p. 25Upon the door of Gammer Gurney’s mysterious home John Aggett knocked, then a little nut-brown woman opened to him, nodded without affectation of superior parts, and even curtseyed in old-fashioned style at sight of Timothy.
“Your sarvant, young maister,” she said. “Be pleased to step in, an’ you’m welcome, I’m sure, though ’tis the home of poverty. Rest free, if that’s your errand—rest; an’ theer’s a gude cushioned chair to hold ’e tu, though you mightn’t count to find such here.”
The white witch had no peculiarities. She merely suggested a venerable and time-worn body whose life had not lacked tribulations20 and whose tether must be near at hand. But her dark eyes were very bright and her activity of body was still apparent.
Timothy lolled in the great “grandfather” chair and a red peat glow flamed on his leather gaiters from the fire; John sat near the door with a wandering and uneasy eye, ready to discover mystery and read secrets at every turn. He knew that to ask openly for the cordial he desired had been to make a hole in his manners. He therefore waited for his master to speak.
Gammer Gurney mended the fire and chattered21 briskly.
“Theer’ll be little more huntin’ ’pon the high p. 26Moor ’fore the snaw come. An’ ’tis near now. It be given me to knaw ’bout what fashion weather us may look for by the birds an’ berries, by the autumn colour of leaves, by tokens hid in still waters an’ the callin’ of the cleeves.”
“The reds was in the sky this marnin’,” said John, “a savage22, sulky sunrise, I warn ’e.”
“I seed un; an’ a terrible braave sight of snaw unshed in the elements; an’ the airth ripe for it. Gert snaw an’ ice be comin’, wi’ sorrowful deep drifts an’ death to man an’ beast, an’ awfullest floods to follow arter. I’ve knawn this many days an’ laid in store against it.”
Timothy now saw his opportunity.
“And I’m going to add to that store if you’ll let me. There’s a fine hare in the bag.”
“A hare, did ’e say? They’m dark, fanciful beasts, an’ if I was anything but a honest woman, I’d not touch no such thing. But I knaw what I knaw. Wheer did ’e find un?”
“I shot un,” said John, dragging the animal forth23. “Her was sittin’ aquott under a tussock nigh Horn’s Cross on Holne Moor11.”
“Then ’tis a pure, natural beast wi’ no dark tricks to un, if ’twas theer. A witch hare wouldn’t go in them plaaces. A right hare—sure enough, an’ heavy tu. Thank ’e kindly24; an’ if you comes round arter Christmas I’ll cure the skin for ’e, Jan p. 27Aggett. ’Twill make a proper cap against the hard weather.”
John scraped and offered respectful thanks; then refreshments25 became the subject of Timothy Chave’s speech.
“You haven’t a cup of milk by you, mother? I’m thirsty as a fish.”
“Milk—ess fay; but none for you. Ban’t drink for grawed men, if you ax me. But I’ve—well, no call to name it. Yet ’tis a wholesome27 sort o’ tipple28 took in reason an’ took hot. You bide29 here. I’ll be back direckly minute.”
She disappeared through a low door at the side of the kitchen and locked it behind her. In five minutes she returned with the promised refreshment26 and poured it from a square earthenware30 crock into two large cups. These she half filled with brandy, then added hot water from a kettle, and finally dropped a lump of yellow candy into each, with mingled31 spices from a shining black box.
“’Twill do ’e a power o’ gude an’ keep away evil an’ make heroes of ’e,” declared the woman. Then she watched the drinking men, with pleasure in her bright eyes, and shewed that she appreciated their grunts32 and gurgles of satisfaction.
“Better’n milk?” she said.
“A godlike brew33!” declared Timothy; and John, who had waited to see his master drink first p. 28before venturing upon the witch’s gift, now gave Gammer Gurney the compliments of the blessed season with all respect, then drained the last drop of his refreshment and scraped out the remaining spice and sugar with his fingers.
“Sure I feels like a mighty34 man o’ Scripture35 compared to what I was a bit ago,” he declared, as the spirit moved him.
“You’d make your fortune if you set up a sign in a city and sold that stuff to all buyers,” prophesied36 Timothy.
