第23章

类别:其他 作者:Thomas Hardy字数:9658更新时间:19/01/07 14:37:59
Onthisaccounttheirregularitiesofthepathwerenotvisible,andWildeveoccasionallystumbled;whilstEustaciafounditnecessarytoperformsomegracefulfeatsofbalancingwheneverasmalltuftofheatherorrootoffurzeprotrudeditselfthroughthegrassofthenarrowtrackandentangledherfeet。Atthesejuncturesinherprogressahandwasinvariablystretchedforwardtosteadyher,holdingherfirmlyuntilsmoothgroundwasagainreached,whenthehandwasagainwithdrawntoarespectfuldistance。 Theyperformedthejourneyforthemostpartinsilence,anddrewneartoThroopeCorner,afewhundredyardsfromwhichashortpathbranchedawaytoEustacia’shouse。 Bydegreestheydiscernedcomingtowardsthemapairofhumanfigures,apparentlyofthemalesex。 WhentheycamealittlenearerEustaciabrokethesilencebysaying,\"Oneofthosemenismyhusband。Hepromisedtocometomeetme。\" \"Andtheotherismygreatestenemy,\"saidWildeve。 \"ItlookslikeDiggoryVenn。\" \"Thatistheman。\" \"Itisanawkwardmeeting,\"saidshe;\"butsuchismyfortune。 Heknowstoomuchaboutme,unlesshecouldknowmore,andsoprovetohimselfthatwhathenowknowscountsfornothing。Well,letitbe——youmustdelivermeuptothem。\" \"Youwillthinktwicebeforeyoudirectmetodothat。 HereisamanwhohasnotforgottenaniteminourmeetingsatRainbarrow——heisincompanywithyourhusband。 Whichofthem,seeingustogetherhere,willbelievethatourmeetinganddancingatthegipsypartywasbychance?\" \"Verywell,\"shewhisperedgloomily。\"Leavemebeforetheycomeup。\" Wildevebadeheratenderfarewell,andplungedacrossthefernandfurze,Eustaciaslowlywalkingon。Intwoorthreeminutesshemetherhusbandandhiscompanion。 \"Myjourneyendsherefortonight,reddleman,\"saidYeobrightassoonasheperceivedher。\"Iturnbackwiththislady。 Goodnight。\" \"Goodnight,Mr。Yeobright,\"saidVenn。\"Ihopetoseeyoubettersoon。\" ThemoonlightshonedirectlyuponVenn’sfaceashespoke,andrevealedallitslinestoEustacia。Hewaslookingsuspiciouslyather。ThatVenn’skeeneyehaddiscernedwhatYeobright’sfeeblevisionhadnot——amanintheactofwithdrawingfromEustacia’sside——waswithinthelimitsoftheprobable。 IfEustaciahadbeenabletofollowthereddlemanshewouldsoonhavefoundstrikingconfirmationofherthought。 NosoonerhadClymgivenherhisarmandledheroffthescenethanthereddlemanturnedbackfromthebeatentracktowardsEastEgdon,whitherhehadbeenstrollingmerelytoaccompanyClyminhiswalk,Diggory’svanbeingagainintheneighbourhood。Stretchingouthislonglegs,hecrossedthepathlessportionoftheheathsomewhatinthedirectionwhichWildevehadtaken。 OnlyamanaccustomedtonocturnalramblescouldatthishourhavedescendedthoseshaggyslopeswithVenn’svelocitywithoutfallingheadlongintoapit,orsnappingoffhislegbyjamminghisfootintosomerabbitburrow。 ButVennwentonwithoutmuchinconveniencetohimself,andthecourseofhisscamperwastowardstheQuietWomanInn。Thisplacehereachedinabouthalfanhour,andhewaswellawarethatnopersonwhohadbeennearThroopeCornerwhenhestartedcouldhavegotdownherebeforehim。 Thelonelyinnwasnotyetclosed,thoughscarcelyanindividualwasthere,thebusinessdonebeingchieflywithtravellerswhopassedtheinnonlongjourneys,andthesehadnowgoneontheirway。Vennwenttothepublicroom,calledforamugofale,andinquiredofthemaidinanindifferenttoneifMr。Wildevewasathome。 ThomasinsatinaninnerroomandheardVenn’svoice。 Whencustomerswerepresentsheseldomshowedherself,owingtoherinherentdislikeforthebusiness; butperceivingthatnooneelsewastheretonightshecameout。 \"Heisnotathomeyet,Diggory,\"shesaidpleasantly。 \"ButIexpectedhimsooner。HehasbeentoEastEgdontobuyahorse。\" \"Didhewearalightwideawake?\" \"Yes。\" \"ThenIsawhimatThroopeCorner,leadingonehome,\" saidVenndrily。\"Abeauty,withawhitefaceandamaneasblackasnight。Hewillsoonbehere,nodoubt。\" Risingandlookingforamomentatthepure,sweetfaceofThomasin,overwhichashadowofsadnesshadpassedsincethetimewhenhehadlastseenher,heventuredtoadd,\"Mr。Wildeveseemstobeoftenawayatthistime。\" \"Oyes,\"criedThomasininwhatwasintendedtobeatoneofgaiety。\"Husbandswillplaythetruant,youknow。 Iwishyoucouldtellmeofsomesecretplanthatwouldhelpmetokeephimhomeatmywillintheevenings。\" \"IwillconsiderifIknowofone,\"repliedVenninthatsamelighttonewhichmeantnolightness。Andthenhebowedinamannerofhisowninventionandmovedtogo。 Thomasinofferedhimherhand;andwithoutasigh,thoughwithfoodformany,thereddlemanwentout。 WhenWildevereturned,aquarterofanhourlaterThomasinsaidsimply,andintheabashedmannerusualwithhernow,\"Whereisthehorse,Damon?\" \"O,Ihavenotboughtit,afterall。Themanaskstoomuch。\" \"ButsomebodysawyouatThroopeCornerleadingithome——abeauty,withawhitefaceandamaneasblackasnight。\" \"Ah!\"saidWildeve,fixinghiseyesuponher;\"whotoldyouthat?\" \"Vennthereddleman。\" TheexpressionofWildeve’sfacebecamecuriouslycondensed。 \"Thatisamistake——itmusthavebeensomeoneelse,\" hesaidslowlyandtestily,forheperceivedthatVenn’scountermoveshadbegunagain。 4—RoughCoercionIsEmployedThosewordsofThomasin,whichseemedsolittle,butmeantsomuch,remainedintheearsofDiggoryVenn:\"Helpmetokeephimhomeintheevenings。\" OnthisoccasionVennhadarrivedonEgdonHeathonlytocrosstotheotherside——hehadnofurtherconnectionwiththeinterestsoftheYeobrightfamily,andhehadabusinessofhisowntoattendto。YethesuddenlybegantofeelhimselfdriftingintotheoldtrackofmanoeuvringonThomasin’saccount。 Hesatinhisvanandconsidered。FromThomasin’swordsandmannerhehadplainlygatheredthatWildeveneglectedher。 ForwhomcouldheneglectherifnotforEustacia?YetitwasscarcelycrediblethatthingshadcometosuchaheadastoindicatethatEustaciasystematicallyencouragedhim。 VennresolvedtoreconnoitresomewhatcarefullythelonelyroadwhichledalongthevalefromWildeve’sdwellingtoClym’shouseatAlderworth。 Atthistime,ashasbeenseen,Wildevewasquiteinnocentofanypredeterminedactofintrigue,andexceptatthedanceonthegreenhehadnotoncemetEustaciasincehermarriage。Butthatthespiritofintriguewasinhimhadbeenshownbyarecentromantichabitofhis——ahabitofgoingoutafterdarkandstrollingtowardsAlderworth,therelookingatthemoonandstars,lookingatEustacia’shouse,andwalkingbackatleisure。 Accordingly,whenwatchingonthenightafterthefestival,thereddlemansawhimascendbythelittlepath,leanoverthefrontgateofClym’sgarden,sigh,andturntogobackagain。ItwasplainthatWildeve’sintriguewasratheridealthanreal。Vennretreatedbeforehimdownthehilltoaplacewherethepathwasmerelyadeepgroovebetweentheheather;herehemysteriouslybentoverthegroundforafewminutes,andretired。 WhenWildevecameontothatspothisanklewascaughtbysomething,andhefellheadlong。 Assoonashehadrecoveredthepowerofrespirationhesatupandlistened。Therewasnotasoundinthegloombeyondthespiritlessstirofthesummerwind。 Feelingaboutfortheobstaclewhichhadflunghimdown,hediscoveredthattwotuftsofheathhadbeentiedtogetheracrossthepath,formingaloop,whichtoatravellerwascertainoverthrow。