under the greenwood tree-第21章

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times　did　you　say　he　danced　with　her？〃



〃Once。〃



〃Twice；　I　think　you　said？〃



〃Indeed　I'm　sure　I　didn't。〃



〃Well；　and　he　wanted　to　again；　I　expect。〃



〃No；　I　don't　think　he　did。　　She　wanted　to　dance　with　him　again　bad

enough；　I　know。　　Everybody　does　with　Dick；　because　he's　so　handsome

and　such　a　clever　courter。〃



〃O；　I　wish！How　did　you　say　she　wore　her　hair？〃



〃In　long　curls；and　her　hair　is　light；　and　it　curls　without　being

put　in　paper：　　that's　how　it　is　she's　so　attractive。〃



〃She's　trying　to　get　him　away！　yes；　yes；　she　is！　　And　through

keeping　this　miserable　school　I　mustn't　wear　my　hair　in　curls！　　But

I　will；　I　don't　care　if　I　leave　the　school　and　go　home；　I　will　wear

my　curls！　　Look；　Susan；　do！　is　her　hair　as　soft　and　long　as　this？〃

Fancy　pulled　from　its　coil　under　her　hat　a　twine　of　her　own　hair；

and　stretched　it　down　her　shoulder　to　show　its　length；　looking　at

Susan　to　catch　her　opinion　from　her　eyes。



〃It　is　about　the　same　length　as　that；　I　think；〃　said　Miss　Dewy。



Fancy　paused　hopelessly。　　〃I　wish　mine　was　lighter；　like　hers！〃　she

continued　mournfully。　　〃But　hers　isn't　so　soft；　is　it？　　Tell　me；

now。〃



〃I　don't　know。〃



Fancy　abstractedly　extended　her　vision　to　survey　a　yellow　butterfly

and　a　red…and…black　butterfly　that　were　flitting　along　in　company；

and　then　became　aware　that　Dick　was　advancing　up　the　garden。



〃Susan；　here's　Dick　coming；　I　suppose　that's　because　we've　been

talking　about　him。〃



〃Well；　then；　I　shall　go　indoors　nowyou　won't　want　me；〃　and　Susan

turned　practically　and　walked　off。



Enter　the　single…minded　Dick；　whose　only　fault　at　the　gipsying；　or

picnic；　had　been　that　of　loving　Fancy　too　exclusively；　and　depriving

himself　of　the　innocent　pleasure　the　gathering　might　have　afforded

him；　by　sighing　regretfully　at　her　absence；who　had　danced　with　the

rival　in　sheer　despair　of　ever　being　able　to　get　through　that　stale；

flat；　and　unprofitable　afternoon　in　any　other　way；　but　this　she

would　not　believe。



Fancy　had　settled　her　plan　of　emotion。　　To　reproach　Dick？　　O　no；　no。

〃I　am　in　great　trouble；〃　said　she；　taking　what　was　intended　to　be　a

hopelessly　melancholy　survey　of　a　few　small　apples　lying　under　the

tree；　yet　a　critical　ear　might　have　noticed　in　her　voice　a　tentative

tone　as　to　the　effect　of　the　words　upon　Dick　when　she　uttered　them。



〃What　are　you　in　trouble　about？　　Tell　me　of　it；〃　said　Dick

earnestly。　　〃Darling；　I　will　share　it　with　'ee　and　help　'ee。〃



〃No；　no：　　you　can't！　　Nobody　can！〃



〃Why　not？　　You　don't　deserve　it；　whatever　it　is。　　Tell　me；　dear。〃



〃O；　it　isn't　what　you　think！　　It　is　dreadful：　　my　own　sin！〃



〃Sin；　Fancy！　as　if　you　could　sin！　　I　know　it　can't　be。〃



〃'Tis；　'tis！〃　said　the　young　lady；　in　a　pretty　little　frenzy　of

sorrow。　　〃I　have　done　wrong；　and　I　don't　like　to　tell　it！　　Nobody

will　forgive　me；　nobody！　and　you　above　all　will　not！　。　。　。　I　have

allowed　myself　totofl〃



〃What；not　flirt！〃　he　said；　controlling　his　emotion　as　it　were　by　a

sudden　pressure　inward　from　his　surface。　　〃And　you　said　only　the　day

before　yesterday　that　you　hadn't　flirted　in　your　life！〃



〃Yes；　I　did；　and　that　was　a　wicked　story！　　I　have　let　another　love

me；　and〃



〃Good　G！　　Well；　I'll　forgive　you；yes；　if　you　couldn't　help　it；

yes；　I　will！〃　said　the　now　dismal　Dick。　　〃Did　you　encourage　him？〃



〃O；I　don't　know；yesno。　　O；　I　think　so！〃



〃Who　was　it？〃　　A　pause。　　〃Tell　me！〃



〃Mr。　Shiner。〃



After　a　silence　that　was　only　disturbed　by　the　fall　of　an　apple；　a

long…checked　sigh　from　Dick；　and　a　sob　from　Fancy；　he　said　with　real

