Meanwhile, Winterborne, though half assured of her father’s favor, was rendered a little restless by Miss Melbury’s behavior. Despite his dry self-control, he could not help looking continually from his own door towards the timber-merchant’s, in the probability of somebody’s emergence6 therefrom. His attention was at length justified7 by the appearance of two figures, that of Mr. Melbury himself, and Grace beside him. They stepped out in a direction towards the densest8 quarter of the wood, and Winterborne walked contemplatively behind them, till all three were soon under the trees.
Although the time of bare boughs9 had now set in, there were sheltered hollows amid the Hintock plantations11 and copses in which a more tardy12 leave-taking than on windy summits was the rule with the foliage13. This caused here and there an apparent mixture of the seasons; so that in some of the dells that they passed by holly-berries in full red were found growing beside oak and hazel whose leaves were as yet not far removed from green, and brambles whose verdure was rich and deep as in the month of August. To Grace these well-known peculiarities14 were as an old painting restored.
Now could be beheld15 that change from the handsome to the curious which the features of a wood undergo at the ingress of the winter months. Angles were taking the place of curves, and reticulations of surfaces — a change constituting a sudden lapse16 from the ornate to the primitive17 on Nature’s canvas, and comparable to a retrogressive step from the art of an advanced school of painting to that of the Pacific Islander.
Winterborne followed, and kept his eye upon the two figures as they threaded their way through these sylvan18 phenomena19. Mr. Melbury’s long legs, and gaiters drawn20 in to the bone at the ankles, his slight stoop, his habit of getting lost in thought and arousing himself with an exclamation21 of “Hah!” accompanied with an upward jerk of the head, composed a personage recognizable by his neighbors as far as he could be seen. It seemed as if the squirrels and birds knew him. One of the former would occasionally run from the path to hide behind the arm of some tree, which the little animal carefully edged round pari passu with Melbury and his daughters movement onward22, assuming a mock manner, as though he were saying, “Ho, ho; you are only a timber-merchant, and carry no gun!”
They went noiselessly over mats of starry23 moss24, rustled25 through interspersed26 tracts27 of leaves, skirted trunks with spreading roots, whose mossed rinds made them like hands wearing green gloves; elbowed old elms and ashes with great forks, in which stood pools of water that overflowed28 on rainy days, and ran down their stems in green cascades29. On older trees still than these, huge lobes30 of fungi31 grew like lungs. Here, as everywhere, the Unfulfilled Intention, which makes life what it is, was as obvious as it could be among the depraved crowds of a city slum. The leaf was deformed32, the curve was crippled, the taper33 was interrupted; the lichen34 eat the vigor35 of the stalk, and the ivy36 slowly strangled to death the promising37 sapling.
They dived amid beeches38 under which nothing grew, the younger boughs still retaining their hectic39 leaves, that rustled in the breeze with a sound almost metallic40, like the sheet-iron foliage of the fabled41 Jarnvid wood. Some flecks42 of white in Grace’s drapery had enabled Giles to keep her and her father in view till this time; but now he lost sight of them, and was obliged to follow by ear — no difficult matter, for on the line of their course every wood-pigeon rose from its perch43 with a continued clash, dashing its wings against the branches with wellnigh force enough to break every quill44. By taking the track of this noise he soon came to a stile.
Was it worth while to go farther? He examined the doughy45 soil at the foot of the stile, and saw among the large sole-and-heel tracks an impression of a slighter kind from a boot that was obviously not local, for Winterborne knew all the cobblers’ patterns in that district, because they were very few to know. The mud-picture was enough to make him swing himself over and proceed.
The character of the woodland now changed. The bases of the smaller trees were nibbled47 bare by rabbits, and at divers48 points heaps of fresh-made chips, and the newly-cut stool of a tree, stared white through the undergrowth. There had been a large fall of timber this year, which explained the meaning of some sounds that soon reached him.
A voice was shouting intermittently49 in a sort of human bark, which reminded Giles that there was a sale of trees and fagots that very day. Melbury would naturally be present. Thereupon Winterborne remembered that he himself wanted a few fagots, and entered upon the scene.
