还乡The Return Of The Native-第64部分

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paleness　which　signified　their　presence；　though　beside　anything　less　dark　than　the　heath　they　themselves　would　have　appeared　as　blackness。　
Yet　in　spite　of　all　this　Thomasin　was　not　sorry　that　she　had　started。　　To　her　there　were　not；　as　to　Eustacia；　demons　in　the　air；　and　malice　in　every　bush　and　bough。　　The　drops　which　lashed　her　face　were　not　scorpions；　but　prosy　rain；　Egdon　in　the　mass　was　no　monster　whatever；　but　impersonal　open　ground。　　Her　fears　of　the　place　were　rational；　her　dislikes　of　its　worst　moods　reasonable。　　At　this　time　it　was　in　her　view　a　windy；　wet　place；　in　which　a　person　might　experience　much　disfort；　lose　the　path　without　care；　and　possibly　catch　cold。　
If　the　path　is　well　known　the　difficulty　at　such　times　of　keeping　therein　is　not　altogether　great；　from　its　familiar　feel　to　the　feet；　but　once　lost　it　is　irrecoverable。　　Owing　to　her　baby；　who　somewhat　impeded　Thomasin’s　view　forward　and　distracted　her　mind；　she　did　at　last　lose　the　track。　　This　mishap　occurred　when　she　was　descending　an　open　slope　about　two…thirds　home。　　Instead　of　attempting；　by　wandering　hither　and　thither；　the　hopeless　task　of　finding　such　a　mere　thread；　she　went　straight　on；　trusting　for　guidance　to　her　general　knowledge　of　the　contours；　which　was　scarcely　surpassed　by　Clym’s　or　by　that　of　the　heath…croppers　themselves。
At　length　Thomasin　reached　a　hollow　and　began　to　discern　through　the　rain　a　faint　blotted　radiance；　which　presently　assumed　the　oblong　form　of　an　open　door。　　She　knew　that　no　house　stood　hereabouts；　and　was　soon　aware　of　the　nature　of　the　door　by　its　height　above　the　ground。　
“Why；　it　is　Diggory　Venn’s　van；　surely！”　she　said。　
A　certain　secluded　spot　near　Rainbarrow　was；　she　knew；　often　Venn’s　chosen　centre　when　staying　in　this　neighbourhood；　and　she　guessed　at　once　that　she　had　stumbled　upon　this　mysterious　retreat。　　The　question　arose　in　her　mind　whether　or　not　she　should　ask　him　to　guide　her　into　the　path。　　In　her　anxiety　to　reach　home　she　decided　that　she　would　appeal　to　him；　notwithstanding　the　strangeness　of　appearing　before　his　eyes　at　this　place　and　season。　　But　when；　in　pursuance　of　this　resolve；　Thomasin　reached　the　van　and　looked　in　she　found　it　to　be　untenanted；　though　there　was　no　doubt　that　it　was　the　reddleman’s。　The　fire　was　burning　in　the　stove；　the　lantern　hung　from　the　nail。　　Round　the　doorway　the　floor　was　merely　sprinkled　with　rain；　and　not　saturated；　which　told　her　that　the　door　had　not　long　been　opened。　
While　she　stood　uncertainly　looking　in　Thomasin　heard　a　footstep　advancing　from　the　darkness　behind　her；　and　turning；　beheld　the　well…known　form　in　corduroy；　lurid　from　head　to　foot；　the　lantern　beams　falling　upon　him　through　an　intervening　gauze　of　raindrops。　
“I　thought　you　went　down　the　slope；”　he　said；　without　noticing　her　face。　　“How　do　you　e　back　here　again？”
“Diggory？”　said　Thomasin　faintly。　
“Who　are　you？”　said　Venn；　still　unperceiving。　　“And　why　were　you　crying　so　just　now？”
“O；　Diggory！　don’t　you　know　me？”　said　she。　　“But　of　course　you　don’t；　wrapped　up　like　this。　　What　do　you　mean？　　I　have　not　been　crying　here；　and　I　have　not　been　here　before。”
Venn　then　came　nearer　till　he　could　see　the　illuminated　side　of　her　form。　
“Mrs。　Wildeve！”　he　exclaimed；　starting。　　“What　a　time　for　us　to　meet！　And　the　baby　too！　What　dreadful　thing　can　have　brought　you　out　on　such　a　night　as　this？”
She　could　not　immediately　answer；　and　without　asking　her　permission　he　hopped　into　his　van；　took　her　by　the　arm；　and　drew　her　up　after　him。　
“What　is　it？”　he　continued　when　they　stood　within。　
