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Fellow-Townsmen Chapter 4
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Time passed, and the household on the Knap became again serene1 underthe composing influences of daily routine. A desultory2, verydesultory correspondence, dragged on between Sally Hall and Darton,who, not quite knowing how to take her petulant3 words on the nightof her brother's death, had continued passive thus long. Helena andher children remained at the dairy-house, almost of necessity, andDarton therefore deemed it advisable to stay away.

  One day, seven months later on, when Mr. Darton was as usual at hisfarm, twenty miles from Hintock, a note reached him from Helena.

  She thanked him for his kind offer about her children, which hermother-in-law had duly communicated, and stated that she would beglad to accept it as regarded the eldest4, the boy. Helena had, intruth, good need to do so, for her uncle had left her penniless, andall application to some relatives in the north had failed. Therewas, besides, as she said, no good school near Hintock to which shecould send the child.

  On a fine summer day the boy came. He was accompanied half-way bySally and his mother--to the 'White Horse,' at Chalk Newton--wherehe was handed over to Darton's bailiff in a shining spring-cart, whomet them there.

  He was entered as a day-scholar at a popular school at Casterbridge,three or four miles from Darton's, having first been taught byDarton to ride a forest-pony, on which he cantered to and from theaforesaid fount of knowledge, and (as Darton hoped) brought away apromising headful of the same at each diurnal6 expedition. Thethoughtful taciturnity into which Darton had latterly fallen wasquite dissipated by the presence of this boy.

  When the Christmas holidays came it was arranged that he shouldspend them with his mother. The journey was, for some reason orother, performed in two stages, as at his coming, except that Dartonin person took the place of the bailiff, and that the boy andhimself rode on horseback.

  Reaching the renowned7 'White Horse,' Darton inquired if Miss andyoung Mrs. Hall were there to meet little Philip (as they had agreedto be). He was answered by the appearance of Helena alone at thedoor.

  'At the last moment Sally would not come,' she faltered8.

  That meeting practically settled the point towards which these long-severed persons were converging9. But nothing was broached10 about itfor some time yet. Sally Hall had, in fact, imparted the firstdecisive motion to events by refusing to accompany Helena. She soongave them a second move by writing the following note'[Private.]

  'DEAR CHARLES,--Living here so long and intimately with Helena, Ihave naturally learnt her history, especially that of it whichrefers to you. I am sure she would accept you as a husband at theproper time, and I think you ought to give her the opportunity. Youinquire in an old note if I am sorry that I showed temper (which itWASN'T) that night when I heard you talking to her. No, Charles, Iam not sorry at all for what I said then.--Yours sincerely, SALLYHALL.'

  Thus set in train, the transfer of Darton's heart back to itsoriginal quarters proceeded by mere11 lapse12 of time. In the followingJuly, Darton went to his friend Japheth to ask him at last to fulfilthe bridal office which had been in abeyance13 since the previousJanuary twelvemonths.

  'With all my heart, man o' constancy!' said Dairyman Johns warmly.

  'I've lost most of my genteel fair complexion14 haymaking this hotweather, 'tis true, but I'll do your business as well as them thatlook better. There be scents16 and good hair-oil in the world yet,thank God, and they'll take off the roughest o' my edge. I'llcompliment her. "Better late than never, Sally Hall," I'll say.'

  'It is not Sally,' said Darton hurriedly. 'It is young Mrs. Hall.'

  Japheth's face, as soon as he really comprehended, became a pictureof reproachful dismay. 'Not Sally?' he said. 'Why not Sally? Ican't believe it! Young Mrs. Hall! Well, well--where's yourwisdom?'

  Darton shortly explained particulars; but Johns would not bereconciled. 'She was a woman worth having if ever woman was,' hecried. 'And now to let her go!'

  'But I suppose I can marry where I like,' said Darton.

  'H'm,' replied the dairyman, lifting his eyebrows17 expressively18.

  'This don't become you, Charles--it really do not. If I had donesuch a thing you would have sworn I was a curst no'thern fool to bedrawn off the scent15 by such a red-herring doll-oll-oll.'