A large group of buyers stood round the auctioneer, or followed him when, between his pauses, he wandered on from one lot of plantation10 produce to another, like some philosopher of the Peripatetic51 school delivering his lectures in the shady groves52 of the Lyceum. His companions were timber-dealers, yeomen, farmers, villagers, and others; mostly woodland men, who on that account could afford to be curious in their walking-sticks, which consequently exhibited various monstrosities of vegetation, the chief being cork-screw shapes in black and white thorn, brought to that pattern by the slow torture of an encircling woodbine during their growth, as the Chinese have been said to mould human beings into grotesque53 toys by continued compression in infancy54. Two women, wearing men’s jackets on their gowns, conducted in the rear of the halting procession a pony-cart containing a tapped barrel of beer, from which they drew and replenished55 horns that were handed round, with bread-and-cheese from a basket.
The auctioneer adjusted himself to circumstances by using his walking-stick as a hammer, and knocked down the lot on any convenient object that took his fancy, such as the crown of a little boy’s head, or the shoulders of a by-stander who had no business there except to taste the brew56; a proceeding57 which would have been deemed humorous but for the air of stern rigidity58 which that auctioneer’s face preserved, tending to show that the eccentricity59 was a result of that absence of mind which is engendered60 by the press of affairs, and no freak of fancy at all.
Mr. Melbury stood slightly apart from the rest of the Peripatetics, and Grace beside him, clinging closely to his arm, her modern attire61 looking almost odd where everything else was old-fashioned, and throwing over the familiar garniture of the trees a homeliness62 that seemed to demand improvement by the addition of a few contemporary novelties also. Grace seemed to regard the selling with the interest which attaches to memories revived after an interval63 of obliviousness64.
Winterborne went and stood close to them; the timber-merchant spoke65, and continued his buying; Grace merely smiled. To justify66 his presence there Winterborne began bidding for timber and fagots that he did not want, pursuing the occupation in an abstracted mood, in which the auctioneer’s voice seemed to become one of the natural sounds of the woodland. A few flakes68 of snow descended69, at the sight of which a robin70, alarmed at these signs of imminent71 winter, and seeing that no offence was meant by the human invasion, came and perched on the tip of the fagots that were being sold, and looked into the auctioneer’s face, while waiting for some chance crumb72 from the bread-basket. Standing73 a little behind Grace, Winterborne observed how one flake67 would sail downward and settle on a curl of her hair, and how another would choose her shoulder, and another the edge of her bonnet74, which took up so much of his attention that his biddings proceeded incoherently; and when the auctioneer said, every now and then, with a nod towards him, “Yours, Mr. Winterborne,” he had no idea whether he had bought fagots, poles, or logwood.
He regretted, with some causticity75 of humor, that her father should show such inequalities of temperament76 as to keep Grace tightly on his arm today, when he had quite lately seemed anxious to recognize their betrothal77 as a fact. And thus musing78, and joining in no conversation with other buyers except when directly addressed, he followed the assemblage hither and thither79 till the end of the auction50, when Giles for the first time realized what his purchases had been. Hundreds of fagots, and divers lots of timber, had been set down to him, when all he had required had been a few bundles of spray for his odd man Robert Creedle’s use in baking and lighting80 fires.
Business being over, he turned to speak to the timber merchant. But Melbury’s manner was short and distant; and Grace, too, looked vexed81 and reproachful. Winterborne then discovered that he had been unwittingly bidding against her father, and picking up his favorite lots in spite of him. With a very few words they left the spot and pursued their way homeward.
Giles was extremely sorry at what he had done, and remained standing under the trees, all the other men having strayed silently away. He saw Melbury and his daughter pass down a glade82 without looking back. While they moved slowly through it a lady appeared on horseback in the middle distance, the line of her progress converging83 upon that of Melbury’s. They met, Melbury took off his hat, and she reined84 in her horse. A conversation was evidently in progress between Grace and her father and this equestrian85, in whom he was almost sure that he recognized Mrs. Charmond, less by her outline than by the livery of the groom86 who had halted some yards off.
The interlocutors did not part till after a prolonged pause, during which much seemed to be said. When Melbury and Grace resumed their walk it was with something of a lighter46 tread than before.
Winterborne then pursued his own course homeward. He was unwilling87 to let coldness grow up between himself and the Melburys for any trivial reason, and in the evening he went to their house. On drawing near the gate his attention was attracted by the sight of one of the bedrooms blinking into a state of illumination. In it stood Grace lighting several candles, her right hand elevating the taper, her left hand on her bosom88, her face thoughtfully fixed89 on each wick as it kindled90, as if she saw in every flame’s growth the rise of a life to maturity91. He wondered what such unusual brilliancy could mean to-night. On getting indoors he found her father and step-mother in a state of suppressed excitement, which at first he could not comprehend.
