five tales-第29章

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　come　from　hard　work　in　the　fields；　and　stood　shifting　his　feet；　breathing　loudly；　his　face　coloured　like　a　setting　sun；　and　his　arms；　below　the　rolled…up　sleeves　of　his　blue　shirt；　showing　the　hue　and　furry　sheen　of　ripe　peaches。　　His　red　lips　were　open；　his　blue　eyes　with　their　flaxen　lashes　stared　fixedly　at　Ashurst；　who　said　ironically：

〃Well；　Joe；　anything　I　can　do　for　you？〃

〃Yeas。〃

〃What；　then？〃

〃Yu　can　goo　away　from　yere。　　Us　don'　want　yu。〃

Ashurst's　face；　never　too　humble；　assumed　its　most　lordly　look。

〃Very　good　of　you；　but；　do　you　know；　I　prefer　the　others　should　speak　for　themselves。〃

The　youth　moved　a　pace　or　two　nearer；　and　the　scent　of　his　honest　heat　afflicted　Ashurst's　nostrils。

〃What　d'yu　stay　yere　for？〃

〃Because　it　pleases　me。〃

〃Twon't　please　yu　when　I've　bashed　yure　head　in！〃

〃Indeed！　　When　would　you　like　to　begin　that？〃

Joe　answered　only　with　the　loudness　of　his　breathing；　but　his　eyes　looked　like　those　of　a　young　and　angry　bull。　　Then　a　sort　of　spasm　seemed　to　convulse　his　face。

〃Megan　don'　want　yu。〃

A　rush　of　jealousy；　of　contempt；　and　anger　with　this　thick；　loud…　breathing　rustic　got　the　better　of　Ashurst's　self…possession；　he　jumped　up；　and　pushed　back　his　chair。

〃You　can　go　to　the　devil！〃

And　as　he　said　those　simple　words；　he　saw　Megan　in　the　doorway　with　a　tiny　brown　spaniel　puppy　in　her　arms。　　She　came　up　to　him　quickly：

〃Its　eyes　are　blue！〃　　she　said。

Joe　turned　away；　the　back　of　his　neck　was　literally　crimson。

Ashurst　put　his　finger　to　the　mouth　of　the　little　brown　bullfrog　of　a　creature　in　her　arms。　　How　cosy　it　looked　against　her！

〃It's　fond　of　you　already。　　Ah　I　Megan；　everything　is　fond　of　you。〃

〃What　was　Joe　saying　to　you；　please？〃

〃Telling　me　to　go　away；　because　you　didn't　want　me　here。〃

She　stamped　her　foot；　then　looked　up　at　Ashurst。　　At　that　adoring　look　he　felt　his　nerves　quiver；　just　as　if　he　had　seen　a　moth　scorching　its　wings。

〃To…night！〃　　he　said。　　〃Don't　forget！〃

〃No。〃　　And　smothering　her　face　against　the　puppy's　little　fat；　brown　body；　she　slipped　back　into　the　house。

Ashurst　wandered　down　the　lane。　　At　the　gate　of　the　wild　meadow　he　came　on　the　lame　man　and　his　cows。

〃Beautiful　day；　Jim！〃

〃Ah！　　'Tes　brave　weather　for　the　grass。　　The　ashes　be　later　than　th'　oaks　this　year。　　'When　th'　oak　before　th'　ash…'〃

Ashurst　said　idly：　〃Where　were　you　standing　when　you　saw　the　gipsy　bogie；　Jim？〃

〃It　might　be　under　that　big　apple　tree；　as　you　might　say。〃

〃And　you　really　do　think　it　was　there？〃

The　lame　man　answered　cautiously：

〃I　shouldn't　like　to　say　rightly　that　't　was　there。　　'Twas　in　my　mind　as　'twas　there。〃

〃What　do　you　make　of　it？〃

The　lame　man　lowered　his　voice。

〃They　du　zay　old　master；　Mist'　Narracombe　come　o'　gipsy　stock。　　But　that's　tellin'。　　They'm　a　wonderful　people；　yu　know；　for　claimin'　their　own。　　Maybe　they　knu　'e　was　goin'；　and　sent　this　feller　along　for　company。　　That's　what　I've　a…thought　about　it。〃

〃What　was　he　like？〃

〃'E　'ad　'air　all　over　'is　face；　an'　goin'　like　this；　he　was；　zame　as　if　'e　'ad　a　viddle。　　They　zay　there's　no　such　thing　as　bogies；　but　I've　a…zeen　the　'air　on　this　dog　standin'　up　of　a　dark　naight；　when　I　couldn'　zee　nothin'；　meself。〃

〃Was　there　a　moon？〃

〃Yeas；　very　near　full；　but　'twas　on'y　just　risen；　gold…like　be'ind　them　trees。〃

〃And　you　think　a　ghost　means　trouble；　do　you？〃

The　lame　man　pushed　his　hat　up；　his　aspiring　eyes　looked　at　Ashurst　more　earnestly　than　ever。

