还乡The Return Of The Native-第17部分

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“Miss　Vye；　why　should　you　make　believe　that　you　don’t　know　this　man？I　know　why；　certainly。　　He　is　beneath　you；　and　you　are　ashamed。”
“You　are　mistaken。　　What　do　you　mean？”
The　reddleman　had　decided　to　play　the　card　of　truth。　　“I　was　at　the　meeting　by　Rainbarrow　last　night　and　heard　every　word；”　he　said。　　“The　woman　that　stands　between　Wildeve　and　Thomasin　is　yourself。”
It　was　a　disconcerting　lift　of　the　curtain；　and　the　mortification　of　Candaules’　wife　glowed　in　her。　　The　moment　had　arrived　when　her　lip　would　tremble　in　spite　of　herself；　and　when　the　gasp　could　no　longer　be　kept　down。　
“I　am　unwell；”　she　said　hurriedly。　　“No—it　is　not　that—I　am　not　in　a　humour　to　hear　you　further。　　Leave　me；　please。”
“I　must　speak；　Miss　Vye；　in　spite　of　paining　you。　　What　I　would　put　before　you　is　this。　　However　it　may　e　about—whether　she　is　to　blame；　or　you—her　case　is　without　doubt　worse　than　yours。　　Your　giving　up　Mr。　Wildeve　will　be　a　real　advantage　to　you；　for　how　could　you　marry　him？　　Now　she　cannot　get　off　so　easily—everybody　will　blame　her　if　she　loses　him。　　Then　I　ask　you—not　because　her　right　is　best；　but　because　her　situation　is　worst—to　give　him　up　to　her。”
“No—I　won’t；　I　won’t！”　she　said　impetuously；　quite　forgetful　of　her　previous　manner　towards　the　reddleman　as　an　underling。　　“Nobody　has　ever　been　served　so！　It　was　going　on　well—I　will　not　be　beaten　down—by　an　inferior　woman　like　her。　　It　is　very　well　for　you　to　e　and　plead　for　her；　but　is　she　not　herself　the　cause　of　all　her　own　trouble？　　Am　I　not　to　show　favour　to　any　person　I　may　choose　without　asking　permission　of　a　parcel　of　cottagers？　　She　has　e　between　me　and　my　inclination；　and　now　that　she　finds　herself　rightly　punished　she　gets　you　to　plead　for　her！”
“Indeed；”　said　Venn　earnestly；　“she　knows　nothing　whatever　about　it。　　It　is　only　I　who　ask　you　to　give　him　up。　　It　will　be　better　for　her　and　you　both。　　People　will　say　bad　things　if　they　find　out　that　a　lady　secretly　meets　a　man　who　has　ill…used　another　woman。”
“I　have　NOT　injured　her—he　was　mine　before　he　was　hers！　He　came　back—because—because　he　liked　me　best！”　she　said　wildly。　　“But　I　lose　all　self…respect　in　talking　to　you。　　What　am　I　giving　way　to！”
“I　can　keep　secrets；”　said　Venn　gently。　　“You　need　not　fear。　
I　am　the　only　man　who　knows　of　your　meetings　with　him。　　There　is　but　one　thing　more　to　speak　of；　and　then　I　will　be　gone。　　I　heard　you　say　to　him　that　you　hated　living　here—that　Egdon　Heath　was　a　jail　to　you。”
“I　did　say　so。　　There　is　a　sort　of　beauty　in　the　scenery；　I　know；　but　it　is　a　jail　to　me。　　The　man　you　mention　does　not　save　me　from　that　feeling；　though　he　lives　here。　　I　should　have　cared　nothing　for　him　had　there　been　a　better　person　near。”
The　reddleman　looked　hopeful；　after　these　words　from　her　his　third　attempt　seemed　promising。　　“As　we　have　now　opened　our　minds　a　bit；　miss；”　he　said；　“I’ll　tell　you　what　I　have　got　to　propose。　　Since　I　have　taken　to　the　reddle　trade　I　travel　a　good　deal；　as　you　know。”
She　inclined　her　head；　and　swept　round　so　that　her　eyes　rested　in　the　misty　vale　beneath　them。　
“And　in　my　travels　I　go　near　Budmouth。　　Now　Budmouth　is　a　wonderful　place—wonderful—a　great　salt　sheening　sea　bending　into　the　land　like　a　bow—thousands　of　gentlepeople　walking　up　and　down—bands　of　music　playing—officers　by　sea　and　officers　by　land　walking　among　the　rest—out　of　every　ten　folks　you　meet　nine　of　‘em　in　love。”
“I　know　it；”　she　said　disdainfully。　　“I　know　Budmouth　better　than　you。　　I　was　born　there。　　My　father　came　to　be　a　military　musician　there　from　abroad。　　Ah；　my　soul；　Budmouth！　I　wish　I　was　there　now。”
