under the greenwood tree-第4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！



〃that　she'll　walk　to　church　in　tomorrow　morning。　　I　don't　care　to

mend　boots　I　don't　make；　but　there's　no　knowing　what　it　may　lead　to；

and　her　father　always　comes　to　me。〃



There；　between　the　cidermug　and　the　candle；　stood　this　interesting

receptacle　of　the　little　unknown's　foot；　and　a　very　pretty　boot　it

was。　　A　character；　in　factthe　flexible　bend　at　the　instep；　the

rounded　localities　of　the　small　nestling　toes；　scratches　from

careless　scampers　now　forgottenall；　as　repeated　in　the　tell…tale

leather；　evidencing　a　nature　and　a　bias。　　Dick　surveyed　it　with　a

delicate　feeling　that　he　had　no　right　to　do　so　without　having　first

asked　the　owner　of　the　foot's　permission。



〃Now；　neighbours；　though　no　common　eye　can　see　it；〃　the　shoemaker；

went　on；　〃a　man　in　the　trade　can　see　the　likeness　between　this　boot

and　that　last；　although　that　is　so　deformed　as　hardly　to　recall　one

of　God's　creatures；　and　this　is　one　of　as　pretty　a　pair　as　you'd　get

for　ten…and…sixpence　in　Casterbridge。　　To　you；　nothing；　but　'tis

father's　voot　and　daughter's　voot　to　me；　as　plain　as　houses。〃



〃I　don't　doubt　there's　a　likeness；　Master　Pennya　mild　likenessa

fantastical　likeness；〃　said　Spinks。　　〃But　_I_　han't　got　imagination

enough　to　see　it；　perhaps。〃



Mr。　Penny　adjusted　his　spectacles。



〃Now；　I'll　tell　ye　what　happened　to　me　once　on　this　very　point。　　You

used　to　know　Johnson　the　dairyman；　William？〃



〃Ay；　sure；　I　did。〃



〃Well；　'twasn't　opposite　his　house；　but　a　little　lower　downby　his

paddock；　in　front　o'　Parkmaze　Pool。　　I　was　a…bearing　across　towards

Bloom's　End；and　ho　and　behold；　there　was　a　man　just　brought　out　o'

