under the greenwood tree-第29章

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waistcoat；　and　coming　down　again　to　make　another　remark　whilst

buttoning　that；　during　the　time　looking　fixedly　in　the　tranter's

face　as　if　he　were　a　looking…glass。



The　furniture　had　undergone　attenuation　to　an　alarming　extent；　every

duplicate　piece　having　been　removed；　including　the　clock　by　Thomas

Wood；　Ezekiel　Saunders　being　at　last　left　sole　referee　in　matters　of

time。



Fancy　was　stationary　upstairs；　receiving　her　layers　of　clothes　and

adornments；　and　answering　by　short　fragments　of　laughter　which　had

more　fidgetiness　than　mirth　in　them；　remarks　that　were　made　from

time　to　time　by　Mrs。　Dewy　and　Mrs。　Penny；　who　were　assisting　her　at

the　toilet；　Mrs。　Day　having　pleaded　a　queerness　in　her　head　as　a

reason　for　shutting　herself　up　in　an　inner　bedroom　for　the　whole

morning。　　Mrs。　Penny　appeared　with　nine　corkscrew　curls　on　each　side

of　her　temples；　and　a　back　comb　stuck　upon　her　crown　like　a　castle

on　a　steep。



The　conversation　just　now　going　on　was　concerning　the　banns；　the

last　publication　of　which　had　been　on　the　Sunday　previous。



〃And　how　did　they　sound？〃　Fancy　subtly　inquired。



〃Very　beautiful　indeed；〃　said　Mrs。　Penny。　　〃I　never　heard　any　sound

better。〃



〃But　HOW？〃



〃O；　SO　natural　and　elegant；　didn't　they；　Reuben！〃　she　cried；　through

the　chinks　of　the　unceiled　floor；　to　the　tranter　downstairs。



〃What's　that？〃　said　the　tranter；　looking　up　inquiringly　at　the　floor

above　him　for　an　answer。



〃Didn't　Dick　and　Fancy　sound　well　when　they　were　called　home　in

church　last　Sunday？〃　came　downwards　again　in　Mrs。　Penny's　voice。



〃Ay；　that　they　did；　my　sonnies！especially　the　first　time。　　There

was　a　terrible　whispering　piece　of　work　in　the　congregation；　wasn't

there；　neighbour　Penny？〃　said　the　tranter；　taking　up　the　thread　of

conversation　on　his　own　account　and；　in　order　to　be　heard　in　the

room　above；　speaking　very　loud　to　Mr。　Penny；　who　sat　at　the　distance

of　three　feet　from　him；　or　rather　less。



〃I　never　can　mind　seeing　such　a　whispering　as　there　was；〃　said　Mr。

Penny；　also　loudly；　to　the　room　above。　　〃And　such　sorrowful　envy　on

the　maidens'　faces；　really；　I　never　did　see　such　envy　as　there　was！〃



Fancy's　lineaments　varied　in　innumerable　little　flushes；　and　her

heart　palpitated　innumerable　little　tremors　of　pleasure。　　〃But

perhaps；〃　she　said；　with　assumed　indifference；　〃it　was　only　because

no　religion　was　going　on　just　then？〃



〃O；　no；　nothing　to　do　with　that。　　'Twas　because　of　your　high

standing　in　the　parish。　　It　was　just　as　if　they　had　one　and　all

caught　Dick　kissing　and　coling　ye　to　death；　wasn't　it；　Mrs。　Dewy？〃



〃Ay；　that　'twas。〃



〃How　people　will　talk　about　one's　doings！〃　Fancy　exclaimed。



〃Well；　if　you　make　songs　about　yourself；　my　dear；　you　can't　blame

other　people　for　singing　'em。〃



〃Mercy　me！　how　shall　I　go　through　it？〃　said　the　young　lady　again；

but　merely　to　those　in　the　bedroom；　with　a　breathing　of　a　kind

between　a　sigh　and　a　pant；　round　shining　eyes；　and　warm　face。



〃O；　you'll　get　through　it　well　enough；　child；〃　said　Mrs。　Dewy

placidly。　　〃The　edge　of　the　performance　is　took　off　at　the　calling

home；　and　when　once　you　get　up　to　the　chancel　end　o'　the　church；　you

feel　as　saucy　as　you　please。　　I'm　sure　I　felt　as　brave　as　a　sodger

all　through　the　deedthough　of　course　I　dropped　my　face　and　looked

modest；　as　was　becoming　to　a　maid。　　Mind　you　do　that；　Fancy。〃



〃And　I　walked　into　the　church　as　quiet　as　a　lamb；　I'm　sure；〃

subjoined　Mrs。　Penny。　　〃There；　you　see　Penny　is　such　a　little　small

man；　But　certainly；　I　was　flurried　in　the　inside　o'　me。　　Well；

