PREFACE
ThisstoryoftheMellstockQuireanditsoldestablishedwest—
gallerymusicians,withsomesupplementarydescriptionsofsimilarofficialsinTwoonaTower,AFewCrustedCharacters,andotherplaces,isintendedtobeafairlytruepicture,atfirsthand,ofthepersonages,ways,andcustomswhichwerecommonamongsuchorchestralbodiesinthevillagesoffiftyorsixtyyearsago。
Oneisinclinedtoregretthedisplacementoftheseecclesiasticalbandsmenbyanisolatedorganist(oftenatfirstabarrel—organist)
orharmoniumplayer;anddespitecertainadvantagesinpointofcontrolandaccomplishmentwhichwere,nodoubt,securedbyinstallingthesingleartist,thechangehastendedtostultifytheprofessedaimsoftheclergy,itsdirectresultbeingtocurtailandextinguishtheinterestofparishionersinchurchdoings。Undertheoldplan,fromhalfadozentotenfull—grownplayers,inadditiontothenumerousmoreorlessgrown—upsingers,wereofficiallyoccupiedwiththeSundayroutine,andconcernedintryingtheirbesttomakeitanartisticoutcomeofthecombinedmusicaltasteofthecongregation。Withamusicalexecutivelimited,asitmostlyislimitednow,totheparson’swifeordaughterandtheschool—
children,ortotheschool—teacherandthechildren,animportantunionofinterestshasdisappeared。
Thezestofthesebygoneinstrumentalistsmusthavebeenkeenandstayingtotakethem,asitdid,onfooteverySundayafteratoilsomeweek,throughallweathers,tothechurch,whichoftenlayatadistancefromtheirhomes。Theyusuallyreceivedsolittleinpaymentfortheirperformancesthattheireffortswerereallyalabouroflove。IntheparishIhadinmymindwhenwritingthepresenttale,thegratuitiesreceivedyearlybythemusiciansatChristmasweresomewhatasfollows:Fromthemanor—housetenshillingsandasupper;fromthevicartenshillings;fromthefarmersfiveshillingseach;fromeachcottage—householdoneshilling;amountingaltogethertonotmorethantenshillingsaheadannually——justenough,asanoldexecutanttoldme,topayfortheirfiddle—strings,repairs,rosin,andmusic—paper(whichtheymostlyruledthemselves)。Theirmusicinthosedayswasallintheirownmanuscript,copiedintheeveningsafterwork,andtheirmusic—bookswerehome—bound。
Itwascustomarytoinscribeafewjigs,reels,horn—pipes,andballadsinthesamebook,bybeginningitattheotherend,theinsertionsbeingcontinuedfromfrontandbacktillsacredandsecularmettogetherinthemiddle,oftenwithbizarreeffect,thewordsofsomeofthesongsexhibitingthatancientandbroadhumourwhichourgrandfathers,andpossiblygrandmothers,tookdelightin,andisinthesedaysunquotable。
Theaforesaidfiddle—strings,rosin,andmusic—paperweresuppliedbyapedlar,whotravelledexclusivelyinsuchwaresfromparishtoparish,comingtoeachvillageabouteverysixmonths。Talesaretoldoftheconsternationoncecausedamongthechurchfiddlerswhen,ontheoccasionoftheirproducinganewChristmasanthem,hedidnotcometotime,owingtobeingsnoweduponthedowns,andthestraitstheywereinthroughhavingtomakeshiftwithwhipcordandtwineforstrings。Hewasgenerallyamusicianhimself,andsometimesacomposerinasmallway,bringinghisownnewtunes,andtemptingeachchoirtoadoptthemforaconsideration。Someofthesecompositionswhichnowliebeforeme,withtheirrepetitionsoflines,half—lines,andhalf—words,theirfuguesandtheirintermediatesymphonies,aregoodsingingstill,thoughtheywouldhardlybeadmittedintosuchhymn—booksasarepopularinthechurchesoffashionablesocietyatthepresenttime。
August1896。
UndertheGreenwoodTreewasfirstbroughtoutinthesummerof1872
intwovolumes。Thenameofthestorywasoriginallyintendedtobe,moreappropriately,TheMellstockQuire,andthishasbeenappendedasasub—titlesincetheearlyeditions,ithavingbeenthoughtunadvisabletodisplaceforitthetitlebywhichthebookfirstbecameknown。
Inrereadingthenarrativeafteralongintervalthereoccurstheinevitablereflectionthattherealitiesoutofwhichitwasspunwerematerialforanotherkindofstudyofthislittlegroupofchurchmusiciansthanisfoundinthechaptersherepennedsolightly,evensofarcicallyandflippantlyattimes。Butcircumstanceswouldhaverenderedanyaimatadeeper,moreessential,moretranscendenthandlingunadvisableatthedateofwriting;andtheexhibitionoftheMellstockQuireinthefollowingpagesmustremaintheonlyextantone,exceptforthefewglimpsesofthatperishedbandwhichIhavegiveninverseelsewhere。
