the diary of a goose girl-第11节

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could　go　on　〃selling　them；〃　as　we　never　liked　to　part　with　old
customers；　no　matter　how　many　new　ones　there　were。　　Privately；　I
understood　the　complaint　only　too　well；　for　I　knew　the　fowls　in
question　very　intimately。　　Two　of　them　were　the　runaway　rooster　and
the　gadabout　hen　that　never　wanted　to　go　to　bed　with　the　others。
The　third　was　Cannibal　Ann。　　I　should　have　expected　them　to　be
tough；　but　I　cannot　believe　they　were　lacking　in　flavour。

The　only　troublesome　feature　of　the　trip　was　that　Mrs。　Sowerbutt's
lodgers　had　suddenly　left　for　London　and　she　was　unable　to　take　the
four　rabbits　as　she　had　hoped；　but　as　an　offset　to　that　piece　of
ill…fortune　the　Coke　and　Coal　Yard　and　the　Bicycle　Repairing　Rooms
came　out　into　the　street；　and；　stepping　up　to　the　trap；　requested
regular　weekly　deliveries　of　eggs　and　chickens；　and　hoped　that　I
would　be　able　to　bring　them　myself。　　And　so；　in　a　happy　frame　of
mind；　I　turned　out　of　the　Buffington　main　street；　and　was　jogging
along　homeward；　when　a　very　startling　thing　happened；　namely；　a
whole　verse　of　the　Bailiff's　Daughter　of　Islington：…


〃And　as　she　went　along　the　high　road；
The　weather　being　hot　and　dry；
She　sat　her　down　upon　a　green　bank；
And　her　true　love　came　riding　by。〃


That　true　lovers　are　given　to　riding　by；　in　ballads；　I　know　very
well；　but　I　hardly　supposed　they　did　so　in　real　life；　especially
when　every　precaution　had　been　taken　to　avert　such　a　catastrophe。
I　had　told　the　Barbury　Green　postmistress；　on　the　morning　of　my
arrival；　not　to　give　the　Thornycroft　address　to　anybody　whatsoever；
but　finding；　as　the　days　passed；　that　no　one　was　bold　enough　or
sensible　enough　to　ask　for　it；　I　haughtily　withdrew　my　prohibition。
About　this　time　I　began　sending　envelopes；　carefully　addressed　in　a
feigned　hand；　to　a　certain　person　at　the　Oxenbridge　Hydro。　　These
envelopes　contained　no　word　of　writing；　but　held；　on　one　day；　only
a　bit　of　down　from　a　hen's　breast；　on　another；　a　goose…quill；　on
another；　a　glossy　tail…feather；　on　another；　a　grain　of　corn；　and　so
on。　　These　trifles　were　regarded　by　me　not　as　degrading　or
unmaidenly　hints　and　suggestions；　but　simply　as　tests　of
intelligence。　　Could　a　man　receive　tokens　of　this　sort　and　fail　to
put　two　and　two　together？　　I　feel　that　I　might　possibly　support
life　with　a　domineering　and　autocratic　husband；and　there　is　every
prospect　that　I　shall　be　called　upon　to　do　so；but　not　with　a
stupid　one。　　Suppose　one　were　linked　for　ever　to　a　man　capable　of
asking；〃Did　YOU　send　those　feathers？　。　。　。　How　was　I　to　guess？　。
。　。　How　was　a　fellow　to　know　they　came　from　you？　。　。　。　What　on
earth　could　I　suppose　they　meant？　。　。　。　What　clue　did　they　offer　me
as　to　your　whereabouts？　。　。　。　Am　I　a　Sherlock　Holmes？〃No；　better
eternal　celibacy　than　marriage　with　such　a　being！

These　were　the　thoughts　that　had　been　coursing　through　my　goose…
girl　mind　while　I　had　been　selling　dressed　poultry；　but　in　some　way
they　had　not　prepared　me　for　the　appearance　of　the　aforesaid　true
love。

