wessex tales-第32节

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by　a　side　'drong。'　　Thus　much　only　of　the　character　of　the　homestead
could　be　divined　out　of　doors　at　this　shady　evening…time。

But　within　there　was　plenty　of　light　to　see　by；　as　plenty　was
construed　at　Hintock。　　Beside　a　Tudor　fireplace；　whose　moulded　four…
centred　arch　was　nearly　hidden　by　a　figured　blue…cloth　blower；　were
seated　two　womenmother　and　daughterMrs。　Hall；　and　Sarah；　or
Sally；　for　this　was　a　part　of　the　world　where　the　latter
modification　had　not　as　yet　been　effaced　as　a　vulgarity　by　the　march
of　intellect。　　The　owner　of　the　name　was　the　young　woman　by　whose
means　Mr。　Darton　proposed　to　put　an　end　to　his　bachelor　condition　on
the　approaching　day。

The　mother's　bereavement　had　been　so　long　ago　as　not　to　leave　much
mark　of　its　occurrence　upon　her　now；　either　in　face　or　clothes。　　She
had　resumed　the　mob…cap　of　her　early　married　life；　enlivening　its
whiteness　by　a　few　rose…du…Barry　ribbons。　　Sally　required　no　such
aids　to　pinkness。　　Roseate　good…nature　lit　up　her　gaze；　her　features
showed　curves　of　decision　and　judgment；　and　she　might　have　been
regarded　without　much　mistake　as　a　warm…hearted；　quick…spirited；
handsome　girl。

She　did　most　of　the　talking；　her　mother　listening　with　a　half…absent
air；　as　she　picked　up　fragments　of　red…hot　wood　ember　with　the
tongs；　and　piled　them　upon　the　brands。　　But　the　number　of　speeches
that　passed　was　very　small　in　proportion　to　the　meanings　exchanged。
Long　experience　together　often　enabled　them　to　see　the　course　of
thought　in　each　other's　minds　without　a　word　being　spoken。　　Behind
them；　in　the　centre　of　the　room；　the　table　was　spread　for　supper；
certain　whiffs　of　air　laden　with　fat　vapours；　which　ever　and　anon
entered　from　the　kitchen；　denoting　its　preparation　there。

'The　new　gown　he　was　going　to　send　you　stays　about　on　the　way　like
himself；'　Sally's　mother　was　saying。

'Yes；　not　finished；　I　daresay；'　cried　Sally　independently。　　'Lord；　I
shouldn't　be　amazed　if　it　didn't　come　at　all！　　Young　men　make　such
kind　promises　when　they　are　near　you；　and　forget　'em　when　they　go
away。　　But　he　doesn't　intend　it　as　a　wedding…gownhe　gives　it　to　me
merely　as　a　gown　to　wear　when　I　likea　travelling…dress　is　what　it
would　be　called　by　some。　　Come　rathe　or　come　late　it　don't　much
matter；　as　I　have　a　dress　of　my　own　to　fall　back　upon。　　But　what
time　is　it？'

She　went　to　the　family　clock　and　opened　the　glass；　for　the　hour　was
not　otherwise　discernible　by　night；　and　indeed　at　all　times　was
rather　a　thing　to　be　investigated　than　beheld；　so　much　more　wall
than　window　was　there　in　the　apartment。　　'It　is　nearly　eight；'　said
she。

'Eight　o'clock；　and　neither　dress　nor　man；'　said　Mrs。　Hall。

'Mother；　if　you　think　to　tantalize　me　by　talking　like　that；　you　are
much　mistaken！　　Let　him　be　as　late　as　he　willor　stay　away
altogetherI　don't　care；'　said　Sally。　　But　a　tender；　minute　quaver
in　the　negation　showed　that　there　was　something　forced　in　that
statement。