“I wants no fortune, Maister Chave. I be here, an auld37 sawl well thought ’pon an’ wi’in call o’ friends. I tell no tales an’ breed no troubles, an’ what goes in my ear doan’t come out at my mouth wi’ a new shape to it, I assure ’e. No tale-bearer me. Tongue an’ ear strangers—that’s the wise way.”
“You’m wise enough, ma’am; everybody knaws that.”
“Not that I set up for anything above my neighbours, though I may have done ’em a gude service here an’ theer.”
“A many of ’em—Lard, He knaws how many,” declared John, eagerly. “Taake my awn case. Didn’t ’e tell me how to win my maid for a silver sixpence, an’ didn’t I do as you bid an’ worrit her marnin’, noon an’ night till she said the word? p. 29An’ didn’t Digory Crampiron, the shepherd, come to ’e ’pon the same cause an’ ax what fashion woman ’twas as he’d best pay court to? An’ didn’t you say her’d be a dark maid? An’ sure enough dark her was; an’ a gude wife an’ mother these many days now.”
“That’s the thing I’d like to hear!” cried Timothy. “Read me riddles38, Gammer. Tell me my fate in marriage, and when the girl is coming, and what she’ll be like. Tell me, and I’ll give thee a golden guinea!”
Now it fell out, strangely enough, that the white witch knew certain facts hidden from her questioner—facts that none the less concerned him in some measure. She had that forenoon visited Bellever Barton to find the household of the farm in some confusion. The Christmas guests had arrived three days earlier than they were expected; that circumstance being explained by an opportunity to travel cheaply to Moretonhampstead on a stage-coach, some of whose passengers had failed it. From Moreton to Postbridge was no great matter, and the male travellers had ridden that distance, bringing their luggage on a packhorse and their ladies upon pillions behind them. In the bustle39 and confusion caused by this premature40 advent41, Gammer Gurney was kept waiting in the buttery—treatment very rarely extended to her p. 30dignity. But this delay had not been wasted. A garrulous42 housekeeper43 explained circumstances to the old woman and added that one of the newcomers, a girl of a fair face, reserved manners and great good sense, had won Farmer Chave’s heart, and was by him secretly destined44 for Timothy without that young man’s knowledge. This maiden45 the Gammer had seen and spoken with before she departed homeward; but as for Tim, he knew nothing of the business. Thus it may be guessed what excellent matter for a prophecy was now at the hand of the white witch. Indeed, she had oftentimes done miracles in the public esteem47 with less promising48 material. Nevertheless, this circumspect49 woman shewed no eagerness to take young Chave at his word.
“Best to think twice ’fore you ax me that,” she answered. “’Tis a serious deed, boy, and not to be undertaken in a light spirit. Mind this tu: the truth ban’t always sweet or what our ears are best tuned50 for hearin’.”
Her respectful manner vanished upon the introduction of this theme. She now spoke46 as the young man’s superior. Timothy was not frightened from his purpose, however, and screwed his face into solemnity. Then he winked51 behind Gammer Gurney’s back at John Aggett, who, knowing well how witches have eyes behind and before, doubted not p. 31that the action had been observed and was much discomfited52 in consequence.
“Here’s your guinea, mother; that’ll shew you I’m in solemn earnest upon this matter.”
The wise woman instantly swept up the coin. “If you will, you will,” she said.
As a preliminary to the fortune reading, two rush candles were lighted and the table cleared. Then upon it the sibyl drew a half circle with black charcoal53 and spread ancient cards round the circumference54. Next she set up in the midst a lump of shining quartz55, of the sort known as Cornish crystal, and into a natural cup within this stone she poured the black contents of a small, strangely shaped bottle. Now, bidding them be silent and motionless, with impenetrable gravity she went upon her knees beside the table and so remained for a long five minutes. Sometimes she gabbled to herself, sometimes she set her hands upon a conjunction of the outspread cards; but her eyes, as it appeared, never closed for a moment and never for a moment wandered from the little black lake in the quartz discerning-glass.
John, deeply impressed, sat with his mouth open; and even the scholar felt his scepticism waning56 a trifle.
