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第34节

under the greenwood tree-第34节

小说: under the greenwood tree 字数: 每页4000字

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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; he crossed the meadows in the

direction of Casterbridge; bearing his letter in his pocket; that he

might post it at the town office; and obviate the loss of one day in

its transmission that would have resulted had he left it for the

foot…post through the village。



It was a foggy morning; and the trees shed in noisy water…drops the

moisture they had collected from the thick air; an acorn

occasionally falling from its cup to the ground; in company with the

drippings。  In the meads; sheets of spiders'…web; almost opaque with

wet; hung in folds over the fences; and the falling leaves appeared

in every variety of brown; green; and yellow hue。



A low and merry whistling was heard on the highway he was

approaching; then the light footsteps of a man going in the same

direction as himself。  On reaching the junction of his path with the

road; the vicar beheld Dick Dewy's open and cheerful face。  Dick

lifted his hat; and the vicar came out into the highway that Dick

was pursuing。



〃Good…morning; Dewy。  How well you are looking!〃 said Mr。 Maybold。



〃Yes; sir; I am wellquite well!  I am going to Casterbridge now;

to get Smart's collar; we left it there Saturday to be repaired。〃



〃I am going to Casterbridge; so we'll walk together;〃 the vicar

said。  Dick gave a hop with one foot to put himself in step with Mr。

Maybold; who proceeded:  〃I fancy I didn't see you at church

yesterday; Dewy。  Or were you behind the pier?〃



〃No; I went to Charmley。  Poor John Dunford chose me to be one of

his bearers a long time before he died; and yesterday was the

funeral。  Of course I couldn't refuse; though I should have liked

particularly to have been at home as 'twas the day of the new

music。〃



〃Yes; you should have been。  The musical portion of the service was

successfulvery successful indeed; and what is more to the purpose;

no ill…feeling whatever was evinced by any of the members of the old

choir。  They joined in the singing with the greatest good…will。〃



〃'Twas natural enough that I should want to be there; I suppose;〃

said Dick; smiling a private smile; 〃considering who the organ

player was。〃



At this the vicar reddened a little; and said; 〃Yes; yes;〃 though

not at all comprehending Dick's true meaning; who; as he received no

further reply; continued hesitatingly; and with another smile

denoting his pride as a lover …



  〃I suppose you know what I mean; sir?  You've heard about me and

Miss Day?〃



The red in Maybold's countenance went away:  he turned and looked

Dick in the face。



〃No;〃 he said constrainedly; 〃I've heard nothing whatever about you

and Miss Day。〃



〃Why; she's my sweetheart; and we are going to be married next

Midsummer。  We are keeping it rather close just at present; because

'tis a good many months to wait; but it is her father's wish that we

don't marry before; and of course we must submit。  But the time 'ill

soon slip along。〃



〃Yes; the time will soon slip alongTime glides away every day

yes。〃



Maybold said these words; but he had no idea of what they were。  He

was conscious of a cold and sickly thrill throughout him; and all he

reasoned was this that the young creature whose graces had

intoxicated him into making the most imprudent resolution of his

life; was less an angel than a woman。



〃You see; sir;〃 continued the ingenuous Dick; 〃'twill be better in

one sense。  I shall by that time be the regular manager of a branch

o' father's business; which has very much increased lately; and

business; which we think of starting elsewhere。  It has very much

increased lately; and we expect next year to keep a' extra couple of

horses。  We've already our eye on onebrown as a berry; neck like a

rainbow; fifteen hands; and not a gray hair in heroffered us at

twenty…five want a crown。  And to kip pace with the times I have had

some cards prented and I beg leave to hand you one; sir。〃



〃Certainly;〃 said the vicar; mechanically taking the card that Dick

offered him。



〃I turn in here by Grey's Bridge;〃 said Dick。  〃I suppose you go

straight on and up town?〃



〃Yes。〃



〃Good…morning; sir。〃



〃Good…morning; Dewy。〃



Maybold stood still upon the bridge; holding the card as it had been

put into his hand; and Dick's footsteps died away towards Durnover

Mill。  The vicar's first voluntary action was to read the card





DEWY AND SON;