Wildevepulledoffthestringthatboundthem,andwentonwithtolerablequickness。 Onreachinghomehefoundthecordtobeofareddishcolour。 Itwasjustwhathehadexpected。 Althoughhisweaknesseswerenotspeciallythoseakintophysicalfear,thisspeciesofcoup—de—JarnacfromoneheknewtoowelltroubledthemindofWildeve。 Buthismovementswereunalteredthereby。AnightortwolaterheagainwentalongthevaletoAlderworth,takingtheprecautionofkeepingoutofanypath。 Thesensethathewaswatched,thatcraftwasemployedtocircumventhiserranttastes,addedpiquancytoajourneysoentirelysentimental,solongasthedangerwasofnofearfulsort。HeimaginedthatVennandMrs。Yeobrightwereinleague,andfeltthattherewasacertainlegitimacyincombatingsuchacoalition。 Theheathtonightappearedtobetotallydeserted; andWildeve,afterlookingoverEustacia’sgardengateforsomelittletime,withacigarinhismouth,wastemptedbythefascinationthatemotionalsmugglinghadforhisnaturetoadvancetowardsthewindow,whichwasnotquiteclosed,theblindbeingonlypartlydrawndown。Hecouldseeintotheroom,andEustaciawassittingtherealone。 Wildevecontemplatedherforaminute,andthenretreatingintotheheathbeatthefernslightly,whereuponmothsflewoutalarmed。Securingone,hereturnedtothewindow,andholdingthemothtothechink,openedhishand。 ThemothmadetowardsthecandleuponEustacia’stable,hoveredroundittwoorthreetimes,andflewintotheflame。 Eustaciastartedup。Thishadbeenawell—knownsignalinoldtimeswhenWildevehadusedtocomesecretlywooingtoMistover。SheatonceknewthatWildevewasoutside,butbeforeshecouldconsiderwhattodoherhusbandcameinfromupstairs。Eustacia’sfaceburntcrimsonattheunexpectedcollisionofincidents,andfilleditwithananimationthatittoofrequentlylacked。 \"Youhaveaveryhighcolour,dearest,\"saidYeobright,whenhecamecloseenoughtoseeit。\"Yourappearancewouldbenoworseifitwerealwaysso。\" \"Iamwarm,\"saidEustacia。\"IthinkIwillgointotheairforafewminutes。\" \"ShallIgowithyou?\" \"Ono。Iamonlygoingtothegate。\" Shearose,butbeforeshehadtimetogetoutoftheroomaloudrappingbeganuponthefrontdoor。 \"I’llgo——I’llgo,\"saidEustaciainanunusuallyquicktoneforher;andsheglancedeagerlytowardsthewindowwhencethemothhadflown;butnothingappearedthere。 \"Youhadbetternotatthistimeoftheevening,\" hesaid。Clymsteppedbeforeherintothepassage,andEustaciawaited,hersomnolentmannercoveringherinnerheatandagitation。 Shelistened,andClymopenedthedoor。Nowordswereutteredoutside,andpresentlyhecloseditandcameback,saying,\"Nobodywasthere。Iwonderwhatthatcouldhavemeant?\" Hewaslefttowonderduringtherestoftheevening,fornoexplanationoffereditself,andEustaciasaidnothing,theadditionalfactthatsheknewofonlyaddingmoremysterytotheperformance。 MeanwhilealittledramahadbeenactedoutsidewhichsavedEustaciafromallpossibilityofcompromisingherselfthateveningatleast。WhilstWildevehadbeenpreparinghismoth—signalanotherpersonhadcomebehindhimuptothegate。Thisman,whocarriedaguninhishand,lookedonforamomentattheother’soperationbythewindow,walkeduptothehouse,knockedatthedoor,andthenvanishedroundthecornerandoverthehedge。 \"Damnhim!\"saidWildeve。\"Hehasbeenwatchingmeagain。\" AshissignalhadbeenrenderedfutilebythisuproariousrappingWildevewithdrew,passedoutatthegate,andwalkedquicklydownthepathwithoutthinkingofanythingexceptgettingawayunnoticed。