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CHAPTER II.
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 THE MILLER1’S CALCULATIONS.—HIS HOPES AND FEARS.—THE NURSE-BOY.—CALM.
 
The windmiller went back to his work.  He had risked something over this business in leaving the mill in the hands of others, even for so short a time.  Then the storm abated2 somewhat.  The wind went round, and blew with less violence a fine steady breeze.  The miller began to think of going into the dwelling-room for a bit of supper to carry him through his night’s work.  And yet he lingered about returning to his wife in her present mood.
 
He stuck the sharp point of his windmiller’s candlestick [14] into a sack that stood near, and drawing up a yellow canvas “sample bag”—which served him as a purse—from the depths of his pocket, he began to count the coins by the light of the candle.  He counted them over several times with increasing satisfaction, and made several slow but sure calculations as to the sum of ten shillings a week by the month, the quarter, the half, and the whole year.  He then began another set of calculations of a kind less pleasant, especially to an honest man,—his debts.
 
“There’s a good bit to the doctor for both times,” he murmured; “and there’s the coffin3, and something at the Heart of Oak for the bearers, and a couple of bottles red wine there, too, for the missus, when she were so bad.  And both the boys had new shoes to follow in,—she would have it they should follow”—  And so on, and so on, the windmiller ran up the list of his petty debts, and saw his way to paying them.  Then he put the money back into the sample bag, and folded it very neatly4, and stowed it away.  And then he drew near the inner door, and peeped into the room.
 
His poor wife seemed to be in no better case than before.  She sat on the old rocking-chair, swinging backwards5 and forwards, and beating her hands upon her knees in silence, and making no movement to comfort the wailing6 little creature on the bed.
 
For the first time there came upon the windmiller a sense of the fact that it is an uncertain and a rather dangerous game to drive a desperate woman into a corner.  His missus was as soft-hearted a soul as ever lived, and for her to sit unmoved by the weeping of a neglected child was a proof that something was very far wrong indeed.  One or two nasty stories of what tender-hearted women had done when “crazed” by grief haunted him.  The gold seemed to grow hot at the bottom of his pocket.  He wished he had got at the stranger’s name and address, in case it should be desirable to annul7 the bargain.  He wished the missus would cry again, that silence was worse than any thing.  He wished it did not just happen to come into his head that her grandmother went “melancholy mad” when she was left a young widow, and that she had had an uncle in business who died of softening8 of the brain.
 
He wished she would move across the room and take up the child, with an intensity9 that almost amounted to prayer.  And, in the votive spirit which generally comes with such moments, he mentally resolved that, if his missus would but “take to” the infant, he would humor her on all other points just now to the best of his power.
 
A strange fulfilment often treads on the heels of such vows10.  At this moment the wailing of the baby disturbed the miller’s eldest11 son as he lay in the press-bed.  He was only seven years old, but he had been nurse-boy to his dead sister during the brief period of her health,—the more exclusively so, that the miller’s wife was then weakly,—and had watched by her sick cradle with a grief scarcely less than that of the mother.  He now crept out and down the coverlet to the wailing heap of clothes, with a bright, puzzled look on his chubby12 face.
 
“Mother,” he said, “mother!  Is the little un come back?”
 
“No, no!” she cried.  “That’s not our’n.  It’s—it’s another one.”
 
“Have the Lord sent us another?” said the boy, lifting the peak of the little hood13 from the baby’s eye, into which it was hanging, and then fairly gathering14 the tiny creature, by a great effort, into his arms, with the daring of a child accustomed to playing nurse to one nearly as heavy as himself.  “I do be glad of that, mother.  The Lord sent the other one in the night, too, mother; that night we slept in the round-house.  Do ’ee mind?  Whishty, whishty, love!  Eh, mother, what eyes!  Whishty, whishty, then!  I’m seeing to thee, I am.”
 
There was something like a sob15 in the miller’s own throat, but his wife rose, and, running to the bed, fell on her knees, and with such a burst of weeping as is the thaw16 of bitter grief gathered her eldest child and the little outcast together to her bosom17.
 
At this moment another head was poked18 up from the bedclothes, and the second child began to say its say, hoping, perhaps, thereby19 to get a share of attention and kisses as well as the other.
 