TRANTERS AND HAULIERS;

MELLSTOCK。



NB。FURNITURE; COALS; POTATOES; LIVE AND DEAD STOCK; REMOVED TO ANY

DISTANCE ON THE SHORTEST NOTICE。





Mr。 Maybold leant over the parapet of the bridge and looked into the

river。  He sawwithout heedinghow the water came rapidly from

beneath the arches; glided down a little steep; then spread itself

over a pool in which dace; trout; and minnows sported at ease among

the long green locks of weed that lay heaving and sinking with their

roots towards the current。  At the end of ten minutes spent leaning

thus; he drew from his pocket the letter to his friend; tore it

deliberately into such minute fragments that scarcely two syllables

remained in juxtaposition; and sent the whole handful of shreds

fluttering into the water。  Here he watched them eddy; dart; and

turn; as they were carried downwards towards the ocean and gradually

disappeared from his view。  Finally he moved off; and pursued his

way at a rapid pace back again to Mellstock Vicarage。



Nerving himself by a long and intense effort; he sat down in his

study and wrote as follows:





〃DEAR MISS DAY;The meaning of your words; 'the temptation is too

strong;' of your sadness and your tears; has been brought home to me

by an accident。  I know to…day what I did not know yesterdaythat

you are not a free woman。



〃Why did you not tell mewhy didn't you?  Did you suppose I knew?

No。  Had I known; my conduct in coming to you as I did would have

been reprehensible。



〃But I don't chide you!  Perhaps no blame attaches to youI can't

tell。  Fancy; though my opinion of you is assailed and disturbed in

a way which cannot be expressed; I love you still; and my word to

you holds good yet。  But will you; in justice to an honest man who

relies upon your word to him; consider whether; under the

circumstances; you can honourably forsake him?Yours ever

sincerely;



〃ARTHUR MAYBOLD。〃





He rang the bell。  〃Tell Charles to take these copybooks and this

note to the school at once。〃



The maid took the parcel and the letter; and in a few minutes a boy

was seen to leave the vicarage gate; with the one under his arm; and

the other in his hand。  The vicar sat with his hand to his brow;

watching the lad as he descended Church Lane and entered the

waterside path which intervened between that spot and the school。



Here he was met by another boy; and after a free salutation and

pugilistic frisk had passed between the two; the second boy came on

his way to the vicarage; and the other vanished out of sight。



The boy came to the door; and a note for Mr。 Maybold was brought in。



He knew the writing。  Opening the envelope with an unsteady hand; he

read the subjoined words:





〃DEAR MR。 MAYBOLD;I have been thinking seriously and sadly through

the whole of the night of the question you put to me last evening

and of my answer。  That answer; as an honest woman; I had no right

to give。



〃It is my natureperhaps all women'sto love refinement of mind

and manners; but even more than this; to be ever fascinated with the

idea of surroundings more elegant and pleasing than those which have

been customary。  And you praised me; and praise is life to me。  It

was alone my sensations at these things which prompted my reply。

Ambition and vanity they would be called; perhaps they are so。



〃After this explanation I hope you will generously allow me to

withdraw the answer I too hastily gave。



〃And one more request。  To keep the meeting of last night; and all

that passed between us there; for ever a secret。  Were it to become

known; it would utterly blight the happiness of a trusting and

generous man; whom I love still; and shall love always。Yours

sincerely;



〃FANCY DAY。





The last written communication that ever passed from the vicar to

Fancy; was a note containing these words only:



〃Tell him everything; it is best。  He will forgive you。〃









PART THE FIFTH:  CONCLUSION









CHAPTER I:  'THE KNOT THERE'S NO UNTYING'







The last day of the story is dated just subsequent to that point in

the development of the seasons when country people go to bed among

nearly naked trees; are lulled to sleep by a fall of rain; and awake

next morning among green ones; when the landscape appears

embarrassed with the sudden weight and brilliancy of its leaves;

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