还乡The Return Of The Native-第8部分

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“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　may　make　no　false　representations　to　me。　　We　shall　not　be　five　minutes　in　the　house；　and　then　we’ll　walk　home。”
Entering　the　open　passage；　she　tapped　at　the　door　of　the　private　parlour；　unfastened　it；　and　looked　in。　
The　back　and　shoulders　of　a　man　came　between　Mrs。　Yeobright’s　eyes　and　the　fire。　　Wildeve；　whose　form　it　was；　immediately　turned；　arose；　and　advanced　to　meet　his　visitors。
He　was　quite　a　young　man；　and　of　the　two　properties；　form　and　motion；　the　latter　first　attracted　the　eye　in　him。　　The　grace　of　his　movement　was　singular—it　was　the　pantomimic　expression　of　a　lady…killing　career。　　Next　came　into　notice　the　more　material　qualities；　among　which　was　a　profuse　crop　of　hair　impending　over　the　top　of　his　face；　lending　to　his　forehead　the　high…cornered　outline　of　an　early　Gothic　shield；　and　a　neck　which　was　smooth　and　round　as　a　cylinder。　　The　lower　half　of　his　figure　was　of　light　build。　　Altogether　he　was　one　in　whom　no　man　would　have　seen　anything　to　admire；　and　in　whom　no　woman　would　have　seen　anything　to　dislike。
He　discerned　the　young　girl’s　form　in　the　passage；　and　said；　“Thomasin；　then；　has　reached　home。　　How　could　you　leave　me　in　that　way；　darling？”　And　turning　to　Mrs。　Yeobright—“It　was　useless　to　argue　with　her。　　She　would　go；　and　go　alone。”
“But　what’s　the　meaning　of　it　all？”　demanded　Mrs。　Yeobright　haughtily。　
“Take　a　seat；”　said　Wildeve；　placing　chairs　for　the　two　women。　　“Well；　it　was　a　very　stupid　mistake；　but　such　mistakes　will　happen。　　The　license　was　useless　at　Anglebury。　　It　was　made　out　for　Budmouth；　but　as　I　didn’t　read　it　I　wasn’t　aware　of　that。”
“But　you　had　been　staying　at　Anglebury？”
“No。　I　had　been　at　Budmouth—till　two　days　ago—and　that　was　where　I　had　intended　to　take　her；　but　when　I　came　to　fetch　her　we　decided　upon　Anglebury；　forgetting　that　a　new　license　would　be　necessary。　　There　was　not　time　to　get　to　Budmouth　afterwards。”
“I　think　you　are　very　much　to　blame；”　said　Mrs。　Yeobright。　
“It　was　quite　my　fault　we　chose　Anglebury；”　Thomasin　pleaded。　
“I　proposed　it　because　I　was　not　known　there。”
“I　know　so　well　that　I　am　to　blame　that　you　need　not　remind　me　of　it；”　replied　Wildeve　shortly。　
“Such　things　don’t　happen　for　nothing；”　said　the　aunt。　　“It　is　a　great　slight　to　me　and　my　family；　and　when　it　gets　known　there　will　be　a　very　unpleasant　time　for　us。　　How　can　she　look　her　friends　in　the　face　tomorrow？　　It　is　a　very　great　injury；　and　one　I　cannot　easily　forgive。　　It　may　even　reflect　on　her　character。”
“Nonsense；”　said　Wildeve。　
Thomasin’s　large　eyes　had　flown　from　the　face　of　one　to　the　face　of　the　other　during　this　discussion；　and　she　now　said　anxiously；　“Will　you　allow　me；　Aunt；　to　talk　it　over　alone　with　Damon　for　five　minutes？　　Will　you；　Damon？”
“Certainly；　dear；”　said　Wildeve；　“if　your　aunt　will　excuse　us。”　He　led　her　into　an　adjoining　room；　leaving　Mrs。　Yeobright　by　the　fire。　
As　soon　as　they　were　alone；　and　the　door　closed；　Thomasin　said；　turning　up　her　pale；　tearful　face　to　him；　“It　is　killing　me；　this；　Damon！　I　did　not　mean　to　part　from　you　in　anger　at　Anglebury　this　morning；　but　I　was　frightened　and　hardly　knew　what　I　said。　　I’ve　not　let　Aunt　know　how　much　I　suffered　today；　and　it　is　so　hard　to　mand　my　face　and　voice；　and　to　smile　as　if　it　were　a　slight　thing　to　me；　but　I　try　to　do　so；　that　she　may　not　be　still　more　indignant　with　you。　　I　know　you　could　not　help　it；　dear；　whatever　Aunt　may　think。”
“She　is　very　unpleasant。”
“Yes；”　Thomasin　murmured；　“and　I　suppose　I　seem　so　now。。。。Damon；　what　do　you　mean　to　do　about　me？”
“Do　about　you？”
