The Bantam’s small sleepy orbits saw many things, and just at the right moment, it seemed. He was certainly the first to give the clue at Belthorpe on the night of the conflagration12, and he may, therefore, have seen poor Tom retreating stealthily from the scene, as he averred13 he did. Lobourne had its say on the subject. Rustic14 Lobourne hinted broadly at a young woman in the case, and moreover, told a tale of how these fellow-threshers had, in noble rivalry15, one day turned upon each other to see which of the two threshed the best; whereof the Bantam still bore marks, and malice16, it was said. However, there he stood, and tugged17 his forelocks to the company, and if Truth really had concealed18 herself in him she must have been hard set to find her unlikeliest hiding-place.
“Now,” said the farmer, marshalling forth20 his elephant with the confidence of one who delivers his ace19 of trumps21, “tell this young gentleman what ye saw on the night of the fire, Bantam!”
The Bantam jerked a bit of a bow to his patron, and then swung round, fully22 obscuring him from Richard.
Richard fixed23 his eyes on the floor, while the Bantam in rudest Doric commenced his narrative24. Knowing what was to come, and thoroughly25 nerved to confute the main incident, Richard barely listened to his barbarous locution: but when the recital26 arrived at the point where the Bantam affirmed he had seen “T’m Baak’ll wi’s owen hoies,” Richard faced him, and was amazed to find himself being mutely addressed by a series of intensely significant grimaces27, signs, and winks29.
“What do you mean? Why are you making those faces at me?” cried the boy indignantly.
Farmer Blaize leaned round the Bantam to have a look at him, and beheld30 the stolidest mask ever given to man.
“Bain’t makin’ no faces at nobody,” growled31 the sulky elephant.
The farmer commanded him to face about and finish.
“A see T’m Baak’ll,” the Bantam recommenced, and again the contortions32 of a horrible wink28 were directed at Richard. The boy might well believe this churl33 was lying, and he did, and was emboldened34 to exclaim —
“You never saw Tom Bakewell set fire to that rick!”
The Bantam swore to it, grimacing35 an accompaniment.
“I tell you,” said Richard, “I put the lucifers there myself!”
The suborned elephant was staggered. He meant to telegraph to the young gentleman that he was loyal and true to certain gold pieces that had been given him, and that in the right place and at the right time he should prove so. Why was he thus suspected? Why was he not understood?
“A thowt I see ’un, then,” muttered the Bantam, trying a middle course.
This brought down on him the farmer, who roared, “Thought! Ye thought! What d’ye mean? Speak out, and don’t be thinkin’. Thought? What the devil’s that?”
“How could he see who it was on a pitch-dark night?” Richard put in.
“Thought!” the farmer bellowed36 louder. “Thought — Devil take ye, when ye took yer oath on’t. Hulloa! What are ye screwin’ yer eye at Mr. Feverel for? — I say, young gentleman, have you spoken to this chap before now?”
“I?” replied Richard. “I have not seen him before.”
Farmer Blaize grasped the two arms of the chair he sat on, and glared his doubts.
“Come,” said he to the Bantam, “speak out, and ha’ done wi’t. Say what ye saw, and none o’ yer thoughts. Damn yer thoughts! Ye saw Tom Bakewell fire that there rick!” The farmer pointed38 at some musk-pots in the window. “What business ha’ you to be a-thinkin’? You’re a witness? Thinkin’ an’t ev’dence. What’ll ye say tomorrow before magistrate39! Mind! what you say today, you’ll stick by tomorrow.”
Thus adjured40, the Bantam hitched41 his breech. What on earth the young gentleman meant he was at a loss to speculate. He could not believe that the young gentleman wanted to be transported, but if he had been paid to help that, why, he would. And considering that this day’s evidence rather bound him down to the morrow’s, he determined43, after much ploughing and harrowing through obstinate44 shocks of hair, to be not altogether positive as to the person. It is possible that he became thereby45 more a mansion46 of truth than he previously47 had been; for the night, as he said, was so dark that you could not see your hand before your face; and though, as he expressed it, you might be mortal sure of a man, you could not identify him upon oath, and the party he had taken for Tom Bakewell, and could have sworn to, might have been the young gentleman present, especially as he was ready to swear it upon oath.
So ended the Bantam.
No sooner had he ceased, than Farmer Blaize jumped up from his chair, and made a fine effort to lift him out of the room from the point of his toe. He failed, and sank back groaning48 with the pain of the exertion49 and disappointment.
“They’re liars50, every one!” he cried. “Liars, perj’rers, bribers, and c’rrupters! — Stop!” to the Bantam, who was slinking away. “You’ve done for yerself already! You swore to it!”
