还乡The Return Of The Native-第27部分

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The　roof　and　chimney　of　Venn’s　caravan　showed　behind　the　tracery　and　tangles　of　the　brake。
“You　remain　near　this　part？”　she　asked　with　more　interest。　
“Yes；　I　have　business　here。”
“Not　altogether　the　selling　of　reddle？”
“It　has　nothing　to　do　with　that。”
“It　has　to　do　with　Miss　Yeobright？”
Her　face　seemed　to　ask　for　an　armed　peace；　and　he　therefore　said　frankly；　“Yes；　miss；　it　is　on　account　of　her。”
“On　account　of　your　approaching　marriage　with　her？”
Venn　flushed　through　his　stain。　　“Don’t　make　sport　of　me；　Miss　Vye；”　he　said。　
“It　isn’t　true？”
“Certainly　not。”
She　was　thus　convinced　that　the　reddleman　was　a　mere　pis　aller　in　Mrs。　Yeobright’s　mind；　one；　moreover；　who　had　not　even　been　informed　of　his　promotion　to　that　lowly　standing。　　“It　was　a　mere　notion　of　mine；”　she　said　quietly；　and　was　about　to　pass　by　without　further　speech；　when；　looking　round　to　the　right；　she　saw　a　painfully　well…known　figure　serpentining　upwards　by　one　of　the　little　paths　which　led　to　the　top　where　she　stood。　　Owing　to　the　necessary　windings　of　his　course　his　back　was　at　present　towards　them。　　She　glanced　quickly　round；　to　escape　that　man　there　was　only　one　way。　　Turning　to　Venn；　she　said；　“Would　you　allow　me　to　rest　a　few　minutes　in　your　van？　　The　banks　are　damp　for　sitting　on。”
“Certainly；　miss；　I’ll　make　a　place　for　you。”
She　followed　him　behind　the　dell　of　brambles　to　his　wheeled　dwelling　into　which　Venn　mounted；　placing　the　three…legged　stool　just　within　the　door。
“That　is　the　best　I　can　do　for　you；”　he　said；　stepping　down　and　retiring　to　the　path；　where　he　resumed　the　smoking　of　his　pipe　as　he　walked　up　and　down。
Eustacia　bounded　into　the　vehicle　and　sat　on　the　stool；　ensconced　from　view　on　the　side　towards　the　trackway。　　Soon　she　heard　the　brushing　of　other　feet　than　the　reddleman’s；　a　not　very　friendly　“Good　day”　uttered　by　two　men　in　passing　each　other；　and　then　the　dwindling　of　the　foot…fall　of　one　of　them　in　a　direction　onwards。　　Eustacia　stretched　her　neck　forward　till　she　caught　a　glimpse　of　a　receding　back　and　shoulders；　and　she　felt　a　wretched　twinge　of　misery；　she　knew　not　why。　　It　was　the　sickening　feeling　which；　if　the　changed　heart　has　any　generosity　at　all　in　its　position；　acpanies　the　sudden　sight　of　a　once…loved　one　who　is　beloved　no　more。　
When　Eustacia　descended　to　proceed　on　her　way　the　reddleman　came　near。　　“That　was　Mr。　Wildeve　who　passed；　miss；”　he　said　slowly；　and　expressed　by　his　face　that　he　expected　her　to　feel　vexed　at　having　been　sitting　unseen。
“Yes；　I　saw　him　ing　up　the　hill；”　replied　Eustacia。　　“Why　should　you　tell　me　that？”　It　was　a　bold　question；　considering　the　reddleman’s　knowledge　of　her　past　love；　but　her　undemonstrative　manner　had　power　to　repress　the　opinions　of　those　she　treated　as　remote　from　her。
“I　am　glad　to　hear　that　you　can　ask　it；”　said　the　reddleman　bluntly。　　“And；　now　I　think　of　it；　it　agrees　with　what　I　saw　last　night。”
“Ah—what　was　that？”　Eustacia　wished　to　leave　him；　but　wished　to　know。
“Mr。　Wildeve　stayed　at　Rainbarrow　a　long　time　waiting　for　a　lady　who　didn’t　e。”
“You　waited　too；　it　seems？”
“Yes；　I　always　do。　　I　was　glad　to　see　him　disappointed。　
He　will　be　there　again　tonight。”
“To　be　again　disappointed。　　The　truth　is；　reddleman；　that　that　lady；　so　far　from　wishing　to　stand　in　the　way　of　Thomasin’s　marriage　with　Mr。　Wildeve；　would　be　very　glad　to　promote　it。”
Venn　felt　much　astonishment　at　this　avowal；　though　he　did　not　show　it　clearly；　that　exhibition　may　greet　remarks　which　are　one　remove　from　expectation；　but　it　is　usually　withheld　in　plicated　cases　of　two　removes　and　upwards。　　“Indeed；　miss；”　he　replied。　