austerity　…



〃Tell　it　all；every　word！〃



〃He　looked　at　me；　and　I　looked　at　him；　and　he　said；　〃Will　you　let　me

show　you　how　to　catch　bullfinches　down　here　by　the　stream？〃　　And　I

wanted　to　know　very　muchI　did　so　long　to　have　a　bullfinch！　　I

couldn't　help　that　and　I　said；　〃Yes！〃　and　then　he　said；　〃Come　here。〃

And　I　went　with　him　down　to　the　lovely　river；　and　then　he　said　to

me；　〃Look　and　see　how　I　do　it；　and　then　you'll　know：　　I　put　this

birdlime　round　this　twig；　and　then　I　go　here；〃　he　said；　〃and　hide

away　under　a　hush；　and　presently　clever　Mister　Bird　comes　and

perches　upon　the　twig；　and　flaps　his　wings；　and　you've　got　him

before　you　can　say　Jack〃something；　O；　O；　O；　I　forget　what！〃



〃Jack　Sprat；〃　mournfully　suggested　Dick　through　the　cloud　of　his

misery。



〃No；　not　Jack　Sprat；〃　she　sobbed。



〃Then　'twas　Jack　Robinson！〃　he　said；　with　the　emphasis　of　a　man　who

had　resolved　to　discover　every　iota　of　the　truth；　or　die。



〃Yes；　that　was　it！　　And　then　I　put　my　hand　upon　the　rail　of　the

bridge　to　get　across；　andThat's　all。〃



〃Well；　that　isn't　much；　either；〃　said　Dick　critically；　and　more

cheerfully。　　〃Not　that　I　see　what　business　Shiner　has　to　take　upon

himself　to　teach　you　anything。　　But　it　seemsit　do　seem　there　must

have　been　more　than　that　to　set　you　up　in　such　a　dreadful　taking？〃



He　looked　into　Fancy's　eyes。　　Misery　of　miseries！guilt　was　written

there　still。



〃Now；　Fancy；　you've　not　told　me　all！〃　said　Dick；　rather　sternly　for

a　quiet　young　man。



〃O；　don't　speak　so　cruelly！　　I　am　afraid　to　tell　now！　　If　you　hadn't

been　harsh；　I　was　going　on　to　tell　all；　now　I　can't！〃



〃Come；　dear　Fancy；　tell：　　come。　　I'll　forgive；　I　must；by　heaven

and　earth；　I　must；　whether　I　will　or　no；　I　love　you　so！〃



〃Well；　when　I　put　my　hand　on　the　bridge；　he　touched　it〃



〃A　scamp！〃　said　Dick；　grinding　an　imaginary　human　frame　to　powder。



〃And　then　he　looked　at　me；　and　at　last　he　said；　'Are　you　in　love

with　Dick　Dewy？'　　And　I　said；　'Perhaps　I　am！'　and　then　he　said；　'I

wish　you　weren't　then；　for　I　want　to　marry　you；　with　all　my　soul。'〃



〃There's　a　villain　now！　　Want　to　marry　you！〃　　And　Dick　quivered　with

the　bitterness　of　satirical　laughter。　　Then　suddenly　remembering

that　he　might　be　reckoning　without　his　host：　　〃Unless；　to　he　sure；

you　are　willing　to　have　him；perhaps　you　are；〃　he　said；　with　the

wretched　indifference　of　a　castaway。



〃No；　indeed　I　am　not！〃　she　said；　her　sobs　just　beginning　to　take　a

favourable　turn　towards　cure。



〃Well；　then；〃　said　Dick；　coming　a　little　to　his　senses；　〃you've　been

stretching　it　very　much　in　giving　such　a　dreadful　beginning　to　such

a　mere　nothing。　　And　I　know　what　you've　done　it　for；just　because

of　that　gipsy…party！〃　　He　turned　away　from　her　and　took　five　paces

decisively；　as　if　he　were　tired　of　an　ungrateful　country；　including

herself　〃You　did　it　to　make　me　jealous；　and　I　won't　stand　it！〃　　He

flung　the　words　to　her　over　his　shoulder　and　then　stalked　on；

apparently　very　anxious　to　walk　to　the　remotest　of　the　Colonies　that

very　minute。



〃O；　O；　O；　DickDick！〃　she　cried；　trotting　after　him　like　a　pet

lamb；　and　really　seriously　alarmed　at　last；　〃you'll　kill　me！　　My

impulses　are　badmiserably　wicked；and　I　can't　help　it；　forgive

me；　Dick！　　And　I　love　you　always；　and　those　times　when　you　look

silly　and　don't　seem　quite　good　enough　for　me；just　the　same；　I　do；

Dick！　　And　there　is　something　more　serious；　though　not　concerning

that　walk　with　him。〃



〃Well；　what　is　it？〃　said　Dick；　altering　his　mind　about　walking　to

the　Colonies　in　fact；　passing　to　the　other　extreme；　and　standing　so