“I am sorry about my biddings today,” said Giles. “I don’t know what I was doing. I have come to say that any of the lots you may require are yours.”
“Oh, never mind — never mind,” replied the timber-merchant, with a slight wave of his hand, “I have so much else to think of that I nearly had forgot it. Just now, too, there are matters of a different kind from trade to attend to, so don’t let it concern ye.”
As the timber-merchant spoke, as it were, down to him from a higher moral plane than his own, Giles turned to Mrs. Melbury.
“Grace is going to the House tomorrow,” she said, quietly. “She is looking out her things now. I dare say she is wanting me this minute to assist her.” Thereupon Mrs. Melbury left the room.
Nothing is more remarkable92 than the independent personality of the tongue now and then. Mr. Melbury knew that his words had been a sort of boast. He decried93 boasting, particularly to Giles; yet whenever the subject was Grace, his judgment94 resigned the ministry95 of speech in spite of him.
Winterborne felt surprise, pleasure, and also a little apprehension96 at the news. He repeated Mrs. Melbury’s words.
“Yes,” said paternal97 pride, not sorry to have dragged out of him what he could not in any circumstances have kept in. “Coming home from the woods this afternoon we met Mrs. Charmond out for a ride. She spoke to me on a little matter of business, and then got acquainted with Grace. ’Twas wonderful how she took to Grace in a few minutes; that freemasonry of education made ’em close at once. Naturally enough she was amazed that such an article — ha, ha! — could come out of my house. At last it led on to Mis’ess Grace being asked to the House. So she’s busy hunting up her frills and furbelows to go in.” As Giles remained in thought without responding, Melbury continued: “But I’ll call her down-stairs.”
“No, no; don’t do that, since she’s busy,” said Winterborne.
Melbury, feeling from the young man’s manner that his own talk had been too much at Giles and too little to him, repented98 at once. His face changed, and he said, in lower tones, with an effort, “She’s yours, Giles, as far as I am concerned.”
“Thanks — my best thanks. . . . But I think, since it is all right between us about the biddings, that I’ll not interrupt her now. I’ll step homeward, and call another time.”
On leaving the house he looked up at the bedroom again. Grace, surrounded by a sufficient number of candles to answer all purposes of self-criticism, was standing before a cheval-glass that her father had lately bought expressly for her use; she was bonneted99, cloaked, and gloved, and glanced over her shoulder into the mirror, estimating her aspect. Her face was lit with the natural elation100 of a young girl hoping to inaugurate on the morrow an intimate acquaintance with a new, interesting, and powerful friend.
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1
kaleidoscopic
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| adj.千变万化的 | |
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weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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atmospheric
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| adj.大气的，空气的；大气层的；大气所引起的 | |
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gales
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| 龙猫 | |
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dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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emergence
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| n.浮现，显现，出现，（植物）突出体 | |
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justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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densest
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| 密集的( dense的最高级 )； 密度大的； 愚笨的； （信息量大得）难理解的 | |
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boughs
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| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
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plantation
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| n.种植园，大农场 | |
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plantations
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| n.种植园，大农场( plantation的名词复数 ) | |
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tardy
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| adj.缓慢的，迟缓的 | |
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foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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peculiarities
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| n. 特质, 特性, 怪癖, 古怪 | |
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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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16
lapse
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| n.过失，流逝，失效，抛弃信仰，间隔；vi.堕落，停止，失效，流逝；vt.使失效 | |
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17
primitive
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| adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物 | |
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sylvan
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| adj.森林的 | |
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phenomena
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| n.现象 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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onward
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| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
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starry
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| adj.星光照耀的, 闪亮的 | |
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moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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rustled
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| v.发出沙沙的声音( rustle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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interspersed
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| adj.[医]散开的；点缀的v.intersperse的过去式和过去分词 | |
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tracts
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| 大片土地( tract的名词复数 )； 地带； （体内的）道； （尤指宣扬宗教、伦理或政治的）短文 | |
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overflowed
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| 溢出的 | |
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cascades
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| 倾泻( cascade的名词复数 )； 小瀑布（尤指一连串瀑布中的一支）； 瀑布状物； 倾泻（或涌出）的东西 | |
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lobes
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| n.耳垂( lobe的名词复数 )；（器官的）叶；肺叶；脑叶 | |
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fungi
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| n.真菌，霉菌 | |
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deformed
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| adj.畸形的；变形的；丑的，破相了的 | |
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taper
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| n.小蜡烛，尖细，渐弱；adj.尖细的；v.逐渐变小 | |
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lichen
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| n.地衣, 青苔 | |
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vigor
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| n.活力，精力，元气 | |
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ivy
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| n.常青藤，常春藤 | |
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promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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beeches
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| n.山毛榉( beech的名词复数 )；山毛榉木材 | |
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hectic
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| adj.肺病的；消耗热的；发热的；闹哄哄的 | |
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metallic