  Farmer Darton responded in such sharp terms to this laconic19 opinionthat the two friends finally parted in a way they had never partedbefore. Johns was to be no groomsman to Darton after all. He hadflatly declined. Darton went off sorry, and even unhappy,particularly as Japheth was about to leave that side of the county,so that the words which had divided them were not likely to beexplained away or softened20 down.

  A short time after the interview Darton was united to Helena at asimple matter-of fact wedding; and she and her little girl joinedthe boy who had already grown to look on Darton's house as home.

  For some months the farmer experienced an unprecedented21 happinessand satisfaction. There had been a flaw in his life, and it was asneatly mended as was humanly possible. But after a season thestream of events followed less clearly, and there were shades in hisreveries. Helena was a fragile woman, of little staying power,physically or morally, and since the time that he had originallyknown her--eight or ten years before--she had been severely22 tried.

  She had loved herself out, in short, and was now occasionally givento moping. Sometimes she spoke23 regretfully of the gentilities ofher early life, and instead of comparing her present state with hercondition as the wife of the unlucky Hall, she mused24 rather on whatit had been before she took the first fatal step of clandestinelymarrying him. She did not care to please such people as those withwhom she was thrown as a thriving farmer's wife. She allowed thepretty trifles of agricultural domesticity to glide25 by her as sorrydetails, and had it not been for the children Darton's house wouldhave seemed but little brighter than it had been before.

  This led to occasional unpleasantness, until Darton sometimesdeclared to himself that such endeavours as his to rectify26 earlydeviations of the heart by harking back to the old point mostlyfailed of success. 'Perhaps Johns was right,' he would say. 'Ishould have gone on with Sally. Better go with the tide and makethe best of its course than stem it at the risk of a capsize.' Buthe kept these unmelodious thoughts to himself, and was outwardlyconsiderate and kind.

  This somewhat barren tract27 of his life had extended to less than ayear and a half when his ponderings were cut short by the loss ofthe woman they concerned. When she was in her grave he thoughtbetter of her than when she had been alive; the farm was a worseplace without her than with her, after all. No woman short ofdivine could have gone through such an experience as hers with herfirst husband without becoming a little soured. Her stagnantsympathies, her sometimes unreasonable28 manner, had covered a heartfrank and well meaning, and originally hopeful and warm. She lefthim a tiny red infant in white wrappings. To make life as easy aspossible to this touching29 object became at once his care.

  As this child learnt to walk and talk Darton learnt to seefeasibility in a scheme which pleased him. Revolving30 the experimentwhich he had hitherto made upon life, he fancied he had gainedwisdom from his mistakes and caution from his miscarriages31.

  What the scheme was needs no penetration32 to discover. Once more hehad opportunity to recast and rectify his ill-wrought situations byreturning to Sally Hall, who still lived quietly on under hermother's roof at Hintock. Helena had been a woman to lend pathosand refinement33 to a home; Sally was the woman to brighten it. Shewould not, as Helena did, despise the rural simplicities34 of afarmer's fireside. Moreover, she had a pre-eminent qualificationfor Darton's household; no other woman could make so desirable amother to her brother's two children and Darton's one as Sally--while Darton, now that Helena had gone, was a more promising5 husbandfor Sally than he had ever been when liable to reminders35 from anuncured sentimental36 wound.

  Darton was not a man to act rapidly, and the working out of hisreparative designs might have been delayed for some time. But therecame a winter evening precisely37 like the one which had darkened overthat former ride to Hintock, and he asked himself why he shouldpostpone longer, when the very landscape called for a repetition ofthat attempt.

  He told his man to saddle the mare38, booted and spurred himself witha younger horseman's nicety, kissed the two youngest children, androde off. To make the journey a complete parallel to the first, hewould fain have had his old acquaintance Japheth Johns with him.

  But Johns, alas39! was missing. His removal to the other side of thecounty had left unrepaired the breach40 which had arisen between himand Darton; and though Darton had forgiven him a hundred times, asJohns had probably forgiven Darton, the effort of reunion in presentcircumstances was one not likely to be made.

  He screwed himself up to as cheerful a pitch as he could without hisformer crony, and became content with his own thoughts as he rode,instead of the words of a companion. The sun went down; the boughsappeared scratched in like an etching against the sky; old crookedmen with faggots at their backs said 'Good-night, sir,' and Dartonreplied 'Good-night' right heartily41.