rooted　to　the　road　that　he　was　apparently　not　even　going　home。



〃Why　this；〃　she　said；　drying　the　beginning　of　a　new　flood　of　tears

she　had　been　going　to　shed；　〃this　is　the　serious　part。　　Father　has

told　Mr。　Shiner　that　he　would　like　him　for　a　son…in…law；　if　he　could

get　me；that　he　has　his　right　hearty　consent　to　come　courting　me！〃







CHAPTER　IV：　　AN　ARRANGEMENT







〃That　IS　serious；〃　said　Dick；　more　intellectually　than　he　had　spoken

for　a　long　time。



The　truth　was　that　Geoffrey　knew　nothing　about　his　daughter's

continued　walks　and　meetings　with　Dick。　　When　a　hint　that　there　were

symptoms　of　an　attachment　between　them　had　first　reached　Geoffrey's

ears；　he　stated　so　emphatically　that　he　must　think　the　matter　over

before　any　such　thing　could　be　allowed　that；　rather　unwisely　on

Dick's　part；　whatever　it　might　have　been　on　the　lady's；　the　lovers

were　careful　to　be　seen　together　no　more　in　public；　and　Geoffrey；

forgetting　the　report；　did　not　think　over　the　matter　at　all。　　So　Mr。

Shiner　resumed　his　old　position　in　Geoffrey's　brain　by　mere　flux　of

time。　　Even　Shiner　began　to　believe　that　Dick　existed　for　Fancy　no

more；though　that　remarkably　easy…going　man　had　taken　no　active

steps　on　his　own　account　as　yet。



〃And　father　has　not　only　told　Mr。　Shiner　that；〃　continued　Fancy；

〃but　he　has　written　me　a　letter；　to　say　he　should　wish　me　to

encourage　Mr。　Shiner；　if　'twas　convenient！〃



〃I　must　start　off　and　see　your　father　at　once！〃　said　Dick；　taking

two　or　three　vehement　steps　to　the　south；　recollecting　that　Mr。　Day

lived　to　the　north；　and　coming　back　again。



〃I　think　we　had　better　see　him　together。　　Not　tell　him　what　you　come

for；　or　anything　of　the　kind；　until　he　likes　you；　and　so　win　his

brain　through　his　heart；　which　is　always　the　way　to　manage　people。

I　mean　in　this　way：　　I　am　going　home　on　Saturday　week　to　help　them

in　the　honey…taking。　　You　might　come　there　to　me；　have　something　to

eat　and　drink；　and　let　him　guess　what　your　coming　signifies；　without

saying　it　in　so　many　words。〃



〃We'll　do　it；　dearest。　　But　I　shall　ask　him　for　you；　flat　and　plain；

not　wait　for　his　guessing。〃　　And　the　lover　then　stepped　close　to

her；　and　attempted　to　give　her　one　little　kiss　on　the　cheek；　his

lips　alighting　however；　on　an　outlying　tract　of　her　back　hair　by

reason　of　an　impulse　that　had　caused　her　to　turn　her　head　with　a

jerk。　　〃Yes；　and　I'll　put　on　my　second…best　suit　and　a　clean　shirt

and　collar；　and　black　my　boots　as　if　'twas　a　Sunday。　　'Twill　have　a

good　appearance；　you　see；　and　that's　a　great　deal　to　start　with。〃



〃You　won't　wear　that　old　waistcoat；　will　you；　Dick？〃



〃Bless　you；　no！　　Why　I〃



〃I　didn't　mean　to　be　personal；　dear　Dick；〃　she　said；　fearing　she　had

hurt　his　feelings。　　〃'Tis　a　very　nice　waistcoat；　but　what　I　meant

was；　that　though　it　is　an　excellent　waistcoat　for　a　settled…down

man；　it　is　not　quite　one　for〃　（she　waited；　and　a　blush　expanded　over

her　face；　and　then　she　went　on　again）〃for　going　courting　in。〃



〃No；　I'll　wear　my　best　winter　one；　with　the　leather　lining；　that

mother　made。　　It　is　a　beautiful；　handsome　waistcoat　inside；　yes；　as

ever　anybody　saw。　　In　fact；　only　the　other　day；　I　unbuttoned　it　to

show　a　chap　that　very　lining；　and　he　said　it　was　the　strongest；

handsomest　lining　you　could　wish　to　see　on　the　king's　waistcoat

himself。〃



〃_I_　don't　quite　know　what　to　wear；〃　she　said；　as　if　her　habitual

indifference　alone　to　dress　had　kept　back　so　important　a　subject

till　now。



〃Why；　that　blue　frock　you　wore　last　week。〃



〃Doesn't　set　well　round　the　neck。　　I　couldn't　wear　that。〃



〃But　I　shan't　care。〃



〃No；　you　won't　mind。〃



〃Well；　then