English
Hemadeforthedoorofthepublic-house,butthechildreninterceptedhim.
Sylvieclungtoonearm;whileBruno,ontheoppositeside,waspushinghimwithallhisstrength,andmanyinarticulatecriesof“Gee-up!Gee-back!Woahthen!”
whichhehadpickedupfromthewaggoners.
“Willie”tooknottheleastnoticeofthem:hewassimplyconsciousthatsomethinghadcheckedhim:and,forwantofanyotherwayofaccountingforit,heseemedtoregarditashisownact.
“Iwunnutcoomin,”hesaid:“notto-day.”
“Amugo’beerwunnuthurt‘ee!”hisfriendsshoutedinchorus.“Twomugswunnuthurt‘ee!Noradozenmugs!”
“Nay,”saidWillie.“I’magoanwhoam.”
“What,withoutenthydrink,Willieman?”shoutedtheothers.
But“Willieman”wouldhavenomorediscussion,andturneddoggedlyaway,thechildrenkeepingoneoneachsideofhim,toguardhimagainstanychangeinhissuddenresolution.
Forawhilehewalkedonstoutlyenough,keepinghishandsinhispockets,andsoftlywhistlingatune,intimetohisheavytread:hissuccess,inappearingentirelyathisease,wasalmostcomplete;butacarefulobserverwouldhavenotedthathehadforgottenthesecondpartoftheair,andthat,whenitbrokedown,heinstantlybeganitagain,beingtoonervoustothinkofanother,andtoorestlesstoenduresilence.
Itwasnottheoldfearthatpossessedhimnow—theoldfearthathadbeenhisdrearycompanioneverySaturdaynighthecouldrememberashehadreeledalong,steadyinghimselfagainstgatesandgarden-palings,andwhenthethrillreproachesofhiswifehadseemedtohisdazedbrainonlytheechoofayetmorepiercingvoicewithin,theintolerablewailofahopelessremorse:itwasawhollynewfearthathadcometohimnow:lifehadtakenonitselfanewsetofcolours,andwaslightedupwithanewanddazzlingradiance,andhedidnotsee,asyet,howhishome-life,andhiswifeandchild,wouldfitintotheneworderofthings:theverynoveltyofitallwas,tohissimplemind,aperplexityandanoverwhelmingterror.
Andnowthetunediedintosuddensilenceonthetremblinglips,asheturnedasharpcorner,andcameinsightofhisowncottage,wherehiswifestood,leaningwithfoldedarmsonthewicket-gate,andlookinguptheroadwithapaleface,thathadinitnoglimmerofthelightofhope—onlytheheavyshadowofadeepstonydespair.
“Finean’early,lad!Finean’early!”
thewordsmighthavebeenwordsofwelcoming,butoh,thebitternessofthetoneinwhichshesaidit!
“Whatbringstheefromthymerrymates,andallthefiddlingandthejigging?Pocketsempty,Idoubt?
Orthou’stcome,mebbe,fortoseethylittleonedie?
Thebairnie’sclemmed,andI’venorbitenorsuptogieher.Butwhatdoesthoucare?”
Sheflungthegateopen,andmethimwithblazingeyesoffury.
Themansaidnoword.Slowly,andwithdowncasteyes,hepassedintothehouse,whileshe,halfterrifiedathisstrangesilence,followedhiminwithoutanotherword;anditwasnottillhehadsunkintoachair,withhisarmscrossedonthetableandwithdroopinghead,thatshefoundhervoiceagain.
Itseemedentirelynaturalforustogoinwiththem:atanothertimeonewouldhaveaskedleaveforthis,butIfelt,Iknewnotwhy,thatwewereinsomemysteriouswayinvisible,andasfreetocomeandtogoasdisembodiedspirits.
Thechildinthecradlewokeup,andraisedapiteouscry,whichinamomentbroughtthechildrentoitsside:Brunorockedthecradle,whileSylvietenderlyreplacedthelittleheadonthepillowfromwhichithadslipped.
Butthemothertooknoheedofthecry,noryetofthesatisfied“coo”thatitsetupwhenSylviehadmadeithappyagain:sheonlystoodgazingatherhusband,andvainlytrying,withwhitequiveringlips(Ibelieveshethoughthewasmad),tospeakintheoldtonesofshrillupbraidingthatheknewsowell.
