lavengro-第111章

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my　things；　he　harnessed　my　pony；　and；　with　the　assistance　of　the　

woman；　he　contrived　to　place　me　in　the　cart；　he　then　gave　me　a　

draught　out　of　a　small　phial；　and　we　set　forward　at　a　slow　pace；　

the　man　walking　by　the　side　of　the　cart　in　which　I　lay。　　It　is　

probable　that　the　draught　consisted　of　a　strong　opiate；　for　after　

swallowing　it　I　fell　into　a　deep　slumber；　on　my　awaking；　I　found　

that　the　shadows　of　night　had　enveloped　the　earth　…　we　were　still　

moving　on。　　Shortly；　however；　after　descending　a　declivity；　we　

turned　into　a　lane；　at　the　entrance　of　which　was　a　gate。　　This　lane　

conducted　to　a　meadow；　through　the　middle　of　which　ran　a　small　

brook；　it　stood　between　two　rising　grounds；　that　on　the　left；　which　

was　on　the　farther　side　of　the　water；　was　covered　with　wood；　whilst　

the　one　on　the　right；　which　was　not　so　high；　was　crowned　with　the　

white　walls　of　what　appeared　to　be　a　farmhouse。



Advancing　along　the　meadow；　we　presently　came　to　a　place　where　grew　

three　immense　oaks；　almost　on　the　side　of　the　brook；　over　which　

they　flung　their　arms；　so　as　to　shade　it　as　with　a　canopy；　the　

ground　beneath　was　bare　of　grass；　and　nearly　as　hard　and　smooth　as　

the　floor　of　a　barn。　　Having　led　his　own　cart　on　one　side　of　the　

midmost　tree；　and　my　own　on　the　other；　the　stranger　said　to　me；　

'This　is　the　spot　where　my　wife　and　myself　generally　tarry　in　the　

summer　season；　when　we　come　into　these　parts。　　We　are　about　to　pass　

the　night　here。　　I　suppose　you　will　have　no　objection　to　do　the　

same？　　Indeed；　I　do　not　see　what　else　you　could　do　under　present　

circumstances。'　　After　receiving　my　answer；　in　which　I；　of　course；　

expressed　my　readiness　to　assent　to　his　proposal；　he　proceeded　to　

unharness　his　horse；　and；　feeling　myself　much　better；　I　got　down；　

and　began　to　make　the　necessary　preparations　for　passing　the　night　

beneath　the　oak。



Whilst　thus　engaged；　I　felt　myself　touched　on　the　shoulder；　and；　

looking　round；　perceived　the　woman；　whom　the　stranger　called　

Winifred；　standing　close　to　me。　　The　moon　was　shining　brightly　upon　

her；　and　I　observed　that　she　was　very　good…looking；　with　a　composed　

yet　cheerful　expression　of　countenance；　her　dress　was　plain　and　

primitive；　very　much　resembling　that　of　a　Quaker。　　She　held　a　straw　

bonnet　in　her　hand。　　'I　am　glad　to　see　thee　moving　about；　young　

man；'　said　she；　in　a　soft；　placid　tone；　'I　could　scarcely　have　

expected　it。　　Thou　must　be　wondrous　strong；　many；　after　what　thou　

hast　suffered；　would　not　have　stood　on　their　feet　for　weeks　and　

months。　　What　do　I　say？　…　Peter；　my　husband；　who　is　skilled　in　

medicine；　just　now　told　me　that　not　one　in　five　hundred　would　have　

survived　what　thou　hast　this　day　undergone；　but　allow　me　to　ask　

thee　one　thing；　Hast　thou　returned　thanks　to　God　for　thy　

deliverance？'　　I　made　no　answer；　and　the　woman；　after　a　pause；　

said；　'Excuse　me；　young　man；　but　do　you　know　anything　of　God？'　　

'Very　little；'　I　replied；　'but　I　should　say　He　must　be　a　wondrous　

strong　person；　if　He　made　all　those　big　bright　things　up　above　

there；　to　say　nothing　of　the　ground　on　which　we　stand；　which　bears　

beings　like　these　oaks；　each　of　which　is　fifty　times　as　strong　as　

myself；　and　will　live　twenty　times　as　long。'　　The　woman　was　silent　

for　some　moments；　and　then　said；　'I　scarcely　know　in　what　spirit　

thy　words　are　uttered。　　If　thou　art　serious；　however；　I　would　

caution　thee　against　supposing　that　the　power　of　God　is　more　

manifested　in　these　trees；　or　even　in　those　bright　stars　above　us；　

than　in　thyself　…　they　are　things　of　time；　but　thou　art　a　being　

destined　to　an　eternity；　it　depends　upon　thyself　whether　thy　

eternity　shall　be　one　of　joy　or　sorrow。'