the　Pool；　dead；　he　had　un'rayed　for　a　dip；　but　not　being　able　to

pitch　it　just　there　had　gone　in　flop　over　his　head。　　Men　looked　at

en；　women　looked　at　en；　children　looked　at　en；　nobody　knowed　en。　　He

was　covered　wi'　a　sheet；　but　I　catched　sight　of　his　voot；　just

showing　out　as　they　carried　en　along。　　'I　don't　care　what　name　that

man　went　by；'　I　said；　in　my　way；　'but　he's　John　Woodward's　brother；

I　can　swear　to　the　family　voot。'　　At　that　very　moment　up　comes　John

Woodward；　weeping　and　teaving；　'I've　lost　my　brother！　　I've　lost　my

brother！'〃



〃Only　to　think　of　that！〃　said　Mrs。　Dewy。



〃'Tis　well　enough　to　know　this　foot　and　that　foot；〃　said　Mr。　Spinks。

〃'Tis　long…headed；　in　fact；　as　far　as　feet　do　go。　　I　know　little；

'tis　trueI　say　no　more；　but　show　ME　a　man's　foot；　and　I'll　tell

you　that　man's　heart。〃



〃You　must　be　a　cleverer　feller；　then；　than　mankind　in　jineral；〃　said

the　tranter。



〃Well；　that's　nothing　for　me　to　speak　of；〃　returned　Mr。　Spinks。　　〃A

man　hives　and　learns。　　Maybe　I've　read　a　leaf　or　two　in　my　time。　　I

don't　wish　to　say　anything　large；　mind　you；　but　nevertheless；　maybe

I　have。〃



〃Yes；　I　know；〃　said　Michael　soothingly；　〃and　all　the　parish　knows；

that　ye've　read　sommat　of　everything　a'most；　and　have　been　a　great

filler　of　young　folks'　brains。　　Learning's　a　worthy　thing；　and　ye've

got　it；　Master　Spinks。〃



〃I　make　no　boast；　though　I　may　have　read　and　thought　a　little；　and　I

knowit　may　be　from　much　perusing；　but　I　make　no　boastthat　by　the

time　a　man's　head　is　finished；　'tis　almost　time　for　him　to　creep

underground。　　I　am　over　forty…five。〃



Mr。　Spinks　emitted　a　hook　to　signify　that　if　his　head　was　not

finished；　nobody's　head　ever　could　be。



〃Talk　of　knowing　people　by　their　feet！〃　said　Reuben。　　〃Rot　me；　my

sonnies；　then；　if　I　can　tell　what　a　man　is　from　all　his　members　put

together；　oftentimes。〃



〃But　still；　look　is　a　good　deal；〃　observed　grandfather　William

absently；　moving　and　balancing　his　head　till　the　tip　of　grandfather

James's　nose　was　exactly　in　a　right　line　with　William's　eye　and　the

mouth　of　a　miniature　cavern　he　was　discerning　in　the　fire。　　〃By　the

way；〃　he　continued　in　a　fresher　voice；　and　looking　up；　〃that　young

crater；　the　schoolmis'ess；　must　be　sung　to　to…night　wi'　the　rest？

If　her　ear　is　as　fine　as　her　face；　we　shall　have　enough　to　do　to　be

up…sides　with　her。〃



〃What　about　her　face？〃　said　young　Dewy。



〃Well；　as　to　that；〃　Mr。　Spinks　replied；　〃'tis　a　face　you　can　hardly

gainsay。　　A　very　good　pink　face；　as　far　as　that　do　go。　　Still；　only

a　face；　when　all　is　said　and　done。〃



〃Come；　come；　Elias　Spinks；　say　she's　a　pretty　maid；　and　have　done

wi'　her；〃　said　the　tranter；　again　preparing　to　visit　the　cider…

barrel。







CHAPTER　IV：　　GOING　THE　ROUNDS







Shortly　after　ten　o'clock　the　singing…boys　arrived　at　the　tranter's

house；　which　was　invariably　the　place　of　meeting；　and　preparations

were　made　for　the　start。　　The　older　men　and　musicians　wore　thick

coats；　with　stiff　perpendicular　collars；　and　coloured　handkerchiefs

wound　round　and　round　the　neck　till　the　end　came　to　hand；　over　all

which　they　just　showed　their　ears　and　noses；　like　people　looking

over　a　wall。　　The　remainder；　stalwart　ruddy　men　and　boys；　were

dressed　mainly　in　snow…white　smock…frocks；　embroidered　upon　the

shoulders　and　breasts；　in　ornamental　forms　of　hearts；　diamonds；　and

zigzags。　　The　cider…mug　was　emptied　for　the　ninth　time；　the　music…

books　were　arranged；　and　the　pieces　finally　decided　upon。　　The　boys

in　the　meantime　put　the　old　horn…lanterns　in　order；　cut　candles　into

short　lengths　to　fit　the　lanterns；　and；　a　thin　fleece　of　snow　having

fallen　since　the　early　part　of　the　evening；　those　who　had　no

leggings　went　to　the　stable　and　wound　wisps　of　hay　round　their

ankles　to　keep　the　insidious　flakes　from　the　interior　of　their

boots。



Mellstock　was　a　parish　of　considerable　acreage；　the　hamlets

composing　it　lying　at　a　much　greater　distance　from　each　other　than

is　ordinarily　the　case。　　Hence　several　hours　were　consumed　in

playing　and　singing　within　hearing　of　every　family；　even　if　but　a

single　air　were　bestowed　on　each。　　There　was　Lower　Mellstock；　the

main　village；　half　a　mile　from　this　were　the　church　and　vicarage；

and　a　few　other　houses；　the　spot　being　rather　lonely　now；　though　in

past　centuries　it　had　been　the　most　thickly…populated　quarter　of　the

parish。　　A　mile　north…east　hay　the　hamlet　of　Upper　Mellstock；　where

the　tranter　lived；　and　at　other　points　knots　of　cottages；　besides

solitary　farmsteads　and　dairies。



Old　William　Dewy；　with　the　violoncello；　played　the　bass；　his

grandson　Dick　the　treble　violin；　and　Reuben　and　Michael　Mail　the

tenor　and　second　violins　respectively。　　The　singers　consisted　of

four　men　and　seven　boys；　upon　whom　devolved　the　task　of　carrying　and

attending　to　the　lanterns；　and　holding　the　books　open　for　the

players。　　Directly　music　was　the　theme；　old　William　ever　and

instinctively　came　to　the　front。



〃Now　mind；　neighbours；〃　he　said；　as　they　all　went　out　one　by　one　at

the　door；　he　himself　holding　it　ajar　and　regarding　them　with　a

critical　face　as　they　passed；　like　a　shepherd　counting　out　his

sheep。　　〃You　two　counter…boys；　keep　your　ears　open　to　Michael's

fingering；　and　don't　ye　go　straying　into　the　treble　part　along　o'