“I　have　lost　my　way　ing　from　Blooms…End；　and　I　am　in　a　great　hurry　to　get　home。　　Please　show　me　as　quickly　as　you　can！　It　is　so　silly　of　me　not　to　know　Egdon　better；　and　I　cannot　think　how　I　came　to　lose　the　path。　　Show　me　quickly；　Diggory；　please。”
“Yes；　of　course。　　I　will　go　with　‘ee。　But　you　came　to　me　before　this；　Mrs。　Wildeve？”
“I　only　came　this　minute。”
“That’s　strange。　　I　was　lying　down　here　asleep　about　five　minutes　ago；　with　the　door　shut　to　keep　out　the　weather；　when　the　brushing　of　a　woman’s　clothes　over　the　heath…bushes　just　outside　woke　me　up；　for　I　don’t　sleep　heavy；　and　at　the　same　time　I　heard　a　sobbing　or　crying　from　the　same　woman。　　I　opened　my　door　and　held　out　my　lantern；　and　just　as　far　as　the　light　would　reach　I　saw　a　woman；　she　turned　her　head　when　the　light　sheened　on　her；　and　then　hurried　on　downhill。　　I　hung　up　the　lantern；　and　was　curious　enough　to　pull　on　my　things　and　dog　her　a　few　steps；　but　I　could　see　nothing　of　her　any　more。　　That　was　where　I　had　been　when　you　came　up；　and　when　I　saw　you　I　thought　you　were　the　same　one。”
“Perhaps　it　was　one　of　the　heathfolk　going　home？”
“No；　it　couldn’t　be。　　‘Tis　too　late。　　The　noise　of　her　gown　over　the　he’th　was　of　a　whistling　sort　that　nothing　but　silk　will　make。”
“It　wasn’t　I；　then。　　My　dress　is　not　silk；　you　see。。。。Are　we　anywhere　in　a　line　between　Mistover　and　the　inn？”
“Well；　yes；　not　far　out。”
“Ah；　I　wonder　if　it　was　she！　Diggory；　I　must　go　at　once！”
She　jumped　down　from　the　van　before　he　was　aware；　when　Venn　unhooked　the　lantern　and　leaped　down　after　her。　　“I’ll　take　the　baby；　ma’am；”　he　said。　　“You　must　be　tired　out　by　the　weight。”
Thomasin　hesitated　a　moment；　and　then　delivered　the　baby　into　Venn’s　hands。　　“Don’t　squeeze　her；　Diggory；”　she　said；　“or　hurt　her　little　arm；　and　keep　the　cloak　close　over　her　like　this；　so　that　the　rain　may　not　drop　in　her　face。”
“I　will；”　said　Venn　earnestly。　　“As　if　I　could　hurt　anything　belonging　to　you！”
“I　only　meant　accidentally；”　said　Thomasin。　
“The　baby　is　dry　enough；　but　you　are　pretty　wet；”　said　the　reddleman　when；　in　closing　the　door　of　his　cart　to　padlock　it；　he　noticed　on　the　floor　a　ring　of　water　drops　where　her　cloak　had　hung　from　her。　
Thomasin　followed　him　as　he　wound　right　and　left　to　avoid　the　larger　bushes；　stopping　occasionally　and　covering　the　lantern；　while　he　looked　over　his　shoulder　to　gain　some　idea　of　the　position　of　Rainbarrow　above　them；　which　it　was　necessary　to　keep　directly　behind　their　backs　to　preserve　a　proper　course。　
“You　are　sure　the　rain　does　not　fall　upon　baby？”
“Quite　sure。　　May　I　ask　how　old　he　is；　ma’am？”
“He！”　said　Thomasin　reproachfully。　　“Anybody　can　see　better　than　that　in　a　moment。　　She　is　nearly　two　months　old。　　How　far　is　it　now　to　the　inn？”
“A　little　over　a　quarter　of　a　mile。”
“Will　you　walk　a　little　faster？”
“I　was　afraid　you　could　not　keep　up。”
“I　am　very　anxious　to　get　there。　　Ah；　there　is　a　light　from　the　window！”
“’Tis　not　from　the　window。　　That’s　a　gig…lamp；　to　the　best　of　my　belief。”
“O！”　said　Thomasin　in　despair。　　“I　wish　I　had　been　there　sooner—give　me　the　baby；　Diggory—you　can　go　back　now。”
“I　must　go　all　the　way；”　said　Venn。　　“There　is　a　quag　between　us　and　that　light；　and　you　will　walk　into　it　up　to　your　neck　unless　I　take　you　round。”
“But　the　light　is　at　the　inn；　and　there　is　no　quag　in　front　of　that。”
“No；　the　light　is　below　the　inn　some　two　or　three　hundred　yards。”
“Never　mind；”　said　Thomasin　hurriedly。　　“Go　towards　the　light；　and　not　towards　the　inn。”
“Yes；”　answered　Venn；　swerving　round　in　obedience；　and；　after　a　pause；　“I　wish　you　would　tell　me　what　this　great　trouble　is。　　I　think　you　have　proved　that　I　can　be　trusted。”
“There　are　some　things　that　cannot　be—cannot　be　told　to—“　And　then　her　heart　rose　into　her　throat；　and　she　could　say　no　more。　


9　… Sights　and　Sounds　Draw　the　Wanderers　Together


