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第32节

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the time chosen for opening the organ in Mellstock Church。



It chanced that Dick on that very day was called away from

Mellstock。  A young acquaintance had died of consumption at

Charmley; a neighbouring village; on the previous Monday; and Dick;

in fulfilment of a long…standing promise; was to assist in carrying

him to the grave。  When on Tuesday; Dick went towards the school to

acquaint Fancy with the fact; it is difficult to say whether his own

disappointment at being denied the sight of her triumphant debut as

organist; was greater than his vexation that his pet should on this

great occasion be deprived of the pleasure of his presence。

However; the intelligence was communicated。  She bore it as she best

could; not without many expressions of regret; and convictions that

her performance would be nothing to her now。



Just before eleven o'clock on Sunday he set out upon his sad errand。

The funeral was to be immediately after the morning service; and as

there were four good miles to walk; driving being inconvenient; it

became necessary to start comparatively early。  Half an hour later

would certainly have answered his purpose quite as well; yet at the

last moment nothing would content his ardent mind but that he must

go a mile out of his way in the direction of the school; in the hope

of getting a glimpse of his Love as she started for church。



Striking; therefore; into the lane towards the school; instead of

across the ewelease direct to Charmley; he arrived opposite her door

as his goddess emerged。



If ever a woman looked a divinity; Fancy Day appeared one that

morning as she floated down those school steps; in the form of a

nebulous collection of colours inclining to blue。  With an audacity

unparalleled in the whole history of village…school…mistresses at

this datepartly owing; no doubt; to papa's respectable

accumulation of cash; which rendered her profession not altogether

one of necessityshe had actually donned a hat and feather; and

lowered her hitherto plainly looped…up hair; which now fell about

her shoulders in a profusion of curls。  Poor Dick was astonished:

he had never seen her look so distractingly beautiful before; save

on Christmas…eve; when her hair was in the same luxuriant condition

of freedom。  But his first burst of delighted surprise was followed

by less comfortable feelings; as soon as his brain recovered its

power to think。



Fancy had blushed;was it with confusion?  She had also

involuntarily pressed back her curls。  She had not expected him。



〃Fancy; you didn't know me for a moment in my funeral clothes; did

you?〃



〃Good…morning; Dickno; really; I didn't know you for an instant in

such a sad suit。〃



He looked again at the gay tresses and hat。  〃You've never dressed

so charming before; dearest。〃



〃I like to hear you praise me in that way; Dick;〃 she said; smiling

archly。  〃It is meat and drink to a woman。  Do I look nice really?〃



〃Fie! you know it。  Did you remember;I mean didn't you remember

about my going away to…day?〃



〃Well; yes; I did; Dick; but; you know; I wanted to look well;

forgive me。〃



〃Yes; darling; yes; of course;there's nothing to forgive。  No; I

was only thinking that when we talked on Tuesday and Wednesday and

Thursday and Friday about my absence to…day; and I was so sorry for

it; you said; Fancy; so were you sorry; and almost cried; and said

it would be no pleasure to you to be the attraction of the church

to…day; since I could not be there。〃



〃My dear one; neither will it be so much pleasure to me 。 。 。 But I

do take a little delight in my life; I suppose;〃 she pouted。



〃Apart from mine?〃



She looked at him with perplexed eyes。  〃I know you are vexed with

me; Dick; and it is because the first Sunday I have curls and a hat

and feather since I have been here happens to be the very day you

are away and won't be with me。  Yes; say it is; for that is it!  And

you think that all this week I ought to have remembered you wouldn't

be here to…day; and not have cared to be better dressed than usual。

Yes; you do; Dick; and it is rather unkind!〃



〃No; no;〃 said Dick earnestly and simply; 〃I didn't think so badly

of you as that。  I only thought thatif YOU had been going away; I

shouldn't have tried new attractions for the eyes of other people。

But then of course you and I are different; naturally。〃



〃Well; perhaps we are。〃



〃Whatever will the vicar say; Fancy?〃



〃I don't fear what he says in the least!〃 she answered proudly。

〃But he won't say anything of the sort you think。  No; no。〃



〃He can hardly have conscience to; indeed。〃



〃Now come; you say; Dick; that you quite forgive me; for I must go;〃

she said with sudden gaiety; and skipped backwards into the porch。

〃Come here; sir;say you forgive me; and then you shall kiss me;

