the diary of a goose girl-第7部分

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beautiful　variety　of　white　ducks。　　They　were　hatched　in　due　time；
but　proved　hard　to　raise；　till　at　length　there　was　only　one
survivor；　of　such　uncommon　grace　and　beauty　that　we　called　her　the
Lady　Blanche。　　Presently　a　neighbour　sold　Phoebe　his　favourite
Muscovy　drake；　and　these　two　splendid　creatures　by　〃natural
selection〃　disdained　to　notice　the　rest　of　the　flock；　but　forming　a
close　friendship；　wandered　in　the　pleasant　paths　of　duckdom
together；　swimming　and　eating　quite　apart　from　the　others。

In　the　brown　flock　there　was　one　unfortunate；　misshapen　from　the
egg；　quite　lame；　and　with　no　smoothness　of　plumage；　but　on　that
very　account；　apparently；　or　because　she　was　too　weak　to　resist
them；　the　others　treated　her　cruelly；　biting　her　and　pushing　her
away　from　the　food。

One　day　it　happened　that　the　two　ducksSir　Muscovy　and　Lady
Blanchehad　come　up　from　the　water　before　the　others；　and　having
taken　their　repast　were　sitting　together　under　the　shade　of　a
flowering　currant…bush；　when　they　chanced　to　see　poor　Miss
Crippletoes　very　badly　used　and　crowded　away　from　the　dish。　　Sir
Muscovy　rose　to　his　feet；　a　few　rapid　words　seemed　to　pass　between
him　and　his　mate；　and　then　he　fell　upon　the　other　drake　and　the
heartless　minions　who　had　persecuted　the　helpless　one；　drove　them
far　away　out　of　sight；　and；　returning；　went　to　the　corner　where　the
victim　was　cowering；　her　face　to　the　wall。　　He　seemed　to　whisper　to
her；　or　in　some　way　to　convey　to　her　a　sense　of　protection；　for
after　a　few　moments　she　tremblingly　went　with　him　to　the　dish；　and
hurriedly　ate　her　dinner　while　he　stood　by；　repulsing　the　advances
of　the　few　brown　ducks　who　remained　near　and　seemed　inclined　to
attack　her。

When　she　had　eaten　enough　Lady　Blanche　joined　them；　and　they　went
down　the　hill　together　to　their　favourite　swimming…place。　　After
that　Miss　Crippletoes　always　followed　a　little　behind　her
protectors；　and　thus　shielded　and　fed　she　grew　stronger　and　well…
feathered；　though　she　was　always　smaller　than　she　should　have　been
and　had　a　lowly　manner；　keeping　a　few　steps　in　the　rear　of　her
superiors　and　sitting　at　some　distance　from　their　noon　resting…
place。

Phoebe　noticed　after　a　while　that　Lady　Blanche　was　seldom　to　be
seen；　and　Sir　Muscovy　and　Miss　Crippletoes　often　came　to　their
meals　without　her。　　The　would…be　mother　refused　to　inhabit　the
house　Phoebe　had　given　her；　and　for　a　long　time　the　place　she　had
chosen　for　her　sitting　could　not　be　found。　　At　length　the　Square
Baby　discovered　her　in　a　most　ideal　spot。　　A　large　boulder　had
dropped　years　ago　into　the　brook　that　fills　our　duck…pond；　dropped
and　split　in　halves　with　the　two　smooth　walls　leaning　away　from
each　other。　　A　grassy　bank　towered　behind；　and　on　either　side　of
the　opening；　tall　bushes　made　a　miniature　forest　where　the　romantic
mother　could　brood　her　treasures　while　her　two　guardians　enjoyed
the　water　close　by　her　retreat。

All　this　happened　before　my　coming　to　Thornycroft　Farm；　but　it　was
I　who　named　the　hero　and　heroines　of　the　romance　when　Phoebe　had
told　me　all　the　particulars。　　Yesterday　morning　I　was　sitting　by　my
open　window。　　It　was　warm；　sunny；　and　still；　but　in　the　country
sounds　travel　far；　and　I　could　hear　fowl　conversation　in　various
parts　of　the　poultry…yard　as　well　as　in　all　the　outlying　bits　of
territory　occupied　by　our　feathered　friends。　　Hens　have　only　three
words　and　a　scream　in　their　language；　but　ducks；　having　more
thoughts　to　express；　converse　quite　fluently；　so　fluently；　in　fact；
that　it　reminds　me　of　dinner　at　the　Hydropathic　Hotel。　　I　fancy　I
have　learned　to　distinguish　seven　separate　sounds；　each　varied　by
degrees　of　intensity；　and　with　upward　or　downward　inflections　like
the　Chinese　tongue。

