under the greenwood tree-第7节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
and once more the party emerged into the night air。
〃Where's Dick？〃 said old Dewy。
Every man hooked round upon every other man； as if Dick might have
been transmuted into one or the other； and then they said they
didn't know。
〃Well now； that's what I call very nasty of Master Dicky； that I
do；〃 said Michael Mail。
〃He've clinked off home…along； depend upon't；〃 another suggested；
though not quite believing that he had。
〃Dick！〃 exclaimed the tranter； and his voice rolled sonorously forth
among the yews。
He suspended his muscles rigid as stone whilst listening for an
answer； and finding he listened in vain； turned to the assemblage。
〃The treble man too！ Now if he'd been a tenor or counter chap； we
might ha' contrived the rest o't without en； you see。 But for a
quire to lose the treble； why； my sonnies； you may so well lose your
。 。 。 〃 The tranter paused； unable to mention an image vast enough
for the occasion。
〃Your head at once；〃 suggested Mr。 Penny。
The tranter moved a pace； as if it were puerile of people to
complete sentences when there were more pressing things to be done。
〃Was ever heard such a thing as a young man leaving his work half
done and turning tail like this！〃
〃Never；〃 replied Bowman； in a tone signifying that he was the last
man in the world to wish to withhold the formal finish required of
him。
〃I hope no fatal tragedy has overtook the had！〃 said his
grandfather。
〃O no；〃 replied tranter Dewy placidly。 〃Wonder where he's put that
there fiddle of his。 Why that fiddle cost thirty shillings； and
good words besides。 Somewhere in the damp； without doubt； that
instrument will be unglued and spoilt in ten minutesten！ ay； two。〃
〃What in the name o' righteousness can have happened？〃 said old
William； more uneasily。 〃Perhaps he's drownded！〃
〃Leaving their lanterns and instruments in the belfry they retraced
their steps along the waterside track。 〃A strapping lad like Dick
d'know better than let anything happen onawares；〃 Reuben remarked。
〃There's sure to be some poor little scram reason for't staring us
in the face all the while。〃 He lowered his voice to a mysterious
tone： 'Neighbours； have ye noticed any sign of a scornful woman in
his head； or suchlike？〃
〃Not a glimmer of such a body。 He's as clear as water yet。〃
〃And Dicky said he should never marry；〃 cried Jimmy； 〃but live at
home always along wi' mother and we！〃
〃Ay； ay； my sonny； every had has said that in his time。〃
They had now again reached the precincts of Mr。 Shiner's； but
hearing nobody in that direction； one or two went across to the
schoolhouse。 A light was still burning in the bedroom； and though
the blind was down； the window had been slightly opened； as if to
admit the distant notes of the carollers to the ears of the occupant
of the room。
Opposite the window； leaning motionless against a beech tree； was
the lost man； his arms folded； his head thrown back； his eyes fixed
upon the illuminated lattice。
〃Why； Dick； is that thee？ What b'st doing here？〃
Dick's body instantly flew into a more rational attitude； and his
head was seen to turn east and west in the gloom； as if endeavouring
to discern some proper answer to that question； and at last he said
in rather feeble accents〃Nothing； father。〃
〃Th'st take long enough time about it then； upon my body；〃 said the
tranter； as they all turned anew towards the vicarage。
〃I thought you hadn't done having snap in the gallery；〃 said Dick。
〃Why； we've been traypsing and rambling about； looking everywhere；
and thinking you'd done fifty deathly things； and here have you been
at nothing at all！〃
〃The stupidness lies in that point of it being nothing at all；〃
murmured Mr。 Spinks。
The vicarage front was their next field of operation； and Mr。
Maybold； the lately…arrived incumbent； duly received his share of
the night's harmonies。 It was hoped that by reason of his
profession he would have been led to open the window； and an extra
carol in quick time was added to draw him forth。 But Mr。 Maybold
made no stir。
〃A bad sign！〃 said old William； shaking his head。
However； at that same instant a musical voice was heard exclaiming
from inner depths of bedclothes〃Thanks； villagers！〃
〃What did he say？〃 asked Bowman； who was rather dull of hearing。
Bowman's voice； being therefore loud； had been heard by the vicar