The　reddleman　was　surprised　to　see　how　a　slow　fire　could　blaze　on　occasion。　　“If　you　were；　miss；”　he　replied；　“in　a　week’s　time　you　would　think　no　more　of　Wildeve　than　of　one　of　those　he’th…croppers　that　we　see　yond。　　Now；　I　could　get　you　there。”
“How？”　said　Eustacia；　with　intense　curiosity　in　her　heavy　eyes。　
“My　uncle　has　been　for　five　and　twenty　years　the　trusty　man　of　a　rich　widow…lady　who　has　a　beautiful　house　facing　the　sea。　　This　lady　has　bee　old　and　lame；　and　she　wants　a　young　pany…keeper　to　read　and　sing　to　her；　but　can’t　get　one　to　her　mind　to　save　her　life；　though　she’ve　advertised　in　the　papers；　and　tried　half　a　dozen。　　She　would　jump　to　get　you；　and　Uncle　would　make　it　all　easy。”
“I　should　have　to　work；　perhaps？”
“No；　not　real　work—you’d　have　a　little　to　do；　such　as　reading　and　that。　　You　would　not　be　wanted　till　New　Year’s　Day。”
“I　knew　it　meant　work；”　she　said；　drooping　to　languor　again。　
“I　confess　there　would　be　a　trifle　to　do　in　the　way　of　amusing　her；　but　though　idle　people　might　call　it　work；　working　people　would　call　it　play。　　Think　of　the　pany　and　the　life　you’d　lead；　miss；　the　gaiety　you’d　see；　and　the　gentleman　you’d　marry。　　My　uncle　is　to　inquire　for　a　trustworthy　young　lady　from　the　country；　as　she　don’t　like　town　girls。”
“It　is　to　wear　myself　out　to　please　her！　and　I　won’t　go。　　O；　if　I　could　live　in　a　gay　town　as　a　lady　should；　and　go　my　own　ways；　and　do　my　own　doings；　I’d　give　the　wrinkled　half　of　my　life！　Yes；　reddleman；　that　would　I。”
“Help　me　to　get　Thomasin　happy；　miss；　and　the　chance　shall　be　yours；”　urged　her　panion。　
“Chance—‘tis　no　chance；”　she　said　proudly。　　“What　can　a　poor　man　like　you　offer　me；　indeed？I　am　going　indoors。　　I　have　nothing　more　to　say。　　Don’t　your　horses　want　feeding；　or　your　reddlebags　want　mending；　or　don’t　you　want　to　find　buyers　for　your　goods；　that　you　stay　idling　here　like　this？”
Venn　spoke　not　another　word。　　With　his　hands　behind　him　he　turned　away；　that　she　might　not　see　the　hopeless　disappointment　in　his　face。　　The　mental　clearness　and　power　he　had　found　in　this　lonely　girl　had　indeed　filled　his　manner　with　misgiving　even　from　the　first　few　minutes　of　close　quarters　with　her。　　Her　youth　and　situation　had　led　him　to　expect　a　simplicity　quite　at　the　beck　of　his　method。　　But　a　system　of　inducement　which　might　have　carried　weaker　country　lasses　along　with　it　had　merely　repelled　Eustacia。　　As　a　rule；　the　word　Budmouth　meant　fascination　on　Egdon。　　That　Royal　port　and　watering　place；　if　truly　mirrored　in　the　minds　of　the　heathfolk；　must　have　bined；　in　a　charming　and　indescribable　manner　a　Carthaginian　bustle　of　building　with　Tarentine　luxuriousness　and　Baian　health　and　beauty。　　Eustacia　felt　little　less　extravagantly　about　the　place；　but　she　would　not　sink　her　independence　to　get　there。　
When　Diggory　Venn　had　gone　quite　away；　Eustacia　walked　to　the　bank　and　looked　down　the　wild　and　picturesque　vale　towards　the　sun；　which　was　also　in　the　direction　of　Wildeve’s。　The　mist　had　now　so　far　collapsed　that　the　tips　of　the　trees　and　bushes　around　his　house　could　just　be　discerned；　as　if　boring　upwards　through　a　vast　white　cobweb　which　cloaked　them　from　the　day。　　There　was　no　doubt　that　her　mind　was　inclined　thitherward；　indefinitely；　fancifully—twining　and　untwining　about　him　as　the　single　object　within　her　horizon　on　which　dreams　might　crystallize。　　The　man　who　had　begun　by　being　merely　her　amusement；　and　would　never　have　been　more　than　her　hobby　but　for　his　skill　in　deserting　her　at　the　right　moments；　was　now　again　her　desire。　　Cessation　in　his　love…making　had　revivified　her　love。　　Such　feeling　as　Eustacia　had　idly　given　to　Wildeve　was　dammed　into　a　flood　by　Thomasin。　　She　had　used　to　tease　Wildeve；　but　that　was　before　another　had　favoured　him。　　Often　a　drop　of　irony　into　an　indifferent　situation　renders　the　whole　piquant。　