“How　do　you　know　that　Mr。　Wildeve　will　e　to　Rainbarrow　again　tonight？”　she　asked。
“I　heard　him　say　to　himself　that　he　would。　　He’s　in　a　regular　temper。”
Eustacia　looked　for　a　moment　what　she　felt；　and　she　murmured；　lifting　her　deep　dark　eyes　anxiously　to　his；　“I　wish　I　knew　what　to　do。　　I　don’t　want　to　be　uncivil　to　him；　but　I　don’t　wish　to　see　him　again；　and　I　have　some　few　little　things　to　return　to　him。”
“If　you　choose　to　send　‘em　by　me；　miss；　and　a　note　to　tell　him　that　you　wish　to　say　no　more　to　him；　I’ll　take　it　for　you　quite　privately。　　That　would　be　the　most　straightforward　way　of　letting　him　know　your　mind。”
“Very　well；”　said　Eustacia。　　“e　towards　my　house；　and　I　will　bring　it　out　to　you。”
She　went　on；　and　as　the　path　was　an　infinitely　small　parting　in　the　shaggy　locks　of　the　heath；　the　reddleman　followed　exactly　in　her　trail。　　She　saw　from　a　distance　that　the　captain　was　on　the　bank　sweeping　the　horizon　with　his　telescope；　and　bidding　Venn　to　wait　where　he　stood　she　entered　the　house　alone。　
In　ten　minutes　she　returned　with　a　parcel　and　a　note；　and　said；　in　placing　them　in　his　hand；　“Why　are　you　so　ready　to　take　these　for　me？”
“Can　you　ask　that？”
“I　suppose　you　think　to　serve　Thomasin　in　some　way　by　it。　
Are　you　as　anxious　as　ever　to　help　on　her　marriage？”
Venn　was　a　little　moved。　　“I　would　sooner　have　married　her　myself；”　he　said　in　a　low　voice。　　“But　what　I　feel　is　that　if　she　cannot　be　happy　without　him　I　will　do　my　duty　in　helping　her　to　get　him；　as　a　man　ought。”
Eustacia　looked　curiously　at　the　singular　man　who　spoke　thus。　　What　a　strange　sort　of　love；　to　be　entirely　free　from　that　quality　of　selfishness　which　is　frequently　the　chief　constituent　of　the　passion；　and　sometimes　its　only　one！　The　reddleman’s　disinterestedness　was　so　well　deserving　of　respect　that　it　overshot　respect　by　being　barely　prehended；　and　she　almost　thought　it　absurd。　
“Then　we　are　both　of　one　mind　at　last；”　she　said。　
“Yes；”　replied　Venn　gloomily。　　“But　if　you　would　tell　me；　miss；　why　you　take　such　an　interest　in　her；　I　should　be　easier。　　It　is　so　sudden　and　strange。”
Eustacia　appeared　at　a　loss。　　“I　cannot　tell　you　that；　reddleman；”　she　said　coldly。　
Venn　said　no　more。　　He　pocketed　the　letter；　and；　bowing　to　Eustacia；　went　away。　
Rainbarrow　had　again　bee　blended　with　night　when　Wildeve　ascended　the　long　acclivity　at　its　base。　　On　his　reaching　the　top　a　shape　grew　up　from　the　earth　immediately　behind　him。　　It　was　that　of　Eustacia’s　emissary。　　He　slapped　Wildeve　on　the　shoulder。　　The　feverish　young　inn…keeper　and　ex…engineer　started　like　Satan　at　the　touch　of　Ithuriel’s　spear。　
“The　meeting　is　always　at　eight　o’clock；　at　this　place；”　said　Venn；　“and　here　we　are—we　three。”
“We　three？”　said　Wildeve；　looking　quickly　round。
“Yes；　you；　and　I；　and　she。　　This　is　she。”　　He　held　up　the　letter　and　parcel。　
Wildeve　took　them　wonderingly。　　“I　don’t　quite　see　what　this　means；”　he　said。　　“How　do　you　e　here？　　There　must　be　some　mistake。”
“It　will　be　cleared　from　your　mind　when　you　have　read　the　letter。　　Lanterns　for　one。”　　The　reddleman　struck　a　light；　kindled　an　inch　of　tallow…candle　which　he　had　brought；　and　sheltered　it　with　his　cap。　
“Who　are　you？”　said　Wildeve；　discerning　by　the　candle…light　an　obscure　rubicundity　of　person　in　his　panion。　
“You　are　the　reddleman　I　saw　on　the　hill　this　morning—why；
you　are　the　man　who“
“Please　read　the　letter。”
“If　you　had　e　from　the　other　one　I　shouldn’t　have　been　surprised；”　murmured　Wildeve　as　he　opened　the　letter　and　read。　　His　face　grew　serious。　


TO　MR。　　WILDEVE。　
