under the greenwood tree-第27章

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〃No；〃　he　replied　reproachfully；　and　quoted　a　verse　〃Though　this　has

come　upon　us；　let　not　our　hearts　be　turned　back；　or　our　steps　go　out

of　the　way。〃



So　they　stood　and　watched　the　curls　of　hair　trailing　down　the　back

of　the　successful　rival；　and　the　waving　of　her　feather；　as　she

swayed　her　head。　　After　a　few　timid　notes　and　uncertain　touches　her

playing　became　markedly　correct；　and　towards　the　end　full　and　free。

But；　whether　from　prejudice　or　unbiassed　judgment；　the　venerable

body　of　musicians　could　not　help　thinking　that　the　simpler　notes

they　had　been　wont　to　bring　forth　were　more　in　keeping　with　the

simplicity　of　their　old　church　than　the　crowded　chords　and

interludes　it　was　her　pleasure　to　produce。







CHAPTER　VI：　　INTO　TEMPTATION







The　day　was　done；　and　Fancy　was　again　in　the　school…house。　　About

five　o'clock　it　began　to　rain；　and　in　rather　a　dull　frame　of　mind

she　wandered　into　the　schoolroom；　for　want　of　something　better　to

do。　　She　was　thinkingof　her　lover　Dick　Dewy？　　Not　precisely。　　Of

how　weary　she　was　of　living　alone：　　how　unbearable　it　would　be　to

return　to　Yalbury　under　the　rule　of　her　strange…tempered　step…

mother；　that　it　was　far　better　to　be　married　to　anybody　than　do

that；　that　eight　or　nine　long　months　had　yet　to　be　lived　through　ere

the　wedding　could　take　place。



At　the　side　of　the　room　were　high　windows　of　Ham…hill　stone；　upon

either　sill　of　which　she　could　sit　by　first　mounting　a　desk　and

using　it　as　a　footstool。　　As　the　evening　advanced　here　she　perched

herself；　as　was　her　custom　on　such　wet　and　gloomy　occasions；　put　on

a　light　shawl　and　bonnet；　opened　the　window；　and　looked　out　at　the

rain。



The　window　overlooked　a　field　called　the　Grove；　and　it　was　the

position　from　which　she　used　to　survey　the　crown　of　Dick's　passing

hat　in　the　early　days　of　their　acquaintance　and　meetings。　　Not　a

living　soul　was　now　visible　anywhere；　the　rain　kept　all　people

indoors　who　were　not　forced　abroad　by　necessity；　and　necessity　was

less　importunate　on　Sundays　than　during　the　week。



Sitting　here　and　thinking　againof　her　lover；　or　of　the　sensation

she　had　created　at　church　that　day？well；　it　is　unknownthinking

and　thinking　she　saw　a　dark　masculine　figure　arising　into

distinctness　at　the　further　end　of　the　Grovea　man　without　an

umbrella。　　Nearer　and　nearer　he　came；　and　she　perceived　that　he　was

in　deep　mourning；　and　then　that　it　was　Dick。　　Yes；　in　the　fondness

and　foolishness　of　his　young　heart；　after　walking　four　miles；　in　a

drizzling　rain　without　overcoat　or　umbrella；　and　in　face　of　a　remark

from　his　love　that　he　was　not　to　come　because　he　would　be　tired；　he

had　made　it　his　business　to　wander　this　mile　out　of　his　way　again；

from　sheer　wish　of　spending　ten　minutes　in　her　presence。



〃O　Dick；　how　wet　you　are！〃　she　said；　as　he　drew　up　under　the　window。

〃Why；　your　coat　shines　as　if　it　had　been　varnished；　and　your　hatmy

goodness；　there's　a　streaming　hat！〃



〃O；　I　don't　mind；　darling！〃　said　Dick　cheerfully。　　〃Wet　never　hurts

me；　though　I　am　rather　sorry　for　my　best　clothes。　　However；　it

couldn't　be　helped；　we　lent　all　the　umbrellas　to　the　women。　　I　don't

know　when　I　shall　get　mine　back！〃



〃And　look；　there's　a　nasty　patch　of　something　just　on　your

shoulder。〃



〃Ah；　that's　japanning；　it　rubbed　off　the　clamps　of　poor　Jack's

coffin　when　we　lowered　him　from　our　shoulders　upon　the　bier！　　I

don't　care　about　that；　for　'twas　the　last　deed　I　could　do　for　him；

and　'tis　hard　if　you　can't　afford　a　coat　for　an　old　friend。〃



Fancy　put　her　hand　to　her　mouth　for　half　a　minute。　　Underneath　the

