under the greenwood tree-第30章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



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

of　the　company。



The　latter　arranged　their　eyes　and　lips　to　signify　that　in　their

opinion　nobody　could　have　thought　such　a　thing；　whatever　it　was。



〃That　my　bees　should　ha'　swarmed　just　then；　of　all　times　and

seasons！〃　continued　Dick；　throwing　a　comprehensive　glance　like　a　net

over　the　whole　auditory。　　〃And　'tis　a　fine　swarm；　too：　　I　haven't

seen　such　a　fine　swarm　for　these　ten　years。〃



〃A'　excellent　sign；〃　said　Mrs。　Penny；　from　the　depths　of　experience。

〃A'　excellent　sign。〃



〃I　am　glad　everything　seems　so　right；〃　said　Fancy　with　a　breath　of

relief。



〃And　so　am　I；〃　said　the　four　bridesmaids　with　much　sympathy。



〃Well；　bees　can't　be　put　off；〃　observed　the　inharmonious　grandfather

James。　　〃Marrying　a　woman　is　a　thing　you　can　do　at　any　moment；　but　a

swarm　o'　bees　won't　come　for　the　asking。〃



Dick　fanned　himself　with　his　hat。　　〃I　can't　think；〃　he　said

thoughtfully；　〃whatever　'twas　I　did　to　offend　Mr。　Maybold；　a　man　I

like　so　much　too。　　He　rather　took　to　me　when　he　came　first；　and　used

to　say　he　should　like　to　see　me　married；　and　that　he'd　marry　me；

whether　the　young　woman　I　chose　lived　in　his　parish　or　no。　　I　just

hinted　to　him　of　it　when　I　put　in　the　banns；　but　he　didn't　seem　to

take　kindly　to　the　notion　now；　and　so　I　said　no　more。　　I　wonder　how

it　was。〃



〃I　wonder！〃　said　Fancy；　looking　into　vacancy　with　those　beautiful

eyes　of　herstoo　refined　and　beautiful　for　a　tranter's　wife；　but；

perhaps；　not　too　good。



〃Altered　his　mind；　as　folks　will；　I　suppose；〃　said　the　tranter。

〃Well；　my　sonnies；　there'll　he　a　good　strong　party　looking　at　us　to…

day　as　we　go　along。〃



〃And　the　body　of　the　church；〃　said　Geoffrey；　〃will　be　lined　with

females；　and　a　row　of　young　fellers'　heads；　as　far　down　as　the　eyes；

will　be　noticed　just　above　the　sills　of　the　chancel…winders。〃



〃Ay；　you've　been　through　it　twice；〃　said　Reuben；　〃and　well　mid

know。〃



〃I　can　put　up　with　it　for　once；〃　said　Dick；　〃or　twice　either；　or　a

dozen　times。〃



〃O　Dick！〃　said　Fancy　reproachfully。



〃Why；　dear；　that's　nothing；only　just　a　bit　of　a　flourish。　　You　be

as　nervous　as　a　cat　to…day。〃



〃And　then；　of　course；　when　'tis　all　over；〃　continued　the　tranter；

〃we　shall　march　two　and　two　round　the　parish。〃



〃Yes；　sure；〃　said　Mr。　Penny：　　〃two　and　two：　　every　man　hitched　up　to

his　woman；　'a　b'lieve。〃



〃I　never　can　make　a　show　of　myself　in　that　way！〃　said　Fancy；　looking

at　Dick　to　ascertain　if　he　could。



〃I'm　agreed　to　anything　you　and　the　company　like；　my　dear！〃　said　Mr。

Richard　Dewy　heartily。



〃Why；　we　did　when　we　were　married；　didn't　we；　Ann？〃　said　the

tranter；　〃and　so　do　everybody；　my　sonnies。〃



〃And　so　did　we；〃　said　Fancy's　father。



〃And　so　did　Penny　and　I；〃　said　Mrs。　Penny：　　〃I　wore　my　best　Bath

