登陆注册
6138800000043

第43章 CHAPTER II: FURTHER ALONG THE ROAD(1)

****'s spirits having risen in the course of these admissions of his sweetheart, he now touched Smart with the whip; and on Smart's neck, not far behind his ears. Smart, who had been lost in thought for some time, never dreaming that **** could reach so far with a whip which, on this particular journey, had never been extended further than his flank, tossed his head, and scampered along with exceeding briskness, which was very pleasant to the young couple behind him till, turning a bend in the road, they came instantly upon the farmer, farmer's man, and farmer's wife with the flapping mantle, all jogging on just the same as ever.

"Bother those people! Here we are upon them again."

"Well, of course. They have as much right to the road as we."

"Yes, but it is provoking to be overlooked so. I like a road all to myself. Look what a lumbering affair theirs is!" The wheels of the farmer's cart, just at that moment, jogged into a depression running across the road, giving the cart a twist, whereupon all three nodded to the left, and on coming out of it all three nodded to the right, and went on jerking their backs in and out as usual. "We'll pass them when the road gets wider."

When an opportunity seemed to offer itself for carrying this intention into effect, they heard light flying wheels behind, and on their quartering there whizzed along past them a brand-new gig, so brightly polished that the spokes of the wheels sent forth a continual quivering light at one point in their circle, and all the panels glared like mirrors in **** and Fancy's eyes. The driver, and owner as it appeared, was really a handsome man; his companion was Shiner. Both turned round as they passed **** and Fancy, and stared with bold admiration in her face till they were obliged to attend to the operation of passing the farmer. **** glanced for an instant at Fancy while she was undergoing their scrutiny; then returned to his driving with rather a sad countenance.

"Why are you so silent?" she said, after a while, with real concern.

"Nothing."

"Yes, it is, ****. I couldn't help those people passing."

"I know that."

"You look offended with me. What have I done?"

"I can't tell without offending you."

"Better out."

"Well," said ****, who seemed longing to tell, even at the risk of offending her, "I was thinking how different you in love are from me in love. Whilst those men were staring, you dismissed me from your thoughts altogether, and--"

"You can't offend me further now; tell all!"

"And showed upon your face a pleased sense of being attractive to 'em."

"Don't be silly, ****! You know very well I didn't."

**** shook his head sceptically, and smiled.

"****, I always believe flattery IF POSSIBLE--and it was possible then. Now there's an open confession of weakness. But I showed no consciousness of it."

****, perceiving by her look that she would adhere to her statement, charitably forbore saying anything that could make her prevaricate.

The sight of Shiner, too, had recalled another branch of the subject to his mind; that which had been his greatest trouble till her company and words had obscured its probability.

"By the way, Fancy, do you know why our quire is to be dismissed?"

"No: except that it is Mr. Maybold's wish for me to play the organ."

"Do you know how it came to be his wish?"

"That I don't."

"Mr. Shiner, being churchwarden, has persuaded the vicar; who, however, was willing enough before. Shiner, I know, is crazy to see you playing every Sunday; I suppose he'll turn over your music, for the organ will be close to his pew. But--I know you have never encouraged him?"

"Never once!" said Fancy emphatically, and with eyes full of earnest truth. "I don't like him indeed, and I never heard of his doing this before! I have always felt that I should like to play in a church, but I never wished to turn you and your choir out; and I never even said that I could play till I was asked. You don't think for a moment that I did, surely, do you?"

"I know you didn't, dear."

"Or that I care the least morsel of a bit for him?"

"I know you don't."

The distance between Budmouth and Mellstock was ten or eleven miles, and there being a good inn, "The Ship," four miles out of Budmouth, with a mast and cross-trees in front, ****'s custom in driving thither was to divide the journey into three stages by resting at this inn going and coming, and not troubling the Budmouth stables at all, whenever his visit to the town was a mere call and deposit, as to-day.

Fancy was ushered into a little tea-room, and **** went to the stables to see to the feeding of Smart. In face of the significant twitches of feature that were visible in the ostler and labouring men idling around, **** endeavoured to look unconscious of the fact that there was any sentiment between him and Fancy beyond a tranter's desire to carry a passenger home. He presently entered the inn and opened the door of Fancy's room.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 八零农家小厨娘

    八零农家小厨娘

    前世等了那个知青老师一辈子,却到咽气那天也没等到他的迎娶,重生后的许欣欣表示我上辈子是脑子瓦特了吗?趁着商业改革发家致富不香吗?
  • 幻想乡的无限宝具

    幻想乡的无限宝具

    嘛,简言之,就是一个大叔拥有着无限的宝具在幻想乡追求长生的故事——
  • 我是来追星的

    我是来追星的

    导师:“从资料上看,你家境非常好,你的人生有很多选择,你为什么会来参加这个节目?是不是想要表达你的态度,你要活出自己,追求自己的音乐梦想?”徐放:“不是,其实我是来追星的,老师我非常喜欢你,给签个名呗。”平行世界,不努力追星就要回去继承家业。怎么办,急!
  • 王佛

