按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
and covering being in waiting outside。
Gertrude's case was so serious that it was deemed advisable to call
to her the surgeon who was at hand。 She was taken out of the jail
into the town； but she never reached home alive。 Her delicate
vitality； sapped perhaps by the paralyzed arm； collapsed under the
double shock that followed the severe strain； physical and mental；
to which she had subjected herself during the previous twenty…four
hours。 Her blood had been 'turned' indeedtoo far。 Her death took
place in the town three days after。
Her husband was never seen in Casterbridge again； once only in the
old market…place at Anglebury； which he had so much frequented； and
very seldom in public anywhere。 Burdened at first with moodiness
and remorse； he eventually changed for the better； and appeared as a
chastened and thoughtful man。 Soon after attending the funeral of
his poor young wife he took steps towards giving up the farms in
Holmstoke and the adjoining parish； and； having sold every head of
his stock； he went away to Port…Bredy； at the other end of the
county； living there in solitary lodgings till his death two years
later of a painless decline。 It was then found that he had
bequeathed the whole of his not inconsiderable property to a
reformatory for boys； subject to the payment of a small annuity to
Rhoda Brook； if she could be found to claim it。
For some time she could not be found； but eventually she reappeared
in her old parish；absolutely refusing； however； to have anything
to do with the provision made for her。 Her monotonous milking at
the dairy was resumed； and followed for many long years； till her
form became bent； and her once abundant dark hair white and worn
away at the foreheadperhaps by long pressure against the cows。
Here； sometimes； those who knew her experiences would stand and
observe her； and wonder what sombre thoughts were beating inside
that impassive； wrinkled brow； to the rhythm of the alternating
milk…streams。
（'Blackwood's Magazine；' January 1888。）
FELLOW…TOWNSMEN
CHAPTER I
The shepherd on the east hill could shout out lambing intelligence
to the shepherd on the west hill； over the intervening town
chimneys； without great inconvenience to his voice； so nearly did
the steep pastures encroach upon the burghers' backyards。 And at
night it was possible to stand in the very midst of the town and
hear from their native paddocks on the lower levels of greensward
the mild lowing of the farmer's heifers； and the profound； warm
blowings of breath in which those creatures indulge。 But the
community which had jammed itself in the valley thus flanked formed
a veritable town； with a real mayor and corporation； and a staple
manufacture。
During a certain damp evening five…and…thirty years ago； before the
twilight was far advanced； a pedestrian of professional appearance；
carrying a small bag in his hand and an elevated umbrella； was
descending one of these hills by the turnpike road when he was
overtaken by a phaeton。
'Hullo； Downeis that you？' said the driver of the vehicle； a young
man of pale and refined appearance。 'Jump up here with me； and ride
down to your door。'
The other turned a plump； cheery； rather self…indulgent face over
his shoulder towards the hailer。
'O； good evening； Mr。 Barnetthanks；' he said； and mounted beside
his acquaintance。
They were fellow…burgesses of the town which lay beneath them； but
though old and very good friends； they were differently
circumstanced。 Barnet was a richer man than the struggling young
lawyer Downe； a fact which was to some extent perceptible in Downe's
manner towards his companion； though nothing of it ever showed in
Barnet's manner towards the solicitor。 Barnet's position in the
town was none of his own making； his father had been a very
successful flax…merchant in the same place； where the trade was
still carried on as briskly as the small capacities of its quarters
would allow。 Having acquired a fair fortune； old Mr。 Barnet had
retired from business； bringing up his son as a gentleman…burgher；
and； it must be added； as a well…educated； liberal…minded young man。
'How is Mrs。 Barnet？' asked Downe。
'Mrs。 Barnet was very well when I left home；' the other answered
constrainedly； exchanging his meditative regard of the horse for one
of self…consciousness。
Mr。 Downe seemed to regret his inquiry； and immediately took up
another thread of conversation。 He congratulated his friend on his
election as a council…man； he thought he had not seen him since that
event took place； Mrs。 Downe had meant to call and congratulate Mrs。
Barnet； but he feared that she had failed to do so as yet。
Barnet seemed hampered in his replies。 'WE should have been glad to
see you。 Imy wife would welcome Mrs。 Downe at any time； as you
know 。 。 。 Yes； I am a member of the corporationrather an
inexperienced member； some of them say。 It is quite true； and I
should have declined the honour as prematurehaving other things on
my hands just now； tooif it had not been pressed upon me so very
heartily。'
'There is one thing you have on your hands which I can never quite
see the necessity for；' said Downe； with good…humoured freedom。
'What the deuce do you want to build that new mansion for； when you
have already got such an excellent house as the one you live in？'
Barnet's face acquired a warmer shade of colour； but as the question
had been idly asked by the solicitor while regarding the surrounding
flocks and fields； he answered after a moment with no apparent
embarrassment …
'Well； we wanted to get out of the town； you know： the house I am
living in is rather old and inconvenient。' Mr。 Downe declared that
he had chosen a pretty site for the new building。 They would be
able to see for miles and miles from the windows。 Was he going to
give it a name？ He supposed so。
Barnet thought not。 There was no other house near that was likely
to be mistaken for it。 And he did not care for a name。
'But I think it has a name！' Downe observed： 'I went pastwhen
was it？this morning； and I saw something；〃Chateau Ringdale；〃 I
think it was； stuck up on a board！'
'It was an idea shewe had for a short time；' said Barnet hastily。
'But we have decided finally to do without a nameat any rate such
a name as that。 It must have been a week ago that you saw it。 It
was taken down last Saturday 。 。 。 Upon that matter I am firm！' he
added grimly。
Downe murmured in an unconvinced tone that he thought he had seen it
yesterday。
Talking thus they drove into the town。 The street was unusually
still for the hour of seven in the evening； an increasing drizzle
had prevailed since the afternoon； and now formed a gauze across the
yellow lamps； and trickled with a gentle rattle down the heavy roofs
of stone tile； that bent the house…ridges hollow…backed with its
weight； and in some instances caused the walls to bulge outwards in
the upper story。 Their route took them past the little town…hall；
the Black…Bull Hotel； and onward to the junction of a small street
on the right； consisting of a row of those two…and…two windowed
brick residences of no particular age； which are exactly alike
wherever found； except in the people they contain。
'WaitI'll drive you up to your door；' said Barnet； when Downe
prepared to alight at the corner。 He thereupon turned into the
narrow street； when the faces of three little girls could be
discerned close to the panes of a lighted window a few yards ahead；
surmounted by that of a young matron； the gaze of all four being
directed eagerly up the empty street。 'You are a fortunate fellow；
Downe；' Barnet continued； as mother and children disappeared from
the window to run to the door。 'You must be happy if any man is。 I
would give a hundred such houses as my new one to have a home like
yours。'
'Wellyes； we get along pretty comfortably；' replied Downe
complacently。
'That house； Downe； is none of my ordering；' Barnet broke out；
revealing a bitterness hitherto suppressed； and checking the horse a
moment to finish his speech before delivering up his passenger。
'The house I have already is good enough for m