还乡The Return Of The Native-第7部分

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When　Mrs。　Yeobright　had　drawn　near　to　the　inn；　and　was　about　to　enter；　she　saw　a　horse　and　vehicle　some　two　hundred　yards　beyond　it；　ing　towards　her；　a　man　walking　alongside　with　a　lantern　in　his　hand。　　It　was　soon　evident　that　this　was　the　reddleman　who　had　inquired　for　her。　　Instead　of　entering　the　inn　at　once；　she　walked　by　it　and　towards　the　van。　
The　conveyance　came　close；　and　the　man　was　about　to　pass　her　with　little　notice；　when　she　turned　to　him　and　said；　“I　think　you　have　been　inquiring　for　me？　　I　am　Mrs。　Yeobright　of　Blooms…End。”
The　reddleman　started；　and　held　up　his　finger。　　He　stopped　the　horses；　and　beckoned　to　her　to　withdraw　with　him　a　few　yards　aside；　which　she　did；　wondering。　
“You　don’t　know　me；　ma’am；　I　suppose？”　he　said。
“I　do　not；”　said　she。　　“Why；　yes；　I　do！　You　are　young　Venn—your　father　was　a　dairyman　somewhere　here？”
“Yes；　and　I　knew　your　niece；　Miss　Tamsin；　a　little。　
I　have　something　bad　to　tell　you。”
“About　her—no！　She　has　just　e　home；　I　believe；　with　her　husband。　　They　arranged　to　return　this　afternoon—to　the　inn　beyond　here。”
“She’s　not　there。”
“How　do　you　know？”
“Because　she’s　here。　　She’s　in　my　van；”　he　added　slowly。　
“What　new　trouble　has　e？”　murmured　Mrs。　Yeobright；　putting　her　hand　over　her　eyes。　
“I　can’t　explain　much；　ma’am。　All　I　know　is　that；　as　I　was　going　along　the　road　this　morning；　about　a　mile　out　of　Anglebury；　I　heard　something　trotting　after　me　like　a　doe；　and　looking　round　there　she　was；　white　as　death　itself。　　‘Oh；　Diggory　Venn！’　she　said；　‘I　thought　‘twas　you—will　you　help　me？　　I　am　in　trouble。’”
“How　did　she　know　your　Christian　name？”　said　Mrs。　Yeobright　doubtingly。
“I　had　met　her　as　a　lad　before　I　went　away　in　this　trade。　　She　asked　then　if　she　might　ride；　and　then　down　she　fell　in　a　faint。　　I　picked　her　up　and　put　her　in；　and　there　she　has　been　ever　since。　　She　has　cried　a　good　deal；　but　she　has　hardly　spoke；　all　she　has　told　me　being　that　she　was　to　have　been　married　this　morning。　　I　tried　to　get　her　to　eat　something；　but　she　couldn’t；　and　at　last　she　fell　asleep。”
“Let　me　see　her　at　once；”　said　Mrs。　Yeobright；　hastening　towards　the　van。　
The　reddleman　followed　with　the　lantern；　and；　stepping　up　first；　assisted　Mrs。　Yeobright　to　mount　beside　him。　　On　the　door　being　opened　she　perceived　at　the　end　of　the　van　an　extemporized　couch；　around　which　was　hung　apparently　all　the　drapery　that　the　reddleman　possessed；　to　keep　the　occupant　of　the　little　couch　from　contact　with　the　red　materials　of　his　trade。　　A　young　girl　lay　thereon；　covered　with　a　cloak。　　She　was　asleep；　and　the　light　of　the　lantern　fell　upon　her　features。　
A　fair；　sweet；　and　honest　country　face　was　revealed；　reposing　in　a　nest　of　wavy　chestnut　hair。　　It　was　between　pretty　and　beautiful。　　Though　her　eyes　were　closed；　one　could　easily　imagine　the　light　necessarily　shining　in　them　as　the　culmination　of　the　luminous　workmanship　around。　　The　groundwork　of　the　face　was　hopefulness；　but　over　it　now　I　ay　like　a　foreign　substance　a　film　of　anxiety　and　grief。　　The　grief　had　been　there　so　shortly　as　to　have　abstracted　nothing　of　the　bloom；　and　had　as　yet　but　given　a　dignity　to　what　it　might　eventually　undermine。　　The　scarlet　of　her　lips　had　not　had　time　to　abate；　and　just　now　it　appeared　still　more　intense　by　the　absence　of　the　neighbouring　and　more　transient　colour　of　her　cheek。　　The　lips　frequently　parted；　with　a　murmur　of　words。　　She　seemed　to　belong　rightly　to　a　madrigal—to　require　viewing　through　rhyme　and　harmony。　
