CHAPTER II

 Mrs. Stone paused at the door, knocked, and was admitted by Selina’s mother, who took her visitor at once into the parlour on the left hand, where a table was partly spread for supper.  On the ‘beaufet’ against the wall stood probably the only object which would have attracted the eye of a local stranger in an otherwise ordinarily furnished room, a great plum-cake guarded as if it were a curiosity by a glass shade of the kind seen in museums—square, with a wooden back like those enclosing stuffed specimens¹ of rare feather or fur.  This was the mummy of the cake intended in earlier days for the wedding-feast of Selina and the soldier, which had been religiously and lovingly preserved by the former as a testimony² to her intentional³ respectability in spite of an untoward⁴ subsequent circumstance, which will be mentioned.  This relic⁵ was now as dry as a brick, and seemed to belong to a pre-existent civilization.  Till quite recently, Selina had been in the habit of pausing before it daily, and recalling the accident whose consequences had thrown a shadow over her life ever since—that of which the water-drawers had spoken—the sudden news one morning that the Route had come for the ---th Dragoons, two days only being the interval⁶ before departure; the hurried consultation⁷ as to what should be done, the second time of asking being past but not the third; and the decision that it would be unwise to solemnize matrimony in such haphazard⁸ circumstances, even if it were possible, which was doubtful.

 

Before the fire the young woman in question was now seated on a low stool, in the stillness of reverie, and a toddling⁹ boy played about the floor around her.

 

‘Ah, Mrs. Stone!’ said Selina, rising slowly.  ‘How kind of you to come in.  You’ll bide¹⁰ to supper?  Mother has told you the strange news, of course?’

 

‘No.  But I heard it outside, that is, that you’d had a letter from Mr. Clark—Sergeant-Major Clark, as they say he is now—and that he’s coming to make it up with ’ee.’

 

‘Yes; coming to-night—all the way from the north of England where he’s quartered.  I don’t know whether I’m happy or—frightened at it.  Of course I always believed that if he was alive he’d come and keep his solemn vow¹¹ to me.  But when it is printed that a man is killed—what can you think?’

 

‘It was printed?’

 

‘Why, yes.  After the Battle of the Alma the book of the names of the killed and wounded was nailed up against Casterbridge Town Hall door.  ’Twas on a Saturday, and I walked there o’ purpose to read and see for myself; for I’d heard that his name was down.  There was a crowd of people round the book, looking for the names of relations; and I can mind that when they saw me they made way for me—knowing that we’d been just going to be married—and that, as you may say, I belonged to him.  Well, I reached up my arm, and turned over the farrels of the book, and under the “killed” I read his surname, but instead of “John” they’d printed “James,” and I thought ’twas a mistake, and that it must be he.  Who could have guessed there were two nearly of one name in one regiment¹².’

 

‘Well—he’s coming to finish the wedding of ’ee as may be said; so never mind, my dear.  All’s well that ends well.’

 

‘That’s what he seems to say.  But then he has not heard yet about Mr. Miller¹³; and that’s what rather terrifies me.  Luckily my marriage with him next week was to have been by licence, and not banns, as in John’s case; and it was not so well known on that account.  Still, I don’t know what to think.’

 

‘Everything seems to come just ’twixt cup and lip with ’ee, don’t it now, Miss Paddock.  Two weddings broke off—’tis odd!  How came you to accept Mr. Miller, my dear?’

 

‘He’s been so good and faithful!  Not minding about the child at all; for he knew the rights of the story.  He’s dearly fond o’ Johnny, you know—just as if ’twere his own—isn’t he, my duck?  Do Mr. Miller love you or don’t he?’

 

‘Iss!  An’ I love Mr. Miller,’ said the toddler.

 

‘Well, you see, Mrs. Stone, he said he’d make me a comfortable home; and thinking ’twould be a good thing for Johnny, Mr. Miller being so much better off than me, I agreed at last, just as a widow might—which is what I have always felt myself; ever since I saw what I thought was John’s name printed there.  I hope John will forgive me!’

 

‘So he will forgive ’ee, since ’twas no manner of wrong to him.  He ought to have sent ’ee a line, saying ’twas another man.’

 

Selina’s mother entered.  ‘We’ve not known of this an hour, Mrs. Stone,’ she said.  ‘The letter was brought up from Lower Mellstock Post-office by one of the school children, only this afternoon.  Mr. Miller was coming here this very night to settle about the wedding doings.  Hark!  Is that your father?  Or is it Mr. Miller already come?’

