wessex tales-第14章

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thin；　fading　woman　of　thirty　milked　somewhat　apart　from　the　rest。

'Years　younger　than　he；　they　say；'　continued　the　second；　with　also　a
glance　of　reflectiveness　in　the　same　direction。

'How　old　do　you　call　him；　then？'

'Thirty　or　so。'

'More　like　forty；'　broke　in　an　old　milkman　near；　in　a　long　white
pinafore　or　'wropper；'　and　with　the　brim　of　his　hat　tied　down；　so
that　he　looked　like　a　woman。　　''A　was　born　before　our　Great　Weir　was
builded；　and　I　hadn't　man's　wages　when　I　laved　water　there。'

The　discussion　waxed　so　warm　that　the　purr　of　the　milk…streams
became　jerky；　till　a　voice　from　another　cow's　belly　cried　with
authority；　'Now　then；　what　the　Turk　do　it　matter　to　us　about　Farmer
Lodge's　age；　or　Farmer　Lodge's　new　mis'ess？　　I　shall　have　to　pay　him
nine　pound　a　year　for　the　rent　of　every　one　of　these　milchers；
whatever　his　age　or　hers。　　Get　on　with　your　work；　or　'twill　be　dark
afore　we　have　done。　　The　evening　is　pinking　in　a'ready。'　　This
speaker　was　the　dairyman　himself；　by　whom　the　milkmaids　and　men　were
employed。

Nothing　more　was　said　publicly　about　Farmer　Lodge's　wedding；　but　the
first　woman　murmured　under　her　cow　to　her　next　neighbour；　''Tis　hard
for　SHE；'　signifying　the　thin　worn　milkmaid　aforesaid。

'O　no；'　said　the　second。　　'He　ha'n't　spoke　to　Rhoda　Brook　for
years。'

When　the　milking　was　done　they　washed　their　pails　and　hung　them　on　a
many…forked　stand　made　of　the　peeled　limb　of　an　oak…tree；　set
upright　in　the　earth；　and　resembling　a　colossal　antlered　horn。　　The
majority　then　dispersed　in　various　directions　homeward。　　The　thin
woman　who　had　not　spoken　was　joined　by　a　boy　of　twelve　or
thereabout；　and　the　twain　went　away　up　the　field　also。

Their　course　lay　apart　from　that　of　the　others；　to　a　lonely　spot
high　above　the　water…meads；　and　not　far　from　the　border　of　Egdon
Heath；　whose　dark　countenance　was　visible　in　the　distance　as　they
drew　nigh　to　their　home。

'They've　just　been　saying　down　in　barton　that　your　father　brings　his
young　wife　home　from　Anglebury　to…morrow；'　the　woman　observed。　　'I
shall　want　to　send　you　for　a　few　things　to　market；　and　you'll　be
pretty　sure　to　meet　'em。'

'Yes；　mother；'　said　the　boy。　　'Is　father　married　then？'

'Yes　。　。　。　You　can　give　her　a　look；　and　tell　me　what's　she's　like；
if　you　do　see　her。'

'Yes；　mother。'

'If　she's　dark　or　fair；　and　if　she's　tallas　tall　as　I。　　And　if　she
seems　like　a　woman　who　has　ever　worked　for　a　living；　or　one　that　has
been　always　well　off；　and　has　never　done　anything；　and　shows　marks
of　the　lady　on　her；　as　I　expect　she　do。'

'Yes。'

They　crept　up　the　hill　in　the　twilight；　and　entered　the　cottage。　　It
was　built　of　mud…walls；　the　surface　of　which　had　been　washed　by　many
rains　into　channels　and　depressions　that　left　none　of　the　original
flat　face　visible；　while　here　and　there　in　the　thatch　above　a　rafter
showed　like　a　bone　protruding　through　the　skin。

She　was　kneeling　down　in　the　chimney…corner；　before　two　pieces　of
turf　laid　together　with　the　heather　inwards；　blowing　at　the　red…hot
ashes　with　her　breath　till　the　turves　flamed。　　The　radiance　lit　her
pale　cheek；　and　made　her　dark　eyes；　that　had　once　been　handsome；
seem　handsome　anew。　　'Yes；'　she　resumed；　'see　if　she　is　dark　or
fair；　and　if　you　can；　notice　if　her　hands　be　white；　if　not；　see　if
they　look　as　though　she　had　ever　done　housework；　or　are　milker's
hands　like　mine。'

The　boy　again　promised；　inattentively　this　time；　his　mother　not
observing　that　he　was　cutting　a　notch　with　his　pocket…knife　in　the
beech…backed　chair。



CHAPTER　IITHE　YOUNG　WIFE



The　road　from　Anglebury　to　Holmstoke　is　in　general　level；　but　there
is　one　place　where　a　sharp　ascent　breaks　its　monotony。　　Farmers
homeward…bound　from　the　former　market…town；　who　trot　all　the　rest　of
the　way；　walk　their　horses　up　this　short　incline。