To　see　the　very　person　whom　one　has　left　civilisation　to　avoid　is
always　more　or　less　surprising；　and　to　make　the　meeting　less
likely；　Buffington　is　even　farther　from　Oxenbridge　than　Barbury
Green。　　The　creature　was　well　mounted　（ominous；　when　he　came　to
override　my　caprice！）　and　he　looked　bigger；　and；　yes；　handsomer；
though　that　doesn't　signify；　and　still　more　determined　than　when　I
saw　him　last；　although　goodness　knows　that　timidity　and　feebleness
of　purpose　were　not　in　striking　evidence　on　that　memorable
occasion。　　I　had　drawn　up　under　the　shade　of　a　tree　ostensibly　to
eat　some　cherries；　thinking　that　if　I　turned　my　face　away　I　might
pass　unrecognised。　　It　was　a　stupid　plan；　for　if　I　had　whipped　up
the　mare　and　driven　on；　he　of　course；　would　have　had　to　follow；　and
he　has　too　much　dignity　and　self…respect　to　shriek　recriminations
into　a　woman's　ear　from　a　distance。

He　approached　with　deliberation；　reined　in　his　horse；　and　lifted
his　hat　ceremoniously。　　He　has　an　extremely　shapely　head；　but　I　did
not　show　that　the　sight　of　it　melted　in　the　least　the　ice　of　my
resolve；　whereupon　we　talked；　not　very　freely　at　first；men　are　so
stiff　when　they　consider　themselves　injured。　　However；　silence　is
even　more　embarrassing　than　conversation；　so　at　length　I　begin：…


Bailiff's　Daughter。〃It　is　a　lovely　day。〃

True　Love。〃Yes；　but　the　drought　is　getting　rather　oppressive；
don't　you　think？〃

Bailiff's　Daughter。〃The　crops　certainly　need　rain；　and　the　feed
is　becoming　scarce。〃

True　Love。〃Are　you　a　farmer's　wife？〃

Bailiff's　Daughter。〃Oh　no！　that　is　a　promotion　to　look　forward
to；　I　am　now　only　a　Goose　Girl。〃

True　Love。〃Indeed！　　If　I　wished　to　be　severe　I　might　remark：
that　I　am　sure　you　have　found　at　last　your　true　vocation！〃

Bailiff's　Daughter。〃It　was　certainly　through　no　desire　to　please
YOU　that　I　chose　it。〃

True　Love。〃I　am　quite　sure　of　that！　　Are　you　staying　in　this
part？〃

Bailiff's　Daughter。〃Oh　no！　　I　live　many　miles　distant；　over　an
extremely　rough　road。　　And　you？〃

True　Love。〃I　am　still　at　the　Hydropathic；　or　at　least　my　luggage
is　there。〃

Bailiff's　Daughter。〃It　must　be　very　pleasant　to　attract　you　so
long。〃

True　Love。〃Not　so　pleasant　as　it　was。〃

Bailiff's　Daughter。〃No？　　A　new　proprietor；　I　suppose。〃

True　Love。〃No；　same　proprietor；　but　the　house　is　empty。〃

Bailiff's　Daughter　（yawning　purposely）。〃That　is　strange；　the
hotels　are　usually　so　full　at　this　season。　　Why　did　so　many　leave？〃

True　Love。〃As　a　matter　of　fact；　only　one　left。　　〃Full〃　and
〃empty〃　are　purely　relative　terms。　　I　call　a　hotel　full　when　it　has
you　in　it；　empty　when　it　hasn't。〃

Bailiff's　Daughter　（dying　to　laugh；　but　concealing　her　feelings）。
〃I　trust　my　bulk　does　not　make　the　same　impression　on　the　general
public！　　Well；　I　won't　detain　you　longer；　good　afternoon；　I　must　go
home　to　my　evening　work。〃

True　Love。〃I　will　accompany　you。〃

Bailiff's　Daughter。〃If　you　are　a　gentleman　you　will　remain　where
you　are。〃

True　Love。〃In　the　road？　　Perhaps；　but　if　I　am　a　man　I　shall
follow　you；　they　always　do；　I　notice。　　What　are　those　foolish
bundles　in　the　back　of　that　silly　cart？〃