“A din’t!” said the Bantam, doggedly51.
“You swore to’t,” the farmer vociferated afresh.
The Bantam played a tune52 upon the handle of the door, and still affirmed that he did not; a double contradiction at which the farmer absolutely raged in his chair, and was hoarse53, as he called out a third time that the Bantam had sworn to it.
“Noa!” said the Bantam, ducking his poll. “Noa!” he repeated in a lower note; and then, while a sombre grin betokening54 idiotic55 enjoyment56 of his profound casuistical quibble worked at his jaw57:
“Not up’n o-ath!” he added, with a twitch58 of the shoulder and an angular jerk of the elbow.
Farmer Blaize looked vacantly at Richard, as if to ask him what he thought of England’s peasantry after the sample they had there. Richard would have preferred not to laugh, but his dignity gave way to his sense of the ludicrous, and he let fly a shout. The farmer was in no laughing mood. He turned a wide eye back to the door. “Lucky for’m,” he exclaimed, seeing the Bantam had vanished, for his fingers itched42 to break that stubborn head. He grew very puffy, and addressed Richard solemnly:
“Now, look ye here, Mr. Feverel! You’ve been a-tampering with my witness. It’s no use denyin’! I say y’ ‘ave, sir! You, or some of ye. I don’t care about no Feverel! My witness there has been bribed59. The Bantam’s been bribed,” and he shivered his pipe with an energetic thump60 on the table —“bribed! I knows it! I could swear to’t!”——
“Upon oath?” Richard inquired, with a grave face.
“Ay, upon oath!” said the farmer, not observing the impertinence.
“I’d take my Bible oath on’t! He’s been corrupted4, my principal witness! Oh, it’s dam cunnin’, but it won’t do the trick. I’ll transpoort Tom Bakewell, sure as a gun. He shall travel, that man shall. Sorry for you, Mr. Feverel — sorry you haven’t seen how to treat me proper — you, or yours. Money won’t do everything — no! it won’t. It’ll c’rrupt a witness, but it won’t clear a felon61. I’d ha’ ‘scused you, sir! You’re a boy and’ll learn better. I asked no more than payment and a ‘pology; and that I’d ha’ taken content — always provided my witnesses weren’t tampered62 with. Now you must stand yer luck, all o’ ye.”
Richard stood up and replied, “Very well, Mr. Blaize.”
“And if,” continued the farmer, “Tom Bakewell don’t drag you into’t after ‘m, why, you’re safe, as I hope ye’ll be, sincere!”
“It was not in consideration of my own safety that I sought this interview with you,” said Richard, head erect63.
“Grant ye that,” the farmer responded. “Grant ye that! Yer bold enough, young gentleman — comes of the blood that should be! If y’ had only ha’ spoke37 trewth! — I believe yer father — believe every word he said. I do wish I could ha’ said as much for Sir Austin’s son and heir.”
“What!” cried Richard, with an astonishment64 hardly to be feigned65, “you have seen my father?”
But Farmer Blaize had now such a scent66 for lies that he could detect them where they did not exist, and mumbled67 gruffly,
“Ay, we knows all about that!”
The boy’s perplexity saved him from being irritated. Who could have told his father? An old fear of his father came upon him, and a touch of an old inclination68 to revolt.
“My father knows of this?” said he, very loudly, and staring, as he spoke, right through the farmer. “Who has played me false? Who would betray me to him? It was Austin! No one knew it but Austin. Yes, and it was Austin who persuaded me to come here and submit to these indignities69. Why couldn’t he be open with me? I shall never trust him again!”——
“And why not you with me, young gentleman?” said the farmer. “I sh’d trust you if ye had.”
Richard did not see the analogy. He bowed stiffly and bade him good afternoon.
Farmer Blaize pulled the bell. “‘Company the young gentleman out, Lucy,” he waved to the little damsel in the doorway70. “Do the honours. And, Mr. Richard, ye might ha’ made a friend o’ me, sir, and it’s not too late so to do. I’m not cruel, but I hate lies. I whipped my boy Tom, bigger than you, for not bein’ above board, only yesterday — ay! made ’un stand within swing o’ this chair, and take’s measure. Now, if ye’ll come down to me, and speak trewth before the trial — if it’s only five minutes before’t; or if Sir Austin, who’s a gentleman,’ll say there’s been no tamperin’ with any o’ my witnesses, his word for’t — well and good! I’ll do my best to help off Tom Bakewell. And I’m glad, young gentleman, you’ve got a conscience about a poor man, though he’s a villain71. Good afternoon, sir.”
Richard marched hastily out of the room, and through the garden, never so much as deigning72 a glance at his wistful little guide, who hung at the garden gate to watch him up the lane, wondering a world of fancies about the handsome proud boy.