T。H。
April1912。
PARTTHEFIRST——WINTER
CHAPTERI:MELLSTOCK—LANE
Todwellersinawoodalmosteveryspeciesoftreehasitsvoiceaswellasitsfeature。Atthepassingofthebreezethefir—treessobandmoannolessdistinctlythantheyrock;thehollywhistlesasitbattleswithitself;theashhissesamiditsquiverings;thebeechrustleswhileitsflatboughsriseandfall。Andwinter,whichmodifiesthenoteofsuchtreesasshedtheirleaves,doesnotdestroyitsindividuality。
OnacoldandstarryChristmas—evewithinlivingmemoryamanwaspassingupalanetowardsMellstockCrossinthedarknessofaplantationthatwhisperedthusdistinctivelytohisintelligence。
Alltheevidencesofhisnaturewerethoseaffordedbythespiritofhisfootsteps,whichsucceededeachotherlightlyandquickly,andbythelivelinessofhisvoiceashesanginaruralcadence:
\"WiththeroseandthelilyAndthedaffodowndilly,Theladsandthelassesa—sheep—shearinggo。\"
ThelonelylanehewasfollowingconnectedoneofthehamletsofMellstockparishwithUpperMellstockandLewgate,andtohiseyes,casuallyglancingupward,thesilverandblack—stemmedbircheswiththeircharacteristictufts,thepalegreyboughsofbeech,thedark—
crevicedelm,allappearednowasblackandflatoutlinesuponthesky,whereinthewhitestarstwinkledsovehementlythattheirflickeringseemedliketheflappingofwings。Withinthewoodypass,atalevelanythinglowerthanthehorizon,allwasdarkasthegrave。Thecopse—woodformingthesidesofthebowerinterlaceditsbranchessodensely,evenatthisseasonoftheyear,thatthedraughtfromthenorth—eastflewalongthechannelwithscarcelyaninterruptionfromlateralbreezes。
AfterpassingtheplantationandreachingMellstockCrossthewhitesurfaceofthelanerevealeditselfbetweenthedarkhedgerowslikearibbonjaggedattheedges;theirregularitybeingcausedbytemporaryaccumulationsofleavesextendingfromtheditchoneitherside。
Thesong(manytimesinterruptedbyflittingthoughtswhichtooktheplaceofseveralbars,andresumedatapointitwouldhavereachedhaditscontinuitybeenunbroken)nowreceivedamorepalpablecheck,intheshapeof\"Ho—i—i—i—i—i!\"fromthecrossinglanetoLowerMellstock,ontherightofthesingerwhohadjustemergedfromthetrees。
\"Ho—i—i—i—i—i!\"heanswered,stoppingandlookinground,thoughwithnoideaofseeinganythingmorethanimaginationpictured。
\"Isthatthee,youngDickDewy?\"camefromthedarkness。
\"Ay,sure,MichaelMail。\"
\"Thenwhynotstopforfellow—craters——goingtothyownfather’shousetoo,aswebe,andknowenussowell?\"
DickDewyfacedaboutandcontinuedhistuneinanunder—whistle,implyingthatthebusinessofhismouthcouldnotbecheckedatamoment’snoticebytheplacidemotionoffriendship。
Havingcomemoreintotheopenhecouldnowbeseenrisingagainstthesky,hisprofileappearingonthelightbackgroundliketheportraitofagentlemaninblackcardboard。Itassumedtheformofalow—crownedhat,anordinary—shapednose,anordinarychin,anordinaryneck,andordinaryshoulders。Whatheconsistedoffurtherdownwasinvisiblefromlackofskylowenoughtopicturehimon。
Shuffling,halting,irregularfootstepsofvariouskindswerenowheardcomingupthehill,andpresentlythereemergedfromtheshadeseverallyfivemenofdifferentagesandgaits,allofthemworkingvillagersoftheparishofMellstock。They,too,hadlosttheirrotunditywiththedaylight,andadvancedagainsttheskyinflatoutlines,whichsuggestedsomeprocessionaldesignonGreekorEtruscanpottery。TheyrepresentedthechiefportionofMellstockparishchoir。
Thefirstwasabowedandbentman,whocarriedafiddleunderhisarm,andwalkedasifengagedinstudyingsomesubjectconnectedwiththesurfaceoftheroad。HewasMichaelMail,themanwhohadhallooedtoDick。
