还乡The Return Of The Native-第36部分

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ribably　plicated　by　the　addition　of　Eustacia。　　Just　when　his　mother　was　beginning　to　tolerate　one　scheme　he　had　introduced　another　still　bitterer　than　the　first；　and　the　bination　was　more　than　she　could　bear。　


5　… Sharp　Words　Are　Spoken；　and　a　Crisis　Ensues


When　Yeobright　was　not　with　Eustacia　he　was　sitting　slavishly　over　his　books；　when　he　was　not　reading　he　was　meeting　her。　　These　meetings　were　carried　on　with　the　greatest　secrecy。　
One　afternoon　his　mother　came　home　from　a　morning　visit　to　Thomasin。　　He　could　see　from　a　disturbance　in　the　lines　of　her　face　that　something　had　happened。　
“I　have　been　told　an　inprehensible　thing；”　she　said　mournfully。　　“The　captain　has　let　out　at　the　Woman　that　you　and　Eustacia　Vye　are　engaged　to　be　married。”
“We　are；”　said　Yeobright。　　“But　it　may　not　be　yet　for　a　very　long　time。”
“I　should　hardly　think　it　WOULD　be　yet　for　a　very　long　time！　You　will　take　her　to　Paris；　I　suppose？”　She　spoke　with　weary　hopelessness。　
“I　am　not　going　back　to　Paris。”
“What　will　you　do　with　a　wife；　then？”
“Keep　a　school　in　Budmouth；　as　I　have　told　you。”
“That’s　incredible！　The　place　is　overrun　with　schoolmasters。　　You　have　no　special　qualifications。　　What　possible　chance　is　there　for　such　as　you？”
“There　is　no　chance　of　getting　rich。　　But　with　my　system　of　education；　which　is　as　new　as　it　is　true；　I　shall　do　a　great　deal　of　good　to　my　fellow…creatures。”
“Dreams；　dreams！　If　there　had　been　any　system　left　to　be　invented　they　would　have　found　it　out　at　the　universities　long　before　this　time。”
“Never；　Mother。　　They　cannot　find　it　out；　because　their　teachers　don’t　e　in　contact　with　the　class　which　demands　such　a　system—that　is；　those　who　have　had　no　preliminary　training。　　My　plan　is　one　for　instilling　high　knowledge　into　empty　minds　without　first　cramming　them　with　what　has　to　be　uncrammed　again　before　true　study　begins。”
“I　might　have　believed　you　if　you　had　kept　yourself　free
from　entanglements；　but　this　woman—if　she　had　been
a　good　girl　it　would　have　been　bad　enough；　but　being“
“She　is　a　good　girl。”
“So　you　think。　　A　Corfu　bandmaster’s　daughter！　What　has　her　life　been？　　Her　surname　even　is　not　her　true　one。”
“She　is　Captain　Vye’s　granddaughter；　and　her　father　merely　took　her　mother’s　name。　　And　she　is　a　lady　by　instinct。”
“They　call　him　‘captain；’　but　anybody　is　captain。”
“He　was　in　the　Royal　Navy！”
“No　doubt　he　has　been　to　sea　in　some　tub　or　other。　　Why　doesn’t　he　look　after　her？　　No　lady　would　rove　about　the　heath　at　all　hours　of　the　day　and　night　as　she　does。　　But　that’s　not　all　of　it。　　There　was　something　queer　between　her　and　Thomasin’s　husband　at　one　time—I　am　as　sure　of　it　as　that　I　stand　here。”
“Eustacia　has　told　me。　　He　did　pay　her　a　little　attention　a　year　ago；　but　there’s　no　harm　in　that。　　I　like　her　all　the　better。”
“Clym；”　said　his　mother　with　firmness；　“I　have　no　proofs　against　her；　unfortunately。　　But　if　she　makes　you　a　good　wife；　there　has　never　been　a　bad　one。”
“Believe　me；　you　are　almost　exasperating；”　said　Yeobright　vehemently。　　“And　this　very　day　I　had　intended　to　arrange　a　meeting　between　you。　　But　you　give　me　no　peace；　you　try　to　thwart　my　wishes　in　everything。”
“I　hate　the　thought　of　any　son　of　mine　marrying　badly！　I　wish　I　had　never　lived　to　see　this；　it　is　too　much　for　me—it　is　more　than　I　dreamt！”　She　turned　to　the　window。　　Her　breath　was　ing　quickly；　and　her　lips　were　pale；　parted；　and　trembling。　
“Mother；”　said　Clym；　“whatever　you　do；　you　will　always　be　dear　to　me—that　you　know。　　But　one　thing　I　have　a　right　to　say；　which　is；　that　at　my　age　I　am　old　enough　to　know　what　is　best　for　me。”