  By the time he reached the forking roads it was getting as dark asit had been on the occasion when Johns climbed the directing-post.

  Darton made no mistake this time. 'Nor shall I be able to mistake,thank Heaven, when I arrive,' he murmured. It gave him peculiarsatisfaction to think that the proposed marriage, like his first,was of the nature of setting in order things long awry42, and not amomentary freak of fancy.

  Nothing hindered the smoothness of his journey, which seemed nothalf its former length. Though dark, it was only between five andsix o'clock when the bulky chimneys of Mrs. Hall's residenceappeared in view behind the sycamore-tree. On second thoughts heretreated and put up at the ale-house as in former time; and when hehad plumed43 himself before the inn mirror, called for something todrink, and smoothed out the incipient44 wrinkles of care, he walked onto the Knap with a quick step.


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 serene PD2zZ     
adj. 安详的,宁静的,平静的
参考例句:
  • He has entered the serene autumn of his life.他已进入了美好的中年时期。
  • He didn't speak much,he just smiled with that serene smile of his.他话不多,只是脸上露出他招牌式的淡定的微笑。
2 desultory BvZxp     
adj.散漫的,无方法的
参考例句:
  • Do not let the discussion fragment into a desultory conversation with no clear direction.不要让讨论变得支离破碎,成为没有明确方向的漫谈。
  • The constables made a desultory attempt to keep them away from the barn.警察漫不经心地拦着不让他们靠近谷仓。
3 petulant u3JzP     
adj.性急的,暴躁的
参考例句:
  • He picked the pen up with a petulant gesture.他生气地拿起那支钢笔。
  • The thing had been remarked with petulant jealousy by his wife.
4 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。
5 promising BkQzsk     
adj.有希望的,有前途的
参考例句:
  • The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
  • We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。
6 diurnal ws5xi     
adj.白天的,每日的
参考例句:
  • Kangaroos are diurnal animals.袋鼠是日间活动的动物。
  • Over water the diurnal change in refraction is likely to be small. 在水面上,折光的周日变化可能是很小的。
7 renowned okSzVe     
adj.著名的,有名望的,声誉鹊起的
参考例句:
  • He is one of the world's renowned writers.他是世界上知名的作家之一。
  • She is renowned for her advocacy of human rights.她以提倡人权而闻名。
8 faltered d034d50ce5a8004ff403ab402f79ec8d     
(嗓音)颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 ); 支吾其词; 蹒跚; 摇晃
参考例句:
  • He faltered out a few words. 他支吾地说出了几句。
  • "Er - but he has such a longhead!" the man faltered. 他不好意思似的嚅嗫着:“这孩子脑袋真长。”
9 converging 23823b9401b4f5d440f61879a369ae50     
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
参考例句:
  • Plants had gradually evolved along diverging and converging pathways. 植物是沿着趋异和趋同两种途径逐渐演化的。 来自辞典例句
  • This very slowly converging series was known to Leibniz in 1674. 这个收敛很慢的级数是莱布尼茨在1674年得到的。 来自辞典例句
10 broached 6e5998583239ddcf6fbeee2824e41081     
v.谈起( broach的过去式和过去分词 );打开并开始用;用凿子扩大(或修光);(在桶上)钻孔取液体
参考例句:
  • She broached the subject of a picnic to her mother. 她向母亲提起野餐的问题。 来自辞典例句
  • He broached the subject to the stranger. 他对陌生人提起那话题。 来自辞典例句
11 mere rC1xE     
adj.纯粹的;仅仅,只不过
参考例句:
  • That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
  • It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。
12 lapse t2lxL     
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
参考例句:
