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第33节

under the greenwood tree-第33节

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less importunate on Sundays than during the week。



Sitting here and thinking againof her lover; or of the sensation

she had created at church that day?well; it is unknownthinking

and thinking she saw a dark masculine figure arising into

distinctness at the further end of the Grovea man without an

umbrella。  Nearer and nearer he came; and she perceived that he was

in deep mourning; and then that it was Dick。  Yes; in the fondness

and foolishness of his young heart; after walking four miles; in a

drizzling rain without overcoat or umbrella; and in face of a remark

from his love that he was not to come because he would be tired; he

had made it his business to wander this mile out of his way again;

from sheer wish of spending ten minutes in her presence。



〃O Dick; how wet you are!〃 she said; as he drew up under the window。

〃Why; your coat shines as if it had been varnished; and your hatmy

goodness; there's a streaming hat!〃



〃O; I don't mind; darling!〃 said Dick cheerfully。  〃Wet never hurts

me; though I am rather sorry for my best clothes。  However; it

couldn't be helped; we lent all the umbrellas to the women。  I don't

know when I shall get mine back!〃



〃And look; there's a nasty patch of something just on your

shoulder。〃



〃Ah; that's japanning; it rubbed off the clamps of poor Jack's

coffin when we lowered him from our shoulders upon the bier!  I

don't care about that; for 'twas the last deed I could do for him;

and 'tis hard if you can't afford a coat for an old friend。〃



Fancy put her hand to her mouth for half a minute。  Underneath the

palm of that little hand there existed for that half…minute a little

yawn。



〃Dick; I don't like you to stand there in the wet。  And you mustn't

sit down。  Go home and change your things。  Don't stay another

minute。〃



〃One kiss after coming so far;〃 he pleaded。



〃If I can reach; then。〃



He looked rather disappointed at not being invited round to the

door。  She twisted from her seated position and bent herself

downwards; but not even by standing on the plinth was it possible

for Dick to get his lips into contact with hers as she held them。

By great exertion she might have reached a little lower; but then

she would have exposed her head to the rain。



〃Never mind; Dick; kiss my hand;〃 she said; flinging it down to him。

〃Now; good…bye。〃



〃Good…bye。〃



He walked slowly away; turning and turning again to look at her till

he was out of sight。  During the retreat she said to herself; almost

involuntarily; and still conscious of that morning's triumph〃I

like Dick; and I love him; but how plain and sorry a man looks in

the rain; with no umbrella; and wet through!〃



As he vanished; she made as if to descend from her seat; but

glancing in the other direction she saw another form coming along

the same track。  It was also that of a man。  He; too; was in black

from top to toe; but he carried an umbrella。



He drew nearer; and the direction of the rain caused him so to slant

his umbrella that from her height above the ground his head was

invisible; as she was also to him。  He passed in due time directly

beneath her; and in looking down upon the exterior of his umbrella

her feminine eyes perceived it to be of superior silkless common

at that date than sinceand of elegant make。  He reached the

entrance to the building; and Fancy suddenly lost sight of him。

Instead of pursuing the roadway as Dick had done he had turned

sharply round into her own porch。



She jumped to the floor; hastily flung off her shawl and bonnet;

smoothed and patted her hair till the curls hung in passable

condition; and listened。  No knock。  Nearly a minute passed; and

still there was no knock。  Then there arose a soft series of raps;

no louder than the tapping of a distant woodpecker; and barely

distinct enough to reach her ears。  She composed herself and flung

open the door。



In the porch stood Mr。 Maybold。



There was a warm flush upon his face; and a bright flash in his

eyes; which made him look handsomer than she had ever seen him

before。



〃Good…evening; Miss Day。〃



〃Good…evening; Mr。 Maybold;〃 she said; in a strange state of mind。

She had noticed; beyond the ardent hue of his face; that his voice

had a singular tremor in it; and that his hand shook like an aspen

leaf when he laid his umbrella in the corner of the porch。  Without

another word being spoken by either; he came into the schoolroom;