ThenextwasMr。RobertPenny,boot—andshoemaker;alittleman,who,thoughratherround—shouldered,walkedasifthatfacthadnotcometohisownknowledge,movingonwithhisbackveryhollowandhisfacefixedonthenorth—eastquarteroftheheavensbeforehim,sothathislowerwaist—coat—buttonscamefirst,andthentheremainderofhisfigure。Hisfeatureswereinvisible;yetwhenheoccasionallylookedround,twofaintmoonsoflightgleamedforaninstantfromtheprecinctsofhiseyes,denotingthatheworespectaclesofacircularform。
ThethirdwasEliasSpinks,whowalkedperpendicularlyanddramatically。ThefourthoutlinewasJosephBowman’s,whohadnownodistinctiveappearancebeyondthatofahumanbeing。Finallycameaweaklath—likeform,trottingandstumblingalongwithoneshoulderforwardandhisbeadinclinedtotheleft,hisarmsdanglingnervelesslyinthewindasiftheywereemptysleeves。
ThiswasThomasLeaf。
\"Wherebetheboys?\"saidDicktothissomewhatindifferently—
matchedassembly。
Theeldestofthegroup,MichaelMail,clearedhisthroatfromagreatdepth。
\"Wetoldthemtokeepbackathomeforatime,thinkentheywouldn’tbewantedyetawhile;andwecouldchoosethetuens,andsoon。\"
\"FatherandgrandfatherWilliamhaveexpectedyealittlesooner。I
havejustbeenforarunroundbyEweleaseStileandHollowHilltowarmmyfeet。\"
\"Tobesurefatherdid!Tobesure’adidexpectus——totastethelittlebarrelbeyondcomparethathe’sgoingtotap。\"
\"’Odrabbititall!Neverheardawordofit!\"saidMr。Penny,gleamsofdelightappearinguponhisspectacle—glasses,Dickmeanwhilesingingparenthetically——\"Theladsandthelassesa—sheep—
shearinggo。\"
\"Neighbours,there’stimeenoughtodrinkasightofdrinknowaforebedtime?\"saidMail。
\"True,true——timeenoughtogetasdrunkaslords!\"repliedBowmancheerfully。
Thisopinionbeingtakenasconvincingtheyalladvancedbetweenthevaryinghedgesandthetreesdottingthemhereandthere,kickingtheirtoesoccasionallyamongthecrumpledleaves。SoonappearedglimmeringindicationsofthefewcottagesformingthesmallhamletofUpperMellstockforwhichtheywerebound,whilstthefaintsoundofchurch—bellsringingaChristmaspealcouldbeheardfloatingoveruponthebreezefromthedirectionofLongpuddleandWeatherburyparishesontheothersideofthehills。Alittlewicketadmittedthemtothegarden,andtheyproceededupthepathtoDick’shouse。
CHAPTERII:THETRANTER’S
Itwasalonglowcottagewithahippedroofofthatch,havingdormerwindowsbreakingupintotheeaves,achimneystandinginthemiddleoftheridgeandanotherateachend。Thewindow—shutterswerenotyetclosed,andthefire—andcandle—lightwithinradiatedforthuponthethickbushesofboxandlaurestinusgrowinginclumpsoutside,anduponthebareboughsofseveralcodlin—treeshangingaboutinvariousdistortedshapes,theresultofearlytrainingasespalierscombinedwithcarelessclimbingintotheirboughsinlateryears。Thewallsofthedwellingwereforthemostpartcoveredwithcreepers,thoughthesewereratherbeatenbackfromthedoorway——afeaturewhichwaswornandscratchedbymuchpassinginandout,givingitbydaytheappearanceofanoldkeyhole。Lightstreamedthroughthecracksandjointsofoutbuildingsalittlewayfromthecottage,asightwhichnourishedafancythatthepurposeoftheerectionmustberathertoveilbrightattractionsthantoshelterunsightlynecessaries。Thenoiseofabeetleandwedgesandthesplinteringofwoodwasperiodicallyheardfromthisdirection;
andatsomelittledistancefurtherasteadyregularmunchingandtheoccasionalscurrofaropebetokenedastable,andhorsesfeedingwithinit。
Thechoirstampedseverallyonthedoor—stonetoshakefromtheirbootsanyfragmentofearthorleafadheringthereto,thenenteredthehouseandlookedaroundtosurveytheconditionofthings。
Throughtheopendoorwayofasmallinnerroomontherighthand,ofacharacterbetweenpantryandcellar,wasDickDewy’sfatherReuben,byvocationa\"tranter,\"orirregularcarrier。Hewasastoutfloridmanaboutfortyyearsofage,whosurveyedpeopleupanddownwhenfirstmakingtheiracquaintance,andgenerallysmiledatthehorizonorotherdistantobjectduringconversationswithfriends,walkingaboutwithasteadysway,andturningouthistoesveryconsiderably。Beingnowoccupiedinbendingoverahogshead,thatstoodinthepantryreadyhorsedfortheprocessofbroaching,hedidnottakethetroubletoturnorraisehiseyesattheentryofhisvisitors,wellknowingbytheirfootstepsthattheyweretheexpectedoldcomrades。