  • The incident was being seen as a serious security lapse.这一事故被看作是一次严重的安全疏忽。
  • I had a lapse of memory.我记错了。
13 abeyance vI5y6     
n.搁置,缓办,中止,产权未定
参考例句:
  • The question is in abeyance until we know more about it.问题暂时搁置,直到我们了解更多有关情况再行研究。
  • The law was held in abeyance for well over twenty years.这项法律被搁置了二十多年。
14 complexion IOsz4     
n.肤色;情况,局面;气质,性格
参考例句:
  • Red does not suit with her complexion.红色与她的肤色不协调。
  • Her resignation puts a different complexion on things.她一辞职局面就全变了。
15 scent WThzs     
n.气味,香味,香水,线索,嗅觉;v.嗅,发觉
参考例句:
  • The air was filled with the scent of lilac.空气中弥漫着丁香花的芬芳。
  • The flowers give off a heady scent at night.这些花晚上散发出醉人的芳香。
16 scents 9d41e056b814c700bf06c9870b09a332     
n.香水( scent的名词复数 );气味;(动物的)臭迹;(尤指狗的)嗅觉
参考例句:
  • The air was fragrant with scents from the sea and the hills. 空气中荡漾着山和海的芬芳气息。
  • The winds came down with scents of the grass and wild flowers. 微风送来阵阵青草和野花的香气。 来自《简明英汉词典》
17 eyebrows a0e6fb1330e9cfecfd1c7a4d00030ed5     
眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Eyebrows stop sweat from coming down into the eyes. 眉毛挡住汗水使其不能流进眼睛。
  • His eyebrows project noticeably. 他的眉毛特别突出。
18 expressively 7tGz1k     
ad.表示(某事物)地;表达地
参考例句:
  • She gave the order to the waiter, using her hands very expressively. 她意味深长地用双手把订单递给了服务员。
  • Corleone gestured expressively, submissively, with his hands. "That is all I want." 说到这里,考利昂老头子激动而谦恭地表示:“这就是我的全部要求。” 来自教父部分
19 laconic 59Dzo     
adj.简洁的;精练的
参考例句:
  • He sent me a laconic private message.他给我一封简要的私人函件。
  • This response was typical of the writer's laconic wit.这个回答反映了这位作家精练简明的特点。
20 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。
21 unprecedented 7gSyJ     
adj.无前例的,新奇的
参考例句:
  • The air crash caused an unprecedented number of deaths.这次空难的死亡人数是空前的。
  • A flood of this sort is really unprecedented.这样大的洪水真是十年九不遇。
22 severely SiCzmk     
adv.严格地;严厉地;非常恶劣地
参考例句:
  • He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
  • He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。
23 spoke XryyC     
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:
  • They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
  • The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。
24 mused 0affe9d5c3a243690cca6d4248d41a85     
v.沉思,冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 );沉思自语说(某事)
参考例句:
  • \"I wonder if I shall ever see them again, \"he mused. “我不知道是否还可以再见到他们,”他沉思自问。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • \"Where are we going from here?\" mused one of Rutherford's guests. 卢瑟福的一位客人忍不住说道:‘我们这是在干什么?” 来自英汉非文学 - 科学史
25 glide 2gExT     
n./v.溜,滑行;(时间)消逝
参考例句:
  • We stood in silence watching the snake glide effortlessly.我们噤若寒蝉地站着,眼看那条蛇逍遥自在地游来游去。
  • So graceful was the ballerina that she just seemed to glide.那芭蕾舞女演员翩跹起舞,宛如滑翔。
26 rectify 8AezO     
v.订正,矫正,改正
参考例句:
  • The matter will rectify itself in a few days.那件事过几天就会变好。
  • You can rectify this fault if you insert a slash.插人一条斜线便可以纠正此错误。
27 tract iJxz4     
n.传单,小册子,大片(土地或森林)
参考例句:
  • He owns a large tract of forest.他拥有一大片森林。
  • He wrote a tract on this subject.他曾对此写了一篇短文。
28 unreasonable tjLwm     
adj.不讲道理的,不合情理的,过度的
参考例句:
  • I know that they made the most unreasonable demands on you.我知道他们对你提出了最不合理的要求。
