under the greenwood tree-第31节
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rain continued as usual； but the wind had abated considerably during
the discourse。 Judging that it was now possible to keep an umbrella
erect； she pulled her hood again over her bonnet； bade the witch
good…bye； and went her way。
CHAPTER IV： THE SPELL
Mrs。 Endorfield's advice was duly followed。
〃I be proper sorry that your daughter isn't so well as she might
be；〃 said a Mellstock man to Geoffrey one morning。
〃But is there anything in it？〃 said Geoffrey uneasily； as he shifted
his hat to the right。 〃I can't understand the report。 She didn't
complain to me a bit when I saw her。〃
〃No appetite at all； they say。〃
Geoffrey crossed to Mellstock and called at the school that
afternoon。 Fancy welcomed him as usual； and asked him to stay and
take tea with her。
〃I be'n't much for tea； this time o' day；〃 he said； but stayed。
During the meal he watched her narrowly。 And to his great
consternation discovered the following unprecedented change in the
healthy girlthat she cut herself only a diaphanous slice of bread…
and…butter； and； laying it on her plate； passed the meal…time in
breaking it into pieces； but eating no more than about one…tenth of
the slice。 Geoffrey hoped she would say something about Dick； and
finish up by weeping； as she had done after the decision against him
a few days subsequent to the interview in the garden。 But nothing
was said； and in due time Geoffrey departed again for Yalbury Wood。
〃'Tis to be hoped poor Miss Fancy will be able to keep on her
school；〃 said Geoffrey's man Enoch to Geoffrey the following week；
as they were shovelling up ant…hills in the wood。
Geoffrey stuck in the shovel； swept seven or eight ants from his
sleeve； and killed another that was prowling round his ear； then
looked perpendicularly into the earth as usual； waiting for Enoch to
say more。 〃Well； why shouldn't she？〃 said the keeper at last。
〃The baker told me yesterday；〃 continued Enoch； shaking out another
emmet that had run merrily up his thigh； 〃that the bread he've left
at that there school…house this last month would starve any mouse in
the three creations； that 'twould so！ And afterwards I had a pint
o' small down at Morrs's； and there I heard more。〃
〃What might that ha' been？〃
〃That she used to have a pound o' the best rolled butter a week；
regular as clockwork； from Dairyman Viney's for herself； as well as
just so much salted for the helping girl； and the 'ooman she calls
in； but now the same quantity d'last her three weeks； and then 'tis
thoughted she throws it away sour。〃
〃Finish doing the emmets； and carry the bag home…along。〃 The keeper
resumed his gun； tucked it under his arm； and went on without
whistling to the dogs； who however followed； with a bearing meant to
imply that they did not expect any such attentions when their master
was reflecting。
On Saturday morning a note came from Fancy。 He was not to trouble
about sending her the couple of rabbits； as was intended； because
she feared she should not want them。 Later in the day Geoffrey went
to Casterbridge and called upon the butcher who served Fancy with
fresh meat； which was put down to her father's account。
〃I've called to pay up our little bill； Neighbour Haylock； and you
can gie me the chiel's account at the same time。〃
Mr。 Haylock turned round three quarters of a circle in the midst of
a heap of joints； altered the expression of his face from meat to
money； went into a little office consisting only of a door and a
window； looked very vigorously into a book which possessed length
but no breadth； and then； seizing a piece of paper and scribbling
thereupon； handed the bill。
Probably it was the first time in the history of commercial
transactions that the quality of shortness in a butcher's bill was a
cause of tribulation to the debtor。 〃Why； this isn't all she've had
in a whole month！〃 said Geoffrey。
〃Every mossel；〃 said the butcher〃（now； Dan； take that leg and
shoulder to Mrs。 White's； and this eleven pound here to Mr。
Martin's）you've been treating her to smaller joints lately； to my
thinking； Mr。 Day？〃
〃Only two or three little scram rabbits this last week； as I am
aliveI wish I had！〃
〃Well； my wife said to me（Dan！ not too much； not too much on that
tray at a time； better go twice）my wife said to me as she posted