Themainroom,ontheleft,wasdeckedwithbunchesofhollyandotherevergreens,andfromthemiddleofthebeambisectingtheceilinghungthemistletoe,ofasizeoutofallproportiontotheroom,andextendingsolowthatitbecamenecessaryforafull—grownpersontowalkrounditinpassing,orruntheriskofentanglinghishair。ThisapartmentcontainedMrs。Dewythetranter’swife,andthefourremainingchildren,Susan,Jim,Bessy,andCharley,graduatinguniformlythoughatwidestagesfromtheageofsixteentothatoffouryears——theeldestoftheseriesbeingseparatedfromDickthefirstbornbyanearlyequalinterval。
SomecircumstancehadapparentlycausedmuchgrieftoCharleyjustprevioustotheentryofthechoir,andhehadabsentlytakendownasmalllooking—glass,holdingitbeforehisfacetolearnhowthehumancountenanceappearedwhenengagedincrying,whichsurveyledhimtopauseatthevariouspointsineachwailthatweremorethanordinarilystriking,forathoroughappreciationofthegeneraleffect。Bessywasleaningagainstachair,andglancingundertheplaitsaboutthewaistoftheplaidfrockshewore,tonoticetheoriginalunfadedpatternofthematerialastherepreserved,herfacebearinganexpressionofregretthatthebrightnesshadpassedawayfromthevisibleportions。Mrs。Dewysatinabrownsettlebythesideoftheglowingwoodfire——soglowingthatwithaheedfulcompressionofthelipsshewouldnowandthenriseandputherhanduponthehamsandflitchesofbaconliningthechimney,toreassureherselfthattheywerenotbeingbroiledinsteadofsmoked——amisfortunethathadbeenknowntohappennowandthenatChristmas—
time。
\"Hullo,mysonnies,hereyoube,then!\"saidReubenDewyatlength,standingupandblowingforthavehementgustofbreath。\"Howtheblooddopuffupinanybody’shead,tobesure,a—stoopinglikethat!Iwasjustgoingouttogatetoharkforye。\"Hethencarefullybegantowindastripofbrownpaperroundabrasstapheheldinhishand。\"Thisinthecaskhereisadropo’therightsort\"(tappingthecask);\"’tisarealdropo’cordialfromthebestpickedapples——Sansoms,Stubbards,Five—corners,andsuch——like——youd’mindthesort,Michael?\"(Michaelnodded。)\"Andthere’sasprinklingoftheythatgrowdownbytheorchard—rails——streakedones——railappleswed’call’em,as’tisbytherailstheygrow,andnotknowingtherightname。Thewater—ciderfrom’emisasgoodasmostpeople’sbestcideris。\"
\"Ay,andofthesamemaketoo,\"saidBowman。\"’Itrainedwhenwewrungitout,andthewatergotintoit,’folkwillsay。But’tison’yanexcuse。Wateredcideristoocommonamongus。\"
\"Yes,yes;toocommonitis!\"saidSpinkswithaninwardsigh,whilsthiseyesseemedtobelookingatthecaseinanabstractformratherthanatthescenebeforehim。\"Suchpoorliquordomakeaman’sthroatfeelverymelancholy——andisadisgracetothenameofstimmilent。\"
\"Comein,comein,anddrawuptothefire;nevermindyourshoes,\"
saidMrs。Dewy,seeingthatallexceptDickhadpausedtowipethemuponthedoor—mat。\"Iamgladthatyou’vesteppedup—alongatlast;
and,Susan,yourundowntoGrammerKaytes’sandseeifyoucanborrowsomelargercandlesthanthesefourteens。TommyLeaf,don’tyebeafeard!Comeandsithereinthesettle。\"
Thiswasaddressedtotheyoungmanbeforementioned,consistingchieflyofahumanskeletonandasmock—frock,whowasveryawkwardinhismovements,apparentlyonaccountofhavinggrownsoveryfastthatbeforehehadhadtimetogetusedtohisheighthewashigher。
\"Hee——hee——ay!\"repliedLeaf,lettinghismouthcontinuetosmileforsometimeafterhismindhaddonesmiling,sothathisteethremainedinviewasthemostconspicuousmembersofhisbody。
\"Here,Mr。Penny,\"resumedMrs。Dewy,\"yousitinthischair。Andhow’syourdaughter,Mrs。Brownjohn?\"
\"Well,IsupposeImustsayprettyfair。\"Headjustedhisspectaclesaquarterofaninchtotheright。\"Butshe’llbeworsebeforeshe’sbetter,’ab’lieve。\"
\"Indeed——poorsoul!Andhowmanywillthatmakeinall,fourorfive?\"
\"Five;they’veburiedthree。Yes,five;andshenotmuchmorethanamaidyet。Shedoknowthemultiplicationtableonmistakablewell。