  • They spend an unreasonable amount of money on clothes.他们花在衣服上的钱太多了。
29 touching sg6zQ9     
adj.动人的,使人感伤的
参考例句:
  • It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
  • His letter was touching.他的信很感人。
30 revolving 3jbzvd     
adj.旋转的,轮转式的;循环的v.(使)旋转( revolve的现在分词 );细想
参考例句:
  • The theatre has a revolving stage. 剧院有一个旋转舞台。
  • The company became a revolving-door workplace. 这家公司成了工作的中转站。
31 miscarriages 2c3546985b1786ea597757cadb396a39     
流产( miscarriage的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Miscarriages are usually caused by abnormal chromosome patterns in the fetus. 流产通常是因为胎儿的染色体异常造成的。
  • Criminals go unpunishedareconvicted and are miscarriages of justice. 罪犯会逍遥法外,法律会伤及无辜,审判不公时有发生。
32 penetration 1M8xw     
n.穿透,穿人,渗透
参考例句:
  • He is a man of penetration.他是一个富有洞察力的人。
  • Our aim is to achieve greater market penetration.我们的目标是进一步打入市场。
33 refinement kinyX     
n.文雅;高尚;精美;精制;精炼
参考例句:
  • Sally is a woman of great refinement and beauty. 莎莉是个温文尔雅又很漂亮的女士。
  • Good manners and correct speech are marks of refinement.彬彬有礼和谈吐得体是文雅的标志。
34 simplicities 76c59ce073e6a4d2a6859dd8dafebf3b     
n.简单,朴素,率直( simplicity的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Her life always run pretty smoothly through the simplicities of joy and sorrow. 她的生活虽然极其单调,有喜有悲,但还算顺利。 来自互联网
35 reminders aaaf99d0fb822f809193c02b8cf69fba     
n.令人回忆起…的东西( reminder的名词复数 );提醒…的东西;(告知该做某事的)通知单;提示信
参考例句:
  • The film evokes chilling reminders of the war. 这部电影使人们回忆起战争的可怕场景。
  • The strike has delayed the mailing of tax reminders. 罢工耽搁了催税单的投寄。
36 sentimental dDuzS     
adj.多愁善感的,感伤的
参考例句:
  • She's a sentimental woman who believes marriage comes by destiny.她是多愁善感的人,她相信姻缘命中注定。
  • We were deeply touched by the sentimental movie.我们深深被那感伤的电影所感动。
37 precisely zlWzUb     
adv.恰好,正好,精确地,细致地
参考例句:
  • It's precisely that sort of slick sales-talk that I mistrust.我不相信的正是那种油腔滑调的推销宣传。
  • The man adjusted very precisely.那个人调得很准。
38 mare Y24y3     
n.母马,母驴
参考例句:
  • The mare has just thrown a foal in the stable.那匹母马刚刚在马厩里产下了一只小马驹。
  • The mare foundered under the heavy load and collapsed in the road.那母马因负载过重而倒在路上。
39 alas Rx8z1     
int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等)
参考例句:
  • Alas!The window is broken!哎呀!窗子破了!
  • Alas,the truth is less romantic.然而,真理很少带有浪漫色彩。
40 breach 2sgzw     
n.违反,不履行;破裂;vt.冲破,攻破
参考例句:
  • We won't have any breach of discipline.我们不允许任何破坏纪律的现象。
  • He was sued for breach of contract.他因不履行合同而被起诉。
41 heartily Ld3xp     
adv.衷心地,诚恳地,十分,很
参考例句:
  • He ate heartily and went out to look for his horse.他痛快地吃了一顿,就出去找他的马。
  • The host seized my hand and shook it heartily.主人抓住我的手,热情地和我握手。
42 awry Mu0ze     
adj.扭曲的,错的
参考例句:
  • She was in a fury over a plan that had gone awry. 计划出了问题,她很愤怒。
  • Something has gone awry in our plans.我们的计划出差错了。
43 plumed 160f544b3765f7a5765fdd45504f15fb     
饰有羽毛的
参考例句:
  • The knight plumed his helmet with brilliant red feathers. 骑士用鲜红的羽毛装饰他的头盔。
  • The eagle plumed its wing. 这只鹰整理它的翅膀。
44 incipient HxFyw     
adj.起初的,发端的,初期的
参考例句:
  • The anxiety has been sharpened by the incipient mining boom.采矿业初期的蓬勃发展加剧了这种担忧。
  • What we see then is an incipient global inflation.因此,我们看到的是初期阶段的全球通胀.


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