Here　she　was　interrupted　by　the　man；　who　exclaimed　from　the　other　

side　of　the　tree；　'Winifred；　it　is　getting　late；　you　had　better　go　

up　to　the　house　on　the　hill　to　inform　our　friends　of　our　arrival；　

or　they　will　have　retired　for　the　night。'　　'True；'　said　Winifred；　

and　forthwith　wended　her　way　to　the　house　in　question；　returning　

shortly　with　another　woman；　whom　the　man；　speaking　in　the　same　

language　which　I　had　heard　him　first　use；　greeted　by　the　name　of　

Mary；　the　woman　replied　in　the　same　tongue；　but　almost　immediately　

said；　in　English；　'We　hoped　to　have　heard　you　speak　to…night；　

Peter；　but　we　cannot　expect　that　now；　seeing　that　it　is　so　late；　

owing　to　your　having　been　detained　by　the　way；　as　Winifred　tells　

me；　nothing　remains　for　you　to　do　now　but　to　sup　…　to…morrow；　with　

God's　will；　we　shall　hear　you。'　　'And　to…night；　also；　with　God's　

will；　provided　you　be　so　disposed。　　Let　those　of　your　family　come　

hither。'　　'They　will　be　hither　presently；'　said　Mary；　'for　knowing　

that　thou　art　arrived；　they　will；　of　course；　come　and　bid　thee　

welcome。'　　And　scarcely　had　she　spoke；　when　I　beheld　a　party　of　

people　descending　the　moonlit　side　of　the　hill。　　They　soon　arrived　

at　the　place　where　we　were；　they　might　amount　in　all　to　twelve　

individuals。　　The　principal　person　was　a　tall；　athletic　man；　of　

about　forty；　dressed　like　a　plain　country　farmer；　this　was；　I　soon　

found；　the　husband　of　Mary；　the　rest　of　the　group　consisted　of　the　

children　of　these　two；　and　their　domestic　servants。　　One　after　

another　they　all　shook　Peter　by　the　hand；　men　and　women；　boys　and　

girls；　and　expressed　their　joy　at　seeing　him。　　After　which　he　said；　

'Now；　friends；　if　you　please；　I　will　speak　a　few　words　to　you。'　　A　

stool　was　then　brought　him　from　the　cart；　which　he　stepped　on；　and　

the　people　arranging　themselves　round　him；　some　standing；　some　

seated　on　the　ground；　he　forthwith　began　to　address　them　in　a　

clear；　distinct　voice；　and　the　subject　of　his　discourse　was　the　

necessity；　in　all　human　beings；　of　a　change　of　heart。



The　preacher　was　better　than　his　promise；　for；　instead　of　speaking　

a　few　words；　he　preached　for　at　least　three…quarters　of　an　hour；　

none　of　the　audience；　however；　showed　the　slightest　symptom　of　

weariness；　on　the　contrary；　the　hope　of　each　individual　appeared　to　

hang　upon　the　words　which　proceeded　from　his　mouth。　　At　the　

conclusion　of　the　sermon　or　discourse　the　whole　assembly　again　

shook　Peter　by　the　hand；　and　returned　to　their　house；　the　mistress　

of　the　family　saying；　as　she　departed；　'I　shall　soon　be　back；　

Peter；　I　go　but　to　make　arrangements　for　the　supper　of　thyself　and　

company'；　and；　in　effect；　she　presently　returned；　attended　by　a　

young　woman；　who　bore　a　tray　in　her　hands。　　'Set　it　down；　Jessy；'　

said　the　mistress　to　the　girl；　'and　then　betake　thyself　to　thy　

rest；　I　shall　remain　here　for　a　little　time　to　talk　with　my　

friends。'　　The　girl　departed；　and　the　preacher　and　the　two　females　

placed　themselves　on　the　ground　about　the　tray。　　The　man　gave　

thanks；　and　himself　and　his　wife　appeared　to　be　about　to　eat；　when　

the　latter　suddenly　placed　her　hand　upon　his　arm；　and　said　

something　to　him　in　a　low　voice；　whereupon　he　exclaimed；　'Ay；　

truly；　we　were　both　forgetful'；　and　then　getting　up；　he　came　

towards　me；　who　stood　a　little　way　off；　leaning　against　the　wheel　

of　my　cart；　and；　taking　me　by　the　hand；　he　said；　'Pardon　us；　young　

man；　we　were　both　so　engaged　in　our　own　creature…comforts；　that　we　

forgot　thee；　but　it　is　not　too　late　to　repair　our　fault；　wilt　thou　

not　join　us；　and　taste　our　bread　and　milk？'　　'I　cannot　eat；'　I　

replied；　'but　I　think　I　could　drink　a　little　milk'；　whereupon　he　

led　me　to　the　rest；　and　seating　me　by　his　side；　he　poured　some　milk　

into　a　horn　cup；　saying；　'〃Croesaw。〃　　That；'　added　he；　with　a　

smile；　'is　Welsh　for　welcome。'



The　fare　upon　the　tray　was　of　the　simplest　description；　consisting　

of　bread；　cheese；　milk；　and　curds。　　My　two　friends　partook　with　a　

good　appetite。　　'Mary；'　said　the　preacher；　addressing　himself　to　

the　woman　of　the　house；　'every　time　I　come　to　visit　thee；　I　find　

thee　less　inclined　to　speak　Welsh。　　I　suppose；　in　a　little　time；　

thou　wilt　entirely　have　forgotten　it；　hast　thou　taught　it　to　any　of