However,’twastobe,andnonecangainsayit。\"
Mrs。DewyresignedMr。Penny。\"WonderwhereyourgrandfatherJamesis?\"sheinquiredofoneofthechildren。\"Hesaidhe’ddropinto—
night。\"
\"Outinfuel—housewithgrandfatherWilliam,\"saidJimmy。
\"Nowlet’sseewhatwecando,\"washeardspokenaboutthistimebythetranterinaprivatevoicetothebarrel,besidewhichhehadagainestablishedhimself,andwasstoopingtocutawaythecork。
\"Reuben,don’tmakesuchamesso’tappingthatbarrelasismostlymadeinthishouse,\"Mrs。Dewycriedfromthefireplace。\"I’dtapahundredwithoutwastingmorethanyoudoinone。Suchasquizzling—
—andsquirtingjobas’tisinyourhands!There,healwayswassuchaclumsymanindoors。\"
\"Ay,ay;Iknowyou’dtapahundredbeautiful,Ann——Iknowyouwould;twohundred,perhaps。ButIcan’tpromise。Thisisa’oldcask,andthewood’srottedawayaboutthetap—hole。ThehusbirdofafellerSamLawson——thateverIshouldcall’nsuch,nowhe’sdeadandgone,poorheart!——tookmeincompletelyuponthefeatofbuyingthiscask。’Reub,’sayshe——’aalwaysusedtocallmeplainReub,pooroldheart!——’Reub,’hesaid,sayshe,’thattherecask,Reub,isasgoodasnew;yes,goodasnew。’Tisawine—hogshead;thebestport—wineinthecommonwealthhavebeeninthattherecask;andyoushallhaveenfortenshillens,Reub,’——’asaid,sayshe——’he’sworthtwenty,ay,five—and—twenty,ifhe’sworthone;andanironhooportwoputroundenamongthewoodoneswillmakeenworththirtyshillensofanyman’smoney,if——’\"
\"IthinkIshouldhaveusedtheeyesthatProvidencegavemetouseaforeIpaidanytenshillensforajimcrackwine—barrel;asaintissinnerenoughnottobecheated。But’tislikeallyourfamilywas,soeasytobedeceived。\"
\"That’sastrueasgospelofthismember,\"saidReuben。
Mrs。Dewybeganasmileattheanswer,thenalteringherlipsandrefoldingthemsothatitwasnotasmile,commencedsmoothinglittleBessy’shair;thetranterhavingmeanwhilesuddenlybecomeoblivioustoconversation,occupyinghimselfinadeliberatecuttingandarrangementofsomemorebrownpaperforthebroachingoperation。
\"Ah,whocanbelievesellers!\"saidoldMichaelMailinacarefully—
cautiousvoice,bywayoftiding—overthiscriticalpointofaffairs。
\"Nooneatall,\"saidJosephBowman,inthetoneofamanfullyagreeingwitheverybody。
\"Ay,\"saidMail,inthetoneofamanwhodidnotagreewitheverybodyasarule,thoughhedidnow;\"Iknoweda’auctioneeringfelleronce——averyfriendlyfeller’awastoo。AndsoonehotdayasIwaswalkingdownthefrontstreeto’Casterbridge,jistbelowtheKing’sArms,Ipasseda’openwinderandseehiminside,stuckuponhisperch,a—sellingoff。IjistnoddedtoeninafriendlywayasIpassed,andwentmyway,andthoughtnomoreaboutit。
Well,nextday,asIwasoilenmybootsbyfuel—housedoor,ifaletterdidn’tcomewi’abillchargingmewithafeather——bed,bolster,andpillers,thatIhadbidforatMr。Taylor’ssale。Theshim—facedmartelhadknocked’emdowntomebecauseInoddedtoeninmyfriendlyway;andIhadtopayfor’emtoo。Now,Iholdthatthatwascomingitveryclose,Reuben?\"
\"’Twasclose,there’snodenying,\"saidthegeneralvoice。
\"Tooclose,’twas,\"saidReuben,intherearoftherest。\"AndastoSamLawson——poorheart!nowhe’sdeadandgonetoo!——I’llwarrant,thatifsobeI’vespentonehourinmakinghoopsforthatbarrel,I’vespentfifty,firstandlast。That’soneofmyhoops’——
touchingitwithhiselbow——’that’soneofmine,andthat,andthat,andallthese。\"
\"Ah,Samwasaman,\"saidMr。Penny,contemplatively。
\"Samwas!\"saidBowman。
\"Especiallyforadrapo’drink,\"saidthetranter。
\"Good,butnotreligious——good,\"suggestedMr。Penny。
Thetranternodded。Havingatlastmadethetapandholequiteready,\"Nowthen,Suze,bringamug,\"hesaid。\"Here’slucktous,mysonnies!\"
Thetapwentin,andtheciderimmediatelysquirtedoutinahorizontalshoweroverReuben’shands,knees,andleggings,andintotheeyesandneckofCharley,who,havingtemporarilyputoffhisgriefunderpressureofmoreinterestingproceedings,wassquattingdownandblinkingnearhisfather。
\"There’tisagain!\"saidMrs。Dewy。
\"Deviltakethehole,thecask,andSamLawsontoo,thatgoodcidershouldbewastedlikethis!\"exclaimedthetranter。\"Yourthumb!