Having　seen　Eustacia’s　signal　from　the　hill　at　eight　o’clock；　Wildeve　immediately　prepared　to　assist　her　in　her　flight；　and；　as　he　hoped；　acpany　her。　　He　was　somewhat　perturbed；　and　his　manner　of　informing　Thomasin　that　he　was　going　on　a　journey　was　in　itself　sufficient　to　rouse　her　suspicions。　　When　she　had　gone　to　bed　he　collected　the　few　articles　he　would　require；　and　went　upstairs　to　the　money…chest；　whence　he　took　a　tolerably　bountiful　sum　in　notes；　which　had　been　advanced　to　him　on　the　property　he　was　so　soon　to　have　in　possession；　to　defray　expenses　incidental　to　the　removal。　
He　then　went　to　the　stable　and　coach…house　to　assure　himself　that　the　horse；　gig；　and　harness　were　in　a　fit　condition　for　a　long　drive。　　Nearly　half　an　hour　was　spent　thus；　and　on　returning　to　the　house　Wildeve　had　no　thought　of　Thomasin　being　anywhere　but　in　bed。　　He　had　told　the　stable　lad　not　to　stay　up；　leading　the　boy　to　understand　that　his　departure　would　be　at　three　or　four　in　the　morning；　for　this；　though　an　exceptional　hour；　was　less　strange　than　midnight；　the　time　actually　agreed　on；　the　packet　from　Budmouth　sailing　between　one　and　two。
At　last　all　was　quiet；　and　he　had　nothing　to　do　but　to　wait。　　By　no　effort　could　he　shake　off　the　oppression　of　spirits　which　he　had　experienced　ever　since　his　last　meeting　with　Eustacia；　but　he　hoped　there　was　that　in　his　situation　which　money　could　cure。　　He　had　persuaded　himself　that　to　act　not　ungenerously　towards　his　gentle　wife　by　settling　on　her　the　half　of　his　property；　and　with　chivalrous　devotion　towards　another　and　greater　woman　by　sharing　her　fate；　was　possible。　　And　though　he　meant　to　adhere　to　Eustacia’s　instructions　to　the　letter；　to　deposit　her　where　she　wished　and　to　leave　her；　should　that　be　her　will；　the　spell　that　she　had　cast　over　him　intensified；　and　his　heart　was　beating　fast　in　the　anticipated　futility　of　such　mands　in　the　face　of　a　mutual　wish　that　they　should　throw　in　their　lot　together。
He　would　not　allow　himself　to　dwell　long　upon　these　conjectures；　maxims；　and　hopes；　and　at　twenty　minutes　to　twelve　he　again　went　softly　to　the　stable；　harnessed　the　horse；　and　lit　the　lamps；　whence；　taking　the　horse　by　the　head；　he　led　him　with　the　covered　car　out　of　the　yard　to　a　spot　by　the　roadside　some　quarter　of　a　mile　below　the　inn。　
Here　Wildeve　waited；　slightly　sheltered　from　the　driving　rain　by　a　high　bank　that　had　been　cast　up　at　this　place。　　Along　the　surface　of　the　road　where　lit　by　the　lamps　the　loosened　gravel　and　small　stones　scudded　and　clicked　together　before　the　wind；　which；　leaving　them　in　heaps；　plunged　into　the　heath　and　boomed　across　the　bushes　into　darkness。　　Only　one　sound　rose　above　this　din　of　weather；　and　that　was　the　roaring　of　a　ten…hatch　weir　to　the　southward；　from　a　river　in　the　meads　which　formed　the　boundary　of　the　heath　in　this　direction。　
He　lingered　on　in　perfect　stillness　till　he　began　to　fancy　that　the　midnight　hour　must　have　struck。　　A　very　strong　doubt　had　arisen　in　his　mind　if　Eustacia　would　venture　down　the　hill　in　such　weather；　yet　knowing　her　nature　he　felt　that　she　might。　　“Poor　thing！　‘tis　like　her　ill…luck；”　he　murmured。　
At　length　he　turned　to　the　lamp　and　looked　at　his　watch。　
To　his　surprise　it　was　nearly　a　quarter　past　midnight。　　He　now　wished　that　he　had　driven　up　the　circuitous　road　to　Mistover；　a　plan　not　adopted　because　of　the　enormous　length　of　the　route　in　proportion　to　that　of　the　pedestrian’s　path　down　the　open　hillside；　and　the　consequent　increase　of　labour　for　the　horse。　
At　this　moment　a　footstep　approached；　but　the　light　of　the　lamps　being　in　a　different　direction　the　er　was　not　visible。　　The　step　paused；　then　came　on　again。　
“Eustacia？”　said　Wildeve。　
The　person　came　forward；　and　the　light　fell　upo