 

The footsteps entered the porch; there was a brushing on the mat, and the door of the room sprung back to disclose a rubicund¹⁴ man about thirty years of age, of thriving master-mechanic appearance and obviously comfortable temper.  On seeing the child, and before taking any notice whatever of the elders, the comer made a noise like the crowing of a cock and flapped his arms as if they were wings, a method of entry which had the unqualified admiration¹⁵ of Johnny.

 

‘Yes—it is he,’ said Selina constrainedly¹⁶ advancing.

 

‘What—were you all talking about me, my dear?’ said the genial¹⁷ young man when he had finished his crowing and resumed human manners.  ‘Why what’s the matter,’ he went on.  ‘You look struck all of a heap.’  Mr. Miller spread an aspect of concern over his own face, and drew a chair up to the fire.

 

‘O mother, would you tell Mr. Miller, if he don’t know?’

 

‘Mister Miller! and going to be married in six days!’ he interposed.

 

‘Ah—he don’t know it yet!’ murmured Mrs. Paddock.

 

‘Know what?’

 

‘Well—John Clark—now Sergeant-Major Clark—wasn’t shot at Alma after all.  ’Twas another of almost the same name.’

 

‘Now that’s interesting!  There were several cases like that.’

 

‘And he’s home again; and he’s coming here to-night to see her.’

 

‘Whatever shall I say, that he may not be offended with what I’ve done?’ interposed Selina.

 

‘But why should it matter if he be?’

 

‘O!  I must agree to be his wife if he forgives me—of course I must.’

 

‘Must!  But why not say nay¹⁸, Selina, even if he do forgive ’ee?’

 

‘O no!  How can I without being wicked?  You were very very kind, Mr. Miller, to ask me to have you; no other man would have done it after what had happened; and I agreed, even though I did not feel half so warm as I ought.  Yet it was entirely¹⁹ owing to my believing him in the grave, as I knew that if he were not he would carry out his promise; and this shows that I was right in trusting him.’

 

‘Yes . . . He must be a goodish sort of fellow,’ said Mr. Miller, for a moment so impressed with the excellently faithful conduct of the sergeant-major of dragoons that he disregarded its effect upon his own position.  He sighed slowly and added, ‘Well, Selina, ’tis for you to say.  I love you, and I love the boy; and there’s my chimney-corner and sticks o’ furniture ready for ’ee both.’

 

‘Yes, I know!  But I mustn’t hear it any more now,’ murmured Selina quickly.  ‘John will be here soon.  I hope he’ll see how it all was when I tell him.  If so be I could have written it to him it would have been better.’

 

‘You think he doesn’t know a single word about our having been on the brink²⁰ o’t.  But perhaps it’s the other way—he’s heard of it and that may have brought him.

 

‘Ah—perhaps he has!’ she said brightening.  ‘And already forgives me.’

 

‘If not, speak out straight and fair, and tell him exactly how it fell out.  If he’s a man he’ll see it.’

 

‘O he’s a man true enough.  But I really do think I shan’t have to tell him at all, since you’ve put it to me that way!’

 

As it was now Johnny’s bedtime he was carried upstairs, and when Selina came down again her mother observed with some anxiety, ‘I fancy Mr. Clark must be here soon if he’s coming; and that being so, perhaps Mr. Miller wouldn’t mind—wishing us good-night! since you are so determined²¹ to stick to your sergeant-major.’  A little bitterness bubbled amid the closing words.  ‘It would be less awkward, Mr. Miller not being here—if he will allow me to say it.’

 

‘To be sure; to be sure,’ the master-wheelwright exclaimed with instant conviction, rising alertly from his chair.  ‘Lord bless my soul,’ he said, taking up his hat and stick, ‘and we to have been married in six days!  But Selina—you’re right.  You do belong to the child’s father since he’s alive.  I’ll try to make the best of it.’

 

Before the generous Miller had got further there came a knock to the door accompanied by the noise of wheels.

 

‘I thought I heard something driving up!’ said Mrs Paddock.

 

They heard Mr. Paddock, who had been smoking in the room opposite, rise and go to the door, and in a moment a voice familiar enough to Selina was audibly saying, ‘At last I am here again—not without many interruptions!  How is it with ’ee, Mr. Paddock?  And how is she?  Thought never to see me again, I suppose?’

 

A step with a clink of spurs in it struck upon the entry floor.

 

‘Danged if I bain’t catched!’ murmured Mr. Miller, forgetting company-speech.  ‘Never mind—I may as well meet him here as elsewhere; and I should like to see the chap, and make friends with en, as he seems one o’ the right sort.’  He returned to the fireplace just as the sergeant-major was ushered²² in.