“I seed a lady and genle’m,” it broke forth20, “and was feared of un.  They was going out of doors.  The genle’m look back at us, but the lady went right on.  I didn’ see her face.”
 
Matters were now in a domestic and straightforward21 condition, and the windmiller no longer hesitated to come in.  But he was less disposed to a hard and triumphant22 self-satisfaction than was common with him when his will ended well.  A poor and unsuccessful career had, indeed, something to do with the hardness of his nature, and in this flush of prosperity he felt softened23, and resolved inwardly to “let the missus take her time,” and come back to her ordinary condition without interference.
 
“Shall un have a bit of supper, missus?” was his cheerful greeting on coming in.  “But take your time,” he added, seeing her busy with the baby, “take your time.”
 
By-and-by the nurse-boy took the child, and the woman bustled24 about the supper.  She was still but half reconciled, and slapped the plates on to the table with a very uncommon25 irritability26.
 
The windmiller ate a hearty27 supper and washed it well down with home-made ale, under the satisfactory feeling that he could pay for more when he wanted it.  And as he began to plug his pipe with tobacco, and his wife rocked the new-comer at her breast, he said thoughtfully,—
 
“Do ’ee think, missus, that woman ’ud be the mother of un?”
 
“Mother!” cried his wife, scornfully.  “She’ve never been a mother, maester; of this nor any other one.  To see her handle it was enough for me.  The boy himself could see she never so much as looked back at un.  To bring an infant out a night like this, too, and leave it with strangers.  Mother, indeed, says he!”
 
“Take your time, missus, take your time!” murmured the miller in his head.  He did not speak aloud, he only puffed28 his pipe.
 
“Do you suppose the genle’m be the father, missus?” he suggested, as he rose to go back to his work.
 
“Maybe,” said his wife, briefly29; “I can’t speak one way or another to the feelings of men-folk.”
 
This blow was hit straight out, but the windmiller forbore reply.  He was not altogether ill-pleased by it, for the woman’s unwonted peevishness30 broke down in new tears over the child, whom she bore away to bed, pouring forth over it half inarticulate indignation against its unnatural31 parents.
 
“She’ve a soft heart, have the missus,” said the windmiller, thoughtfully, as he went to the outer door.  “I’m in doubts if she won’t take to it more than her own yet.  But she shall have her own time.”
 
The storm had passed.  The wolds lay glistening32 and dreary33 under a watery34 sky, but all was still.  The windmiller looked upwards35 mechanically.  To be weatherwise was part of his trade.  But his thoughts were not in the clouds to-night.  He brought the sample bag, without thinking of it, to the surface of his pocket, and dropped it slowly back again, murmuring, “Ten shilling a week.”
 
And as he turned again to his night’s work he added, with a nod of complete conviction, “It’ll more’n keep he.”

