under the greenwood tree-第31部分
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don't marry before； and of course we must submit。 But the time 'ill
soon slip along。〃
〃Yes； the time will soon slip alongTime glides away every day
yes。〃
Maybold said these words； but he had no idea of what they were。 He
was conscious of a cold and sickly thrill throughout him； and all he
reasoned was this that the young creature whose graces had
intoxicated him into making the most imprudent resolution of his
life； was less an angel than a woman。
〃You see； sir；〃 continued the ingenuous Dick； 〃'twill be better in
one sense。 I shall by that time be the regular manager of a branch
o' father's business； which has very much increased lately； and
business； which we think of starting elsewhere。 It has very much
increased lately； and we expect next year to keep a' extra couple of
horses。 We've already our eye on onebrown as a berry； neck like a
rainbow； fifteen hands； and not a gray hair in heroffered us at
twenty…five want a crown。 And to kip pace with the times I have had
some cards prented and I beg leave to hand you one； sir。〃
〃Certainly；〃 said the vicar； mechanically taking the card that Dick
offered him。
〃I turn in here by Grey's Bridge；〃 said Dick。 〃I suppose you go
straight on and up town？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Good…morning； sir。〃
〃Good…morning； Dewy。〃
Maybold stood still upon the bridge； holding the card as it had been
put into his hand； and Dick's footsteps died away towards Durnover
Mill。 The vicar's first voluntary action was to read the card
DEWY AND SON；
TRANTERS AND HAULIERS；
MELLSTOCK。
NB。FURNITURE； COALS； POTATOES； LIVE AND DEAD STOCK； REMOVED TO ANY
DISTANCE ON THE SHORTEST NOTICE。
Mr。 Maybold leant over the parapet of the bridge and looked into the
river。 He sawwithout heedinghow the water came rapidly from
beneath the arches； glided down a little steep； then spread itself
over a pool in which dace； trout； and minnows sported at ease among
the long green locks of weed that lay heaving and sinking with their
roots towards the current。 At the end of ten minutes spent leaning
thus； he drew from his pocket the letter to his friend； tore it
deliberately into such minute fragments that scarcely two syllables
remained in juxtaposition； and sent the whole handful of shreds
fluttering into the water。 Here he watched them eddy； dart； and
turn； as they were carried downwards towards the ocean and gradually
disappeared from his view。 Finally he moved off； and pursued his
way at a rapid pace back again to Mellstock Vicarage。
Nerving himself by a long and intense effort； he sat down in his
study and wrote as follows：
〃DEAR MISS DAY；The meaning of your words； 'the temptation is too
strong；' of your sadness and your tears； has been brought home to me
by an accident。 I know to…day what I did not know yesterdaythat
you are not a free woman。
〃Why did you not tell mewhy didn't you？ Did you suppose I knew？
No。 Had I known； my conduct in coming to you as I did would have
been reprehensible。
〃But I don't chide you！ Perhaps no blame attaches to youI can't
tell。 Fancy； though my opinion of you is assailed and disturbed in
a way which cannot be expressed； I love you still； and my word to
you holds good yet。 But will you； in justice to an honest man who
relies upon your word to him； consider whether； under the
circumstances； you can honourably forsake him？Yours ever
sincerely；
〃ARTHUR MAYBOLD。〃
He rang the bell。 〃Tell Charles to take these copybooks and this
note to the school at once。〃
The maid took the parcel and the letter； and in a few minutes a boy
was seen to leave the vicarage gate； with the one under his arm； and
the other in his hand。 The vicar sat with his hand to his brow；
watching the lad as he descended Church Lane and entered the
waterside path which intervened between that spot and the school。
Here he was met by another boy； and after a free salutation and
pugilistic frisk had passed between the two； the second boy came on
his way to the vicarage； and the other vanished out of sight。
The boy came to the door； and a note for Mr。 Maybold was brought in。
He knew the writing。 Opening the envelope with an unsteady hand； he
read the subjoined words：
〃DEAR MR。 MAYBOLD；I have been thinking seriously and sadly through
the whole of the night of the question you put to me last evening
and of my answer。 That answer； as an honest woman； I had no right
to give。
〃It is my natureperhaps all women'sto love refinement of mind
and manners； but even more than this； to be ever fascinated with the
idea of surroundings more elegant and pleasing than those which have
been customary。 And you praised me； and praise is life to me。 It
was alone my sensations at these things which prompted my reply。
Ambition and vanity they would be called； perhaps they are so。