〃'Tes　not　for　me　to　zay　that　but　'tes　they　bein'　so　unrestin'like。　There's　things　us　don'　understand；　that's　zartin；　for　zure。　　There's　people　that　zee　things；　tu；　an'　others　that　don't　never　zee　nothin'。　Now；　our　Joeyu　might　putt　anything　under'is　eyes　an　e'd　never　zee　it；　and　them　other　boys；　tu；　they'm　rattlin'　fellers。　　But　yu　take　an'　putt　our　Megan　where　there's　suthin'；　she'll　zee　it；　an'　more　tu；　or　I'm　mistaken。〃

〃She's　sensitive；　that's　why。〃

〃What's　that？〃

〃I　mean；　she　feels　everything。〃

〃Ah！　　She'm　very　lovin'…'earted。〃

Ashurst；　who　felt　colour　coming　into　his　cheeks；　held　out　his　tobacco　pouch。

〃Have　a　fill；　Jim？〃

〃Thank　'ee；　sir。　　She'm　one　in　an　'underd；　I　think。〃

〃I　expect　so；〃　said　Ashurst　shortly；　and　folding　up　his　pouch；　walked　on。

〃Lovin'…hearted！　　〃Yes！　　And　what　was　he　doing？　　What　were　his　intentions…as　they　say　towards　this　loving…hearted　girl？　　The　thought　dogged　him；　wandering　through　fields　bright　with　buttercups；　where　the　little　red　calves　were　feeding；　and　the　swallows　flying　high。　Yes；　the　oaks　were　before　the　ashes；　brown…gold　already；　every　tree　in　different　stage　and　hue。　　The　cuckoos　and　a　thousand　birds　were　singing；　the　little　streams　were　very　bright。　　The　ancients　believed　in　a　golden　age；　in　the　garden　of　the　Hesperides！。。。　　A　queen　wasp　settled　on　his　sleeve。　　Each　queen　wasp　killed　meant　two　thousand　fewer　wasps　to　thieve　the　apples　which　would　grow　from　that　blossom　in　the　orchard；　but　who；　with　love　in　his　heart；　could　kill　anything　on　a　day　like　this？　　He　entered　a　field　where　a　young　red　bull　was　feeding。　　It　seemed　to　Ashurst　that　he　looked　like　Joe。　　But　the　young　bull　took　no　notice　of　this　visitor；　a　little　drunk　himself；　perhaps；　on　the　singing　and　the　glamour　of　the　golden　pasture；　under　his　short　legs。　　Ashurst　crossed　out　unchallenged　to　the　hillside　above　the　stream。　　From　that　slope　a　for　mounted　to　its　crown　of　rocks。　　The　ground　there　was　covered　with　a　mist　of　bluebells；　and　nearly　a　score　of　crab…apple　trees　were　in　full　bloom。　　He　threw　himself　down　on　the　grass。　　The　change　from　the　buttercup　glory　and　oak…goldened　glamour　of　the　fields　to　this　ethereal　beauty　under　the　grey　for　filled　him　with　a　sort　of　wonder；　nothing　the　same；　save　the　sound　of　running　water　and　the　songs　of　the　cuckoos。　　He　lay　there　a　long　time；　watching　the　sunlight　wheel　till　the　crab…trees　threw　shadows　over　the　bluebells；　his　only　companions　a　few　wild　bees。　　He　was　not　quite　sane；　thinking　of　that　morning's　kiss；　and　of　to…night　under　the　apple　tree。　　In　such　a　spot　as　this；　fauns　and　dryads　surely　lived；　nymphs；　white　as　the　crab…apple　blossom；　retired　within　those　trees；　fauns；　brown　as　the　dead　bracken；　with　pointed　ears；　lay　in　wait　for　them。　　The　cuckoos　were　still　calling　when　he　woke；　there　was　the　sound　of　running　water；　but　the　sun　had　couched　behind　the　tor；　the　hillside　was　cool；　and　some　rabbits　had　come　out。　'Tonight！'　he　thought。　　Just　as　from　the　earth　everything　was　pushing　up；　unfolding　under　the　soft　insistent　fingers　of　an　unseen　hand；　so　were　his　heart　and　senses　being　pushed；　unfolded。　　He　got　up　and　broke　off　a　spray　from　a　crab…apple　tree。　　The　buds　were　like　Megan　shell…like；　rose…pink；　wild；　and　fresh；　and　so；　too；　the　opening　flowers；　white；　and　wild；　and　touching。　　He　put　the　spray　into　his　coat。　　And　all　the　rush　of　the　spring　within　him　escaped　in　a　triumphant　sigh。　　But　the　rabbits　scurried　away。