“Andthou’stspentallthywages—I’llswearthouhast—onthedevil’sowndrink—andthou’stbeenandmadethysenabeastagain—asthouallusdost—”
“Hasna!”themanmuttered,hisvoicehardlyrisingaboveawhisper,asheslowlyemptiedhispocketsonthetable.“There’sth’wage,Missus,everypennyon’t.”
Thewomangaspedandputonehandtoherheart,asifundersomegreatshockofsurprise.“Thenhow’stheegottenth’drink?”
“Hasnagottenit,”heansweredher,inatonemoresadthansullen.
“Ihannatouchedadropthisblessedday.No!”
hecriedaloud,bringinghisclenchedfistheavilydownuponthetable,andlookingupatherwithgleamingeyes,“norI’llnevertouchanotherdropo’thecurseddrink—tillIdie—sohelpmeGodmyMaker!”
Hisvoice,whichhadsuddenlyrisentoahoarseshout,droppedagainassuddenly:andoncemorehebowedhishead,andburiedhisfaceinhisfoldedarms.
Thewomanhaddroppeduponherkneesbythecradle,whilehewasspeaking.
Sheneitherlookedathimnorseemedtohearhim.
Withhandsclaspedaboveherhead,sherockedherselfwildlytoandfro.“OhmyGod!OhmyGod!”wasallshesaid,overandoveragain.
SylvieandBrunogentlyunclaspedherhandsanddrewthemdown—tillshehadanarmroundeachofthem,thoughshetooknonoticeofthem,butkneltonwitheyesgazingupwards,andlipsthatmovedasifinsilentthanksgiving.
Themankepthisfacehidden,andutterednosound:butonecouldseethesobsthatshookhimfromheadtofoot.
Afterawhileheraisedhishead—hisfaceallwetwithtears.“folly!”hesaidsoftly;andthen,louder,“OldPoll!”
Thensherosefromherkneesandcametohim,withadazedlook,asifshewerewalkinginhersleep.“WhowasitcalledmeoldPoll?”
sheasked:hervoicetookonitatenderplayfulness:hereyessparkled;andtherosylightofYouthflushedherpalecheeks,tillshelookedmorelikeahappygirlofseventeenthanawornwomanofforty.
“Wasthatmyownlad,myWillie,a-waitingformeatthestile?”
Hisfacetoowastransformed,inthesamemagiclight,tothelikenessofabashfulboy:andboyandgirltheyseemed,ashewoundanarmabouther,anddrewhertohisside,whilewiththeotherhandhethrustfromhimtheheapofmoney,asthoughitweresomethinghatefultothetouch.“Takit,lass,”hesaid,“takitall!
An’fetchussummattoeat:butgetasupo’milk,first,fort’bairn.
“Mylittlebairn!”shemurmuredasshegatheredupthecoins.“Myownlittlelassie!”
Thenshemovedtothedoor,andwaspassingout,butasuddenthoughtseemedtoarresther:shehastilyreturned—firsttokneeldownandkissthesleepingchild,andthentothrowherselfintoherhusband’sarmsandbestrainedtohisheart.
Thenextmomentshewasonherway,takingwithherajugthathungonapegnearthedoor:wefollowedclosebehind.
Wehadnotgonefarbeforewecameinsightofaswingingsign-boardbearingtheword“DAIRY”onit,andhereshewentin,welcomedbyalittlecurlywhitedog,who,notbeingunderthe“eerie”influence,sawthechildren,andreceivedthemwiththemosteffusiveaffection.
WhenIgotinside,thedairymanwasintheactoftakingthemoney.
“Is’sforthysen,Missus,orfort’bairn?”
heasked,whenhehadfilledthejug,pausingwithitinhishand.
“Fort’bairn!”shesaid,almostreproachfully.“Think’stthaI’dtouchadropmysen,whileasshehadnagotherfill?”
“Allright,Missus,”themanreplied,turningawaywiththejuginhishand.
“Let’sjustmaksureit’sgoodmeasure.”
Hewentbackamonghisshelvesofmilk-bowls,carefullykeepinghisbacktowardsherwhileheemptiedalittlemeasureofcreamintothejug,mutteringtohimself“mebbeit’llheartenherupabit,thelittlelassie!”
Thewomannevernoticedthekinddeed,buttookbackthejugwithasimple“Goodevening,Master,”andwentherway:butthechildrenhadbeenmoreobservant,and,aswefollowedherout,Brunoremarked“Thatwerewellykind:andIlovesthatman:andifIwaswellyrichI’dgivehimahundredpounds—andabun.