clogs；　I　remember；　and　Penny　was　cross　because　it　made　me　look　so

tall。〃



〃And　so　did　father　and　mother；〃　said　Miss　Mercy　Onmey。



〃And　I　mean　to；　come　next　Christmas！〃　said　Nat　the　groomsman

vigorously；　and　looking　towards　the　person　of　Miss　Vashti　Sniff。



〃Respectable　people　don't　nowadays；〃　said　Fancy。　　〃Still；　since　poor

mother　did；　I　will。〃



〃Ay；〃　resumed　the　tranter；　〃'twas　on　a　White　Tuesday　when　I

committed　it。　　Mellstock　Club　walked　the　same　day；　and　we　new…

married　folk　went　a…gaying　round　the　parish　behind　'em。　　Everybody

used　to　wear　something　white　at　Whitsuntide　in　them　days。　　My

sonnies；　I've　got　the　very　white　trousers　that　I　wore；　at　home　in

box　now；　Ha'n't　I；　Ann？〃



〃You　had　till　I　cut　'em　up　for　Jimmy；〃　said　Mrs。　Dewy。



〃And　we　ought；　by　rights；　after　doing　this　parish；　to　go　round

Higher　and　Lower　Mellstock；　and　call　at　Viney's；　and　so　work　our　way

hither　again　across　He'th；〃　said　Mr。　Penny；　recovering　scent　of　the

matter　in　hand。　　〃Dairyman　Viney　is　a　very　respectable　man；　and　so

is　Farmer　Kex；　and　we　ought　to　show　ourselves　to　them。〃



〃True；〃　said　the　tranter；　〃we　ought　to　go　round　Mellstock　to　do　the

thing　well。　　We　shall　form　a　very　striking　object　walking　along　in

rotation；　good…now；　neighbours？〃



〃That　we　shall：　　a　proper　pretty　sight　for　the　nation；〃　said　Mrs。

Penny。



〃Hullo！〃　said　the　tranter；　suddenly　catching　sight　of　a　singular

human　figure　standing　in　the　doorway；　and　wearing　a　long　smock…frock

of　pillow…case　cut　and　of　snowy　whiteness。　　〃Why；　Leaf！　whatever

dost　thou　do　here？〃



〃I've　come　to　know　if　so　be　I　can　come　to　the　weddinghee…hee！〃

said　Leaf　in　a　voice　of　timidity。



〃Now；　Leaf；〃　said　the　tranter　reproachfully；　〃you　know　we　don't　want

'ee　here　to…day：　　we've　got　no　room　for　ye；　Leaf。〃



〃Thomas　Leaf；　Thomas　Leaf；　fie　upon　ye　for　prying！〃　said　old

William。



〃I　know　I've　got　no　head；　but　I　thought；　if　I　washed　and　put　on　a

clane　shirt　and　smock…frock；　I　might　just　call；〃　said　Leaf；　turning

away　disappointed　and　trembling。



〃Poor　feller！〃　said　the　tranter；　turning　to　Geoffrey。　　〃Suppose　we

must　let　en　come？　　His　looks　are　rather　against　en；　and　he　is

terrible　silly；　but　'a　have　never　been　in　jail；　and　'a　won't　do　no

harm。〃



Leaf　looked　with　gratitude　at　the　tranter　for　these　praises；　and

then　anxiously　at　Geoffrey；　to　see　what　effect　they　would　have　in

helping　his　cause。



〃Ay；　let　en　come；〃　said　Geoffrey　decisively。　　〃Leaf；　th'rt　welcome；

'st　know；〃　and　Leaf　accordingly　remained。



They　were　now　all　ready　for　leaving　the　house；　and　began　to　form　a

procession　in　the　following　order：　　Fancy　and　her　father；　Dick　and

Susan　Dewy；　Nat　Callcome　and　Vashti　Sniff；　Ted　Waywood　and　Mercy

Onmey；　and　Jimmy　and　Bessie　Dewy。　　These　formed　the　executive；　and

all　appeared　in　strict　wedding　attire。　　Then　came　the　tranter　and

Mrs。　Dewy；　and　last　of　all　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Penny；the　tranter