Presently Gammer Gurney began to talk, and after much moonshine and a whole rigmarole of p. 32promises, predictions and cautions, the witch broke off and scanned the crystal with increased intensity57.
“Terrible coorious!” she murmured in an audible aside. “No such thing as this ever happened afore, I should judge. What’s the day of the month?”
“Eighteen of December,” said John.
“Exacally so! An’ if—theer! Of all straange fallings-out!”
She gazed blankly at her guest until Timothy, despite his education at Blundell’s, grew a little uncomfortable.
“Well, well, what’s amiss, mother? Out with it for good or ill. What pitfall58 is waiting for me—an early marriage?”
“A maiden be waitin’ for ’e, Timothy Chave; an’ this very day—a grey-eyed young girl wi’ bright hair an’ cherry lips—this day—by picture an’ by crystal! She’m nearer than the coming snow—she’m at your elbow, man! Ess fay, first young woman as you see an’ speak with come the owl-light—her an’ none other will be your lifelong mate!”
“Merciful to me! ’Tis ’most owl-light now!” gasped59 John Aggett.
“By St. George, and the dragon too, I’m near my fate then! Up and off, John! I’ll see my bride before nightfall. Come on.”
The woman huddled60 up her cards, cleaned the p. 33table and poured the black liquid into the fire. Timothy was eager to be gone, and now took an abrupt61 leave of his soothsayer; while as for Gammer Gurney, she stood like one in a dream and regarded Tim with vacant eyes. It was her custom thus to appear elevated in the spirit after exercise of her remarkable62 gifts. So they left her at her cottage door and started for home at a good pace. The fresh air contributed much to blow superstition63 out of Timothy’s mind; but his companion continued taciturn and was evidently impressed by what he had seen and heard.
“She gave I goose-flesh down the spine64, for all her outlandish fiery65 drink,” he said.
“You’re a fool, John; an’ I’m a greater. A good guinea wasted.”
Nearing home, they turned off the Moor, passed the cottage of Aggett’s mother, and proceeded along the hill. Then it was that John, desiring to shift the game-bag from his girdle to his shoulder, hung back some forty paces. His fingers were cold and the buckle66 was stiff; his master therefore gained upon him and, passing the corner of a plantation67, went out of sight. Mending his pace to overtake the other, John heard hidden voices, the hour then being dusk; and, a moment later, coming round the corner of the woodlands, he saw Timothy Chave in conversation with a woman. She was clad in p. 34scarlet flannel68 even to the snug69 hood70 round her ears, and her figure shone brightly through the gloaming.
He heard words half laughing, half annoyed, in the girl’s uplifted voice.
“Who be glazin’ at then? Make way, caan’t ’e? Do ’e think I be a ghost out the wood?”
“Not a bit of it! A good fairy, more likely. And forgive me; I wanted so much to hear you speak.”
“You’m a very impident chap then, for all your gert gashly gun awver your shoulder!”
The woman passed Timothy light footed, then, turning quickly down a lane, she disappeared, just as John joined his master. The young man was in an extremity71 of excitement.
“Good God! Did you see her—that red girl? An’ after what the hag said! Her eyes, man! Eyes like stars in the dark and a voice like the wood doves! I came straight upon her peeping out of her red hood, like the queen of pixies! Who is she, John? Who’s her father? And where has she vanished to? Speak if you know. ’Tis a marvellous miracle of a thing that I should meet her in this way. I could swear I was dreaming; yet I’m as much awake as she was alive. Who in the name of wonder is she? Speak if you know.”