“Yes。　Those　who　don’t　like　you　whisper　things　which　at　moments　make　me　doubt　you。　　We　mean　to　marry；　I　suppose；　don’t　we？”
“Of　course　we　do。　　We　have　only　to　go　to　Budmouth　on　Monday；　and　we　marry　at　once。”
“Then　do　let　us　go！O　Damon；　what　you　make　me　say！”　She　hid　her　face　in　her　handkerchief。　　“Here　am　I　asking　you　to　marry　me；　when　by　rights　you　ought　to　be　on　your　knees　imploring　me；　your　cruel　mistress；　not　to　refuse　you；　and　saying　it　would　break　your　heart　if　I　did。　　I　used　to　think　it　would　be　pretty　and　sweet　like　that；　but　how　different！”
“Yes；　real　life　is　never　at　all　like　that。”
“But　I　don’t　care　personally　if　it　never　takes　place；”　she　added　with　a　little　dignity；　“no；　I　can　live　without　you。　　It　is　Aunt　I　think　of。　　She　is　so　proud；　and　thinks　so　much　of　her　family　respectability；　that　she　will　be　cut　down　with　mortification　if　this　story　should　get　abroad　before—it　is　done。　　My　cousin　Clym；　too；　will　be　much　wounded。”
“Then　he　will　be　very　unreasonable。　　In　fact；　you　are　all　rather　unreasonable。”
Thomasin　coloured　a　little；　and　not　with　love。　　But　whatever　the　momentary　feeling　which　caused　that　flush　in　her；　it　went　as　it　came；　and　she　humbly　said；　“I　never　mean　to　be；　if　I　can　help　it。　　I　merely　feel　that　you　have　my　aunt　to　some　extent　in　your　power　at　last。”
“As　a　matter　of　justice　it　is　almost　due　to　me；”　said　Wildeve。　　“Think　what　I　have　gone　through　to　win　her　consent；　the　insult　that　it　is　to　any　man　to　have　the　banns　forbidden—the　double　insult　to　a　man　unlucky　enough　to　be　cursed　with　sensitiveness；　and　blue　demons；　and　Heaven　knows　what；　as　I　am。　　I　can　never　forget　those　banns。　　A　harsher　man　would　rejoice　now　in　the　power　I　have　of　turning　upon　your　aunt　by　going　no　further　in　the　business。”
She　looked　wistfully　at　him　with　her　sorrowful　eyes　as　he　said　those　words；　and　her　aspect　showed　that　more　than　one　person　in　the　room　could　deplore　the　possession　of　sensitiveness。　　Seeing　that　she　was　really　suffering　he　seemed　disturbed　and　added；　“This　is　merely　a　reflection　you　know。　　I　have　not　the　least　intention　to　refuse　to　plete　the　marriage；　Tamsie　mine—I　could　not　bear　it。”
“You　could　not；　I　know！”　said　the　fair　girl；　brightening。　　“You；　who　cannot　bear　the　sight　of　pain　in　even　an　insect；　or　any　disagreeable　sound；　or　unpleasant　smell　even；　will　not　long　cause　pain　to　me　and　mine。”
“I　will　not；　if　I　can　help　it。”
“Your　hand　upon　it；　Damon。”
He　carelessly　gave　her　his　hand。　
“Ah；　by　my　crown；　what’s　that？”　he　said　suddenly。　
There　fell　upon　their　ears　the　sound　of　numerous　voices　singing　in　front　of　the　house。　　Among　these；　two　made　themselves　prominent　by　their　peculiarity：　one　was　a　very　strong　bass；　the　other　a　wheezy　thin　piping。　　Thomasin　recognized　them　as　belonging　to　Timothy　Fairway　and　Grandfer　Cantle　respectively。　
“What　does　it　mean—it　is　not　skimmity…riding；　I　hope？”　she　said；　with　a　frightened　gaze　at　Wildeve。　
“Of　course　not；　no；　it　is　that　the　heath…folk　have　e　to　sing　to　us　a　wele。　　This　is　intolerable！”　He　began　pacing　about；　the　men　outside　singing　cheerily—

“He　told’　her　that　she’　was　the　joy’　of　his　life’；　And　if’　she’d　con…sent’　he　would　make　her　his　wife’；　She　could’　not　refuse’　him；　to　church’　so　they　went’；　Young　Will　was　forgot’；　and　young　Sue’　was　content’；　And　then’　was　she　kiss’d’　and　set　down’　on　his　knee’；　No　man’　in　the　world’　was　so　lov’…ing　as　he’！”

Mrs。　Yeobright　burst　in　from　the　outer　room。　
“Thomasin；　Thomasin！”　she　said；　looking　indignantly　at　Wildeve；
“here’s　a　pretty　exposure！　Let　us　escape　at　once。　　e！”
It　was；　however；　too　late　to　get　away　by　the　passage。
A　rugged　knocking　had　begun　upon　the　door　of　the　front　room。　
Wildeve；　who　had　gone　to　the　window；　came　back。　
“Stop！”　he　said　imperiously；　putting　his　hand　upon　Mrs。　Yeobright’s　arm。　　“We　are　regularly　besieged。　　There　are　fifty　of　them　out　there　if　there’s　one。　　You　stay　in　this　room　with　Thomasin；　I’ll　go　out　and　face　them。　　You　must　stay　now；　for　my　sake；　till　they　are　gone；　so　that　it　may　seem　as　if　all　was　right。　　e；　Tamsie　dear；　don’t　go　making　a　scene—we　must　marry　after　this；　that　you　can　see　as　well　as　I。　Sit　still；　that’s　all—and　don’t　speak　much。　　I’ll　manage　them。　　Blundering　fools！”
He　pressed　the　agitated　girl　into　a　seat；　returned　to　the　outer　room　and　opened　the　door。　　Immediately　outside；　in　the　passage；　appeared　Grandfer　Cantle　singing　in　concert　with　those　still　standing　in　front　of　the　house。　　He　came　into　the　room　and　nodded　abstractedly　to　Wildeve；　his　lips　still　parted；　and　his　features　excruciatingly　strained　in　the　emission　of　the　chorus。　　This　being　ended；　he　said　heartily；　“Here’s　wele　to　the　new…made　couple；　and　God　bless　‘em！”
“Thank　you；”　said　Wildeve；　with　dry　resentment；　his　face　as　gloomy　as　a　thunderstorm。　
At　the　Grandfer’s　heels　now　came　the　rest　of　the　group；　which　included　Fairway；　Christian；　Sam　the　turf…cutter；　Humphrey；　and　a　dozen　others。　　All　smiled　upon　Wildeve；　and　upon　his　tables　and　chairs　likewise；　from　a　general　sense　of　friendliness　towards　the　articles　as　well　as　towards　their　owner。　
“We　be　not　here　afore　Mrs。　Yeobright　after　all；”　said　Fairway；　recognizing　the　matron’s　bonnet　through　the　glass　partition　which　divided　the　public　apartment　they　had　entered　from　the　room　where　the　women　sat。　　“We　struck　down　across；　d’ye　see；　Mr。　Wildeve；　and　she　went　round　by　the　path。”
“And　I　see　the　young　bride’s　little　head！”　said　Grandfer；　peeping　in　the　same　direction；　and　discerning　Thomasin；　who　was　waiting　beside　her　aunt　in　a　miserable　and　awkward　way。　　“Not　quite　settled　in　yet—well；　well；　there’s　plenty　of　time。”
Wildeve　made　no　reply；　and　probably　feeling　that　the　sooner　he　treated　them　the　sooner　they　would　go；　he　produced　a　stone　jar；　which　threw　a　warm　halo　over　matters　at　once。
“That’s　a　drop　of　the　right　sort；　I　can　see；”　said　Grandfer　Cantle；　with　the　air　of　a　man　too　well…mannered　to　show　any　hurry　to　taste　it。　
“Yes；”　said　Wildeve；　“’tis　some　old　mead。　　I　hope　you　will　like　it。”
“O　ay！”　replied　the　guests；　in　the　hearty　tones　natural　when　the　words　demanded　by　politeness　coincide　with　those　of　deepest　feeling。　　“There　isn’t　a　prettier　drink　under　the　sun。”
“I’ll　take　my　oath　there　isn’t；”　added　Grandfer　Cantle。　　“All　that　can　be　said　against　mead　is　that　‘tis　rather　heady；　and　apt　to　lie　about　a　man　a　good　while。　　But　tomorrow’s　Sunday；　thank　God。”
“I　feel’d　for　all　the　world　like　some　bold　soldier　after　I　had　had　some　once；”　said　Christian。
“You　shall　feel　so　again；”　said　Wildeve；　with　condescension；　“Cups　or　glasses；　gentlemen？”
“Well；　if　you　don’t　mind；　we’ll　have　the　beaker；　and　pass　‘en　round；　‘tis　better　than　heling　it　out　in　dribbles。”
“Jown　the　slippery　glasses；”　said　Grandfer　Cantle。　　“What’s　the　good　of　a　thing　that　you　can’t　put　down　in　the　ashes　to　warm；　hey；　neighbours；　that’s　what　I　ask？”
“Right；　Grandfer；”　said　Sam；　and　the　mead　then　circulated。　
“Well；”　said　Timothy　Fairway；　feeling　demands　upon　his　praise　in　some　form　or　other；　“’tis　a　worthy　thing　to　be　married；　Mr。　Wildeve；　and　the　woman　you’ve　got　is　a　dimant；　so　says　I。　Yes；”　he　continued；　to　Grandfer　Cantle；　raising　his　voice　so　as　to　be　heard　through　the　partition；　“her　father　（inclining　his　head　towards　the　inner　room）　was　as　good　a　feller　as　ever　lived。　　He　always　had　his　great　indignation　ready　against　anything　underhand。”
“Is　that　very　dangerous？”　said　Christian。
“And　there　were　few　in　these