thinks　I；　'tis　to　be；　and　here　goes！　　And　do　you　do　the　same：　　say；

''Tis　to　be；　and　here　goes！'〃



〃Is　there　such　wonderful　virtue　in　''Tis　to　be；　and　here　goes！'〃

inquired　Fancy。



〃Wonderful！　　'Twill　carry　a　body　through　it　all　from　wedding　to

churching；　if　you　only　let　it　out　with　spirit　enough。〃



〃Very　well；　then；〃　said　Fancy；　blushing。　　〃'Tis　to　be；　and　here

goes！〃



〃That's　a　girl　for　a　husband！〃　said　Mrs。　Dewy。



〃I　do　hope　he'll　come　in　time！〃　continued　the　bride…elect；　inventing

a　new　cause　of　affright；　now　that　the　other　was　demolished。



〃'Twould　be　a　thousand　pities　if　he　didn't　come；　now　you　he　so

brave；〃　said　Mrs。　Penny。



Grandfather　James；　having　overheard　some　of　these　remarks；　said

downstairs　with　mischievous　loudness〃I've　known　some　would…be

weddings　when　the　men　didn't　come。〃



〃They've　happened　not　to　come；　before　now；　certainly；〃　said　Mr。

Penny；　cleaning　one　of　the　glasses　of　his　spectacles。



〃O；　do　hear　what　they　are　saying　downstairs；〃　whispered　Fancy。

〃Hush；　hush！〃



She　listened。



〃They　have；　haven't　they；　Geoffrey？〃　continued　grandfather　James；　as

Geoffrey　entered。



〃Have　what？〃　said　Geoffrey。



〃The　men　have　been　known　not　to　come。〃



〃That　they　have；〃　said　the　keeper。



〃Ay；　I've　knowed　times　when　the　wedding　had　to　be　put　off　through

his　not　appearing；　being　tired　of　the　woman。　　And　another　case　I

knowed　was　when　the　man　was　catched　in　a　man…trap　crossing　Oaker's

Wood；　and　the　three　months　had　run　out　before　he　got　well；　and　the

banns　had　to　be　published　over　again。〃



〃How　horrible！〃　said　Fancy。



〃They　only　say　it　on　purpose　to　tease　'ee；　my　dear；〃　said　Mrs。　Dewy。



〃'Tis　quite　sad　to　think　what　wretched　shifts　poor　maids　have　been

put　to；〃　came　again　from　downstairs。　　〃Ye　should　hear　Clerk　Wilkins；

my　brother…law；　tell　his　experiences　in　marrying　couples　these　last

thirty　year：　　sometimes　one　thing；　sometimes　another'tis　quite

heart…rendingenough　to　make　your　hair　stand　on　end。〃



〃Those　things　don't　happen　very　often；　I　know；〃　said　Fancy；　with

smouldering　uneasiness。



〃Well；　really　'tis　time　Dick　was　here；〃　said　the　tranter。



〃Don't　keep　on　at　me　so；　grandfather　James　and　Mr。　Dewy；　and　all　you

down　there！〃　Fancy　broke　out；　unable　to　endure　any　longer。　　〃I　am

sure　I　shall　die；　or　do　something；　if　you　do！〃



〃Never　you　hearken　to　these　old　chaps；　Miss　Day！〃　cried　Nat

Callcome；　the　best　man；　who　had　just　entered；　and　threw　his　voice

upward　through　the　chinks　of　the　floor　as　the　others　had　done。

〃'Tis　all　right；　Dick's　coming　on　like　a　wild　feller；　he'll　be　here

in　a　minute。　　The　hive　o'　bees　his　mother　gie'd　en　for　his　new

garden　swarmed　jist　as　he　was　starting；　and　he　said；　〃I　can't　afford

to　lose　a　stock　o'　bees；　no；　that　I　can't；　though　I　fain　would；　and

Fancy　wouldn't　wish　it　on　any　account。〃　　So　he　jist　stopped　to　ting

to　'em　and　shake　'em。〃



〃A　genuine　wise　man；〃　said　Geoffrey。



〃To　be　sure；　what　a　day's　work　we　had　yesterday！〃　Mr。　Callcome

continued；　lowering　his　voice　as　if　it　were　not　necessary　any　longer

to　include　those　in　the　room　above　among　his　audience；　and　selecting

a　remote　corner　of　his　best　clean　handkerchief　for　wiping　his　face。

〃To　be　sure！〃



〃Things　so　heavy；　I　suppose；〃　said　Geoffrey；　as　if　reading　through

the　chimney…window　from　the　far　end　of　the　vista。



〃Ay；〃　said　Nat；　looking　round　the　room　at　points　from　which

furniture　had　been　removed。　　〃And　so　awkward　to　carry；　too。　　'Twas

ath'art　and　across　Dick's　garden；　in　and　out　Dick's　door；　up　and

down　Dick's　stairs；　round　and　round　Dick's　chammers　till　legs　were