conspicuous　by　his　enormous　gloves；　size　eleven　and　three…quarters；

which　appeared　at　a　distance　like　boxing　gloves　bleached；　and　sat

rather　awkwardly　upon　his　brown　hands；　this　hall…mark　of

respectability　having　been　set　upon　himself　to…day　（by　Fancy's

special　request）　for　the　first　time　in　his　life。



〃The　proper　way　is　for　the　bridesmaids　to　walk　together；〃　suggested

Fancy。



〃What？　　'Twas　always　young　man　and　young　woman；　arm　in　crook；　in　my

time！〃　said　Geoffrey；　astounded。



〃And　in　mine！〃　said　the　tranter。



〃And　in　ours！〃　said　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Penny。



〃Never　heard　o'　such　a　thing　as　woman　and　woman！〃　said　old　William；

who；　with　grandfather　James　and　Mrs。　Day；　was　to　stay　at　home。



〃Whichever　way　you　and　the　company　like；　my　dear！〃　said　Dick；　who；

being　on　the　point　of　securing　his　right　to　Fancy；　seemed　willing　to

renounce　all　other　rights　in　the　world　with　the　greatest　pleasure

The　decision　was　left　to　Fancy。



〃Well；　I　think　I'd　rather　have　it　the　way　mother　had　it；〃　she　said；

and　the　couples　moved　along　under　the　trees；　every　man　to　his　maid。



〃Ah！〃　said　grandfather　James　to　grandfather　William　as　they　retired；

〃I　wonder　which　she　thinks　most　about；　Dick　or　her　wedding　raiment！〃



〃Well；　'tis　their　nature；〃　said　grandfather　William。　　〃Remember　the

words　of　the　prophet　Jeremiah：　　'Can　a　maid　forget　her　ornaments；　or

a　bride　her　attire？'〃



Now　among　dark　perpendicular　firs；　like　the　shafted　columns　of　a

cathedral；　now　through　a　hazel　copse；　matted　with　primroses　and　wild

hyacinths；　now　under　broad　beeches　in　bright　young　leaves　they

threaded　their　way　into　the　high　road　over　Yalbury　Hill；　which

dipped　at　that　point　directly　into　the　village　of　Geoffrey　Day's

parish；　and　in　the　space　of　a　quarter　of　an　hour　Fancy　found　herself

to　be　Mrs。　Richard　Dewy；　though；　much　to　her　surprise；　feeling　no

other　than　Fancy　Day　still。



On　the　circuitous　return　walk　through　the　lanes　and　fields；　amid

much　chattering　and　laughter；　especially　when　they　came　to　stiles；

Dick　discerned　a　brown　spot　far　up　a　turnip　field。



〃Why；　'tis　Enoch！〃　he　said　to　Fancy。　　〃I　thought　I　missed　him　at　the

house　this　morning。　　How　is　it　he's　left　you？〃



〃He　drank　too　much　cider；　and　it　got　into　his　head；　and　they　put　him

in　Weatherbury　stocks　for　it。　　Father　was　obliged　to　get　somebody

else　for　a　day　or　two；　and　Enoch　hasn't　had　anything　to　do　with　the

woods　since。〃



〃We　might　ask　him　to　call　down　to…night。　　Stocks　are　nothing　for

once；　considering　'tis　our　wedding　day。〃　　The　bridal　party　was

ordered　to　halt。



〃Eno…o…o…o…ch！〃　cried　Dick　at　the　top　of　his　voice。



〃Y…a…a…a…a…a…as！〃　said　Enoch　from　the　distance。



〃D'ye　know　who　I　be…e…e…e…e…e？〃



〃No…o…o…o…o…o…o！〃



〃Dick　Dew…w…w…w…wy！〃



〃O…h…h…h…h…h！〃



〃Just　a…ma…a…a…a…a…arried！〃



〃O…h…h…h…h…h！〃



〃This　is　my　wife；　Fa…a…a…a…a…ancy！〃　（holding　her　up　to　Enoch's　view

as　if　she　had　been　a　nosegay。）



〃O…h…h…h…h…h！〃



〃Will　ye　come　across　to　the　party　to…ni…i…i…i…i…i…ight！〃



〃Ca…a…a…a…a…an't！〃



〃Why　n…o…o…o…o…ot？〃



〃Don't　work　for　the　family　no…o…o…o…ow！〃



〃Not　nice　of　Master　Enoch；〃　said　Dick；　as　they　resumed　their　walk。



〃You　mustn't　blame　en；〃　said　Geoffrey；　〃the　man's　not　hisself　now；

he's　in　his　morning　frame　of　mind。　　When　he's　had　a　gallon　o'　cider

or　ale；　or　a　pint　or　two　of　mead；　the　man's　well　enough；　and　his

manners　be　as　good　as　anybody's　in　the　kingdom。〃







CHAPTER　II：　　UNDER　THE　GREENWOOD　TREE







The　point　in　Yalbury　Wood　which　abutted　on　the　end　of　Geoffrey　Day's

premises　was　closed　with　an　ancient　tree；　horizontally　of　enormous

extent；　though　having　no　great　pretensions　to　height。　　Many　hundreds

of　birds　had　been　born　amidst　the　boughs　of　this　single　tree；　tribes

of　rabbits　and　hares　had　nibbled　at　its　bark　from　year　to　year；

quaint　tufts　of　fungi　had　sprung　from　the　cavities　of　its　forks；　and

countless　families　of　moles　and　earthworms　had　crept　about　its

roots。　　Beneath　and　beyond　its　shade　spread　a　carefully…tended

grass…plot；　its　purpose　being　to　supply　a　healthy　exercise…ground

for　young　chickens　and　pheasants；　the　hens；　their　mothers；　being

enclosed　in　coops　placed　upon　the　same　green　flooring。



All　these　encumbrances　were　now　removed；　and　as　the　afternoon

advanced；　the　guests　gathered　on　the　spot；　where　music；　dancing；　and

the　singing　of　songs　went　forward　with　great　spirit　throughout　the

evening。　　The　propriety　of　every　one　was　intense　by　reason　of　the

influence　of　Fancy；　who；　as　an　additional　precaution　in　this

direction；　had　strictly　charged　her　father　and　the　tranter　to

carefully　avoid　saying　'thee'　and　'thou'　in　their　conversation；　on

the　plea　that　those　ancient　words　sounded　so　very　humiliating　to

persons　of　newer　taste；　also　that　they　were　never　to　be　seen　drawing

the　back　of　the　hand　across　the　mouth　after　drinkinga　local

English　custom　of　extraordinary　antiquity；　but　stated　by　Fancy　to　be

decidedly　dying　out　among　the　better　classes　of　society。



In　addition　to　the　local　musicians　present；　a　man　who　had　a　thorough

knowledge　of　the　tambour