Mrs。　Yeobright　remained　for　some　time　silent　and　shaken；　as　if　she　could　say　no　more。　　Then　she　replied；　“Best？　　Is　it　best　for　you　to　injure　your　prospects　for　such　a　voluptuous；　idle　woman　as　that？　　Don’t　you　see　that　by　the　very　fact　of　your　choosing　her　you　prove　that　you　do　not　know　what　is　best　for　you？　　You　give　up　your　whole　thought—you　set　your　whole　soul—to　please　a　woman。”
“I　do。　　And　that　woman　is　you。”
“How　can　you　treat　me　so　flippantly！”　said　his　mother；　turning　again　to　him　with　a　tearful　look。　
“You　are　unnatural；　Clym；　and　I　did　not　expect　it。”
“Very　likely；”　said　he　cheerlessly。　　“You　did　not　know　the　measure　you　were　going　to　mete　me；　and　therefore　did　not　know　the　measure　that　would　be　returned　to　you　again。”
“You　answer　me；　you　think　only　of　her。　　You　stick　to　her　in　all　things。”
“That　proves　her　to　be　worthy。　　I　have　never　yet　supported　what　is　bad。　　And　I　do　not　care　only　for　her。　　I　care　for　you　and　for　myself；　and　for　anything　that　is　good。　　When　a　woman　once　dislikes　another　she　is　merciless！”
“O　Clym！　please　don’t　go　setting　down　as　my　fault　what　is　your　obstinate　wrongheadedness。　　If　you　wished　to　connect　yourself　with　an　unworthy　person　why　did　you　e　home　here　to　do　it？　　Why　didn’t　you　do　it　in　Paris？it　is　more　the　fashion　there。　　You　have　e　only　to　distress　me；　a　lonely　woman；　and　shorten　my　days！　I　wish　that　you　would　bestow　your　presence　where　you　bestow　your　love！”
Clym　said　huskily；　“You　are　my　mother。　　I　will　say　no　more—beyond　this；　that　I　beg　your　pardon　for　having　thought　this　my　home。　　I　will　no　longer　inflict　myself　upon　you；
I’ll　go。”　　And　he　went　out　with　tears　in　his　eyes。　
It　was　a　sunny　afternoon　at　the　beginning　of　summer；　and　the　moist　hollows　of　the　heath　had　passed　from　their　brown　to　their　green　stage。　　Yeobright　walked　to　the　edge　of　the　basin　which　extended　down　from　Mistover　and　Rainbarrow。
By　this　time　he　was　calm；　and　he　looked　over　the　landscape。　　In　the　minor　valleys；　between　the　hillocks　which　diversified　the　contour　of　the　vale；　the　fresh　young　ferns　were　luxuriantly　growing　up；　ultimately　to　reach　a　height　of　five　or　six　feet。　　He　descended　a　little　way；　flung　himself　down　in　a　spot　where　a　path　emerged　from　one　of　the　small　hollows；　and　waited。　　Hither　it　was　that　he　had　promised　Eustacia　to　bring　his　mother　this　afternoon；　that　they　might　meet　and　be　friends。　　His　attempt　had　utterly　failed。　
He　was　in　a　nest　of　vivid　green。　　The　ferny　vegetation　round　him；　though　so　abundant；　was　quite　uniform—it　was　a　grove　of　machine…made　foliage；　a　world　of　green　triangles　with　saw…edges；　and　not　a　single　flower。　　The　air　was　warm　with　a　vaporous　warmth；　and　the　stillness　was　unbroken。　　Lizards；　grasshoppers；　and　ants　were　the　only　living　things　to　be　beheld。　　The　scene　seemed　to　belong　to　the　ancient　world　of　the　carboniferous　period；　when　the　forms　of　plants　were　few；　and　of　the　fern　kind；　when　there　was　neither　bud　nor　blossom；　nothing　but　a　monotonous　extent　of　leafage；　amid　which　no　bird　sang。　
When　he　had　reclined　for　some　considerable　time；　gloomily　pondering；　he　discerned　above　the　ferns　a　drawn　bonnet　of　white　silk　approaching　from　the　left；　and　Yeobright　knew　directly　that　it　covered　the　head　of　her　he　loved。　　His　heart　awoke　from　its　apathy　to　a　warm　excitement；　and；　jumping　to　his　feet；　he　said　aloud；　“I　knew　she　was　sure　to　e。”
She　vanished　in　a　hollow　for　a　few　moments；　and　then　her　whole　form　unfolded　itself　from　the　brake。　
“Only　you　here？”　she　exclaimed；　with　a　disappointed　air；　whose　hollowness　was　proved　by　her　rising　redness　and　her　half…guilty　low　laugh。　　“Where　is　Mrs。　Yeobright？”
“She　has　not　e；”　he　replied　in　a　subdued　tone。　