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 miller ZD6xf     
n.磨坊主
参考例句:
  • Every miller draws water to his own mill.磨坊主都往自己磨里注水。
  • The skilful miller killed millions of lions with his ski.技术娴熟的磨坊主用雪橇杀死了上百万头狮子。
2 abated ba788157839fe5f816c707e7a7ca9c44     
减少( abate的过去式和过去分词 ); 减去; 降价; 撤消(诉讼)
参考例句:
  • The worker's concern about cuts in the welfare funding has not abated. 工人们对削减福利基金的关心并没有减少。
  • The heat has abated. 温度降低了。
3 coffin XWRy7     
n.棺材,灵柩
参考例句:
  • When one's coffin is covered,all discussion about him can be settled.盖棺论定。
  • The coffin was placed in the grave.那口棺材已安放到坟墓里去了。
4 neatly ynZzBp     
adv.整洁地,干净地,灵巧地,熟练地
参考例句:
  • Sailors know how to wind up a long rope neatly.水手们知道怎样把一条大绳利落地缠好。
  • The child's dress is neatly gathered at the neck.那孩子的衣服在领口处打着整齐的皱褶。
5 backwards BP9ya     
adv.往回地,向原处,倒,相反,前后倒置地
参考例句:
  • He turned on the light and began to pace backwards and forwards.他打开电灯并开始走来走去。
  • All the girls fell over backwards to get the party ready.姑娘们迫不及待地为聚会做准备。
6 wailing 25fbaeeefc437dc6816eab4c6298b423     
v.哭叫,哀号( wail的现在分词 );沱
参考例句:
  • A police car raced past with its siren wailing. 一辆警车鸣着警报器飞驰而过。
  • The little girl was wailing miserably. 那小女孩难过得号啕大哭。
7 annul kwzzG     
v.宣告…无效,取消,废止
参考例句:
  • They have the power to alter or annul inappropriate decisions of their own standing committees.他们有权改变或者撤销本级人民代表大会常务委员会不适当的决定。
  • The courts later found grounds to annul the results,after the king urged them to sort out the "mess".在国王敦促法庭收拾烂摊子后,法庭随后宣布废除选举结果。
8 softening f4d358268f6bd0b278eabb29f2ee5845     
变软,软化
参考例句:
  • Her eyes, softening, caressed his face. 她的眼光变得很温柔了。它们不住地爱抚他的脸。 来自汉英文学 - 家(1-26) - 家(1-26)
  • He might think my brain was softening or something of the kind. 他也许会觉得我婆婆妈妈的,已经成了个软心肠的人了。
9 intensity 45Ixd     
n.强烈,剧烈;强度;烈度
参考例句:
  • I didn't realize the intensity of people's feelings on this issue.我没有意识到这一问题能引起群情激奋。
  • The strike is growing in intensity.罢工日益加剧。
10 vows c151b5e18ba22514580d36a5dcb013e5     
誓言( vow的名词复数 ); 郑重宣布,许愿
参考例句:
  • Matrimonial vows are to show the faithfulness of the new couple. 婚誓体现了新婚夫妇对婚姻的忠诚。
  • The nun took strait vows. 那位修女立下严格的誓愿。
11 eldest bqkx6     
adj.最年长的,最年老的
参考例句:
  • The King's eldest son is the heir to the throne.国王的长子是王位的继承人。
  • The castle and the land are entailed on the eldest son.城堡和土地限定由长子继承。
12 chubby wrwzZ     
adj.丰满的,圆胖的
参考例句:
  • He is stocky though not chubby.他长得敦实,可并不发胖。
  • The short and chubby gentleman over there is our new director.那个既矮又胖的绅士是我们的新主任。
13 hood ddwzJ     
n.头巾,兜帽,覆盖;v.罩上,以头巾覆盖
参考例句:
  • She is wearing a red cloak with a hood.她穿着一件红色带兜帽的披风。
  • The car hood was dented in.汽车的发动机罩已凹了进去。
14 gathering ChmxZ     
n.集会,聚会,聚集
参考例句:
  • He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
  • He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。
15 sob HwMwx     
n.空间轨道的轰炸机;呜咽,哭泣
参考例句:
  • The child started to sob when he couldn't find his mother.孩子因找不到他妈妈哭了起来。
  • The girl didn't answer,but continued to sob with her head on the table.那个女孩不回答,也不抬起头来。她只顾低声哭着。
16 thaw fUYz5     
v.(使)融化,(使)变得友善;n.融化,缓和
参考例句:
  • The snow is beginning to thaw.雪已开始融化。
  • The spring thaw caused heavy flooding.春天解冻引起了洪水泛滥。
17 bosom Lt9zW     
n.胸,胸部;胸怀;内心;adj.亲密的
参考例句:
  • She drew a little book from her bosom.她从怀里取出一本小册子。
  • A dark jealousy stirred in his bosom.他内心生出一阵恶毒的嫉妒。
18 poked 87f534f05a838d18eb50660766da4122     
v.伸出( poke的过去式和过去分词 );戳出;拨弄;与(某人)性交
参考例句:
  • She poked him in the ribs with her elbow. 她用胳膊肘顶他的肋部。
  • His elbow poked out through his torn shirt sleeve. 他的胳膊从衬衫的破袖子中露了出来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
