The　husbird　of

a　feller　Sam　Lawsonthat　ever　I　should　call'n　such；　now　he's　dead

and　gone；　poor　heart！took　me　in　completely　upon　the　feat　of　buying

this　cask。　　'Reub；'　says　he'a　always　used　to　call　me　plain　Reub；

poor　old　heart！'Reub；'　he　said；　says　he；　'that　there　cask；　Reub；

is　as　good　as　new；　yes；　good　as　new。　　'Tis　a　wine…hogshead；　the　best

port…wine　in　the　commonwealth　have　been　in　that　there　cask；　and　you

shall　have　en　for　ten　shillens；　Reub；''a　said；　says　he'he's

worth　twenty；　ay；　five…and…twenty；　if　he's　worth　one；　and　an　iron

hoop　or　two　put　round　en　among　the　wood　ones　will　make　en　worth

thirty　shillens　of　any　man's　money；　if'〃



〃I　think　I　should　have　used　the　eyes　that　Providence　gave　me　to　use

afore　I　paid　any　ten　shillens　for　a　jimcrack　wine…barrel；　a　saint　is

sinner　enough　not　to　be　cheated。　　But　'tis　like　all　your　family　was；

so　easy　to　be　deceived。〃



〃That's　as　true　as　gospel　of　this　member；〃　said　Reuben。



Mrs。　Dewy　began　a　smile　at　the　answer；　then　altering　her　lips　and

refolding　them　so　that　it　was　not　a　smile；　commenced　smoothing

little　Bessy's　hair；　the　tranter　having　meanwhile　suddenly　become

oblivious　to　conversation；　occupying　himself　in　a　deliberate　cutting

and　arrangement　of　some　more　brown　paper　for　the　broaching

operation。



〃Ah；　who　can　believe　sellers！〃　said　old　Michael　Mail　in　a　carefully…

cautious　voice；　by　way　of　tiding…over　this　critical　point　of

affairs。



〃No　one　at　all；〃　said　Joseph　Bowman；　in　the　tone　of　a　man　fully

agreeing　with　everybody。



〃Ay；〃　said　Mail；　in　the　tone　of　a　man　who　did　not　agree　with

everybody　as　a　rule；　though　he　did　now；　〃I　knowed　a'　auctioneering

feller　oncea　very　friendly　feller　'a　was　too。　　And　so　one　hot　day

as　I　was　walking　down　the　front　street　o'　Casterbridge；　jist　below

the　King's　Arms；　I　passed　a'　open　winder　and　see　him　inside；　stuck

upon　his　perch；　a…selling　off。　　I　jist　nodded　to　en　in　a　friendly

way　as　I　passed；　and　went　my　way；　and　thought　no　more　about　it。

Well；　next　day；　as　I　was　oilen　my　boots　by　fuel…house　door；　if　a

letter　didn't　come　wi'　a　bill　charging　me　with　a　featherbed；

bolster；　and　pillers；　that　I　had　bid　for　at　Mr。　Taylor's　sale。　　The

shim…faced　martel　had　knocked　'em　down　to　me　because　I　nodded　to　en

in　my　friendly　way；　and　I　had　to　pay　for　'em　too。　　Now；　I　hold　that

that　was　coming　it　very　close；　Reuben？〃



〃'Twas　close；　there's　no　denying；〃　said　the　general　voice。



〃Too　close；　'twas；