Lendmeyourthumb,Michael!Ramitinhere,Michael!Imustgetabiggertap,mysonnies。\"
\"Idditcoldinthidetehole?\"inquiredCharleyofMichael,ashecontinuedinastoopingposturewithhisthumbinthecork—hole。
\"Whatwonderfuloddsandendsthatchielhasinhisheadtobesure!\"Mrs。Dewyadmiringlyexclaimedfromthedistance。\"Ilayawagerthathethinksmoreabouthow’tisinsidethatbarrelthaninalltheotherpartsoftheworldputtogether。\"
Allpersonspresentputonaspeakingcountenanceofadmirationfortheclevernessalludedto,inthemidstofwhichReubenreturned。
Theoperationwasthensatisfactorilyperformed;whenMichaelaroseandstretchedhisheadtotheextremestfractionofheightthathisbodywouldallowof,tore—straightenhisbackandshoulders——
thrustingouthisarmsandtwistinghisfeaturestoamassofwrinklestoemphasizethereliefaquired。Aquartortwoofthebeveragewasthenbroughttotable,atwhichallthenewarrivalsreseatedthemselveswithwide—spreadknees,theireyesmeditativelyseekingoutanyspeckorknotintheboarduponwhichthegazemightprecipitateitself。
\"Whateverisfathera—bidingoutinfuel—housesolongfor?\"saidthetranter。\"Neversuchamanasfatherfortwothings——cleavingupolddeadapple—treewoodandplayingthebass—viol。’A’dpasshislifebetweenthetwo,that’awould。\"Hesteppedtothedoorandopenedit。
\"Father!\"
\"Ay!\"rangthinlyfromroundthecorner。
\"Here’sthebarreltapped,andwealla—waiting!\"
Aseriesofdullthuds,thathadbeenheardwithoutforsometimepast,nowceased;andafterthelightofalanternhadpassedthewindowandmadewheelingraysupontheceilinginsidetheeldestoftheDewyfamilyappeared。
CHAPTERIII:THEASSEMBLEDQUIRE
WilliamDewy——otherwisegrandfatherWilliam——wasnowaboutseventy;
yetanardentvitalitystillpreservedawarmandroughenedbloomuponhisface,whichremindedgardenersofthesunnysideofariperibstone—pippin;thoughanarrowstripofforehead,thatwasprotectedfromtheweatherbylyingabovethelineofhishat—brim,seemedtobelongtosometownman,sogentlemanlywasitswhiteness。
Hiswasahumorousandkindlynature,notunmixedwithafrequentmelancholy;andhehadafirmreligiousfaith。Buttohisneighbourshehadnocharacterinparticular。Iftheysawhimpassbytheirwindowswhentheyhadbeenbottlingoffoldmead,orwhentheyhadjustbeencalledlong—headedmenwhomightdoanythingintheworldiftheychose,theythoughtconcerninghim,\"Ah,there’sthatgood—heartedman——openasachild!\"Iftheysawhimjustafterlosingashillingorhalf—a—crown,oraccidentallylettingfallapieceofcrockery,theythought,\"There’sthatpoorweak—mindedmanDewyagain!Ah,he’sneverdonemuchintheworldeither!\"Ifhepassedwhenfortuneneithersmilednorfrownedonthem,theymerelythoughthimoldWilliamDewy。
\"Ah,so’s——hereyoube!——Ah,MichaelandJosephandJohn——andyoutoo,Leaf!amerryChristmasall!Weshallhaveararelog—woodfiredirectly,Reub,toreckonbythetoughnessofthejobIhadincleaving’em。\"Ashespokehethrewdownanarmfuloflogswhichfellinthechimney—cornerwitharumble,andlookedatthemwithsomethingoftheadmiringenmityhewouldhavebestowedonlivingpeoplewhohadbeenveryobstinateinholdingtheirown。\"Comein,grandfatherJames。\"
OldJames(grandfatheronthematernalside)hadsimplycalledasavisitor。Helivedinacottagebyhimself,andmanypeopleconsideredhimamiser;some,ratherslovenlyinhishabits。HenowcameforwardfrombehindgrandfatherWilliam,andhisstoopingfigureformedawell—illuminatedpictureashepassedtowardsthefire—place。Beingbytradeamason,heworealonglinenapronreachingalmosttohistoes,corduroybreechesandgaiters,which,togetherwithhisboots,graduatedintintsofwhitish—brownbyconstantfrictionagainstlimeandstone。Healsoworeaverystifffustiancoat,havingfoldsattheelbowsandshouldersasunvaryingintheirarrangementasthoseinapairofbellows:theridgesandtheprojectingpartsofthecoatcollectivelyexhibitingashadedifferentfromthatofthehollows,whichwerelinedwithsmallditch—likeaccumulationsofstoneandmortar—dust。Theextremelylargeside—pockets,shelteredbeneathwideflaps,bulgedoutconvexlywhetheremptyorfull;andashewasoftenengagedtoworkatbuildingsfaraway——hisbreakfastsanddinnersbeingeateninastrangechimney—corner,byagardenwall,onaheapofstones,orwalkingalongtheroad——hecarriedinthesepocketsasmalltincanisterofbutter,asmallcanisterofsugar,asmallcanisteroftea,apaperofsalt,andapaperofpepper;thebread,cheese,andmeat,formingthesubstanceofhismeals,hangingupbehindhiminhisbasketamongthehammersandchisels。Ifapasser—bylookedhardathimwhenhewasdrawingforthanyofthese,\"Mybuttery,\"hesaid,withapinchedsmile。