worn　to　stumps：　　and　Dick　is　so　particular；　too。　　And　the　stores　of

victuals　and　drink　that　lad　has　laid　in：　　why；　'tis　enough　for

Noah's　ark！　　I'm　sure　I　never　wish　to　see　a　choicer　half…dozen　of

hams　than　he's　got　there　in　his　chimley；　and　the　cider　I　tasted　was

a　very　pretty　drop；　indeed；none　could　desire　a　prettier　cider。〃



〃They　be　for　the　love　and　the　stalled　ox　both；　Ah；　the　greedy

martels！〃　said　grandfather　James。



〃Well；　may…be　they　be。　　Surely；〃　says　I；　〃that　couple　between　'em

have　heaped　up　so　much　furniture　and　victuals；　that　anybody　would

think　they　were　going　to　take　hold　the　big　end　of　married　life

first；　and　begin　wi'　a　grown…up　family。　　Ah；　what　a　bath　of　heat　we

two　chaps　were　in；　to　be　sure；　a…getting　that　furniture　in　order！〃



〃I　do　so　wish　the　room　below　was　ceiled；〃　said　Fancy；　as　the

dressing　went　on；　〃we　can　hear　all　they　say　and　do　down　there。〃



〃Hark！　　Who's　that？〃　exclaimed　a　small　pupil…teacher；　who　also

assisted　this　morning；　to　her　great　delight。　　She　ran　half…way　down

the　stairs；　and　peeped　round　the　banister。　　〃O；　you　should；　you

should；　you　should！〃　she　exclaimed；　scrambling　up　to　the　room　again。



〃What？〃　said　Fancy。



〃See　the　bridesmaids！　　They've　just　a　come！　'Tis　wonderful；　really！

'tis　wonderful　how　muslin　can　be　brought　to　it。　　There；　they　don't

look　a　bit　like　themselves；　but　like　some　very　rich　sisters　o'

theirs　that　nobody　knew　they　had！〃



〃Make　'em　come　up　to　me；　make　'em　come　up！〃　cried　Fancy

ecstatically；　and　the　four　damsels　appointed；　namely；　Miss　Susan

Dewy；　Miss　Bessie　Dewy；　Miss　Vashti　Sniff；　and　Miss　Mercy　Onmey；

surged　upstairs；　and　floated　along　the　passage。



〃I　wish　Dick　would　come！〃　was　again　the　burden　of　Fancy。



The　same　instant　a　small　twig　and　flower　from　the　creeper　outside

the　door　flew　in　at　the　open　window；　and　a　masculine　voice　said；

〃Ready；　Fancy　dearest？〃



〃There　he　is；　he　is！〃　cried　Fancy；　tittering　spasmodically；　and

breathing　as　it　were　for　the　first　time　that　morning。



The　bridesmaids　crowded　to　the　window　and　turned　their　heads　in　the

direction　pointed　out；　at　which　motion　eight　earrings　all　swung　as

one：　not　looking　at　Dick　because　they　particularly　wanted　to　see

him；　but　with　an　important　sense　of　their　duty　as　obedient　ministers

of　the　will　of　that　apotheosised　beingthe　Bride。



〃He　looks　very　taking！〃　said　Miss　Vashti　Sniff；　a　young　lady　who

blushed　cream…colour　and　wore　yellow　bonnet　ribbons。



Dick　was　advancing　to　the　door　in　a　painfully　new　coat　of　shining

cloth；　primrose…coloured　waistcoat；　hat　of　the　same　painful　style　of

newness；　and　with　an　extra　quantity　of　whiskers　shaved　off　his　face；

and　hair　cut　to　an　unwonted　shortness　in　honour　of　the　occasion。



〃Now；　I'll　run　down；〃　said　Fancy；　looking　at　herself　over　her

shoulder　in　the　glass；　and　flitting　off。



〃O　Dick！〃　she　exclaimed；　〃I　am　so　glad　you　are　come！　　I　knew　you

would；　of　course；　but　I　thought；　Oh　if　you　shouldn't！〃



〃Not　come；　Fancy！　　Het　or　wet；　blow　or　snow；　here　come　I　to…day！

Why；　what's　possessing　your　little　soul？　　You　never　used　to　mind

such　things　a　bit。〃



〃Ah；　Mr。　Dick；　I　hadn't　hoisted　my　colours　and　committed　myself

then！〃　said　Fancy。



〃'Tis　a　pity　I　can't　marry　the　whole　five　of　ye！〃　said　Dick；

surveying　them　all　round。



〃Heh…heh…heh！〃　laughed　the　four　bridesmaids；　and　Fancy　privately

touched　Dick　and　smoothed　him　down　behind　his　shoulder；　as　if　to

assure　herself　that　he　was　there　in　flesh　and　blood　as　her　own

property。



〃Well；　whoever　would　have　thought　such　a　thing？〃　said　Dick；　taking

off　his　hat；　sinking　into　a　chair；　and　turning　to　the　elder　members

of　the　company。