under the greenwood tree-第34节
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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；