“She’m a maiden by the name of Sarah Belworthy, darter o’ Smith Belworthy; an’ she’m tokened to me,” said Aggett, stolidly72.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
alleged
|
|
| a.被指控的，嫌疑的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
mariner
|
|
| n.水手号不载人航天探测器，海员，航海者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
dame
|
|
| n.女士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
vend
|
|
| v.公开表明观点，出售，贩卖 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
pint
|
|
| n.品脱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
procured
|
|
| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
accomplishments
|
|
| n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
humble
|
|
| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
peculiarities
|
|
| n. 特质, 特性, 怪癖, 古怪 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
apparition
|
|
| n.幽灵，神奇的现象 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
moor
|
|
| n.荒野，沼泽；vt.(使)停泊；vi.停泊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
discretion
|
|
| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
contraband
|
|
| n.违禁品，走私品 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
detriment
|
|
| n.损害；损害物，造成损害的根源 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
quelled
|
|
| v.（用武力）制止，结束，镇压( quell的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
sinister
|
|
| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
amulet
|
|
| n.护身符 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
prescriptions
|
|
| 药( prescription的名词复数 )； 处方； 开处方； 计划 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
conjecture
|
|
| n./v.推测，猜测 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
tribulations
|
|
| n.苦难( tribulation的名词复数 )；艰难；苦难的缘由；痛苦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
chattered
|
|
| （人）喋喋不休( chatter的过去式 )； 唠叨； （牙齿）打战； （机器）震颤 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
savage
|
|
| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
kindly
|
|
| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
refreshments
|
|
| n.点心,便餐;(会议后的)简单茶点招 待 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
refreshment
|
|
| n.恢复，精神爽快，提神之事物；（复数）refreshments:点心，茶点 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
wholesome
|
|
| adj.适合；卫生的；有益健康的；显示身心健康的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
tipple
|
|
| n.常喝的酒；v.不断喝，饮烈酒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
bide
|
|
| v.忍耐；等候；住 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
earthenware
|
|
| n.土器，陶器 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
mingled
|
|
| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
grunts
|
|
| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的第三人称单数 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说； 石鲈 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
brew
|
|
| v.酿造，调制 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
mighty
|
|
| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
scripture
|
|
| n.经文，圣书，手稿；Scripture:(常用复数)《圣经》，《圣经》中的一段 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
prophesied
|
|
| v.预告，预言( prophesy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
auld
|
|
| adj.老的，旧的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
riddles
|
|
| n.谜（语）( riddle的名词复数 )；猜不透的难题，难解之谜 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
bustle
|
|
| v.喧扰地忙乱，匆忙，奔忙；n.忙碌；喧闹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
premature
|
|
| adj.比预期时间早的；不成熟的，仓促的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
advent
|
|
| n.(重要事件等的)到来，来临 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
garrulous
|
|
| adj.唠叨的，多话的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
housekeeper
|
|
| n.管理家务的主妇，女管家 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
destined
|
|
| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
maiden
|
|
| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
spoke
|
|
| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
esteem
|
|
| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
promising
|
|
| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
circumspect
|
|
| adj.慎重的，谨慎的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
tuned
|
|
| adj.调谐的，已调谐的v.调音( tune的过去式和过去分词 )；调整；（给收音机、电视等）调谐；使协调 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
winked
|
|
| v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
discomfited
|
|
| v.使为难( discomfit的过去式和过去分词)；使狼狈；使挫折；挫败 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
charcoal
|
|
| n.炭，木炭，生物炭 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
circumference
|
|
| n.圆周，周长，圆周线 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
quartz
|
|
| n.石英 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
waning
|
|
| adj.（月亮）渐亏的，逐渐减弱或变小的n.月亏v.衰落( wane的现在分词 )；（月）亏；变小；变暗淡 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
intensity
|
|
| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
pitfall
|
|
| n.隐患，易犯的错误；陷阱，圈套 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
gasped
|
|
| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
huddled
|
|
| 挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
abrupt
|
|
| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
remarkable
|
|
| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
superstition
|
|
| n.迷信，迷信行为 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
spine
|
|
| n.脊柱，脊椎；(动植物的)刺；书脊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
fiery
|
|
| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
buckle
|
|
| n.扣子，带扣；v.把...扣住，由于压力而弯曲 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
plantation
|
|
| n.种植园，大农场 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
flannel
|
|
| n.法兰绒；法兰绒衣服 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
snug
|
|
| adj.温暖舒适的，合身的，安全的；v.使整洁干净，舒适地依靠，紧贴；n.（英）酒吧里的私房 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
hood
|
|
| n.头巾，兜帽，覆盖；v.罩上，以头巾覆盖 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
extremity
|
|
| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
stolidly
|
|
| adv.迟钝地，神经麻木地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |