还乡The Return Of The Native-第31部分

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“You　know　what　you　forbade　me　at　the　Maypoling；　miss；”　murmured　the　lad；　without　looking　at　her；　and　still　stroking　the　firedog’s　head。　
“Yes；”　said　Eustacia；　with　a　little　more　hauteur。　
“You　wanted　to　join　hands　with　me　in　the　ring；　if　I　recollect？”
“Half　an　hour　of　that；　and　I’ll　agree；　miss。”
Eustacia　regarded　the　youth　steadfastly。　　He　was　three　years　younger　than　herself；　but　apparently　not　backward　for　his　age。　　“Half　an　hour　of　what？”　she　said；　though　she　guessed　what。　
“Holding　your　hand　in　mine。”
She　was　silent。　　“Make　it　a　quarter　of　an　hour；”　she　said
“Yes；　Miss　Eustacia—I　will；　if　I　may　kiss　it　too。　　A　quarter　of　an　hour。　　And　I’ll　swear　to　do　the　best　I　can　to　let　you　take　my　place　without　anybody　knowing。　　Don’t　you　think　somebody　might　know　your　tongue；　miss？”
“It　is　possible。　　But　I　will　put　a　pebble　in　my　mouth　to　make　is　less　likely。　　Very　well；　you　shall　be　allowed　to　have　my　hand　as　soon　as　you　bring　the　dress　and　your　sword　and　staff。　　I　don’t　want　you　any　longer　now。”
Charley　departed；　and　Eustacia　felt　more　and　more　interest　in　life。　　Here　was　something　to　do：　here　was　some　one　to　see；　and　a　charmingly　adventurous　way　to　see　him。　　“Ah；”　she　said　to　herself；　“want　of　an　object　to　live　for—that’s　all　is　the　matter　with　me！”
Eustacia’s　manner　was　as　a　rule　of　a　slumberous　sort；　her　passions　being　of　the　massive　rather　than　the　vivacious　kind。　　But　when　aroused　she　would　make　a　dash　which；　just　for　the　time；　was　not　unlike　the　move　of　a　naturally　lively　person。
On　the　question　of　recognition　she　was　somewhat　indifferent。　
By　the　acting　lads　themselves　she　was　not　likely　to　be　known。　
With　the　guests　who　might　be　assembled　she　was　hardly　so　secure。　
Yet　detection；　after　all；　would　be　no　such　dreadful　thing。　
The　fact　only　could　be　detected；　her　true　motive　never。　　It　would　be　instantly　set　down　as　the　passing　freak　of　a　girl　whose　ways　were　already　considered　singular。　　That　she　was　doing　for　an　earnest　reason　what　would　most　naturally　be　done　in　jest　was　at　any　rate　a　safe　secret。　