you never have yet when I have worn curls; you know。  Yes; just

where you want to so much;yes; you may!〃



Dick followed her into the inner corner; where he was probably not

slow in availing himself of the privilege offered。



〃Now that's a treat for you; isn't it?〃 she continued。  〃Good…bye;

or I shall be late。  Come and see me to…morrow:  you'll be tired to

night。〃



Thus they parted; and Fancy proceeded to the church。  The organ

stood on one side of the chancel; close to and under the immediate

eye of the vicar when he was in the pulpit; and also in full view of

the congregation。  Here she sat down; for the first time in such a

conspicuous position; her seat having previously been in a remote

spot in the aisle。



〃Good heavensdisgraceful!  Curls and a hat and feather!〃 said the

daughters of the small gentry; who had either only curly hair

without a hat and feather; or a hat and feather without curly hair。

〃A bonnet for church always;〃 said sober matrons。



That Mr。 Maybold was conscious of her presence close beside him

during the sermon; that he was not at all angry at her development

of costume; that he admired her; she perceived。  But she did not see

that he loved her during that sermon…time as he had never loved a

woman before; that her proximity was a strange delight to him; and

that he gloried in her musical success that morning in a spirit

quite beyond a mere cleric's glory at the inauguration of a new

order of things。



The old choir; with humbled hearts; no longer took their seats in

the gallery as heretofore (which was now given up to the school…

children who were not singers; and a pupil…teacher); but were

scattered about with their wives in different parts of the church。

Having nothing to do with conducting the service for almost the

first time in their lives; they all felt awkward; out of place;

abashed; and inconvenienced by their hands。  The tranter had

proposed that they should stay away to…day and go nutting; but

grandfather William would not hear of such a thing for a moment。

〃No;〃 he replied reproachfully; and quoted a verse 〃Though this has

come upon us; let not our hearts be turned back; or our steps go out

of the way。〃



So they stood and watched the curls of hair trailing down the back

of the successful rival; and the waving of her feather; as she

swayed her head。  After a few timid notes and uncertain touches her

playing became markedly correct; and towards the end full and free。

But; whether from prejudice or unbiassed judgment; the venerable

body of musicians could not help thinking that the simpler notes

they had been wont to bring forth were more in keeping with the

simplicity of their old church than the crowded chords and

interludes it was her pleasure to produce。







CHAPTER VI:  INTO TEMPTATION







The day was done; and Fancy was again in the school…house。  About

five o'clock it began to rain; and in rather a dull frame of mind

she wandered into the schoolroom; for want of something better to

do。  She was thinkingof her lover Dick Dewy?  Not precisely。  Of

how weary she was of living alone:  how unbearable it would be to

return to Yalbury under the rule of her strange…tempered step…

mother; that it was far better to be married to anybody than do

that; that eight or nine long months had yet to be lived through ere

the wedding could take place。



At the side of the room were high windows of Ham…hill stone; upon

either sill of which she could sit by first mounting a desk and

using it as a footstool。  As the evening advanced here she perched

herself; as was her custom on such wet and gloomy occasions; put on

a light shawl and bonnet; opened the window; and looked out at the

rain。



The window overlooked a field called the Grove; and it was the

position from which she used to survey the crown of Dick's passing

hat in the early days of their acquaintance and meetings。  Not a

living soul was now visible anywhere; the rain kept all people

indoors who were not forced abroad by necessity; and necessity was

less importunate on Sundays tha

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