Mrs。　Hall　perceived　it；　and　drily　observed　that　she　was　not　so　sure
about　Sally　not　caring。　　'But　perhaps　you　don't　care　so　much　as　I
do；　after　all；'　she　said。　　'For　I　see　what　you　don't；　that　it　is　a
good　and　flourishing　match　for　you；　a　very　honourable　offer　in　Mr。
Darton。　　And　I　think　I　see　a　kind　husband　in　him。　　So　pray　God
'twill　go　smooth；　and　wind　up　well。'

Sally　would　not　listen　to　misgivings。　　Of　course　it　would　go
smoothly；　she　asserted。　　'How　you　are　up　and　down；　mother！'　she　went
on。　　'At　this　moment；　whatever　hinders　him；　we　are　not　so　anxious　to
see　him　as　he　is　to　be　here；　and　his　thought　runs　on　before　him；　and
settles　down　upon　us　like　the　star　in　the　east。　　Hark！'　she
exclaimed；　with　a　breath　of　relief；　her　eyes　sparkling。　　'I　heard
something。　　Yeshere　they　are！'

The　next　moment　her　mother's　slower　ear　also　distinguished　the
familiar　reverberation　occasioned　by　footsteps　clambering　up　the
roots　of　the　sycamore。

'Yes　it　sounds　like　them　at　last；'　she　said。　　'Well；　it　is　not　so
very　late　after　all；　considering　the　distance。'

The　footfall　ceased；　and　they　arose；　expecting　a　knock。　　They　began
to　think　it　might　have　been；　after　all；　some　neighbouring　villager
under　Bacchic　influence；　giving　the　centre　of　the　road　a　wide　berth；
when　their　doubts　were　dispelled　by　the　new…comer's　entry　into　the
passage。　　The　door　of　the　room　was　gently　opened；　and　there
appeared；　not　the　pair　of　travellers　with　whom　we　have　already　made
acquaintance；　but　a　pale…faced　man　in　the　garb　of　extreme　poverty
almost　in　rags。

'O；　it's　a　trampgracious　me！'　said　Sally；　starting　back。

His　cheeks　and　eye…orbits　were　deep　concavesrather；　it　might　be；
from　natural　weakness　of　constitution　than　irregular　living；　though
there　were　indications　that　he　had　led　no　careful　life。　　He　gazed　at
the　two　women　fixedly　for　a　moment：　　then　with　an　abashed；
humiliated　demeanour；　dropped　his　glance　to　the　floor；　and　sank　into
a　chair　without　uttering　a　word。

Sally　was　in　advance　of　her　mother；　who　had　remained　standing　by　the
fire。　　She　now　tried　to　discern　the　visitor　across　the　candles。

'Whymother；'　said　Sally　faintly；　turning　back　to　Mrs。　Hall。　　'It
is　Phil；　from　Australia！'

Mrs。　Hall　started；　and　grew　pale；　and　a　fit　of　coughing　seized　the
man　with　the　ragged　clothes。　　'To　come　home　like　this！'　she　said。
'O；　Philipare　you　ill？'

'No；　no；　mother；'　replied　he　impatiently；　as　soon　as　he　could　speak。

'But　for　God's　sake　how　do　you　come　hereand　just　now　too？'

'Well；　I　am　here；'　said　the　man。　　'How　it　is　I　hardly　know。　　I've
come　home；　mother；　because　I　was　driven　to　it。　　Things　were　against
me　out　there；　and　went　from　bad　to　worse。'

'Then　why　didn't　you　let　us　know？you've　not　writ　a　line　for　the
last　two　or　three　years。'

The　son　admitted　sadly　that　he　had　not。　　He　said　that　he　had　hoped
and　thought　he　might　fetch　up　again；　and　be　able　to　send　good　news。
Then　he　had　been　obliged　to　abandon　that　hope；　and　had　finally　come
home　from　sheer　necessitypreviously　to　making　a　new　start。　　'Yes；
things　are　very　bad　with　me；'　he　repeated；　perceiving　their
commiserating　glances　at　his　clothes。

