Those words of Thomasin, which seemed so little, but meant so much, remained in the ears of Diggory Venn: "Help me to keep him home in the evenings."
On this occasion Venn had arrived on Egdon Heath only to cross to the other side--he had no further connection with the interests of the Yeobright family, and he had a business of his own to attend to. Yet he suddenly began to feel himself drifting into the old track of manoeuvring on Thomasin's account.
He sat in his van and considered. From Thomasin's words and manner he had plainly gathered that Wildeve neglected her. For whom could he neglect her if not for Eustacia? Yet it was scarcely credible2 that things had come to such a head as to indicate that Eustacia systematically3 encouraged him. Venn resolved to reconnoitre somewhat carefully the lonely road which led along the vale from Wildeve's dwelling4 to Clym's house at Alderworth.
At this time, as has been seen, Wildeve was quite innocent of any predetermined act of intrigue6, and except at the dance on the green he had not once met Eustacia since her marriage. But that the spirit of intrigue was in him had been shown by a recent romantic habit of his--a habit of going out after dark and strolling towards Alderworth, there looking at the moon and stars, looking at Eustacia's house, and walking back at leisure.
Accordingly, when watching on the night after the festival, the reddleman saw him ascend7 by the little path, lean over the front gate of Clym's garden, sigh, and turn to go back again. It was plain that Wildeve's intrigue was rather ideal than real. Venn retreated before him down the hill to a place where the path was merely a deep groove8 between the heather; here he mysteriously bent9 over the ground for a few minutes, and retired10. When Wildeve came on to that spot his ankle was caught by something, and he fell headlong.
As soon as he had recovered the power of respiration11 he sat up and listened. There was not a sound in the gloom beyond the spiritless stir of the summer wind. Feeling about for the obstacle which had flung him down, he discovered that two tufts of heath had been tied together across the path, forming a loop, which to a traveller was certain overthrow12. Wildeve pulled off the string that bound them, and went on with tolerable quickness. On reaching home he found the cord to be of a reddish colour. It was just what he had expected.
Although his weaknesses were not specially13 those akin14 to physical fear, this species of coup-de-Jarnac from one he knew too well troubled the mind of Wildeve. But his movements were unaltered thereby15. A night or two later he again went along the vale to Alderworth, taking the precaution of keeping out of any path. The sense that he was watched, that craft was employed to circumvent16 his errant tastes, added piquancy17 to a journey so entirely18 sentimental19, so long as the danger was of no fearful sort. He imagined that Venn and Mrs. Yeobright were in league, and felt that there was a certain legitimacy20 in combating such a coalition21.
The heath tonight appeared to be totally deserted22; and Wildeve, after looking over Eustacia's garden gate for some little time, with a cigar in his mouth, was tempted23 by the fascination24 that emotional smuggling25 had for his nature to advance towards the window, which was not quite closed, the blind being only partly drawn26 down. He could see into the room, and Eustacia was sitting there alone. Wildeve contemplated27 her for a minute, and then retreating into the heath beat the ferns lightly, whereupon moths29 flew out alarmed. Securing one, he returned to the window, and holding the moth28 to the chink, opened his hand. The moth made towards the candle upon Eustacia's table, hovered30 round it two or three times, and flew into the flame.
Eustacia started up. This had been a well-known signal in old times when Wildeve had used to come secretly wooing to Mistover. She at once knew that Wildeve was outside, but before she could consider what to do her husband came in from upstairs. Eustacia's face burnt crimson31 at the unexpected collision of incidents, and filled it with an animation32 that it too frequently lacked.
"You have a very high colour, dearest," said Yeobright, when he came close enough to see it. "Your appearance would be no worse if it were always so."
"I am warm," said Eustacia. "I think I will go into the air for a few minutes."
"Shall I go with you?"
"O no. I am only going to the gate."
She arose, but before she had time to get out of the room a loud rapping began upon the front door.
"I'll go--I'll go," said Eustacia in an unusually quick tone for her; and she glanced eagerly towards the window whence the moth had flown; but nothing appeared there.
"You had better not at this time of the evening," he said. Clym stepped before her into the passage, and Eustacia waited, her somnolent33 manner covering her inner heat and agitation34.
She listened, and Clym opened the door. No words were uttered outside, and presently he closed it and came back, saying, "Nobody was there. I wonder what that could have meant?"
He was left to wonder during the rest of the evening, for no explanation offered itself, and Eustacia said nothing, the additional fact that she knew of only adding more mystery to the performance.
Meanwhile a little drama had been acted outside which saved Eustacia from all possibility of compromising herself that evening at least. Whilst Wildeve had been preparing his moth-signal another person had come behind him up to the gate. This man, who carried a gun in his hand, looked on for a moment at the other's operation by the window, walked up to the house, knocked at the door, and then vanished round the corner and over the hedge.
"Damn him!" said Wildeve. "He has been watching me again."