within。
〃I said； 'Thanks； villagers！'〃 cried the vicar again。
〃Oh； we didn't hear 'ee the first time！〃 cried Bowman。
〃Now don't for heaven's sake spoil the young man's temper by
answering like that！〃 said the tranter。
〃You won't do that； my friends！〃 the vicar shouted。
〃Well to be sure； what ears！〃 said Mr。 Penny in a whisper。 〃Beats
any horse or dog in the parish； and depend upon't； that's a sign
he's a proper clever chap。〃
〃We shall see that in time；〃 said the tranter。
Old William； in his gratitude for such thanks from a comparatively
new inhabitant； was anxious to play all the tunes over again； but
renounced his desire on being reminded by Reuben that it would be
best to leave well alone。
〃Now putting two and two together；〃 the tranter continued； as they
went their way over the hill； and across to the last remaining
houses； 〃that is； in the form of that young female vision we zeed
just now； and this young tenor…voiced parson； my belief is she'll
wind en round her finger； and twist the pore young feller about like
the figure of 8that she will so； my sonnies。〃
CHAPTER VI： CHRISTMAS MORNING
The choir at last reached their beds； and slept like the rest of the
parish。 Dick's slumbers； through the three or four hours remaining
for rest； were disturbed and slight； an exhaustive variation upon
the incidents that had passed that night in connection with the
school…window going on in his brain every moment of the time。
In the morning； do what he wouldgo upstairs； downstairs； out of
doors； speak of the wind and weather； or what nothe could not
refrain from an unceasing renewal； in imagination； of that
interesting enactment。 Tilted on the edge of one foot he stood
beside the fireplace； watching his mother grilling rashers； but
there was nothing in grilling； he thought； unless the Vision
grilled。 The limp rasher hung down between the bars of the gridiron
like a cat in a child's arms； but there was nothing in similes；
unless She uttered them。 He looked at the daylight shadows of a
yellow hue； dancing with the firelight shadows in blue on the
whitewashed chimney corner； but there was nothing in shadows。
〃Perhaps the new young womschMiss Fancy Day will sing in church
with us this morning；〃 he said。
The tranter looked a long time before he replied； 〃I fancy she will；
and yet I fancy she won't。〃
Dick implied that such a remark was rather to be tolerated than
admired； though deliberateness in speech was known to have； as a
rule； more to do with the machinery of the tranter's throat than
with the matter enunciated。
They made preparations for going to church as usual； Dick with
extreme alacrity； though he would not definitely consider why he was
so religious。 His wonderful nicety in brushing and cleaning his
best light boots had features which elevated it to the rank of an
art。 Every particle and speck of last week's mud was scraped and
brushed from toe and heel； new blacking from the packet was
carefully mixed and made use of； regardless of expense。 A coat was
laid on and polished； then another coat for increased blackness； and
lastly a third； to give the perfect and mirror…like jet which the
hoped…for rencounter demanded。
It being Christmas…day； the tranter prepared himself with Sunday
particularity。 Loud sousing and snorting noises were heard to
proceed from a tub in the back quarters of the dwelling； proclaiming
that he was there performing his great Sunday wash； lasting half…an…
hour； to which his washings on working…day mornings were mere
flashes in the pan。 Vanishing into the outhouse with a large brown
towel； and the above…named bubblings and snortings being carried on
for about twenty minutes； the tranter would appear round the edge of
the door； smelling like a summer fog； and looking as if he had just
narrowly escaped a watery grave with the loss of much of his
clothes； having since been weeping bitterly till his eyes were red；
a crystal drop of water hanging ornamentally at the bottom of each
ear； one at the tip of his nose； and others in the form of spangles
about his hair。
After a great deal of crunching upon the sanded stone floor by the
feet of father； son； and grandson as they moved to and fro in these
preparations； the bass…viol and fiddles were taken from their nook；
and the strings examined and screwed a little above concert…pitch；
that they might keep their tone when the