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| adj.金属的；金属制的；含金属的；产金属的；像金属的 | |
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fabled
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| adj.寓言中的，虚构的 | |
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flecks
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| n.斑点，小点( fleck的名词复数 )；癍 | |
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perch
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| n.栖木，高位，杆；v.栖息，就位，位于 | |
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quill
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| n.羽毛管；v.给（织物或衣服）作皱褶 | |
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doughy
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| adj.面团的，苍白的，半熟的；软弱无力 | |
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46
lighter
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| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
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47
nibbled
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| v.啃，一点一点地咬（吃）( nibble的过去式和过去分词 )；啃出（洞），一点一点咬出（洞）；慢慢减少；小口咬 | |
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divers
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| adj.不同的；种种的 | |
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intermittently
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| adv.间歇地；断断续续 | |
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50
auction
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| n.拍卖；拍卖会；vt.拍卖 | |
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51
peripatetic
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| adj.漫游的，逍遥派的，巡回的 | |
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52
groves
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| 树丛，小树林( grove的名词复数 ) | |
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53
grotesque
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| adj.怪诞的，丑陋的；n.怪诞的图案，怪人（物） | |
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infancy
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| n.婴儿期；幼年期；初期 | |
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replenished
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| 补充( replenish的过去式和过去分词 )； 重新装满 | |
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56
brew
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| v.酿造，调制 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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rigidity
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| adj.钢性，坚硬 | |
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eccentricity
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| n.古怪，反常，怪癖 | |
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engendered
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| v.产生（某形势或状况），造成，引起( engender的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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homeliness
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| n.简朴，朴实；相貌平平 | |
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interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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obliviousness
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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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justify
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| vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护 | |
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flake
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| v.使成薄片；雪片般落下；n.薄片 | |
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flakes
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| 小薄片( flake的名词复数 )； （尤指）碎片； 雪花； 古怪的人 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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70
robin
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| n.知更鸟，红襟鸟 | |
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imminent
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| adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的 | |
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crumb
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| n.饼屑，面包屑，小量 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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bonnet
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| n.无边女帽；童帽 | |
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causticity
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| n.尖刻，苛性度，刻薄 | |
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temperament
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| n.气质，性格，性情 | |
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betrothal
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| n. 婚约, 订婚 | |
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musing
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| n. 沉思，冥想 adj. 沉思的, 冥想的 动词muse的现在分词形式 | |
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thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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80
lighting
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| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
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81
vexed
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| adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
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82
glade
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| n.林间空地，一片表面有草的沼泽低地 | |
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converging
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| adj.收敛[缩]的，会聚的，趋同的v.（线条、运动的物体等）会于一点( converge的现在分词 )；（趋于）相似或相同；人或车辆汇集；聚集 | |
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84
reined
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| 勒缰绳使（马）停步( rein的过去式和过去分词 )； 驾驭； 严格控制； 加强管理 | |
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85
equestrian
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| adj.骑马的；n.马术 | |
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86
groom
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| vt.给（马、狗等）梳毛，照料，使...整洁 | |
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87
unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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88
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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89
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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kindled
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| （使某物）燃烧，着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 )； 激起（感情等）； 发亮，放光 | |
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maturity
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| n.成熟；完成；(支票、债券等)到期 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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decried
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| v.公开反对，谴责( decry的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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ministry
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| n.(政府的)部；牧师 | |
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96
apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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paternal
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| adj.父亲的，像父亲的，父系的，父方的 | |
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98
repented
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| 对（自己的所为）感到懊悔或忏悔( repent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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bonneted
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| 发动机前置的 | |
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elation
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| n.兴高采烈，洋洋得意 | |
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