One　thing　at　least　was　obvious：　she　was　not　made　to　be　looked　at　thus。　　The　reddleman　had　appeared　conscious　of　as　much；　and；　while　Mrs。　Yeobright　looked　in　upon　her；　he　cast　his　eyes　aside　with　a　delicacy　which　well　became　him。　　The　sleeper　apparently　thought　so　too；　for　the　next　moment　she　opened　her　own。　
The　lips　then　parted　with　something　of　anticipation；　something　more　of　doubt；　and　her　several　thoughts　and　fractions　of　thoughts；　as　signalled　by　the　changes　on　her　face；　were　exhibited　by　the　light　to　the　utmost　nicety。　　An　ingenuous；　transparent　life　was　disclosed；　as　if　the　flow　of　her　existence　could　be　seen　passing　within　her。　　She　understood　the　scene　in　a　moment。　
“O　yes；　it　is　I；　Aunt；”　she　cried。　　“I　know　how　frightened　you　are；　and　how　you　cannot　believe　it；　but　all　the　same；　it　is　I　who　have　e　home　like　this！”
“Tamsin；　Tamsin！”　said　Mrs。　Yeobright；　stooping　over　the　young　woman　and　kissing　her。　　“O　my　dear　girl！”
Thomasin　was　now　on　the　verge　of　a　sob；　but　by　an　unexpected　self…mand　she　uttered　no　sound。　　With　a　gentle　panting　breath　she　sat　upright。　
“I　did　not　expect　to　see　you　in　this　state；　any　more　than　you　me；”　she　went　on　quickly。　　“Where　am　I；　Aunt？”
“Nearly　home；　my　dear。　　In　Egdon　Bottom。　　What　dreadful　thing　is　it？”
“I’ll　tell　you　in　a　moment。　　So　near；　are　we？　　Then　I　will　get　out　and　walk。　　I　want　to　go　home　by　the　path。”
“But　this　kind　man　who　has　done　so　much　will；　I　am　sure；　take　you　right　on　to　my　house？”　said　the　aunt；　turning　to　the　reddleman；　who　had　withdrawn　from　the　front　of　the　van　on　the　awakening　of　the　girl；　and　stood　in　the　road。
“Why　should　you　think　it　necessary　to　ask　me？　　I　will；　of　course；”　said　he。　
“He　is　indeed　kind；”　murmured　Thomasin。　　“I　was　once　acquainted　with　him；　Aunt；　and　when　I　saw　him　today　I　thought　I　should　prefer　his　van　to　any　conveyance　of　a　stranger。　　But　I’ll　walk　now。　　Reddleman；　stop　the　horses；　please。”
The　man　regarded　her　with　tender　reluctance；　but　stopped
them
Aunt　and　niece　then　descended　from　the　van；　Mrs。　Yeobright　saying　to　its　owner；　“I　quite　recognize　you　now。　　What　made　you　change　from　the　nice　business　your　father　left　you？”
“Well；　I　did；”　he　said；　and　looked　at　Thomasin；　who　blushed　a　little。　　“Then　you’ll　not　be　wanting　me　any　more　tonight；　ma’am？”
Mrs。　Yeobright　glanced　around　at　the　dark　sky；　at　the　hills；　at　the　perishing　bonfires；　and　at　the　lighted　window　of　the　inn　they　had　neared。　　“I　think　not；”　she　said；　“since　Thomasin　wishes　to　walk。　　We　can　soon　run　up　the　path　and　reach　home—we　know　it　well。”
And　after　a　few　further　words　they　parted；　the　reddleman　moving　onwards　with　his　van；　and　the　two　women　remaining　standing　in　the　road。　　As　soon　as　the　vehicle　and　its　driver　had　withdrawn　so　far　as　to　be　beyond　all　possible　reach　of　her　voice；　Mrs。　Yeobright　turned　to　her　niece。
“Now；　Thomasin；”　she　said　sternly；　“what’s　the　meaning　of　this　disgraceful　performance？”