up the books： she says； 〃Miss Day must have been summer during that
hot muggy weather much for us； for depend upon't；〃 she says； 〃she've
been trying John Grimmett unknown to us： see her account else。〃
'Tis little； of course； at the best of times； being only for one；
but now 'tis next kin to nothing。〃
〃I'll inquire；〃 said Geoffrey despondingly。
He returned by way of Mellstock； and called upon Fancy； in
fulfilment of a promise。 It being Saturday； the children were
enjoying a holiday； and on entering the residence Fancy was nowhere
to be seen。 Nan； the charwoman； was sweeping the kitchen。
〃Where's my da'ter？〃 said the keeper。
〃Well； you see she was tired with the week's teaching； and this
morning she said； 〃Nan； I sha'n't get up till the evening。〃 You
see； Mr。 Day； if people don't eat； they can't work； and as she've
gie'd up eating； she must gie up working。〃
〃Have ye carried up any dinner to her？〃
〃No； she don't want any。 There； we all know that such things don't
come without good reasonnot that I wish to say anything about a
broken heart； or anything of the kind。〃
Geoffrey's own heart felt inconveniently large just then。 He went
to the staircase and ascended to his daughter's door。
〃Fancy！〃
〃Come in； father。〃
To see a person in bed from any cause whatever； on a fine afternoon；
is depressing enough； and here was his only child Fancy； not only in
bed； but looking very pale。 Geoffrey was visibly disturbed。
〃Fancy； I didn't expect to see thee here； chiel；〃 he said。 〃What's
the matter？〃
〃I'm not well； father。〃
〃How's that？〃
〃Because I think of things。〃
〃What things can you have to think o' so mortal much？〃
〃You know； father。〃
〃You think I've been cruel to thee in saying that that penniless
Dick o' thine sha'n't marry thee； I suppose？〃
No answer。
〃Well； you know； Fancy； I do it for the best； and he isn't good
enough for thee。 You know that well enough。〃 Here he again looked
at her as she lay。 〃Well； Fancy； I can't let my only chiel die； and
if you can't live without en； you must ha' en； I suppose。〃
〃O； I don't want him like that； all against your will； and
everything so disobedient！〃 sighed the invalid。
〃No； no； 'tisn't against my will。 My wish is； now I d'see how 'tis
hurten thee to live without en； that he shall marry thee as soon as
we've considered a little。 That's my wish flat and plain； Fancy。
There； never cry； my little maid！ You ought to ha' cried afore； no
need o' crying now 'tis all over。 Well； howsoever； try to step over
and see me and mother…law to…morrow； and ha' a bit of dinner wi'
us。〃
〃AndDick too？〃
〃Ay； Dick too； 'far's I know。〃
〃And WHEN do you think you'll have considered； father； and he may
marry me？〃 she coaxed。
〃Well； there； say next Midsummer； that's not a day too long to
wait。〃
On leaving the school Geoffrey went to the tranter's。 Old William
opened the door。
〃Is your grandson Dick in 'ithin； William？〃
〃No； not just now； Mr。 Day。 Though he've been at home a good deal
lately。〃
〃O； how's that？〃
〃What wi' one thing； and what wi' t'other； he's all in a mope； as
might be said。 Don't seem the feller he used to。 Ay； 'a will sit
studding and thinking as if 'a were going to turn chapel…member； and
then do nothing but traypse and wamble about。 Used to be such a
chatty boy； too； Dick did； and now 'a don't speak at all。 But won't
ye step inside？ Reuben will be home soon； 'a b'lieve。〃
〃No； thank you； I can't stay now。 Will ye just ask Dick if he'll do
me the kindness to step over to Yalbury to…morrow with my da'ter
Fancy； if she's well enough？ I don't like her to come by herself；
now she's not so terrible topping in health。〃
〃So I've heard。 Ay； sure； I'll tell him without fail。〃
CHAPTER V： AFTER GAINING HER POINT
The visit to Geoffrey passed off as delightfully as a visit might
have been expected to pass off when it was the first day of smooth
experience in a hitherto obstructed love…course。 And then came a
series of several happy days； of the same undisturbed serenity。
Dick could court her when he chose； stay away when he chose；which
was never； walk with her by winding streams and waterfalls and
autumn scenery till dews arid twilight sent them home。 And thus
they drew near the day of the Harvest Thanksgiving； which was also
the time chosen for opening the organ in Mellstock Church。
It chanced that Dick on that very