As his signal had been rendered futile35 by this uproarious rapping Wildeve withdrew, passed out at the gate, and walked quickly down the path without thinking of anything except getting away unnoticed. Halfway36 down the hill the path ran near a knot of stunted37 hollies38, which in the general darkness of the scene stood as the pupil in a black eye. When Wildeve reached this point a report startled his ear, and a few spent gunshots fell among the leaves around him.
There was no doubt that he himself was the cause of that gun's discharge; and he rushed into the clump39 of hollies, beating the bushes furiously with his stick; but nobody was there. This attack was a more serious matter than the last, and it was some time before Wildeve recovered his equanimity40. A new and most unpleasant system of menace had begun, and the intent appeared to be to do him grievous bodily harm. Wildeve had looked upon Venn's first attempt as a species of horseplay, which the reddleman had indulged in for want of knowing better; but now the boundary line was passed which divides the annoying from the perilous41.
Had Wildeve known how thoroughly42 in earnest Venn had become he might have been still more alarmed. The reddleman had been almost exasperated43 by the sight of Wildeve outside Clym's house, and he was prepared to go to any lengths short of absolutely shooting him, to terrify the young innkeeper out of his recalcitrant44 impulses. The doubtful legitimacy of such rough coercion did not disturb the mind of Venn. It troubles few such minds in such cases, and sometimes this is not to be regretted. From the impeachment45 of Strafford to Farmer Lynch's short way with the scamps of Virginia there have been many triumphs of justice which are mockeries of law.
About half a mile below Clym's secluded46 dwelling lay a hamlet where lived one of the two constables47 who preserved the peace in the parish of Alderworth, and Wildeve went straight to the constable48's cottage. Almost the first thing that he saw on opening the door was the constable's truncheon hanging to a nail, as if to assure him that here were the means to his purpose. On inquiry49, however, of the constable's wife he learnt that the constable was not at home. Wildeve said he would wait.
The minutes ticked on, and the constable did not arrive. Wildeve cooled down from his state of high indignation to a restless dissatisfaction with himself, the scene, the constable's wife, and the whole set of circumstances. He arose and left the house. Altogether, the experience of that evening had had a cooling, not to say a chilling, effect on misdirected tenderness, and Wildeve was in no mood to ramble50 again to Alderworth after nightfall in hope of a stray glance from Eustacia.
Thus far the reddleman had been tolerably successful in his rude contrivances for keeping down Wildeve's inclination51 to rove in the evening. He had nipped in the bud the possible meeting between Eustacia and her old lover this very night. But he had not anticipated that the tendency of his action would be to divert Wildeve's movement rather than to stop it. The gambling52 with the guineas had not conduced to make him a welcome guest to Clym; but to call upon his wife's relative was natural, and he was determined5 to see Eustacia. It was necessary to choose some less untoward53 hour than ten o'clock at night. "Since it is unsafe to go in the evening," he said, "I'll go by day."
Meanwhile Venn had left the heath and gone to call upon Mrs. Yeobright, with whom he had been on friendly terms since she had learnt what a providential countermove he had made towards the restitution54 of the family guineas. She wondered at the lateness of his call, but had no objection to see him.
He gave her a full account of Clym's affliction, and of the state in which he was living; then, referring to Thomasin, touched gently upon the apparent sadness of her days. "Now, ma'am, depend upon it," he said, "you couldn't do a better thing for either of 'em than to make yourself at home in their houses, even if there should be a little rebuff at first."
"Both she and my son disobeyed me in marrying; therefore I have no interest in their households. Their troubles are of their own making." Mrs. Yeobright tried to speak severely55; but the account of her son's state had moved her more than she cared to show.
"Your visits would make Wildeve walk straighter than he is inclined to do, and might prevent unhappiness down the heath."
"What do you mean?"
"I saw something tonight out there which I didn't like at all. I wish your son's house and Mr. Wildeve's were a hundred miles apart instead of four or five."
"Then there WAS an understanding between him and Clym's wife when he made a fool of Thomasin!"
"We'll hope there's no understanding now."
"And our hope will probably be very vain. O Clym! O Thomasin!"
"There's no harm done yet. In fact, I've persuaded Wildeve to mind his own business."
"How?"
"O, not by talking--by a plan of mine called the silent system."
"I hope you'll succeed."
"I shall if you help me by calling and making friends with your son. You'll have a chance then of using your eyes."
"Well, since it has come to this," said Mrs. Yeobright sadly, "I will own to you, reddleman, that I thought of going. I should be much happier if we were reconciled. The marriage is unalterable, my life may be cut short, and I should wish to die in peace. He is my only son; and since sons are made of such stuff I am not sorry I have no other. As for Thomasin, I never expected much from her; and she has not disappointed me. But I forgave her long ago; and I forgive him now. I'll go."
At this very time of the reddleman's conversation with Mrs. Yeobright at Blooms-End another conversation on the same subject was languidly proceeding56 at Alderworth.