Halfwaydownthehillthepathrannearaknotofstuntedhollies,whichinthegeneraldarknessofthescenestoodasthepupilinablackeye。 WhenWildevereachedthispointareportstartledhisear,andafewspentgunshotsfellamongtheleavesaroundhim。 Therewasnodoubtthathehimselfwasthecauseofthatgun’sdischarge;andherushedintotheclumpofhollies,beatingthebushesfuriouslywithhisstick;butnobodywasthere。Thisattackwasamoreseriousmatterthanthelast,anditwassometimebeforeWildeverecoveredhisequanimity。Anewandmostunpleasantsystemofmenacehadbegun,andtheintentappearedtobetodohimgrievousbodilyharm。WildevehadlookeduponVenn’sfirstattemptasaspeciesofhorseplay,whichthereddlemanhadindulgedinforwantofknowingbetter;butnowtheboundarylinewaspassedwhichdividestheannoyingfromtheperilous。 HadWildeveknownhowthoroughlyinearnestVennhadbecomehemighthavebeenstillmorealarmed。 ThereddlemanhadbeenalmostexasperatedbythesightofWildeveoutsideClym’shouse,andhewaspreparedtogotoanylengthsshortofabsolutelyshootinghim,toterrifytheyounginnkeeperoutofhisrecalcitrantimpulses。 ThedoubtfullegitimacyofsuchroughcoerciondidnotdisturbthemindofVenn。Ittroublesfewsuchmindsinsuchcases,andsometimesthisisnottoberegretted。 FromtheimpeachmentofStraffordtoFarmerLynch’sshortwaywiththescampsofVirginiatherehavebeenmanytriumphsofjusticewhicharemockeriesoflaw。 AbouthalfamilebelowClym’ssecludeddwellinglayahamletwherelivedoneofthetwoconstableswhopreservedthepeaceintheparishofAlderworth,andWildevewentstraighttotheconstable’scottage。 Almostthefirstthingthathesawonopeningthedoorwastheconstable’struncheonhangingtoanail,asiftoassurehimthatherewerethemeanstohispurpose。 Oninquiry,however,oftheconstable’swifehelearntthattheconstablewasnotathome。Wildevesaidhewouldwait。 Theminutestickedon,andtheconstabledidnotarrive。 Wildevecooleddownfromhisstateofhighindignationtoarestlessdissatisfactionwithhimself,thescene,theconstable’swife,andthewholesetofcircumstances。 Hearoseandleftthehouse。Altogether,theexperienceofthateveninghadhadacooling,nottosayachilling,effectonmisdirectedtenderness,andWildevewasinnomoodtorambleagaintoAlderworthafternightfallinhopeofastrayglancefromEustacia。 ThusfarthereddlemanhadbeentolerablysuccessfulinhisrudecontrivancesforkeepingdownWildeve’sinclinationtoroveintheevening。HehadnippedinthebudthepossiblemeetingbetweenEustaciaandheroldloverthisverynight。ButhehadnotanticipatedthatthetendencyofhisactionwouldbetodivertWildeve’smovementratherthantostopit。ThegamblingwiththeguineashadnotconducedtomakehimawelcomeguesttoClym; buttocalluponhiswife’srelativewasnatural,andhewasdeterminedtoseeEustacia。Itwasnecessarytochoosesomelessuntowardhourthanteno’clockatnight。 \"Sinceitisunsafetogointheevening,\"hesaid,\"I’llgobyday。\" MeanwhileVennhadlefttheheathandgonetocalluponMrs。Yeobright,withwhomhehadbeenonfriendlytermssinceshehadlearntwhataprovidentialcountermovehehadmadetowardstherestitutionofthefamilyguineas。 Shewonderedatthelatenessofhiscall,buthadnoobjectiontoseehim。 HegaveherafullaccountofClym’saffliction,andofthestateinwhichhewasliving;then,referringtoThomasin,touchedgentlyupontheapparentsadnessofherdays。 \"Now,ma’am,dependuponit,\"hesaid,\"youcouldn’tdoabetterthingforeitherof’emthantomakeyourselfathomeintheirhouses,evenifthereshouldbealittlerebuffatfirst。