Thatlittlegrummelingdogdoosn’tknowitsbusiness!”
Hereferredtothedairyman’slittledog,whohadapparentlyquiteforgottentheaffectionatewelcomehehadgivenusonourarrival,andwasnowfollowingatarespectfuldistance,doinghisbestto“speedthepartingguest”withashoweroflittleshrillbarks,thatseemedtotreadononeanother’sheels.
“Whatisadog’sbusiness?”laughedSylvie.“Dogsca’n’tkeepshopsandgivechange!”
“Sisters’businessesisn’ttolaughattheirbrothers,”Brunorepliedwithperfectgravity.
“Anddogs’businessesistobark—notlikethat:itshouldfinishonebarkbeforeitbeginsanother:anditshould—OhSylvie,there’ssomedindledums!”
Andinanothermomentthehappychildrenwereflyingacrossthecommon,racingforthepatchofdandelions.
WhileIstoodwatchingthem,astrangedreamyfeelingcameuponme:arailway-platformseemedtotaketheplaceofthegreensward,and,insteadofthelightfigureofSylvieboundingalong,IseemedtoseetheflyingformofLadyMuriel;butwhetherBrunohadalsoundergoneatransformation,andhadbecometheoldmanwhomshewasrunningtoovertake,Iwasunabletojudge,soinstantaneouslydidthefeelingcomeandgo.
WhenIre-enteredthelittlesitting-roomwhichIsharedwithArthur,hewasstandingwithhisbacktome,lookingoutoftheopenwindow,andevidentlyhadnotheardmeenter.
Acupoftea,apparentlyjusttastedandpushedaside,stoodonthetable,ontheoppositesideofwhichwasaletter,justbegun,withthepenlyingacrossit:anopenbooklayonthesofa:theLondonpaperoccupiedtheeasychair;andonthelittletablewhichstoodbyit,Inoticedanunlightedcigarandanopenboxofcigar-lights:allthingsbetokenedthattheDoctor,usuallysomethodicalandsoself-contained,hadbeentryingeveryformofoccupation,andcouldsettletonone!
“Thisisveryunlikeyou,Doctor!”Iwasbeginning,butcheckedmyself,asheturnedatthesoundofmyvoice,insheeramazementatthewonderfulchangethathadtakenplaceinhisappearance.
NeverhadIseenafacesoradiantwithhappiness,oreyesthatsparkledwithsuchunearthlylight!
“Eventhus”,Ithought,“musttheherald-angelhavelooked,whobroughttotheshepherds,watchingovertheirflocksbynight,thatsweetmessageof‘peaceonearth,good-willtomen’!”
“Yes,dearfriend!”hesaid,asifinanswertothequestionthatIsupposehereadinmyface.“Itistrue!Itistrue!”
Noneedtoaskwhatwastrue.“Godblessyouboth!”Isaid,asIfeltthehappytearsbrimmingtomyeyes.“Youweremadeforeachother!”
“Yes,”hesaid,simply,“Ibelievewewere.
Andwhatachangeitmakesinone’sLife!Thisisn’tthesameworld!Thatisn’ttheskyIsawyesterday!
Thoseclouds—Ineversawsuchcloudsinallmylifebefore!
Theylookliketroopsofhoveringangels!”
Tometheylookedveryordinarycloudsindeed:butthenIhadnotfed“onhoneydew,AnddrunkthemilkofParadise”!
“Shewantstoseeyou—atonce,”hecontinued,descendingsuddenlytothethingsofearth.“Shesaysthatistheonedropyetwantinginhercupofhappiness!”
“I’llgoatonce,”Isaid,asIturnedtoleavetheroom.“Wo’n’tyoucomewithme?”
“No,Sir!”saidtheDoctor,withasuddeneffort—whichprovedanutterfailure—toresumehisprofessionalmanner.“DoIlooklikecomingwithyou?Haveyouneverheardthattwoiscompany,and—”
“Yes,”Isaid,“Ihaveheardit:andI’mpainfullyawarethatIamNumberThree!But,whenshallwethreemeetagain?”
“Whenthehurly-burly’sdone!”heansweredwithahappylaugh,suchasIhadnotheardfromhimformanyayear.
Share this article to
FINISH