“I　will　never　give　him　up—never！”　she　said　impetuously。
The　reddleman’s　hint　that　rumour　might　show　her　to　disadvantage　had　no　permanent　terror　for　Eustacia。　　She　was　as　unconcerned　at　that　contingency　as　a　goddess　at　a　lack　of　linen。　　This　did　not　originate　in　inherent　shamelessness；　but　in　her　living　too　far　from　the　world　to　feel　the　impact　of　public　opinion。　　Zenobia　in　the　desert　could　hardly　have　cared　what　was　said　about　her　at　Rome。　　As　far　as　social　ethics　were　concerned　Eustacia　approached　the　savage　state；　though　in　emotion　she　was　all　the　while　an　epicure。　　She　had　advanced　to　the　secret　recesses　of　sensuousness；　yet　had　hardly　crossed　the　threshold　of　conventionality。　


11　… The　Dishonesty　of　an　Honest　Woman


The　reddleman　had　left　Eustacia’s　presence　with　desponding　views　on　Thomasin’s　future　happiness；　but　he　was　awakened　to　the　fact　that　one　other　channel　remained　untried　by　seeing；　as　he　followed　the　way　to　his　van；　the　form　of　Mrs。　Yeobright　slowly　walking　towards　the　Quiet　Woman。　　He　went　across　to　her；　and　could　almost　perceive　in　her　anxious　face　that　this　journey　of　hers　to　Wildeve　was　undertaken　with　the　same　object　as　his　own　to　Eustacia。　
She　did　not　conceal　the　fact。　　“Then；”　said　the　reddleman；　“you　may　as　well　leave　it　alone；　Mrs。　Yeobright。”
“I　half　think　so　myself；”　she　said。　　“But　nothing　else　remains　to　be　done　besides　pressing　the　question　upon　him。”
“I　should　like　to　say　a　word　first；”　said　Venn　firmly。　　“Mr。　Wildeve　is　not　the　only　man　who　has　asked　Thomasin　to　marry　him；　and　why　should　not　another　have　a　chance？　　Mrs。　Yeobright；　I　should　be　glad　to　marry　your　niece。　　and　would　have　done　it　any　time　these　last　two　years。　　There；　now　it　is　out；　and　I　have　never　told　anybody　before　but　herself。”
Mrs。　Yeobright　was　not　demonstrative；　but　her　eyes　involuntarily　glanced　towards　his　singular　though　shapely　figure。　
“Looks　are　not　everything；”　said　the　reddleman；　noticing　the　glance。　　“There’s　many　a　calling　that　don’t　bring　in　so　much　as　mine；　if　it　es　to　money；　and　perhaps　I　am　not　so　much　worse　off　than　Wildeve。　　There　is　nobody　so　poor　as　these　professional　fellows　who　have　failed；　and　if　you　shouldn’t　like　my　redness—well；　I　am　not　red　by　birth；　you　know；　I　only　took　to　this　business　for　a　freak；　and　I　might　turn　my　hand　to　something　else　in　good　time。”
“I　am　much　obliged　to　you　for　your　interest　in　my　niece；　but　I　fear　there　would　be　objections。　　More　than　that；　she　is　devoted　to　this　man。”
“True；　or　I　shouldn’t　have　done　what　I　have　this　morning。”
“Otherwise　there　would　be　no　pain　in　the　case；　and　you　would　not　see　me　going　to　his　house　now。　　What　was　Thomasin’s　answer　when　you　told　her　of　your　feelings？”
“She　wrote　that　you　would　object　to　me；　and　other　things。”
“She　was　in　a　measure　right。　　You　must　not　take　this　unkindly—I　merely　state　it　as　a　truth。　　You　have　been　good　to　her；　and　we　do　not　forget　it。　　But　as　she　was　unwilling　on　her　own　account　to　be　your　wife；　that　settles　the　point　without　my　wishes　being　concerned。”
“Yes。　But　there　is　a　difference　between　then　and　now；　ma’am。　She　is　distressed　now；　and　I　have　thought　that　if　you　were　to　talk　to　her　about　me；　and　think　favourably　of　me　yourself；　there　might　be　a　chance　of　winning　her　round；　and　getting　her　quite　independent　of　this　Wildeve’s　backward　and　forward　play；　and　his　not　knowing　whether　he’ll　have　her　or　no。”
Mrs。　Yeobright　shook　her　head。　　“Thomasin　thinks；　and　I　think　with　her；　that　she　ought　to　be　Wildeve’s　wife；　if　she　means　to　appear　before　the　world　without　a　slur　upon　her　name。　　If　they　marry　soon；　everybody　will　believe　that　an　accident　did　really　prevent　the　wedding。　　If　not；　it　may　cast　a　shade　upon　her　character—at　any　rate　make　h