Dick　and　his　set；　as　ye　did　last　year；　and　mind　this　especially　when

we　be　in　〃Arise；　and　hail。〃　　Billy　Chimlen；　don't　you　sing　quite　so

raving　mad　as　you　fain　would；　and；　all　o'　ye；　whatever　ye　do；　keep

from　making　a　great　scuffle　on　the　ground　when　we　go　in　at　people's

gates；　but　go　quietly；　so　as　to　strike　up　all　of　a　sudden；　like

spirits。〃



〃Farmer　Ledlow's　first？〃



〃Farmer　Ledlow's　first；　the　rest　as　usual。〃



〃And；　Voss；〃　said　the　tranter　terminatively；　〃you　keep　house　here

till　about　half…past　two；　then　heat　the　metheglin　and　cider　in　the

warmer　you'll　find　turned　up　upon　the　copper；　and　bring　it　wi'　the

victuals　to　church…hatch；　as　th'st　know。〃





Just　before　the　chock　struck　twelve　they　lighted　the　lanterns　and

started。　　The　moon；　in　her　third　quarter；　had　risen　since　the

snowstorm；　but　the　dense　accumulation　of　snow…cloud　weakened　her

power　to　a　faint　twilight；　which　was　rather　pervasive　of　the

landscape　than　traceable　to　the　sky。　　The　breeze　had　gone　down；　and

the　rustle　of　their　feet　and　tones　of　their　speech　echoed　with　an

alert　rebound　from　every　post；　boundary…stone；　and　ancient　wall　they

passed；　even　where　the　distance　of　the　echo's　origin　was　less　than　a

few　yards。　　Beyond　their　own　slight　noises　nothing　was　to　be　heard；

save　the　occasional　bark　of　foxes　in　the　direction　of　Yalbury　Wood；

or　the　brush　of　a　rabbit　among　the　grass　now　and　then；　as　it

scampered　out　of　their　way。



Most　of　the　outlying　homesteads　and　hamlets　had　been　visited　by

about　two　o'clock；　they　then　passed　across　the　outskirts　of　a　wooded

park　toward　the　main　village；　nobody　being　at　home　at　the　Manor。

Pursuing　no　recognized　track；　great　care　was　necessary　in　walking

lest　their　faces　should　come　in　contact　with　the　low…hanging　boughs

of　the　old　lime…trees；　which　in　many　spots　formed　dense　over…growths

of　interlaced　branches。



〃Times　have　changed　from　the　times　they　used　to　be；〃　said　Mail；

regarding　nobody　can　tell　what　interesting　old　panoramas　with　an

inward　eye；　and　letting　his　outward　glance　rest　on　the　ground；

because　it　was　as　convenient　a　position　as　any。　　〃People　don't　care

much　about　us　now！　　I've　been　thinking　we　must　be　almost　the　last

left　in　the　county　of　the　old　string　players？　　Barrel…organs；　and

the　things　next　door　to　'em　that　you　blow　wi'　your　foot；　have　come

in　terribly　of　late　years。〃



〃Ay！〃　said　Bowman；　shaking　his　head；　and　old　William；　on　seeing　him；

did　the　same　thing。



〃More's　the　pity；〃　replied　another。　　〃Time　waslong　and　merry　ago

now！when　not　one　of　the　varmits　was　to　be　heard　of；　but　it　served

some　of　the　quires　right。　　They　should　have　stuck　to　strings　as　we

did；　and　kept　out　clarinets；　and　done　away　with　serpents。　　If　you'd

thrive　in　musical　religion；　stick　to　strings；　says　I。〃



〃Strings　be　safe　soul…lifters；　as　far　as　that　do　go；〃　said　Mr。

Spinks。



〃Yet　there's　worse　things　than　serpents；〃　said　Mr。　Penny。　　〃Old

things　pass　away；　'tis　true；　but　a　serpent　was　a　good　old　note：　　a

deep　rich　note　was　the　serpent。〃



〃Clar'nets；　however；　be　bad　at　all　times；〃　said　Michael　Mail。　　〃One

Christmasyears　agone　now；　yearsI　went　the　rounds　wi'　the

Weatherbury　quire。　　'Twas　a　hard　frosty　night；　and　the　keys　of　all

the　clar'nets　frozeah；　they　did　freeze！so　that　'twas　like

drawing　a　cork　every　time　a　key　was　opened；　and　the　players　o'　'em

had　to　go　into　a　hedger…and…ditcher's　chimley…corner；　and　thaw　their

clar'nets　every　now　and　then。　　An　icicle　o'　spet　hung　down　from　the

end　of　every　man's　clar'net　a　span　long；　and　as　to　fingerswell；

there；　if　ye'll　believe　me；　we　bad　no　fingers　at　all；　to　our

knowing。〃



〃I　can　well　bring　back　to　my　mind；〃　said　Mr。　Penny；　〃what　I　said　to

poor　Joseph　Ryme　（who　took　the　treble　part　in　Chalk…Newton　Church

for　two…and…forty　year）　when　they　thought　of　having　clar'nets　there。

〃Joseph；〃　I　said；　says　I；　〃depend　upon't；　if　so　be　you　have　them

tooting　clar'nets　you'll　spoil　the　whole　set…ou