The　next　evening　Eustacia　stood　punctually　at　the　fuelhouse　door；　waiting　for　the　dusk　which　was　to　bring　Charley　with　the　trappings。　　Her　grandfather　was　at　home　tonight；　and　she　would　be　unable　to　ask　her　confederate　indoors。　
He　appeared　on　the　dark　ridge　of　heathland；　like　a　fly　on　a　Negro；　bearing　the　articles　with　him；　and　came　up　breathless　with　his　walk。　
“Here　are　the　things；”　he　whispered；　placing　them　upon
the　threshold。　　“And　now；　Miss　Eustacia—“
“The　payment。　　It　is　quite　ready。　　I　am　as　good　as　my　word。”
She　leant　against　the　door…post；　and　gave　him　her　hand。　　Charley　took　it　in　both　his　own　with　a　tenderness　beyond　description；　unless　it　was　like　that　of　a　child　holding　a　captured　sparrow。　
“Why；　there’s　a　glove　on　it！”　he　said　in　a　deprecating　way。　
“I　have　been　walking；”　she　observed。　
“But；　miss！”
“Well—it　is　hardly　fair。”　　She　pulled　off　the　glove；　and　gave　him　her　bare　hand。　
They　stood　together　minute　after　minute；　without　further　speech；　each　looking　at　the　blackening　scene；　and　each　thinking　his　and　her　own　thoughts。　
“I　think　I　won’t　use　it　all　up　tonight；”　said　Charley　devotedly；　when　six　or　eight　minutes　had　been　passed　by　him　caressing　her　hand。　　“May　I　have　the　other　few　minutes　another　time？”
“As　you　like；”　said　she　without　the　least　emotion。　　“But　it　must　be　over　in　a　week。　　Now；　there　is　only　one　thing　I　want　you　to　do—to　wait　while　I　put　on　the　dress；　and　then　to　see　if　I　do　my　part　properly。　　But　let　me　look　first　indoors。”
She　vanished　for　a　minute　or　two；　and　went　in。　　Her　grandfather　was　safely　asleep　in　his　chair。　　“Now；　then；”　she　said；　on　returning；　“walk　down　the　garden　a　little　way；　and　when　I　am　ready　I’ll　call　you。”
Charley　walked　and　waited；　and　presently　heard　a　soft　whistle。　
He　returned　to　the　fuelhouse　door。　
“Did　you　whistle；　Miss　Vye？”
“Yes；　e　in；”　reached　him　in　Eustacia’s　voice　from　a　back　quarter。　　“I　must　not　strike　a　light　till　the　door　is　shut；　or　it　may　be　seen　shining。　　Push　your　hat　into　the　hole　through　to　the　wash…house；　if　you　can　feel　your　way　across。”
Charley　did　as　manded；　and　she　struck　the　light　revealing　herself　to　be　changed　in　sex；　brilliant　in　colours；　and　armed　from　top　to　toe。　　Perhaps　she　quailed　a　little　under　Charley’s　vigorous　gaze；　but　whether　any　shyness　at　her　male　attire　appeared　upon　her　countenance　could　not　be　seen　by　reason　of　the　strips　of　ribbon　which　used　to　cover　the　face　in　mumming　costumes；　representing　the　barred　visor　of　the　mediaeval　helmet。　
“It　fits　pretty　well；”　she　said；　looking　down　at　the　white　overalls；　“except　that　the　tunic；　or　whatever　you　call　it；　is　long　in　the　sleeve。　　The　bottom　of　the　overalls　I　can　turn　up　inside。　　Now　pay　attention。”
Eustacia　then　proceeded　in　her　delivery；　striking　the　sword　against　the　staff　or　lance　at　the　minatory　phrases；　in　the　orthodox　mumming　manner；　and　strutting　up　and　down。　　Charley　seasoned　his　admiration　with　criticism　of　the　gentlest　kind；　for　the　touch　of　Eustacia’s　hand　yet　remained　with　him。　
“And　now　for　your　excuse　to　the　others；”　she　said。　
“Where　do　you　meet　before　you　go　to　Mrs。　Yeobright’s？”
“We　thought　of　meeting　here；　miss；　if　you　have　nothing　to　say　against　it。　　At　eight　o’clock；　so　as　to　get　there　by　nine。”
“Yes。　Well；　you　of　course　must　not　appear。　　I　will　march　in　about　five　minutes　late；　ready…dressed；　and　tell　them　that　you　can’t　e。　　I　have　decided　that　the　best　plan　will　be　for　you　to　be　sent　somewhere　by　me；　to　make　a　real　thing　of　the　excuse。　　Our　two　heath…croppers　are　in　the　habit　of　straying　into　the　meads；　and　tomorrow　evening　you　can　go　and　see　if　they　are　gone　there。　　I’ll　manage　the　rest。　　Now　you　may　leave　me。”
“Yes；　miss。　　But　I　think　I’ll　have　one　minute　more　of　what　I　am　owed；　if　you　don’t　mind。”
Eustacia　gave　him　her　hand　as　before。　
“One　minute；”　she　said；　and　counted　on　till　she　reached　seven　or　eight　minutes。　　Hand　and　person　she　then　withdrew　to　a　distance　of　several　feet；　and　recovered　some　of　her　old　dignity。　　The　contract　pleted；　she　raised　between　them　a　barrier　impenetrable　as　a　wall。　
“There；　‘tis　all　gone；　and　I　didn’t　mean　quite　all；”　he　said；　with　a　sigh。　
“You　had　good　measure；”　said　she；　turning　away。　
“Yes；　miss。　　Well；　‘tis　over；　and　now　I’ll　get　home…along。”


5　… Through　the　Moonlight


The　next　evening　the　mummers　were　assembled　in　the　same　spot；　awaiting　the　entrance　of　the　Turkish　Knight。　
“Twenty　minutes　after　eight　by　the　Quiet　Woman；　and　Charley　not　e。”
“Ten　minutes　past　by　Blooms…End。”
“It　wants　ten　minutes　to；　by　Grandfer　Cantle’s　watch。”
“And　‘tis　five　minutes　past　by　the　captain’s　clock。”
On　Egdon　there　was　no　absolute　hour　of　the　day。　　The　time　at　any　moment　was　a　number　of　varying　doctrines　professed　by　the　different　hamlets；　some　of　them　having　originally　grown　up　from　a　mon　root；　and　then　bee　divided　by　secession；　some　having　been　alien　from　the　beginning。　　West　Egdon　believed　in　Blooms…End　time；　East　Egdon　in　the　time　of　the　Quiet　Woman　Inn。　　Grandfer　Cantle’s　watch　had　numbered　many　followers　in　years　gone　by；　but　since　he　had　grown　older　faiths　were　shaken。　　Thus；　the　mummers　having　gathered　hither　from　scattered　points　each　came　with　his　own　tenets　on　early　and　late；　and　they　waited　a　little　longer　as　a　promise。
Eustacia　had　watched　the　assemblage　through　the　hole；　and　seeing　that　now　was　the　proper　moment　to　enter；　she　went　from　the　“linhay”　and　boldly　pulled　the　bobbin　of　the　fuelhouse　door。　　Her　grandfather　was　safe　at　the　Quiet　Woman。
“Here’s　Charley　at　last！　How　late　you　be；　Charley。”
“’Tis　not　Charley；”　said　the　Turkish　Knight　from　within　his　visor。　　“’Tis　a　cousin　of　Miss　Vye’s；　e　to　take　Charley’s　place　from　curiosity。　　He　was　obliged　to　go　and　look　for　the　heath…croppers　that　have　got　into　the　meads；　and　I　agreed　to　take　his　place；　as　he　knew　he　couldn’t　e　back　here　again　tonight。　　I　know　the　part　as　well　as　he。”
Her　graceful　gait；　elegant　figure；　and　dignified　manner　in　general　won　the　mummers　to　the　opinion　that　they　had　gained　by　the　exchange；　if　the　newer　were　perfect　in　his　part。　
“It　don’t　matter—if　you　be　not　too　young；”