shut the door; and moved close to her。  Once inside; the expression

of his face was no more discernible; by reason of the increasing

dusk of evening。



〃I want to speak to you;〃 he then said; 〃seriouslyon a perhaps

unexpected subject; but one which is all the world to meI don't

know what it may be to you; Miss Day。〃



No reply。



〃Fancy; I have come to ask you if you will be my wife?〃



As a person who has been idly amusing himself with rolling a

snowball might start at finding he had set in motion an avalanche;

so did Fancy start at these words from the vicar。  And in the dead

silence which followed them; the breathings of the man and of the

woman could be distinctly and separately heard; and there was this

difference between themhis respirations gradually grew quieter and

less rapid after the enunciation hers; from having been low and

regular; increased in quickness and force; till she almost panted。



〃I cannot; I cannot; Mr。 MayboldI cannot!  Don't ask me!〃 she

said。



〃Don't answer in a hurry!〃 he entreated。  〃And do listen to me。

This is no sudden feeling on my part。  I have loved you for more

than six months!  Perhaps my late interest in teaching the children

here has not been so single…minded as it seemed。  You will

understand my motivelike me better; perhaps; for honestly telling

you that I have struggled against my emotion continually; because I

have thought that it was not well for me to love you!  But I

resolved to struggle no longer; I have examined the feeling; and the

love I bear you is as genuine as that I could bear any woman!  I see

your great charm; I respect your natural talents; and the refinement

they have brought into your naturethey are quite enough; and more

than enough for me!  They are equal to anything ever required of the

mistress of a quiet parsonage…housethe place in which I shall pass

my days; wherever it may be situated。  O Fancy; I have watched you;

criticized you even severely; brought my feelings to the light of

judgment; and still have found them rational; and such as any man

might have expected to be inspired with by a woman like you!  So

there is nothing hurried; secret; or untoward in my desire to do

this。  Fancy; will you marry me?〃



No answer was returned。



〃Don't refuse; don't;〃 he implored。  〃It would be foolish of youI

mean cruel!  Of course we would not live here; Fancy。  I have had

for a long time the offer of an exchange of livings with a friend in

Yorkshire; but I have hitherto refused on account of my mother。

There we would go。  Your musical powers shall be still further

developed; you shall have whatever pianoforte you like; you shall

have anything; Fancy; anything to make you happypony…carriage;

flowers; birds; pleasant society; yes; you have enough in you for

any society; after a few months of travel with me!  Will you; Fancy;

marry me?〃



Another pause ensued; varied only by the surging of the rain against

the windowpanes; and then Fancy spoke; in a faint and broken

voice。



〃Yes; I will;〃 she said。



〃God bless you; my own!〃  He advanced quickly; and put his arm out

to embrace her。  She drew back hastily。  〃No no; not now!〃 she said

in an agitated whisper。  〃There are things;but the temptation is;

O; too strong; and I can't resist it I can't tell you now; but I

must tell you!  Don't; please; don't come near me now!  I want to

think; I can scarcely get myself used to the idea of what I have

promised yet。〃  The next minute she turned to a desk; buried her

face in her hands; and burst into a hysterical fit of weeping。  〃O;

leave me to myself!〃 she sobbed; 〃leave me!  O; leave me!〃



〃Don't be distressed; don't; dearest!〃  It was with visible

difficulty that he restrained himself from approaching her。  〃You

shall tell me at your leisure what it is that grieves you so; I am

happybeyond all measure happy!at having your simple promise。〃



〃And do go and leave me now!〃



〃But I must not; in justice to you; leave for a minute; until you

are yourself again。〃



〃There then;〃 she said; controlling her emotion; and standing up; 〃I

am not disturbed now。〃



He reluctantly moved towards the door。  〃Good…bye!〃 he murmured

tenderly。  〃I'll come to…morrow about this time。〃







CHAPTER VII:  SECOND THOUGHTS







The next morning the vicar rose early。  The first thing he did was

to write a long and careful letter to his friend in Yorkshire。

Then; eating a little breakfast

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