\"Bettertryovernumberseventy—eightbeforewestart,Isuppose?\"
saidWilliam,pointingtoaheapofoldChristmas—carolbooksonasidetable。
\"Wi’allmyheart,\"saidthechoirgenerally。
\"Numberseventy—eightwasalwaysateaser——always。IcanmindhimeversinceIwasgrowingupahardboy—chap。\"
\"Buthe’sagoodtune,andworthaminto’practice,\"saidMichael。
\"Heis;thoughI’vebeenmadenoughwi’thattuneattimestoseizeenandtearenalltolinnit。Ay,he’sasplendidcarrel——there’snodenyingthat。\"
\"Thefirstlineiswellenough,\"saidMr。Spinks;\"butwhenyoucometo’O,thouman,’youmakeamesso’t。\"
\"We’llhaveanothergointoen,andseewhatwecanmakeofthemartel。Half—an—hour’shammeringatenwillconquerthetoughnessofen;I’llwarnit。\"
\"’Odrabbititall!\"saidMr。Penny,interruptingwithaflashofhisspectacles,andatthesametimeclawingatsomethinginthedepthsofalargeside—pocket。\"IfsobeIhadn’tbeenasscatter—
brainedandthirtingillasachiel,Ishouldhavecalledattheschoolhousewi’abootasIcamupalong。WhateveriscomingtomeIreallycan’testimateatall!\"
\"Thebrainhasitsweaknesses,\"murmuredMr。Spinks,wavinghisheadominously。Mr。Spinkswasconsideredtobeascholar,havingoncekeptanight—school,andalwaysspokeuptothatlevel。
\"Well,Imustcallwithenthefirstthingtomorrow。AndI’llemptmypocketo’thislasttoo,ifyoudon’tmind,Mrs。Dewy。\"Hedrewforthalast,andplaceditonatableathiselbow。Theeyesofthreeorfourfollowedit。
\"Well,\"saidtheshoemaker,seemingtoperceivethattheinteresttheobjecthadexcitedwasgreaterthanhehadanticipated,andwarrantedthelast’sbeingtakenupagainandexhibited;\"now,whosefootdoyesupposethislastwasmadefor?ItwasmadeforGeoffreyDay’sfather,overatYalburyWood。Ah,many’sthepairo’bootshe’vehadoffthelast!Well,when’adied,IusedthelastforGeoffrey,andhaveeversince,thoughalittledoctoringwaswantedtomakeitdo。Yes,averyqueernaturedlastitisnow,’ab’lieve,\"hecontinued,turningitovercaressingly。\"Now,younoticethatthere\"(pointingtoalumpofleatherbraddedtothetoe),\"that’saverybadbunionthathe’vehadeversince’awasaboy。Now,thisremarkablelargepiece\"(pointingtoapatchnailedtotheside),\"showsa’accidenthereceivedbythetreadofahorse,thatsquashedhisfoota’mosttoapomace。Thehorseshoecamfull—buttonthispoint,yousee。AndsoI’vejustbeenovertoGeoffrey’s,toknowifhewantedhisbunionalteredormadebiggerinthenewpairI’mmaking。\"
Duringthehatterpartofthisspeech,Mr。Penny’slefthandwanderedtowardsthecider—cup,asifthehandhadnoconnectionwiththepersonspeaking;andbringinghissentencetoanabruptchose,allbuttheextrememarginofthebootmaker’sfacewaseclipsedbythecircularbrimofthevessel。
\"However,Iwasgoingtosay,\"continuedPenny,puttingdownthecup,\"Ioughttohavecalledattheschool’——herehewentgropingagaininthedepthsofhispocket——’toleavethiswithoutfail,thoughIsupposethefirstthingto—morrowwilldo。\"
Henowdrewforthandplaceduponthetableaboot——small,light,andprettilyshaped——upontheheelofwhichhehadbeenoperating。
\"Thenewschoolmistress’s!\"
\"Ay,noless,MissFancyDay;asneatalittlefigureoffunaseverIsee,andjusthusband—high。\"
\"NeverGeoffrey’sdaughterFancy?\"saidBowman,asallglancespresentconvergedlikewheel—spokesuponthebootinthecentreofthem。
\"Yes,sure,\"resumedMr。Penny,regardingthebootasifthatalonewerehisauditor;\"’tisshethat’scomehereschoolmistress。Youknowedhisdaughterwasintraining?\"
\"Strange,isn’tit,forhertobehereChristmasnight,MasterPenny?\"
\"Yes;butheresheis,’ab’lieve。\"
\"Iknowhowshecomeshere——soIdo!\"chirrupedoneofthechildren。
\"Why?\"Dickinquired,withsubtleinterest。
\"Pa’sonMayboldwasafraidhecouldn’tmanageusallto—morrowatthedinner,andhetalkedo’gettingherjisttocomeoverandhelphimhandabouttheplates,andseewedidn’tmakepigsofourselves;
andthat’swhatshe’scomefor!\"
\"Andthat’stheboot,then,\"continueditsmenderimaginatively,\"thatshe’llwalktochurchintomorrowmorning。Idon’tcaretomendbootsIdon’tmake;butthere’snoknowingwhatitmayleadto,andherfatheralwayscomestome。\"
There,betweenthecider——mugandthecandle,stoodthisinterestingreceptacleofthelittleunknown’sfoot;andaveryprettybootitwas。Acharacter,infact——theflexiblebendattheinstep,theroundedlocalitiesofthesmallnestlingtoes,scratchesfromcarelessscampersnowforgotten——all,asrepeatedinthetell—taleleather,evidencinganatureandabias。Dicksurveyeditwithadelicatefeelingthathehadnorighttodosowithouthavingfirstaskedtheownerofthefoot’spermission。