“I　wish　I　had　known　that　you　would　be　here　alone；”　she　said　seriously；　“and　that　we　were　going　to　have　such　an　idle；　pleasant　time　as　this。　　Pleasure　not　known　beforehand　is　half　wasted；　to　anticipate　it　is　to　double　it。　　I　have　not　thought　once　today　of　having　you　all　to　myself　this　afternoon；　and　the　actual　moment　of　a　thing　is　so　soon　gone。”
“It　is　indeed。”
“Poor　Clym！”　she　continued；　looking　tenderly　into　his　face。　
“You　are　sad。　　Something　has　happened　at　your　home。　
Never　mind　what　is—let　us　only　look　at　what　seems。”
“But；　darling；　what　shall　we　do？”　said　he。　
“Still　go　on　as　we　do　now—just　live　on　from　meeting　to　meeting；　never　minding　about　another　day。　　You；　I　know；　are　always　thinking　of　that—I　can　see　you　are。　　But　you　must　not—will　you；　dear　Clym？”
“You　are　just　like　all　women。　　They　are　ever　content　to　build　their　lives　on　any　incidental　position　that　offers　itself；　whilst　men　would　fain　make　a　globe　to　suit　them。　　Listen　to　this；　Eustacia。　　There　is　a　subject　I　have　determined　to　put　off　no　longer。　　Your　sentiment　on　the　wisdom　of　Carpe　diem　does　not　impress　me　today。　　Our　present　mode　of　life　must　shortly　be　brought　to　an　end。”
“It　is　your　mother！”
“It　is。　　I　love　you　none　the　less　in　telling　you；　it　is　only　right　you　should　know。”
“I　have　feared　my　bliss；”　she　said；　with　the　merest　motion　of　her　lips。　　“It　has　been　too　intense　and　consuming。”
“There　is　hope　yet。　　There　are　forty　years　of　work　in　me　yet；　and　why　should　you　despair？　　I　am　only　at　an　awkward　turning。　　I　wish　people　wouldn’t　be　so　ready　to　think　that　there　is　no　progress　without　uniformity。”
“Ah—your　mind　runs　off　to　the　philosophical　side　of　it。　　Well；　these　sad　and　hopeless　obstacles　are　wele　in　one　sense；　for　they　enable　us　to　look　with　indifference　upon　the　cruel　satires　that　Fate　loves　to　indulge　in。　　I　have　heard　of　people；　who；　upon　ing　suddenly　into　happiness；　have　died　from　anxiety　lest　they　should　not　live　to　enjoy　it。　　I　felt　myself　in　that　whimsical　state　of　uneasiness　lately；　but　I　shall　be　spared　it　now。　　Let　us　walk　on。”
Clym　took　the　hand　which　was　already　bared　for　him—it　was　a　favourite　way　with　them　to　walk　bare　hand　in　bare　hand—and　led　her　through　the　ferns。　　They　formed　a　very　ely　picture　of　love　at　full　flush；　as　they　walked　along　the　valley　that　late　afternoon；　the　sun　sloping　down　on　their　right；　and　throwing　their　thin　spectral　shadows；　tall　as　poplar　trees；　far　out　across　the　furze　and　fern。　　Eustacia　went　with　her　head　thrown　back　fancifully；　a　certain　glad　and　voluptuous　air　of　triumph　pervading　her　eyes　at　having　won　by　her　own　unaided　self　a　man　who　was　her　perfect　plement　in　attainment；　appearance；　and　age。　　On　the　young　man’s　part；　the　paleness　of　face　which　he　had　brought　with　him　from　Paris；　and　the　incipient　marks　of　time　and　thought；　were　less　perceptible　than　when　he　returned；　the　healthful　and　energetic　sturdiness　which　was　his　by　nature　having　partially　recovered　its　original　proportions。　　They　wandered　onward　till　they　reached　the　nether　margin　of　the　heath；　where　it　became　marshy　and　merged　in　moorland。　
“I　must　part　from　you　here；　Clym；”　said　Eustacia。　
They　stood　still　and　prepared　to　bid　each　other　farewell。　
Everything　before　them　was　on　a　perfect　level。　　The　sun；　resting　on　the　horizon　line；　streamed　across　the　ground　from　between　copper…coloured　and　lilac　clouds；　stretched　out　in　flats　beneath　a　sky　of　pale　soft　green。　　All　dark　objects　on　the　earth　that　lay　towards　the　sun　were　overspread　by　a　purple　haze；　against　which　groups　of　wailing　gnats　shone　out；　rising　upwards　and　dancing　about　like　sparks　of　fire。　
“O！　this　leaving　you　is　too　hard　to　bear！”　exclaimed　Eustacia　in　a　sudden　whisper　of　anguish。　　“Your　mother　will　influence　you　too　much；　I　shall　not　be　judged　fairly；　it　will　get　afloat　that　I　am　not　a　good　girl；　and　the　witch　story　will　be　added　to　make　me　blacker！”
“They　cannot。　　Nob