After　some　thought　I　have　decided　once　and　for　all　that　we　must　hold　no　further　munication。　　The　more　I　consider　the　matter　the　more　I　am　convinced　that　there　must　be　an　end　to　our　acquaintance。　　Had　you　been　uniformly　faithful　to　me　throughout　these　two　years　you　might　now　have　some　ground　for　accusing　me　of　heartlessness；　but　if　you　calmly　consider　what　I　bore　during　the　period　of　your　desertion；　and　how　I　passively　put　up　with　your　courtship　of　another　without　once　interfering；　you　will；　I　think；　own　that　I　have　a　right　to　consult　my　own　feelings　when　you　e　back　to　me　again。　　That　these　are　not　what　they　were　towards　you　may；　perhaps；　be　a　fault　in　me；　but　it　is　one　which　you　can　scarcely　reproach　me　for　when　you　remember　how　you　left　me　for　Thomasin。
The　little　articles　you　gave　me　in　the　early　part　of　our　friendship　are　returned　by　the　bearer　of　this　letter。　　They　should　rightly　have　been　sent　back　when　I　first　heard　of　your　engagement　to　her。　
EUSTACIA。


By　the　time　that　Wildeve　reached　her　name　the　blankness　with　which　he　had　read　the　first　half　of　the　letter　intensified　to　mortification。　　“I　am　made　a　great　fool　of；　one　way　and　another；”　he　said　pettishly。　　“Do　you　know　what　is　in　this　letter？”
The　reddleman　hummed　a　tune。　
“Can’t　you　answer　me？”　asked　Wildeve　warmly。　
“Ru…um…tum…tum；”　sang　the　reddleman。
Wildeve　stood　looking　on　the　ground　beside　Venn’s　feet；　till　he　allowed　his　eyes　to　travel　upwards　over　Diggory’s　form；　as　illuminated　by　the　candle；　to　his　head　and　face。　　“Ha…ha！　Well；　I　suppose　I　deserve　it；　considering　how　I　have　played　with　them　both；”　he　said　at　last；　as　much　to　himself　as　to　Venn。　　“But　of　all　the　odd　things　that　ever　I　knew；　the　oddest　is　that　you　should　so　run　counter　to　your　own　interests　as　to　bring　this　to　me。”
“My　interests？”
“Certainly。　‘Twas　your　interest　not　to　do　anything　which　would　send　me　courting　Thomasin　again；　now　she　has　accepted　you—or　something　like　it。　　Mrs。　Yeobright　says　you　are　to　marry　her。　　‘Tisn’t　true；　then？”
“Good　Lord！　I　heard　of　this　before；　but　didn’t　believe　it。
When　did　she　say　so？”
Wildeve　began　humming　as　the　reddleman　had　done。
“I　don’t　believe　it　now；”　cried　Venn。　
“Ru…um…tum…tum；”　sang　Wildeve。　
“O　Lord—how　we　can　imitate！”　said　Venn　contemptuously。　
“I’ll　have　this　out。　　I’ll　go　straight　to　her。”
Diggory　withdrew　with　an　emphatic　step；　Wildeve’s　eye　passing　over　his　form　in　withering　derision；　as　if　he　were　no　more　than　a　heath…cropper。　When　the　reddleman’s　figure　could　no　longer　be　seen；　Wildeve　himself　descended　and　plunged　into　the　rayless　hollow　of　the　vale。
To　lose　the　two　women—he　who　had　been　the　well…beloved　of　both—was　too　ironical　an　issue　to　be　endured。　　He　could　only　decently　save　himself　by　Thomasin；　and　once　he　became　her　husband；　Eustacia’s　repentance；　he　thought；　would　set　in　for　a　long　and　bitter　term。　　It　was　no　wonder　that　Wildeve；　ignorant　of　the　new　man　at　the　back　of　the　scene；　should　have　supposed　Eustacia　to　be　playing　a　part。　　To　believe　that　the　letter　was　not　the　result　of　some　momentary　pique；　to　infer　that　she　really　gave　him　up　to　Thomasin；　would　have　required　previous　knowledge　of　her　transfiguration　by　that　man’s　influence。　　Who　was　to　know　that　she　had　grown　generous　in　the　greediness　of　a　new　passion；　that　in　coveting　one　cousin　she　was　dealing　liberally　with　another；　that　in　her　eagerness　to　appropriate　she　gave　way？
Full　of　this　resolve　to　marry　in　haste；　and　wring　the　heart　of　the　proud　girl；　Wildeve　went　his　way。　
Meanwhile　Diggory　Venn　had　returned　to　his　van；　where　he　stood　looking　thoughtfully　into　the　stove。　　A　new　vista　was　opened　up　to　him。　　But；　however　promising　Mrs。　Yeobright’s　views　of　him　might　be　as　a　candidate　for　her　niece’s　hand；　one　condition　was　indispensable　to　the　favour　of　Thomasin　herself；　and　that　was　a　renunciation　of　his　present　wild　mode　of　life。　　In　this　he　saw　little　difficulty。　
He　could　not　afford　to　wait　till　the　next　day　before　seeing　Thomasin