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收听单词发音
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1
stature
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| n.（高度）水平，（高度）境界，身高，身材 | |
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anticipations
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| 预期( anticipation的名词复数 )； 预测； （信托财产收益的）预支； 预期的事物 | |
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3
infancy
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| n.婴儿期；幼年期；初期 | |
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4
corrupted
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| （使）败坏( corrupt的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）腐化； 引起（计算机文件等的）错误； 破坏 | |
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5
provender
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| n.刍草；秣料 | |
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reverenced
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| v.尊敬，崇敬( reverence的过去式和过去分词 )；敬礼 | |
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7
plentiful
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| adj.富裕的，丰富的 | |
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invaluable
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| adj.无价的，非常宝贵的，极为贵重的 | |
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9
guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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10
secreting
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| v.（尤指动物或植物器官）分泌( secrete的现在分词 )；隐匿，隐藏 | |
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11
clemency
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| n.温和，仁慈，宽厚 | |
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12
conflagration
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| n.建筑物或森林大火 | |
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13
averred
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| v.断言( aver的过去式和过去分词 )；证实；证明…属实；作为事实提出 | |
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14
rustic
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| adj.乡村的，有乡村特色的；n.乡下人，乡巴佬 | |
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15
rivalry
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| n.竞争，竞赛，对抗 | |
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16
malice
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| n.恶意，怨恨，蓄意；[律]预谋 | |
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17
tugged
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| v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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18
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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19
ace
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| n.A牌；发球得分；佼佼者；adj.杰出的 | |
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20
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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21
trumps
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| abbr.trumpets 喇叭；小号；喇叭形状的东西；喇叭筒v.（牌戏）出王牌赢（一牌或一墩）( trump的过去式 )；吹号公告，吹号庆祝；吹喇叭；捏造 | |
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22
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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23
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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24
narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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25
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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26
recital
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| n.朗诵，独奏会，独唱会 | |
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27
grimaces
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| n.（表蔑视、厌恶等）面部扭曲，鬼脸( grimace的名词复数 )v.扮鬼相，做鬼脸( grimace的第三人称单数 ) | |
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28
wink
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| n.眨眼，使眼色，瞬间；v.眨眼，使眼色，闪烁 | |
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29
winks
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| v.使眼色( wink的第三人称单数 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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30
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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31
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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32
contortions
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| n.扭歪，弯曲；扭曲，弄歪，歪曲( contortion的名词复数 ) | |
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33
churl
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| n.吝啬之人；粗鄙之人 | |
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34
emboldened
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| v.鼓励，使有胆量( embolden的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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35
grimacing
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| v.扮鬼相，做鬼脸( grimace的现在分词 ) | |
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36
bellowed
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的过去式和过去分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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37
spoke
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| 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 | |
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38
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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39
magistrate
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| n.地方行政官，地方法官，治安官 | |
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40
adjured
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| v.（以起誓或诅咒等形式）命令要求( adjure的过去式和过去分词 )；祈求；恳求 | |
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41
hitched
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| （免费）搭乘他人之车( hitch的过去式和过去分词 )； 搭便车； 攀上； 跃上 | |
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42
itched
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| v.发痒( itch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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43
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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44
obstinate
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| adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的 | |
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45
thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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46
mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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47
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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48
groaning
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| adj. 呜咽的, 呻吟的 动词groan的现在分词形式 | |
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49
exertion
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| n.尽力，努力 | |
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50
liars
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| 说谎者( liar的名词复数 ) | |
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51
doggedly
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| adv.顽强地，固执地 | |
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52
tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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53
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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54
betokening
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| v.预示，表示( betoken的现在分词 ) | |
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55
idiotic
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| adj.白痴的 | |
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56
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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57
jaw
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| n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训 | |
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58
twitch
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| v.急拉，抽动，痉挛，抽搐；n.扯，阵痛，痉挛 | |
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59
bribed
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| v.贿赂( bribe的过去式和过去分词 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂 | |
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60
thump
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| v.重击，砰然地响；n.重击，重击声 | |
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61
felon
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| n.重罪犯；adj.残忍的 | |
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62
tampered
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| v.窜改( tamper的过去式 )；篡改；（用不正当手段）影响；瞎摆弄 | |
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63
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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64
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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65
feigned
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| a.假装的，不真诚的 | |
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66
scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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67
mumbled
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| 含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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68
inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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69
indignities
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| n.侮辱，轻蔑( indignity的名词复数 ) | |
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70
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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71
villain
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| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
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72
deigning
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| v.屈尊，俯就( deign的现在分词 ) | |
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