palm　of　that　little　hand　there　existed　for　that　half…minute　a　little

yawn。



〃Dick；　I　don't　like　you　to　stand　there　in　the　wet。　　And　you　mustn't

sit　down。　　Go　home　and　change　your　things。　　Don't　stay　another

minute。〃



〃One　kiss　after　coming　so　far；〃　he　pleaded。



〃If　I　can　reach；　then。〃



He　looked　rather　disappointed　at　not　being　invited　round　to　the

door。　　She　twisted　from　her　seated　position　and　bent　herself

downwards；　but　not　even　by　standing　on　the　plinth　was　it　possible

for　Dick　to　get　his　lips　into　contact　with　hers　as　she　held　them。

By　great　exertion　she　might　have　reached　a　little　lower；　but　then

she　would　have　exposed　her　head　to　the　rain。



〃Never　mind；　Dick；　kiss　my　hand；〃　she　said；　flinging　it　down　to　him。

〃Now；　good…bye。〃



〃Good…bye。〃



He　walked　slowly　away；　turning　and　turning　again　to　look　at　her　till

he　was　out　of　sight。　　During　the　retreat　she　said　to　herself；　almost

involuntarily；　and　still　conscious　of　that　morning's　triumph〃I

like　Dick；　and　I　love　him；　but　how　plain　and　sorry　a　man　looks　in

the　rain；　with　no　umbrella；　and　wet　through！〃



As　he　vanished；　she　made　as　if　to　descend　from　her　seat；　but

glancing　in　the　other　direction　she　saw　another　form　coming　along

the　same　track。　　It　was　also　that　of　a　man。　　He；　too；　was　in　black

from　top　to　toe；　but　he　carried　an　umbrella。



He　drew　nearer；　and　the　direction　of　the　rain　caused　him　so　to　slant

his　umbrella　that　from　her　height　above　the　ground　his　head　was

invisible；　as　she　was　also　to　him。　　He　passed　in　due　time　directly

beneath　her；　and　in　looking　down　upon　the　exterior　of　his　umbrella

her　feminine　eyes　perceived　it　to　be　of　superior　silkless　common

at　that　date　than　sinceand　of　elegant　make。　　He　reached　the

entrance　to　the　building；　and　Fancy　suddenly　lost　sight　of　him。

Instead　of　pursuing　the　roadway　as　Dick　had　done　he　had　turned

sharply　round　into　her　own　porch。



She　jumped　to　the　floor；　hastily　flung　off　her　shawl　and　bonnet；

smoothed　and　patted　her　hair　till　the　curls　hung　in　passable

condition；　and　listened。　　No　knock。　　Nearly　a　minute　passed；　and

still　there　was　no　knock。　　Then　there　arose　a　soft　series　of　raps；

no　louder　than　the　tapping　of　a　distant　woodpecker；　and　barely

distinct　enough　to　reach　her　ears。　　She　composed　herself　and　flung

open　the　door。



In　the　porch　stood　Mr。　Maybold。



There　was　a　warm　flush　upon　his　face；　and　a　bright　flash　in　his

eyes；　which　made　him　look　handsomer　than　she　had　ever　seen　him

before。



〃Good…evening；　Miss　Day。〃



〃Good…evening；　Mr。　Maybold；〃　she　said；　in　a　strange　state　of　mind。

She　had　noticed；　beyond　the　ardent　hue　of　his　face；　that　his　voice

had　a　singular　tremor　in　it；　and　that　his　hand　shook　like　an　aspen

leaf　when　he　laid　his　umbrella　in　the　corner　of　the　porch。　　Without

another　word　being　spoken　by　either；　he　came　into　the　schoolroom；

shut　the　door；　and　moved　close　to　her。　　Once　inside；　the　expression

of　his　face　was　no　more　discernible；　by　reason　of　the　increasing

dusk　of　evening。



〃I　want　to　speak　to　you；〃　he　then　said；　〃seriouslyon　a　perhaps

unexpected　subject；　but　one　which　is　all　the　world　to　meI　don't

know　what　it　may　be　to　you；　Miss　Day。〃



No　reply。



〃Fancy；　I　have　come　to　ask　you　if　you　will　be　my　wife？〃



As　a　person　who　has　been　idly　amusing　himself　with　rolling　a

snowball　might　start　at　finding　he　had　set　in　motion　an　avalanche；

so　did　Fancy　start　at　these　words　from　the　vicar。　　And　in　the　dead

silence　which　followed　them；　the　breathings　of　the　man　and　of　the

woman　could　be　distinctly　and　separately　heard；　and　there　was　this