6

It　was　nearly　eleven　that　night　when　Ashurst　put　down　the　pocket　〃Odyssey〃　which　for　half　an　hour　he　had　held　in　his　hands　without　reading；　and　slipped　through　the　yard　down　to　the　orchard。　　The　moon　had　just　risen；　very　golden；　over　the　hill；　and　like　a　bright；　powerful；　watching　spirit　peered　through　the　bars　of　an　ash　tree's　half…naked　boughs。　　In　among　the　apple　trees　it　was　still　dark；　and　he　stood　making　sure　of　his　direction；　feeling　the　rough　grass　with　his　feet。　　A　black　mass　close　behind　him　stirred　with　a　heavy　grunting　sound；　and　three　large　pigs　settled　down　again　close　to　each　other；　under　the　wall。　　He　listened。　　There　was　no　wind；　but　the　stream's　burbling　whispering　chuckle　had　gained　twice　its　daytime　strength。　　One　bird；　he　could　not　tell　what；　cried　〃Pippip；〃　〃Pip…　pip；〃　with　perfect　monotony；　he　could　hear　a　night…Jar　spinning　very　far　off；　an　owl　hooting。　　Ashurst　moved　a　step　or　two；　and　again　halted；　aware　of　a　dim　living　whiteness　all　round　his　head。　　On　the　dark　unstirring　trees　innumerable　flowers　and　buds　all　soft　and　blurred　were　being　bewitched　to　life　by　the　creeping　moonlight。　　He　had　the　oddest　feeling　of　actual　companionship；　as　if　a　million　white　moths　or　spirits　had　floated　in　and　settled　between　dark　sky　and　darker　ground；　and　were　opening　and　shutting　their　wings　on　a　level　with　his　eyes。　　In　the　bewildering；　still；　scentless　beauty　of　that　moment　he　almost　lost　memory　of　why　he　had　come　to　the　orchard。　　The　flying　glamour　which　had　clothed　the　earth　all　day　had　not　gone　now　that　night　had　fallen；　but　only　changed　into　this　new　form。　　He　moved　on　through　the　thicket　of　stems　and　boughs　covered　with　that　live　powdering　whiteness；　till　he　reached　the　big　apple　tree。　　No　mistaking　that；　even　in　the　dark；　nearly　twice　the　height　and　size　of　any　other；　and　leaning　out　towards　the　open　meadows　and　the　stream。　Under　the　thick　branches　he　stood　still　again；　to　listen。　　The　same　sounds　exactly；　and　a　faint　grunting　from　the　sleepy　pigs。　　He　put　his　hands　on　the　dry；　almost　warm　tree　trunk；　whose　rough　mossy　surface　gave　forth　a　peaty　scent　at　his　touch。　　Would　she　comewould　she？　　And　among　these　quivering；　haunted；　moon…witched　trees　he　was　seized　with　doubts　of　everything！　　All　was　unearthly　here；　fit　for　no　earthly　lovers；　fit　only　for　god　and　goddess；　faun　and　nymph　not　for　him　and　this　little　country　girl。　　Would　it　not　be　almost　a　relief　if　she　did　not　come？　　But　all　the　time　he　was　listening。　　And　still　that　unknown　bird　went　〃Pip…pip；〃　〃Pip…pip；〃　and　there　rose　the　busy　chatter　of　the　little　trout　stream；　whereon　the　moon　was　flinging　glances　through　the　bars　of　her　tree…prison。　　The　blossom　on　a　level　with　his　eyes　seemed　to　grow　more　living　every　moment；　seemed　with　its　mysterious　white　beauty　more　and　more　a　part　of　his　suspense。　　He　plucked　a　fragment　and　held　it　closethree　blossoms。　　Sacrilege　to　pluck　fruit…tree　blossomsoft；　sacred；　young　blossomand　throw　it　away！　　Then　suddenly　he　heard　the　gate　close；　the　pigs　stirring　again　and　grunting；　and　leaning　against　the　trunk；　he　pressed　his　hands　to　its　mossy　sides　behind　him；　and　held　his　breath。　　She　might　have　been　a　spirit　threading　the　trees；　for　all　the　noise　she　made！　　Then　he　saw　her　quite　closeher　dark　form　part　of　a　little　tree；　her　white　face　part　of　its　blossom；　so　still；　and　peering　towards　him。　He　whispered：　〃Megan！〃　and　held　out　his　hands。　She　ran　forward；　straight　to　his　breast。　　When　he　felt　her　heart　beating　against　him；　Ashurst　knew　to　the　full　the　sensations　of　chivalry　and　passion。　Because　she　was　not　of　his　world；　because　she　was　so　simple　and　young　and　headlong；　adoring　and　defenceless；　how　could　he　be　other　than　her　protector；　in　the　dark！　　Because　she　was　all　simple　Nature　and　beauty；　as　much　a　part　of　this　spring　night　as　was　the　living　blossom；　how　should　he　not　take　all　that　she　would　give　him　how　not　fulfil　the　spring　in　her　heart　and　his！　　And　torn　between　these　two　emotions　he　clasped　her　close；　and　kissed　her　hair。　　How　long　they　stood　there　without　speaking　he　knew　not。　　The　stream　went　on　chattering；　the　owls　hooting；　the　moon　kept　stealing　up　and　growing　whiter；　the　blossom　all　round　them　and　above　brightened　in　suspense　of　living　beauty。　　Their　lips　had　sought　each　other's；　and　they　did　not　speak。　　The　moment　speech　began　all　would　be　unreal！　　Spring　has　no　speech；