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《绿茵树下 Under the Greenwood Tree》

1 specimens   

n.样品( specimen的名词复数 )；范例；（化验的）抽样；某种类型的人

参考例句：

• Astronauts have brought back specimens of rock from the moon. 宇航员从月球带回了岩石标本。
• The traveler brought back some specimens of the rocks from the mountains. 那位旅行者从山上带回了一些岩石标本。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 testimony   

n.证词；见证，证明

参考例句：

• The testimony given by him is dubious.他所作的证据是可疑的。
• He was called in to bear testimony to what the police officer said.他被传入为警官所说的话作证。

3 intentional   

adj.故意的，有意（识）的

参考例句：

• Let me assure you that it was not intentional.我向你保证那不是故意的。
• His insult was intentional.他的侮辱是有意的。

4 untoward   

adj.不利的，不幸的，困难重重的

参考例句：

• Untoward circumstances prevent me from being with you on this festive occasion.有些不幸的事件使我不能在这欢庆的时刻和你在一起。
• I'll come if nothing untoward happens.我要是没有特殊情况一定来。

5 relic   

n.神圣的遗物，遗迹，纪念物

参考例句：

• This stone axe is a relic of ancient times.这石斧是古代的遗物。
• He found himself thinking of the man as a relic from the past.他把这个男人看成是过去时代的人物。

6 interval   

n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息

参考例句：

• The interval between the two trees measures 40 feet.这两棵树的间隔是40英尺。
• There was a long interval before he anwsered the telephone.隔了好久他才回了电话。

7 consultation   

n.咨询；商量；商议；会议

参考例句：

• The company has promised wide consultation on its expansion plans.该公司允诺就其扩展计划广泛征求意见。
• The scheme was developed in close consultation with the local community.该计划是在同当地社区密切磋商中逐渐形成的。

8 haphazard   

adj.无计划的，随意的，杂乱无章的

参考例句：

• The town grew in a haphazard way.这城镇无计划地随意发展。
• He regrerted his haphazard remarks.他悔不该随口说出那些评论话。

9 toddling   

v.（幼儿等）东倒西歪地走( toddle的现在分词 )；蹒跚行走；溜达；散步

参考例句：

• You could see his grandson toddling around in the garden. 你可以看到他的孙子在花园里蹒跚行走。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She fell while toddling around. 她摇摇摆摆地到处走时摔倒了 来自辞典例句

10 bide   

v.忍耐；等候；住

参考例句：

• We'll have to bide our time until the rain stops.我们必须等到雨停。
• Bide here for a while. 请在这儿等一会儿。

11 vow   

n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓

参考例句：

• My parents are under a vow to go to church every Sunday.我父母许愿，每星期日都去做礼拜。
• I am under a vow to drink no wine.我已立誓戒酒。

12 regiment   

n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制

参考例句：

• As he hated army life,he decide to desert his regiment.因为他嫌恶军队生活，所以他决心背弃自己所在的那个团。
• They reformed a division into a regiment.他们将一个师整编成为一个团。

13 miller   

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。

14 rubicund   

adj.(脸色)红润的

参考例句：

• She watched the colour drain from Colin's rubicund face.她看见科林原本红润的脸渐渐失去了血色。
• His rubicund face expressed consternation and fatigue.他那红通的脸显得又惊惶又疲乏。

15 admiration   

n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕

参考例句：

• He was lost in admiration of the beauty of the scene.他对风景之美赞不绝口。
• We have a great admiration for the gold medalists.我们对金牌获得者极为敬佩。

16 constrainedly   

不自然地，勉强地，强制地

参考例句：

• Very constrainedly,she agreed a young doctor to operate on her. 她非常勉强地同意让一位年轻的医生为她做手术。

17 genial   

adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的

参考例句：

• Orlando is a genial man.奥兰多是一位和蔼可亲的人。
• He was a warm-hearted friend and genial host.他是个热心的朋友，也是友善待客的主人。

18 nay   

adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者

参考例句：

• He was grateful for and proud of his son's remarkable,nay,unique performance.他为儿子出色的，不，应该是独一无二的表演心怀感激和骄傲。
• Long essays,nay,whole books have been written on this.许多长篇大论的文章，不，应该说是整部整部的书都是关于这件事的。

19 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

20 brink   

n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿

参考例句：

• The tree grew on the brink of the cliff.那棵树生长在峭壁的边缘。
• The two countries were poised on the brink of war.这两个国家处于交战的边缘。

21 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

22 ushered   

v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The secretary ushered me into his office. 秘书把我领进他的办公室。
• A round of parties ushered in the New Year. 一系列的晚会迎来了新年。 来自《简明英汉词典》