5　… Perplexity　among　Honest　People


Thomasin　looked　as　if　quite　overe　by　her　aunt’s　change　of　manner。　　“It　means　just　what　it　seems　to　mean：　I　am—not　married；”　she　replied　faintly。　　“Excuse　me—for　humiliating　you；　Aunt；　by　this　mishap—I　am　sorry　for　it。　　But　I　cannot　help　it。”
“Me？　　Think　of　yourself　first。”
“It　was　nobody’s　fault。　　When　we　got　there　the　parson　wouldn’t　marry　us　because　of　some　trifling　irregularity　in　the　license。”
“What　irregularity？”
“I　don’t　know。　　Mr。　Wildeve　can　explain。　　I　did　not　think　when　I　went　away　this　morning　that　I　should　e　back　like　this。”　　It　being　dark；　Thomasin　allowed　her　emotion　to　escape　her　by　the　silent　way　of　tears；　which　could　roll　down　her　cheek　unseen。　
“I　could　almost　say　that　it　serves　you　right—if　I　did　not　feel　that　you　don’t　deserve　it；”　continued　Mrs。　Yeobright；　who；　possessing　two　distinct　moods　in　close　contiguity；　a　gentle　mood　and　an　angry；　flew　from　one　to　the　other　without　the　least　warning。　　“Remember；　Thomasin；　this　business　was　none　of　my　seeking；　from　the　very　first；　when　you　began　to　feel　foolish　about　that　man；　I　warned　you　he　would　not　make　you　happy。　　I　felt　it　so　strongly　that　I　did　what　I　would　never　have　believed　myself　capable　of　doing—stood　up　in　the　church；　and　made　myself　the　public　talk　for　weeks。　　But　having　once　consented；　I　don’t　submit　to　these　fancies　without　good　reason。　　Marry　him　you　must　after　this。”
“Do　you　think　I　wish　to　do　otherwise　for　one　moment？”　said　Thomasin；　with　a　heavy　sigh。　　“I　know　how　wrong　it　was　of　me　to　love　him；　but　don’t　pain　me　by　talking　like　that；　Aunt！　You　would　not　have　had　me　stay　there　with　him；　would　you？and　your　house　is　the　only　home　I　have　to　return　to。　　He　says　we　can　be　married　in　a　day　or　two。”
“I　wish　he　had　never　seen　you。”
“Very　well；　then　I　will　be　the　miserablest　woman　in　the　world；　and　not　let　him　see　me　again。　　No；　I　won’t　have　him！”
“It　is　too　late　to　speak　so。　　e　with　me。　　I　am　going　to　the　inn　to　see　if　he　has　returned。　　Of　course　I　shall　get　to　the　bottom　of　this　story　at　once。　　Mr。　Wildeve　must　not　suppose　he　can　play　tricks　upon　me；　or　any　belonging　to　me。”
“It　was　not　that。　　The　license　was　wrong；　and　he　couldn’t　get　another　the　same　day。　　He　will　tell　you　in　a　moment　how　it　was；　if　he　es。”
“Why　didn’t　he　bring　you　back？”
“That　was　me！”　again　sobbed　Thomasin。　　“When　I　found　we　could　not　be　married　I　didn’t　like　to　e　back　with　him；　and　I　was　very　ill。　　Then　I　saw　Diggory　Venn；　and　was　glad　to　get　him　to　take　me　home。　　I　cannot　explain　it　any　better；　and　you　must　be　angry　with　me　if　you　will。”
“I　shall　see　about　that；”　said　Mrs。　Yeobright；　and　they　turned　towards　the　inn；　known　in　the　neighbourhood　as　the　Quiet　Woman；　the　sign　of　which　represented　the　figure　of　a　matron　carrying　her　head　under　her　arm；　beneath　which　gruesome　design　was　written　the　couplet　so　well　known　to　frequenters　of　the　inn：

SINCE　THE　WOMAN’S　QUIET　LET　NO　MAN　BREED　A　RIOT。＇1＇

＇1＇　The　inn　which　really　bore　this　sign　and　legend　stood　some　miles　to　the　northwest　of　the　present　scene；　wherein　the　house　more　immediately　referred　to　is　now　no　longer　an　inn；　and　the　surroundings　are　much　changed。　　But　another　inn；　some　of　whose　features　are　also　embodied　in　this　description；　the　RED　LION　at　Winfrith；　still　remains　as　a　haven　for　the　wayfarer　（1912）。

The　front　of　the　house　was　towards　the　heath　and　Rainbarrow；　whose　dark　shape　seemed　to　threaten　it　from　the　sky。　　Upon　the　door　was　a　neglected　brass　plate；　bearing　the　unexpected　inscription；　“Mr。　Wildeve；　Engineer”—a　useless　yet　cherished　relic　from　the　time　when　he　had　been　started　in　that　profession　in　an　office　at　Budmouth　by　those　who　had　hoped　much　from　him；　and　had　been　disappointed。　　The　garden　was　at　the　back；　and　behind　this　ran　a　still　deep　stream；　forming　the　margin　of　the　heath　in　that　direction；　meadow…land　appearing　beyond　the　stream。
But　the　thick　obscurity　permitted　only　skylines　to　be　visible　of　any　scene　at　present。　　The　water　at　the　back　of　the　house　could　be　heard；　idly　spinning　whirpools　in　its　creep　between　the　rows　of　dry　feather…headed　reeds　which　formed　a　stockade　along　each　bank。　　Their　presence　was　denoted　by　sounds　as　of　a　congregation　praying　humbly；　produced　by　their　rubbing　against　each　other　in　the　slow　wind。　
The　window；　whence　the　candlelight　had　shone　up　the　vale　to　the　eyes　of　the　bonfire　group；　was　uncurtained；　but　the　sill　lay　too　high　for　a　pedestrian　on　the　outside　to　look　over　it　into　the　room。　　A　vast　shadow；　in　which　could　be　dimly　traced　portions　of　a　masculine　contour；　blotted　half　the　ceiling。　
“He　seems　to　be　at　home；”　said　Mrs。　Yeobright。　
“Must　I　e　in；　too；　Aunt？”　asked　Thomasin　faintly。　
“I　suppose　not；　it　would　be　wrong。”
“You　must　e；　certainly—to　confront　him；　so　that　he　m