〃After this explanation I hope you will generously allow me to
withdraw the answer I too hastily gave。
〃And one more request。 To keep the meeting of last night； and all
that passed between us there； for ever a secret。 Were it to become
known； it would utterly blight the happiness of a trusting and
generous man； whom I love still； and shall love always。Yours
sincerely；
〃FANCY DAY。
The last written communication that ever passed from the vicar to
Fancy； was a note containing these words only：
〃Tell him everything； it is best。 He will forgive you。〃
PART THE FIFTH： CONCLUSION
CHAPTER I： 'THE KNOT THERE'S NO UNTYING'
The last day of the story is dated just subsequent to that point in
the development of the seasons when country people go to bed among
nearly naked trees； are lulled to sleep by a fall of rain； and awake
next morning among green ones； when the landscape appears
embarrassed with the sudden weight and brilliancy of its leaves；
when the night…jar comes and strikes up for the summer his tune of
one note； when the apple…trees have bloomed； and the roads and
orchard…grass become spotted with fallen petals； when the faces of
the delicate flowers are darkened； and their heads weighed down； by
the throng of honey…bees； which increase their humming till humming
is too mild a term for the all…pervading sound； and when cuckoos；
blackbirds； and sparrows； that have hitherto been merry and
respectful neighbours； become noisy and persistent intimates。
The exterior of Geoffrey Day's house in Yalbury Wood appeared
exactly as was usual at that season； but a frantic barking of the
dogs at the back told of unwonted movements somewhere within。
Inside the door the eyes beheld a gathering； which was a rarity
indeed for the dwelling of the solitary wood…steward and keeper。
About the room were sitting and standing； in various gnarled
attitudes； our old acquaintance； grandfathers James and William； the
tranter； Mr。 Penny； two or three children； including Jimmy and
Charley； besides three or four country ladies and gentlemen from a
greater distance who do not require any distinction by name。
Geoffrey was seen and heard stamping about the outhouse and among
the bushes of the garden； attending to details of daily routine
before the proper time arrived for their performance； in order that
they might be off his hands for the day。 He appeared with his
shirt…sleeves rolled up； his best new nether garments； in which he
had arrayed himself that morning； being temporarily disguised under
a weekday apron whilst these proceedings were in operation。 He
occasionally glanced at the hives in passing； to see if his wife's
bees were swarming； ultimately rolling down his shirt…sleeves and
going indoors； talking to tranter Dewy whilst buttoning the
wristbands； to save time； next going upstairs for his best
waistcoat； and coming down again to make another remark whilst
buttoning that； during the time looking fixedly in the tranter's
face as if he were a looking…glass。
The furniture had undergone attenuation to an alarming extent； every
duplicate piece having been removed； including the clock by Thomas
Wood； Ezekiel Saunders being at last left sole referee in matters of
time。
Fancy was stationary upstairs； receiving her layers of clothes and
adornments； and answering by short fragments of laughter which had
more fidgetiness than mirth in them； remarks that were made from
time to time by Mrs。 Dewy and Mrs。 Penny； who were assisting her at
the toilet； Mrs。 Day having pleaded a queerness in her head as a
reason for shutting herself up in an inner bedroom for the whole
morning。 Mrs。 Penny appeared with nine corkscrew curls on each side
of her temples； and a back comb stuck upon her crown like a castle
on a steep。
The conversation just now going on was concerning the banns； the
last publication of which had been on the Sunday previous。
〃And how did they sound？〃 Fancy subtly inquired。
〃Very beautiful indeed；〃 said Mrs。 Penny。 〃I never heard any sound
better。〃
〃But HOW？〃
〃O； SO natural and elegant； didn't they； Reuben！〃 she cried； through
the chinks of the unceiled floor； to the tranter downstairs。
〃What's that？〃 said the tranter； looking up inquiringly at the floor
above him for an answer。
〃Didn't Dick and Fancy sound well when they were called home in
church last Sunday？〃 came downwards again in Mrs。 Penny's voice。
〃Ay； that they did； my sonnies！especially the first time。 There
was a terrible whispering piece of work in the congregation； wasn't
there； neighbour Penny？〃 said the tranter； taking up the thread of
conversation on his own account and； in order to be heard in the
room above； speaking very loud to Mr。 Penny； who sat at the distance
of three feet from him； or rather less。
〃I never can mind seeing such a whispering as there was；〃 said Mr。
Penny； also loudly； to the room above。 〃And such sorrowful envy o