    王佛

    当有一天,邪佞吞噬了这世间的一切。当有一天,绝望的深渊突然降临身边。你会知道,这不再是书中的末日,这是触手可及的真实。没有金手指,没有系统,没有技能点,你所能做的只有奋勇前行,向死而生。狰狞会撕咬你的血肉,尸鬼会嚼碎你的骨头,又如何?你不是这世上的救世主,但只要不认死,终有一天你会身伴煌煌天威,君临天下,犹如那天上的王佛,俯瞰世间。请翻开这末日之章,看一个悍勇青年面对一个突然丧尸横行却没有金手指的真实的世界,踽踽独行,一步一步踏上绝巅。雷霆万重常伴吾身,人间任我肆意纵横。”来人,谁能告诉我,前边那个在天上扔闪电的人到底是个什么玩意儿?”“报告长官,好像是个皮卡丘成精了。”不才晚进书生,读书经年。胸中有千万言,不吐不快,纵使尚不能笔走天涯,也要把心中灵光无数记录在册,与各位看官共赏。不足之处,还请海涵。
  • 刁蛮夫人俏郎君

    刁蛮夫人俏郎君

    先婚后爱,甜中带酸。作为蜀地来的女子,怎么会被你这几个小妾就吓晕了,且看我如何做你的刁蛮夫人。
  • 怎样面对孩子早恋

    怎样面对孩子早恋

    爱,是个厚重而圣洁的话题。而对于早恋,我们无论如何也不想让孩子去尝试。每一年、每一月、每一天,我们不安观察着、揣测着,唯恐孩子不小心摘到那枚又酸又甜却又青涩的果子。没有人否认那是一段纯真、美好的感情,家长们提心的只是结果——早恋的终端——性、沉论、痛苦。每一样都令人胆战心惊。权衡能力,我们无法阻止孩子的感情,唯一能做的就是性教育。
  • 蔷权

    蔷权

    “睿王殿下。”王蔷好像听见有人叫她,只能睁开了眼,却只看到一束光。她瞧着那束光朦朦胧胧的,尽头似乎站着一个小姑娘。她很累了,实在说不出话了。眼见着桌案上的信还放着,她差去给她煮粥的守夜宫女还没回来,可她等不到了,她要睡了。睿王殿下薨,时年六十二岁。时人称:蔷权时代,落幕了。
  • 来自心底的悸动

    来自心底的悸动

    小学冤家段梧笙与顾栩在高中再次相遇。痞帅有点爱欺负人的顾栩,高冷只是莫名其妙的人设的段梧笙;吉他弹得很好的唐燃;满脑子小说动漫少女漫画的徐双霜。几位少年少女一起成长,也渐渐对彼此心动。
  • 我师祖是机器

    我师祖是机器

    翁云微微一笑,缓缓对千里说道“本门系功夫,重在轻盈飘逸,挥洒自如,最强调的是个快字,快,还快,更快,最快。说到天赋和身体特质,我摸你骨骼,骨骼粗大健壮,你若跟随断水和我另一个师兄挑眉,效果更佳,入我门系,反而是中庸之资,不过世事难料,将来你走出自己的一条路,打破规律也说不定。”
  • 竹马他总考第一

    竹马他总考第一

    众所周知,江咫有三怕。一怕林想想不高兴。二怕林想想吃别人买的冰淇淋。三怕林想想凶他。-【一杀】“想想,去吃冰淇淋吧。”他突然说。“……”林想想眯眼,“你怎么回事,怪怪的?”“道歉啊。”江咫说,“林想想小朋友不开心了,我的错。”她仿佛被雷劈了。-【二杀】江咫一脸不高兴,“林想想,你今天又吼我了。”“……”林想想吃瘪,“呃……有……吗?”江咫看着她,声音低沉,“有。”江咫:“你说我烦。”-【三杀】“林想想,你吼我成瘾?”“我……”他清了清嗓子,说话不太自然,“林想想,以后不许吼我了。”林想想:“呃……那我要是不小心吼你了?”江咫:“……”“……道歉。”“嗯?”江咫面色淡定,“吼我了就道歉,我不会跟你计较。”-【四杀】【五杀】-Aced江咫委屈巴巴地贴上来,“想想,你别吼我了呗……”林想想横了他一眼,“活该。”小包子:“爸爸今天被吼了吗?”……/《晴天》——周杰伦