All the day Clym had borne himself as if his mind were too full of its own matter to allow him to care about outward things, and his words now showed what had occupied his thoughts. It was just after the mysterious knocking that he began the theme. "Since I have been away today, Eustacia, I have considered that something must be done to heal up this ghastly breach57 between my dear mother and myself. It troubles me."
"What do you propose to do?" said Eustacia abstractedly, for she could not clear away from her the excitement caused by Wildeve's recent manoeuvre58 for an interview.
"You seem to take a very mild interest in what I propose, little or much," said Clym, with tolerable warmth.
"You mistake me," she answered, reviving at his reproach. "I am only thinking."
"What of?"
"Partly of that moth whose skeleton is getting burnt up in the wick of the candle," she said slowly. "But you know I always take an interest in what you say."
"Very well, dear. Then I think I must go and call upon her."...He went on with tender feeling: "It is a thing I am not at all too proud to do, and only a fear that I might irritate her has kept me away so long. But I must do something. It is wrong in me to allow this sort of thing to go on."
"What have you to blame yourself about?"
"She is getting old, and her life is lonely, and I am her only son."
"She has Thomasin."
"Thomasin is not her daughter; and if she were that would not excuse me. But this is beside the point. I have made up my mind to go to her, and all I wish to ask you is whether you will do your best to help me--that is, forget the past; and if she shows her willingness to be reconciled, meet her halfway by welcoming her to our house, or by accepting a welcome to hers?"
At first Eustacia closed her lips as if she would rather do anything on the whole globe than what he suggested. But the lines of her mouth softened59 with thought, though not so far as they might have softened, and she said, "I will put nothing in your way; but after what has passed it, is asking too much that I go and make advances."
"You never distinctly told me what did pass between you."
"I could not do it then, nor can I now. Sometimes more bitterness is sown in five minutes than can be got rid of in a whole life; and that may be the case here." She paused a few moments, and added, "If you had never returned to your native place, Clym, what a blessing60 it would have been for you!...It has altered the destinies of----"
"Three people."
"Five," Eustacia thought; but she kept that in.
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coercion
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| n.强制，高压统治 | |
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credible
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| adj.可信任的，可靠的 | |
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systematically
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| adv.有系统地 | |
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dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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intrigue
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| vt.激起兴趣，迷住；vi.耍阴谋；n.阴谋，密谋 | |
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ascend
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| vi.渐渐上升，升高；vt.攀登，登上 | |
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groove
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| n.沟，槽；凹线，（刻出的）线条，习惯 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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respiration
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| n.呼吸作用；一次呼吸；植物光合作用 | |
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overthrow
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| v.推翻，打倒，颠覆；n.推翻，瓦解，颠覆 | |
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specially
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| adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地 | |
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akin
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| adj.同族的，类似的 | |
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thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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circumvent
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| vt.环绕，包围；对…用计取胜，智胜 | |
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piquancy
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| n.辛辣，辣味，痛快 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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sentimental
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| adj.多愁善感的，感伤的 | |
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legitimacy
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| n.合法，正当 | |
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coalition
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| n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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fascination
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| n.令人着迷的事物，魅力，迷恋 | |
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smuggling
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| n.走私 | |
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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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contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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moth
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| n.蛾，蛀虫 | |
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moths
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| n.蛾( moth的名词复数 ) | |
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hovered
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| 鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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animation
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| n.活泼，兴奋，卡通片／动画片的制作 | |
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somnolent
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| adj.想睡的，催眠的；adv.瞌睡地；昏昏欲睡地；使人瞌睡地 | |
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agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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futile
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| adj.无效的，无用的，无希望的 | |
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halfway
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| adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途 | |
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stunted
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| adj.矮小的；发育迟缓的 | |
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hollies
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| n.冬青（常绿灌木，叶尖而硬，有光泽，冬季结红色浆果）( holly的名词复数 )；（用作圣诞节饰物的）冬青树枝 | |
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clump
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| n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
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equanimity
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| n.沉着，镇定 | |
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perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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exasperated
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| adj.恼怒的 | |
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recalcitrant
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| adj.倔强的 | |
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impeachment
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| n.弹劾；控告；怀疑 | |
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secluded
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| adj.与世隔绝的；隐退的；偏僻的v.使隔开，使隐退( seclude的过去式和过去分词) | |
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constables
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| n.警察( constable的名词复数 ) | |
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constable
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| n.(英国)警察，警官 | |
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inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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ramble
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| v.漫步，漫谈，漫游；n.漫步，闲谈，蔓延 | |
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inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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gambling
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| n.赌博；投机 | |
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untoward
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| adj.不利的，不幸的，困难重重的 | |
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restitution
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| n.赔偿；恢复原状 | |
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severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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breach
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| n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破 | |
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manoeuvre
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| n.策略，调动；v.用策略，调动 | |
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softened
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| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
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blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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