19 thereby Sokwv     
adv.因此,从而
参考例句:
  • I have never been to that city,,ereby I don't know much about it.我从未去过那座城市,因此对它不怎么熟悉。
  • He became a British citizen,thereby gaining the right to vote.他成了英国公民,因而得到了投票权。
20 forth Hzdz2     
adv.向前;向外,往外
参考例句:
  • The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
  • He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。
21 straightforward fFfyA     
adj.正直的,坦率的;易懂的,简单的
参考例句:
  • A straightforward talk is better than a flowery speech.巧言不如直说。
  • I must insist on your giving me a straightforward answer.我一定要你给我一个直截了当的回答。
22 triumphant JpQys     
adj.胜利的,成功的;狂欢的,喜悦的
参考例句:
  • The army made a triumphant entry into the enemy's capital.部队胜利地进入了敌方首都。
  • There was a positively triumphant note in her voice.她的声音里带有一种极为得意的语气。
23 softened 19151c4e3297eb1618bed6a05d92b4fe     
(使)变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 ); 缓解打击; 缓和; 安慰
参考例句:
  • His smile softened slightly. 他的微笑稍柔和了些。
  • The ice cream softened and began to melt. 冰淇淋开始变软并开始融化。
24 bustled 9467abd9ace0cff070d56f0196327c70     
闹哄哄地忙乱,奔忙( bustle的过去式和过去分词 ); 催促
参考例句:
  • She bustled around in the kitchen. 她在厨房里忙得团团转。
  • The hostress bustled about with an assumption of authority. 女主人摆出一副权威的样子忙来忙去。
25 uncommon AlPwO     
adj.罕见的,非凡的,不平常的
参考例句:
  • Such attitudes were not at all uncommon thirty years ago.这些看法在30年前很常见。
  • Phil has uncommon intelligence.菲尔智力超群。
26 irritability oR0zn     
n.易怒
参考例句:
  • It was the almost furtive restlessness and irritability that had possessed him. 那是一种一直纠缠着他的隐秘的不安和烦恼。
  • All organisms have irritability while alive. 所有生物体活着时都有应激性。
27 hearty Od1zn     
adj.热情友好的;衷心的;尽情的,纵情的
参考例句:
  • After work they made a hearty meal in the worker's canteen.工作完了,他们在工人食堂饱餐了一顿。
  • We accorded him a hearty welcome.我们给他热忱的欢迎。
28 puffed 72b91de7f5a5b3f6bdcac0d30e24f8ca     
adj.疏松的v.使喷出( puff的过去式和过去分词 );喷着汽(或烟)移动;吹嘘;吹捧
参考例句:
  • He lit a cigarette and puffed at it furiously. 他点燃了一支香烟,狂吸了几口。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He felt grown-up, puffed up with self-importance. 他觉得长大了,便自以为了不起。 来自《简明英汉词典》
29 briefly 9Styo     
adv.简单地,简短地
参考例句:
  • I want to touch briefly on another aspect of the problem.我想简单地谈一下这个问题的另一方面。
  • He was kidnapped and briefly detained by a terrorist group.他被一个恐怖组织绑架并短暂拘禁。
30 peevishness c8959e579dccd384460010a43e0f2701     
脾气不好;爱发牢骚
参考例句:
  • Timid people always wreak their peevishness on the gentle. 怯懦的人总是把满腹牢骚向温和的人发泄。 来自辞典例句
  • Be gentle In old age; peevishness are worse second childhood than In first. 老来要和蔼;第二幼年期的乖戾暴躁,更有甚于第一期。 来自互联网
31 unnatural 5f2zAc     
adj.不自然的;反常的
参考例句:
  • Did her behaviour seem unnatural in any way?她有任何反常表现吗?
  • She has an unnatural smile on her face.她脸上挂着做作的微笑。
32 glistening glistening     
adj.闪耀的,反光的v.湿物闪耀,闪亮( glisten的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • Her eyes were glistening with tears. 她眼里闪着晶莹的泪花。
  • Her eyes were glistening with tears. 她眼睛中的泪水闪着柔和的光。 来自《用法词典》
33 dreary sk1z6     
adj.令人沮丧的,沉闷的,单调乏味的
参考例句:
  • They live such dreary lives.他们的生活如此乏味。
  • She was tired of hearing the same dreary tale of drunkenness and violence.她听够了那些关于酗酒和暴力的乏味故事。
34 watery bU5zW     
adj.有水的,水汪汪的;湿的,湿润的
参考例句:
  • In his watery eyes there is an expression of distrust.他那含泪的眼睛流露出惊惶失措的神情。
  • Her eyes became watery because of the smoke.因为烟熏,她的双眼变得泪汪汪的。
35 upwards lj5wR     
adv.向上,在更高处...以上
参考例句:
  • The trend of prices is still upwards.物价的趋向是仍在上涨。
  • The smoke rose straight upwards.烟一直向上升。


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