\" \"Bothsheandmysondisobeyedmeinmarrying; thereforeIhavenointerestintheirhouseholds。 Theirtroublesareoftheirownmaking。\"Mrs。Yeobrighttriedtospeakseverely;buttheaccountofherson’sstatehadmovedhermorethanshecaredtoshow。 \"YourvisitswouldmakeWildevewalkstraighterthanheisinclinedtodo,andmightpreventunhappinessdowntheheath。\" \"Whatdoyoumean?\" \"IsawsomethingtonightouttherewhichIdidn’tlikeatall。 Iwishyourson’shouseandMr。Wildeve’swereahundredmilesapartinsteadoffourorfive。\" \"ThenthereWASanunderstandingbetweenhimandClym’swifewhenhemadeafoolofThomasin!\" \"We’llhopethere’snounderstandingnow。\" \"Andourhopewillprobablybeveryvain。OClym! OThomasin!\" \"There’snoharmdoneyet。Infact,I’vepersuadedWildevetomindhisownbusiness。\" \"How?\" \"O,notbytalking——byaplanofminecalledthesilentsystem。\" \"Ihopeyou’llsucceed。\" \"Ishallifyouhelpmebycallingandmakingfriendswithyourson。You’llhaveachancethenofusingyoureyes。\" \"Well,sinceithascometothis,\"saidMrs。Yeobrightsadly,\"Iwillowntoyou,reddleman,thatIthoughtofgoing。 Ishouldbemuchhappierifwewerereconciled。 Themarriageisunalterable,mylifemaybecutshort,andIshouldwishtodieinpeace。Heismyonlyson; andsincesonsaremadeofsuchstuffIamnotsorryIhavenoother。AsforThomasin,Ineverexpectedmuchfromher;andshehasnotdisappointedme。 ButIforgaveherlongago;andIforgivehimnow。 I’llgo。\" Atthisverytimeofthereddleman’sconversationwithMrs。YeobrightatBlooms—EndanotherconversationonthesamesubjectwaslanguidlyproceedingatAlderworth。 AllthedayClymhadbornehimselfasifhismindweretoofullofitsownmattertoallowhimtocareaboutoutwardthings,andhiswordsnowshowedwhathadoccupiedhisthoughts。 Itwasjustafterthemysteriousknockingthathebeganthetheme。\"SinceIhavebeenawaytoday,Eustacia,Ihaveconsideredthatsomethingmustbedonetohealupthisghastlybreachbetweenmydearmotherandmyself。 Ittroublesme。\" \"Whatdoyouproposetodo?\"saidEustaciaabstractedly,forshecouldnotclearawayfromhertheexcitementcausedbyWildeve’srecentmanoeuvreforaninterview。 \"YouseemtotakeaverymildinterestinwhatIpropose,littleormuch,\"saidClym,withtolerablewarmth。 \"Youmistakeme,\"sheanswered,revivingathisreproach。 \"Iamonlythinking。\" \"Whatof?\" \"Partlyofthatmothwhoseskeletonisgettingburntupinthewickofthecandle,\"shesaidslowly。\"ButyouknowIalwaystakeaninterestinwhatyousay。\" \"Verywell,dear。ThenIthinkImustgoandcalluponher。\"……Hewentonwithtenderfeeling:\"ItisathingIamnotatalltooproudtodo,andonlyafearthatImightirritateherhaskeptmeawaysolong。 ButImustdosomething。Itiswronginmetoallowthissortofthingtogoon。\" \"Whathaveyoutoblameyourselfabout?\" \"Sheisgettingold,andherlifeislonely,andIamheronlyson。\" \"ShehasThomasin。\" \"Thomasinisnotherdaughter;andifshewerethatwouldnotexcuseme。Butthisisbesidethepoint。 Ihavemadeupmymindtogotoher,andallIwishtoaskyouiswhetheryouwilldoyourbesttohelpme——thatis,forgetthepast;andifsheshowsherwillingnesstobereconciled,meetherhalfwaybywelcominghertoourhouse,orbyacceptingawelcometohers?\" AtfirstEustaciaclosedherlipsasifshewouldratherdoanythingonthewholeglobethanwhathesuggested。 Butthelinesofhermouthsoftenedwiththought,thoughnotsofarastheymighthavesoftened,andshesaid,\"Iwillputnothinginyourway;butafterwhathaspassedit,isaskingtoomuchthatIgoandmakeadvances。\" \"Youneverdistinctlytoldmewhatdidpassbetweenyou。\" \"Icouldnotdoitthen,norcanInow。Sometimesmorebitternessissowninfiveminutesthancanbegotridofinawholelife;andthatmaybethecasehere。\" Shepausedafewmoments,andadded,\"Ifyouhadneverreturnedtoyournativeplace,Clym,whatablessingitwouldhavebeenforyou!……Ithasalteredthedestiniesof————\" \"Threepeople。\" \"Five,\"Eustaciathought;butshekeptthatin。 5—TheJourneyacrosstheHeathThursday,thethirty—firstofAugust,wasoneofaseriesofdaysduringwhichsnughouseswerestifling,andwhencooldraughtsweretreats;whencracksappearedinclayeygardens,andwerecalled\"earthquakes\"byapprehensivechildren; whenloosespokeswerediscoveredinthewheelsofcartsandcarriages;andwhenstinginginsectshauntedtheair,theearth,andeverydropofwaterthatwastobefound。 InMrs。Yeobright’sgardenlarge—leavedplantsofatenderkindflaggedbyteno’clockinthemorning; rhubarbbentdownwardateleven;andevenstiffcabbageswerelimpbynoon。 Itwasabouteleveno’clockonthisdaythatMrs。Yeobrightstartedacrosstheheathtowardsherson’shouse,todoherbestingettingreconciledwithhimandEustacia,inconformitywithherwordstothereddleman。 Shehadhopedtobewelladvancedinherwalkbeforetheheatofthedaywasatitshighest,butaftersettingoutshefoundthatthiswasnottobedone。 Thesunhadbrandedthewholeheathwithitsmark,eventhepurpleheath—flowershavingputonabrownnessunderthedryblazesofthefewprecedingdays。 Everyvalleywasfilledwithairlikethatofakiln,andthecleanquartzsandofthewinterwater—courses,whichformedsummerpaths,hadundergoneaspeciesofincinerationsincethedroughthadsetin。 Incool,freshweatherMrs。YeobrightwouldhavefoundnoinconvenienceinwalkingtoAlderworth,butthepresenttorridattackmadethejourneyaheavyundertakingforawomanpastmiddleage;andattheendofthethirdmileshewishedthatshehadhiredFairwaytodriveheraportionatleastofthedistance。ButfromthepointatwhichshehadarriveditwasaseasytoreachClym’shouseastogethomeagain。Soshewenton,theairaroundherpulsatingsilently,andoppressingtheearthwithlassitude。Shelookedattheskyoverhead,andsawthatthesapphirinehueofthezenithinspringandearlysummerhadbeenreplacedbyametallicviolet。 Occasionallyshecametoaspotwhereindependentworldsofephemeronswerepassingtheirtimeinmadcarousal,someintheair,someonthehotgroundandvegetation,someinthetepidandstringywaterofanearlydriedpool。 Alltheshallowerpondshaddecreasedtoavaporousmudamidwhichthemaggotyshapesofinnumerableobscurecreaturescouldbeindistinctlyseen,heavingandwallowingwithenjoyment。Beingawomannotdisinclinedtophilosophizeshesometimessatdownunderherumbrellatorestandtowatchtheirhappiness,foracertainhopefulnessastotheresultofhervisitgaveeasetohermind,andbetweenimportantthoughtsleftitfreetodwellonanyinfinitesimalmatterwhichcaughthereyes。 Mrs。Yeobrighthadneverbeforebeentoherson’shouse,anditsexactpositionwasunknowntoher。Shetriedoneascendingpathandanother,andfoundthattheyledherastray。 Retracinghersteps,shecameagaintoanopenlevel,wheresheperceivedatadistanceamanatwork。 Shewenttowardshimandinquiredtheway。 Thelabourerpointedoutthedirection,andadded,\"Doyouseethatfurze—cutter,ma’am,goingupthatfootpathyond?\" Mrs。Yeobrightstrainedhereyes,andatlastsaidthatshedidperceivehim。 \"Well,ifyoufollowhimyoucanmakenomistake。 He’sgoingtothesameplace,ma’am。\" Shefollowedthefigureindicated。Heappearedofarussethue,notmoredistinguishablefromthescenearoundhimthanthegreencaterpillarfromtheleafitfeedson。