In　the　distance；　then；　I　heard　the　faint　voice　of　a　duck　calling　as
if　breathless　and　excited。　　While　I　wondered　what　was　happening；　I
saw　Miss　Crippletoes　struggling　up　the　steep　bank　above　the　duck…
pond。　　It　was　the　quickest　way　from　the　water　to　the　house；　but
difficult　for　the　little　lame　webbed　feet。　　When　she　reached　the
level　grass　sward　she　sank　down　a　moment；　exhausted；　but　when　she
could　speak　again　she　cried　out；　a　sharp　staccato　call；　and　ran
forward。

Instantly　she　was　answered　from　a　distant　knoll；　where　for　some
reason　Sir　Muscovy　loved　to　retire　for　meditation。　　The　cries　grew
lower　and　softer　as　the　birds　approached　each　other；　and　they　met
at　the　corner　just　under　my　window。　　Instantly　they　put　their　two
bills　together　and　the　loud　cries　changed　to　confiding　murmurs。
Evidently　some　hurried　questions　and　answers　passed　between　them；
and　then　Sir　Muscovy　waddled　rapidly　by　the　quickest　path；　Miss
Crippletoes　following　him　at　a　slower　pace；　and　both　passed　out　of
sight；　using　their　wings　to　help　their　feet　down　the　steep
declivity。　　The　next　morning；　when　I　wakened　early；　my　first
thought　was　to　look　out；　and　there　on　the　sunny　greensward　where
they　were　accustomed　to　be　fed；　Sir　Muscovy；　Lady　Blanche；　and
their　humble　maid；　Malardina　Crippletoes；　were　scattering　their　own
breakfast　before　the　bills　of　twelve　beautiful　golden　balls　of
ducklings。　　The　little　creatures　could　never　have　climbed　the　bank；
but　must　have　started　from　their　nest　at　dawn；　coming　round　by　the
brook　to　the　level　at　the　foot　of　the　garden；　and　so　by　slow
degrees　up　to　the　house。

Judging　from　what　I　heard　and　knew　of　their　habits；　I　am　sure　the
excitement　of　the　previous　morning　was　occasioned　by　the　hatching
of　the　eggs；　and　that　Lady　Blanche　had　hastily　sent　her　friend　to
call　Sir　Muscovy；　the　family　remaining　together　until　they　could
bring　the　babies　with　them　and　display　their　beauty　to　Phoebe　and
me。



CHAPTER　X



July　14th。

We　are　not　wholly　without　the　pleasures　of　the　town　in　Barbury
Green。　　Once　or　twice　in　a　summer；　late　on　a　Saturday　afternoon；　a
procession　of　red　and　yellow　vans　drives　into　a　field　near　the
centre　of　the　village。　　By　the　time　the　vans　are　unpacked　all　the
children　in　the　community　are　surrounding　the　gate　of　entrance。
There　is　rifle…shooting；　there　is　fortune…telling；　there　are　games
of　pitch　and　toss；　and　swings；　and　French　bagatelle；　and；　to　crown
all；　a　wonderful　orchestrion　that　goes　by　steam。　　The　water　is
boiled　for　the　public's　tea；　and　at　the　same　time　thrilling　strains
of　melody　are　flung　into　the　air。　　There　is　at　present　only　one
tune　in　the　orchestrion's　repertory；　but　it　is　a　very　good　tune；
though　after　hearing　it　three　hundred　and　seven　times　in　a　single
afternoon；　it　pursues　one；　sleeping　and　waking；　for　the　next　week。
Phoebe　and　I　took　the　Square　Baby　and　went　in　to　this　diversified
entertainment。　　There　was　a　small　crowd　of　children　at　the
entrance；　but　as　none　of　them　seemed　to　be　provided　with　pennies；
and　I　felt　in　a　fairy　godmother　mood；　I　offered　them　the　freedom　of
the　place　at　my　expense。