They　brought　him　nearer　the　fire；　took　his　hat　from　his　thin　hand；
which　was　so　small　and　smooth　as　to　show　that　his　attempts　to　fetch
up　again　had　not　been　in　a　manual　direction。　　His　mother　resumed　her
inquiries；　and　dubiously　asked　if　he　had　chosen　to　come　that
particular　night　for　any　special　reason。

For　no　reason；　he　told　her。　　His　arrival　had　been　quite　at　random。
Then　Philip　Hall　looked　round　the　room；　and　saw　for　the　first　time
that　the　table　was　laid　somewhat　luxuriously；　and　for　a　larger
number　than　themselves；　and　that　an　air　of　festivity　pervaded　their
dress。　　He　asked　quickly　what　was　going　on。

'Sally　is　going　to　be　married　in　a　day　or　two；'　replied　the　mother；
and　she　explained　how　Mr。　Darton；　Sally's　intended　husband；　was
coming　there　that　night　with　the　groomsman；　Mr。　Johns；　and　other
details。　　'We　thought　it　must　be　their　step　when　we　heard　you；'　said
Mrs。　Hall。

The　needy　wanderer　looked　again　on　the　floor。　　'I　seeI　see；'　he
murmured。　　'Why；　indeed；　should　I　have　come　to…night？　　Such　folk　as
I　are　not　wanted　here　at　these　times；　naturally。　　And　I　have　no
business　herespoiling　other　people's　happiness。'

'Phil；'　said　his　mother；　with　a　tear　in　her　eye；　but　with　a　thinness
of　lip　and　severity　of　manner　which　were　presumably　not　more　than
past　events　justified；　'since　you　speak　like　that　to　me；　I'll　speak
honestly　to　you。　　For　these　three　years　you　have　taken　no　thought
for　us。　　You　left　home　with　a　good　supply　of　money；　and　strength　and
education；　and　you　ought　to　have　made　good　use　of　it　all。　　But　you
come　back　like　a　beggar；　and　that　you　come　in　a　very　awkward　time
for　us　cannot　be　denied。　　Your　return　to…night　may　do　us　much　harm。
But　mindyou　are　welcome　to　this　home　as　long　as　it　is　mine。　　I
don't　wish　to　turn　you　adrift。　　We　will　make　the　best　of　a　bad　job；
and　I　hope　you　are　not　seriously　ill？'

'O　no。　　I　have　only　this　infernal　cough。'

She　looked　at　him　anxiously。　　'I　think　you　had　better　go　to　bed　at
once；'　she　said。

'WellI　shall　be　out　of　the　way　there；'　said　the　son　wearily。
'Having　ruined　myself；　don't　let　me　ruin　you　by　being　seen　in　these
togs；　for　Heaven's　sake。　　Who　do　you　say　Sally　is　going　to　be
married　toa　Farmer　Darton？'

'Yesa　gentleman…farmerquite　a　wealthy　man。　　Far　better　in
station　than　she　could　have　expected。　　It　is　a　good　thing；
altogether。'

'Well　done；　little　Sal！'　said　her　brother；　brightening　and　looking
up　at　her　with　a　smile。　　'I　ought　to　have　written；　but　perhaps　I
have　thought　of　you　all　the　more。　　But　let　me　get　out　of　sight。　　I
would　rather　go　and　jump　into　the　river　than　be　seen　here。　　But　have
you　anything　I　can　drink？　　I　am　confoundedly　thirsty　with　my　long
tramp。'

'Yes；　yes；　we　will　bring　something　upstairs　to　you；'　said　Sally；
with　grief　in　her　face。

'Ay；　that　will　do　nicely。　　But；　Sally　and　mother'　　He　stopped；　and
they　waited。　　'Mother；　I　have　not　told　you　all；'　he　resumed　slowly；
still　looking　on　the　floor　between　his　knees。　　'Sad　as　what　you　see
of　me　is；　there's　worse　behind。'

His　mother　gazed　upon　him　in　grieved　suspense；　and　Sally　went　and
leant　upon　the　bur