Bailiff's　Daughter。〃Feed　for　the　pony；　please；　sir；　fish　for
dinner；　randans　and　barley　meal　for　the　poultry；　and　four　unsold
rabbits。　　Wouldn't　you　like　them？　　Only　one　and　sixpence　apiece。
Shot　at　three　o'clock　this　morning。〃

True　Love。〃Thanks；　I　don't　like　mine　shot　so　early。〃

Bailiff's　Daughter。〃Oh；　well！　doubtless　I　shall　be　able　to
dispose　of　them　on　my　way　home；　though　times　is　'ard！〃

True　Love。〃Do　you　mean　that　you　will　〃peddle〃　them　along　the
road？〃

Bailiff's　Daughter。〃You　understand　me　better　than　usual；in　fact
to　perfection。〃

He　dismounts　and　strides　to　the　back　of　the　cart；　lifts　the　covers；
seizes　the　rabbits；　flings　some　silver　contemptuously　into　the
basket；　and　looks　about　him　for　a　place　to　bury　his　bargain。　　A
small　boy　approaching　in　the　far　distance　will　probably　bag　the
game。

Bailiff's　Daughter　（modestly）。〃Thanks　for　your　trade；　sir；　rather
ungraciously　bestowed；　and　we　'opes　for　a　continuance　of　your　past
fyvors。〃

True　Love　（leaning　on　the　wheel　of　the　trap）。〃Let　us　stop　this
nonsense。　　What　did　you　hope　to　gain　by　running　away？〃

Bailiff　's　Daughter。〃Distance　and　absence。〃

True　Love。〃You　knew　you　couldn't　prevent　my　offering　myself　to
you　sometime　or　other。〃

Bailiff's　Daughter。〃Perhaps　not；　but　I　could　at　least　defer　it；
couldn't　I？〃

True　Love。〃Why　postpone　the　inevitable？〃

Bailiff's　Daughter。〃Doubtless　I　shrank　from　giving　you　the　pain
of　a　refusal。〃

True　Love。〃Perhaps；　but　do　you　know　what　I　suspect？〃

Bailiff's　Daughter。〃I'm　not　a　suspicious　person；　thank　goodness！〃

True　Love。〃That；　on　the　contrary；　you　are　wilfully　withholding
from　me　the　joy　of　acceptance。〃

Bailiff's　Daughter。〃If　I　intended　to　accept　you；　why　did　I　run
away？〃

True　Love。〃To　make　yourself　more　desirable　and　precious；　I
suppose。〃

Bailiff's　Daughter　（with　the　most　confident　coquetry）。〃Did　I
succeed？〃

True　Love。〃No；　you　failed　utterly。〃

Bailiff's　Daughter　（secretly　piqued）。〃Then　I　am　glad　I　tried　it。〃

True　Love。〃You　couldn't　succeed　because　you　were　superlatively
desirable　and　precious　already；　but　you　should　never　have
experimented。　　Don't　you　know　that　Love　is　a　high　explosive？〃

Bailiff's　Daughter。〃Is　it？　　Then　it　ought　always　to　be　labelled
〃dangerous；〃　oughtn't　it？　　But　who　thought　of　suggesting　matches？
I'm　sure　I　didn't！〃

True　Love。〃No　such　luck；　I　wish　you　would。〃

Bailiff's　Daughter。〃According　to　your　theory；　if　you　apply　a
match　to　Love　it　is　likely　to　'go　off。'〃

True　Love。〃I　wish　you　would　try　it　on　mine　and　await　the　result。
Come　now；　you'll　have　to　marry　somebody；　sometime。〃

Bailiff's　Daughter。〃I　confess　I　don't　see　the　necessity。〃

True　Love　（morosely）。〃You're　the　sort　of　woman　men　won't　leave　in
undisturbed　spinsterhood；　they'll　keep　on　badgering　you。〃

Bailiff's　Daughter。〃Oh；　I　don't　mind　the　badgering　of　a　number　of
men；　it's　rather　nice。　　It's　the　one　badger　I　find　obnoxious。〃

True　Love　（impatiently）。〃That's　just　the　perversity　of　things。　　I
could　put　a　stop　to　the　protestations　of　the　many；　I　should　like
nothing　betterbut　th