I　never　purchased　more　radiant　good…will　for　less　money；　but　the
combined　effect　of　the　well…boiled　tea　and　the　boiling　orchestrion
produced　many　village　nightmares；　so　the　mothers　told　me　at　chapel
next　morning。

*　*　*

I　have　many　friends　in　Barbury　Green；　and　often　have　a　pleasant
chat　with　the　draper；　and　the　watch…maker；　and　the　chemist。

The　last　house　on　the　principal　street　is　rather　an　ugly　one；　with
especially　nice　window　curtains。　　As　I　was　taking　my　daily　walk　to
the　post…office　（an　entirely　unfruitful　expedition　thus　far；　as
nobody　has　taken　the　pains　to　write　to　me）　I　saw　a　nursemaid　coming
out　of　the　gate；　wheeling　a　baby　in　a　perambulator。　　She　was　going
placidly　away　from　the　Green　when；　far　in　the　distance；　she　espied
a　man　walking　rapidly　toward　us；　a　heavy　Gladstone　bag　in　one　hand。
She　gazed　fixedly　for　a　moment；　her　eyes　brightening　and　her　cheeks
flushing　with　pleasure；whoever　it　was；　it　was　an　unexpected
arrival；then　she　retraced　her　steps　and；　running　up　the　garden…
path；　opened　the　front　door　and　held　an　excited　colloquy　with
somebody；　a　slender　somebody　in　a　nice　print　gown　and　neatly…
dressed　hair；　who　came　to　the　gate　and　peeped　beyond　the　hedge
several　times；　drawing　back　between　peeps　with　smiles　and
heightened　colour。　　She　did　not　run　down　the　road；　even　when　she
had　satisfied　herself　of　the　identity　of　the　traveller；　perhaps
that　would　not　have　been　good　form　in　an　English　village；　for　there
were　houses　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　way。　　She　waited　until　he
opened　the　gate；　the　nursemaid　took　the　bag　and　looked　discreetly
into　the　hedge；　then　the　mistress　slipped　her　hand　through　the
traveller's　arm　and　walked　up　the　path　as　if　she　had　nothing　else
in　the　world　to　wish　for。　　The　nurse　had　a　part　in　the　joy；　for　she
lifted　the　baby　out　of　the　perambulator　and　showed　proudly　how　much
he　had　grown。

It　was　a　dear　little　scene；　and　I；　a　passer…by；　had　shared　in　it
and　felt　better　for　it。　　I　think　their　content　was　no　less　because
part　of　it　had　enriched　my　life；　for　happiness；　like　mercy；　is
twice　blessed；　it　blesses　those　who　are　most　intimately　associated
in　it；　and　it　blesses　all　those　who　see　it；　hear　it；　feel　it；　touch
it；　or　breathe　the　same　atmosphere。　　A　laughing；　crowing　baby　in　a
house；　one　cheerful　woman　singing　about　her　work；　a　boy　whistling
at　the　plough；　a　romance　just　suspected；　with　its　miracle　of　two
hearts　melting　into　onethe　wind's　always　in　the　west　when　you
have　any　of　these　wonder…workers　in　your　neighbourhood。

I　have　talks　too；　sometimes；　with　the　old　parson；　who　lives　in　a
quaint　house　with　〃Parva　Domus　Magna　Quies〃　cut　into　the　stone　over
the　doorway。　　He　is　not　a　preaching　parson；　but　a　retired　one；
almost　the　nicest　kind；　I　often　think。

He　has　been　married　thirty　years；　he　tells　me；　thirty　years；　spent
in　the　one　little　house　with　the　bricks　painted　red　and　grey
alternately；　and　the　scarlet　holly…hocks　growing　under　the　windows。
I　am　sure　they　have　been　sweet；　true；　kind　years；　and　that　his
heart　must　be　a　quiet；　peaceful　place　just　like　his　house　and
garden。

〃I　was　only　eleven　years　old　when　I　fell　in　love　with　my　wife；〃　he
told　me　as　we　sat　on　the　seat　under　the　lime…tree；　he　puffing
cosily　at　his　pipe；　I　plaiting　grasses　for　a　hatband。

〃It　was　just　before　Sunday…school。　　Her　mother　had　dressed　her　all
in　white　muslin　like