difference　between　themhis　respirations　gradually　grew　quieter　and

less　rapid　after　the　enunciation　hers；　from　having　been　low　and

regular；　increased　in　quickness　and　force；　till　she　almost　panted。



〃I　cannot；　I　cannot；　Mr。　MayboldI　cannot！　　Don't　ask　me！〃　she

said。



〃Don't　answer　in　a　hurry！〃　he　entreated。　　〃And　do　listen　to　me。

This　is　no　sudden　feeling　on　my　part。　　I　have　loved　you　for　more

than　six　months！　　Perhaps　my　late　interest　in　teaching　the　children

here　has　not　been　so　single…minded　as　it　seemed。　　You　will

understand　my　motivelike　me　better；　perhaps；　for　honestly　telling

you　that　I　have　struggled　against　my　emotion　continually；　because　I

have　thought　that　it　was　not　well　for　me　to　love　you！　　But　I

resolved　to　struggle　no　longer；　I　have　examined　the　feeling；　and　the

love　I　bear　you　is　as　genuine　as　that　I　could　bear　any　woman！　　I　see

your　great　charm；　I　respect　your　natural　talents；　and　the　refinement

they　have　brought　into　your　naturethey　are　quite　enough；　and　more

than　enough　for　me！　　They　are　equal　to　anything　ever　required　of　the

mistress　of　a　quiet　parsonage…housethe　place　in　which　I　shall　pass

my　days；　wherever　it　may　be　situated。　　O　Fancy；　I　have　watched　you；

criticized　you　even　severely；　brought　my　feelings　to　the　light　of

judgment；　and　still　have　found　them　rational；　and　such　as　any　man

might　have　expected　to　be　inspired　with　by　a　woman　like　you！　　So

there　is　nothing　hurried；　secret；　or　untoward　in　my　desire　to　do

this。　　Fancy；　will　you　marry　me？〃



No　answer　was　returned。



〃Don't　refuse；　don't；〃　he　implored。　　〃It　would　be　foolish　of　youI

mean　cruel！　　Of　course　we　would　not　live　here；　Fancy。　　I　have　had

for　a　long　time　the　offer　of　an　exchange　of　livings　with　a　friend　in

Yorkshire；　but　I　have　hitherto　refused　on　account　of　my　mother。

There　we　would　go。　　Your　musical　powers　shall　be　still　further

developed；　you　shall　have　whatever　pianoforte　you　like；　you　shall

have　anything；　Fancy；　anything　to　make　you　happypony…carriage；

flowers；　birds；　pleasant　society；　yes；　you　have　enough　in　you　for

any　society；　after　a　few　months　of　travel　with　me！　　Will　you；　Fancy；

marry　me？〃



Another　pause　ensued；　varied　only　by　the　surging　of　the　rain　against

the　windowpanes；　and　then　Fancy　spoke；　in　a　faint　and　broken

voice。



〃Yes；　I　will；〃　she　said。



〃God　bless　you；　my　own！〃　　He　advanced　quickly；　and　put　his　arm　out

to　embrace　her。　　She　drew　back　hastily。　　〃No　no；　not　now！〃　she　said

in　an　agitated　whisper。　　〃There　are　things；but　the　temptation　is；

O；　too　strong；　and　I　can't　resist　it　I　can't　tell　you　now；　but　I

must　tell　you！　　Don't；　please；　don't　come　near　me　now！　　I　want　to

think；　I　can　scarcely　get　myself　used　to　the　idea　of　what　I　have

promised　yet。〃　　The　next　minute　she　turned　to　a　desk；　buried　her

face　in　her　hands；　and　burst　into　a　hysterical　fit　of　weeping。　　〃O；

leave　me　to　myself！〃　she　sobbed；　〃leave　me！　　O；　leave　me！〃



〃Don't　be　distressed；　don't；　dearest！〃　　It　was　with　visible

difficulty　that　he　restrained　himself　from　approaching　her。　　〃You

shall　tell　me　at　your　leisure　what　it　is　that　grieves　you　so；　I　am

happybeyond　all　measure　happy！at　having　your　simple　promise。〃



〃And　do　go　and　leave　me　now！〃



〃But　I　must　not；　in　justice　to　you；　leave　for　a　minute；　until　you

are　yourself　again。〃



〃There　then；〃　she　said；　controlling　her　emotion；　and　standing　up；　〃I

am　not　disturbed　now。〃



He　reluctantly　moved　towards　the　door。　　〃Good…bye！〃　he　murmured

tenderly。　　〃I'll　come　to…morrow　about　this　time。〃







CHAPTER　VII：　　SECOND　THOUGHTS







The　next　morning　the　vicar　rose　early。　　The　first　thing　he　did　was

to　write　a　long　and　careful　letter　to　his　friend　in