The　next　evening；　while　the　sun　was　yet　bright；　a　handsome　new　gig；
with　a　lemon…coloured　body　and　red　wheels；　was　spinning　westward
along　the　level　highway　at　the　heels　of　a　powerful　mare。　　The　driver
was　a　yeoman　in　the　prime　of　life；　cleanly　shaven　like　an　actor；　his
face　being　toned　to　that　bluish…vermilion　hue　which　so　often　graces
a　thriving　farmer's　features　when　returning　home　after　successful
dealings　in　the　town。　　Beside　him　sat　a　woman；　many　years　his
junioralmost；　indeed；　a　girl。　　Her　face　too　was　fresh　in　colour；
but　it　was　of　a　totally　different　qualitysoft　and　evanescent；　like
the　light　under　a　heap　of　rose…petals。

Few　people　travelled　this　way；　for　it　was　not　a　main　road；　and　the
long　white　riband　of　gravel　that　stretched　before　them　was　empty；
save　of　one　small　scarce…moving　speck；　which　presently　resolved
itself　into　the　figure　of　boy；　who　was　creeping　on　at　a　snail's
pace；　and　continually　looking　behind　himthe　heavy　bundle　he
carried　being　some　excuse　for；　if　not　the　reason　of；　his
dilatoriness。　　When　the　bouncing　gig…party　slowed　at　the　bottom　of
the　incline　above　mentioned；　the　pedestrian　was　only　a　few　yards　in
front。　　Supporting　the　large　bundle　by　putting　one　hand　on　his　hip；
he　turned　and　looked　straight　at　the　farmer's　wife　as　though　he
would　read　her　through　and　through；　pacing　along　abreast　of　the
horse。

The　low　sun　was　full　in　her　face；　rendering　every　feature；　shade；
and　contour　distinct；　from　the　curve　of　her　little　nostril　to　the
colour　of　her　eyes。　　The　farmer；　though　he　seemed　annoyed　at　the
boy's　persistent　presence；　did　not　order　him　to　get　out　of　the　way；
and　thus　the　lad　preceded　them；　his　hard　gaze　never　leaving　her；
till　they　reached　the　top　of　the　ascent；　when　the　farmer　trotted　on
with　relief　in　his　lineamentshaving　taken　no　outward　notice　of　the
boy　whatever。

'How　that　poor　lad　stared　at　me！'　said　the　young　wife。

'Yes；　dear；　I　saw　that　he　did。'

'He　is　one　of　the　village；　I　suppose？'

'One　of　the　neighbourhood。　　I　think　he　lives　with　his　mother　a　mile
or　two　off。'

'He　knows　who　we　are；　no　doubt？'

'O　yes。　　You　must　expect　to　be　stared　at　just　at　first；　my　pretty
Gertrude。'

'I　do；though　I　think　the　poor　boy　may　have　looked　at　us　in　the
hope　we　might　relieve　him　of　his　heavy　load；　rather　than　from
curiosity。'

'O　no；'　said　her　husband　off…handedly。　　'These　country　lads　will
carry　a　hundredweight　once　they　get　it　on　their　backs；　besides　his
pack　had　more　size　than　weight　in　it。　　Now；　then；　another　mile　and　I
shall　be　able　to　show　you　our　house　in　the　distanceif　it　is　not
too　dark　before　we　get　there。'　　The　wheels　spun　round；　and　particles
flew　from　their　periphery　as　before；　till　a　white　house　of　ample
dimensions　revealed　itself；　with　farm…buildings　and　ricks　at　the
back。

Meanwhile　the　boy　had　quickened　his　pace；　and　turning　up　a　by…lane
some　mile　and　half　short　of　the　white　farmstead；　ascended　towards
the　leaner　pastures；　and　so　on　to　the　cottage　of　his　mother。

She　had　reached　home　after　her　day's　milking　at　the　outlying　dairy；
and　was　washing　cabbage　at　the　doorway　in　the　declining　light。
'Hold　up　the　net　a　moment；'　she　said；　without　preface；　as　the　boy
came　up。

He　flung　down　his　bundle；　held　the　edge　of　the　cabbage…net；　and　as
she　filled　its　meshes　with　the　dripping　leaves　she　went　on；　'Well；
did　you　see　her？'

'Yes；　quite　plain。'

'Is　she　ladylike？'

'Yes；　and　more。　　A　lady　complete。'

'Is　she　young？'

'Well；　she's　growed　up；　and　her　ways　be　quite　a　woman's。'

'Of　course。　　What　colour　is　her　hair　and　face？'

'Her　hair　is　lightish；　and　her　face　as　comely　as　a　live　doll's。'

'Her　eyes；　then；　are　not　dark　like　mine？'

'Noof　a　bluish　turn；　and　her　mouth　is　very　nice　and　red；　and　when
she　smiles；　her　teeth　show　white。'

'Is　she　tall？'　said　the　woman　sharply。

'I　couldn't　see。　　She　was　sitting　down。'

'Then　do　you　go　to　Holmstoke　church　to…morrow　morning：　　she's　sure
to　be　there。　　Go　early　and　notice　her　walking　in；　and　come　home　and
tell　me　if　she's　taller　than　I。'

'Very　well；　mother。　　But　why　don't　you　go　and　see　for　yourself？'

'_I_　go　to　see　her！　　I　wouldn't　look　up　at　her　if　she　were　to　pass
my　window　this　instant。　　She　was　with　Mr。　Lodge；　of　course。　　What
did　he　say　or　do？'

'Just　the　same　as　usual。'

'Took　no　notice　of　you？'

'None。'

Next　day　the　mother　put　a　clean　shirt