\"Now,neighbours,thoughnocommoneyecanseeit,\"theshoemaker,wenton,\"amaninthetradecanseethelikenessbetweenthisbootandthatlast,althoughthatissodeformedashardlytorecalloneofGod’screatures,andthisisoneofasprettyapairasyou’dgetforten—and—sixpenceinCasterbridge。Toyou,nothing;but’tisfather’svootanddaughter’svoottome,asplainashouses。\"
\"Idon’tdoubtthere’salikeness,MasterPenny——amildlikeness——afantasticallikeness,\"saidSpinks。\"But_I_han’tgotimaginationenoughtoseeit,perhaps。\"
Mr。Pennyadjustedhisspectacles。
\"Now,I’lltellyewhathappenedtomeonceonthisverypoint。YouusedtoknowJohnsonthedairyman,William?\"
\"Ay,sure;Idid。\"
\"Well,’twasn’toppositehishouse,butalittlelowerdown——byhispaddock,infronto’ParkmazePool。Iwasa—bearingacrosstowardsBloom’sEnd,——andhoandbehold,therewasamanjustbroughtouto’
thePool,dead;hehadun’rayedforadip,butnotbeingabletopitchitjusttherehadgoneinflopoverhishead。Menlookedaten;womenlookedaten;childrenlookedaten;nobodyknoweden。Hewascoveredwi’asheet;butIcatchedsightofhisvoot,justshowingoutastheycarriedenalong。’Idon’tcarewhatnamethatmanwentby,’Isaid,inmyway,’buthe’sJohnWoodward’sbrother;
Icansweartothefamilyvoot。’AtthatverymomentupcomesJohnWoodward,weepingandteaving,’I’velostmybrother!I’velostmybrother!’\"
\"Onlytothinkofthat!\"saidMrs。Dewy。
\"’Tiswellenoughtoknowthisfootandthatfoot,\"saidMr。Spinks。
\"’Tislong—headed,infact,asfarasfeetdogo。Iknowlittle,’tistrue——Isaynomore;butshowMEaman’sfoot,andI’lltellyouthatman’sheart。\"
\"Youmustbeaclevererfeller,then,thanmankindinjineral,\"saidthetranter。
\"Well,that’snothingformetospeakof,\"returnedMr。Spinks。\"A
manhivesandlearns。MaybeI’vereadaleafortwoinmytime。I
don’twishtosayanythinglarge,mindyou;butnevertheless,maybeIhave。\"
\"Yes,Iknow,\"saidMichaelsoothingly,\"andalltheparishknows,thatye’vereadsommatofeverythinga’most,andhavebeenagreatfillerofyoungfolks’brains。Learning’saworthything,andye’vegotit,MasterSpinks。\"
\"Imakenoboast,thoughImayhavereadandthoughtalittle;andI
know——itmaybefrommuchperusing,butImakenoboast——thatbythetimeaman’sheadisfinished,’tisalmosttimeforhimtocreepunderground。Iamoverforty—five。\"
Mr。Spinksemittedahooktosignifythatifhisheadwasnotfinished,nobody’sheadevercouldbe。
\"Talkofknowingpeoplebytheirfeet!\"saidReuben。\"Rotme,mysonnies,then,ifIcantellwhatamanisfromallhismembersputtogether,oftentimes。\"
\"Butstill,lookisagooddeal,\"observedgrandfatherWilliamabsently,movingandbalancinghisheadtillthetipofgrandfatherJames’snosewasexactlyinarightlinewithWilliam’seyeandthemouthofaminiaturecavernhewasdiscerninginthefire。\"Bytheway,\"hecontinuedinafreshervoice,andlookingup,\"thatyoungcrater,theschoolmis’ess,mustbesungtoto—nightwi’therest?
Ifherearisasfineasherface,weshallhaveenoughtodotobeup—sideswithher。\"
\"Whataboutherface?\"saidyoungDewy。
\"Well,astothat,\"Mr。Spinksreplied,\"’tisafaceyoucanhardlygainsay。Averygoodpinkface,asfarasthatdogo。Still,onlyaface,whenallissaidanddone。\"
\"Come,come,EliasSpinks,sayshe’saprettymaid,andhavedonewi’her,\"saidthetranter,againpreparingtovisitthecider—
barrel。
CHAPTERIV:GOINGTHEROUNDS
Shortlyafterteno’clockthesinging—boysarrivedatthetranter’shouse,whichwasinvariablytheplaceofmeeting,andpreparationsweremadeforthestart。Theoldermenandmusiciansworethickcoats,withstiffperpendicularcollars,andcolouredhandkerchiefswoundroundandroundthenecktilltheendcametohand,overallwhichtheyjustshowedtheirearsandnoses,likepeoplelookingoverawall。Theremainder,stalwartruddymenandboys,weredressedmainlyinsnow—whitesmock—frocks,embroideredupontheshouldersandbreasts,inornamentalformsofhearts,diamonds,andzigzags。Thecider—mugwasemptiedfortheninthtime,themusic—
bookswerearranged,andthepiecesfinallydecidedupon。Theboysinthemeantimeputtheoldhorn—lanternsinorder,cutcandlesintoshortlengthstofitthelanterns;and,athinfleeceofsnowhavingfallensincetheearlypartoftheevening,thosewhohadnoleggingswenttothestableandwoundwispsofhayroundtheiranklestokeeptheinsidiousflakesfromtheinterioroftheirboots。
Mellstockwasaparishofconsiderableacreage,thehamletscomposingitlyingatamuchgreaterdistancefromeachotherthanisordinarilythecase。Henceseveralhourswereconsumedinplayingandsingingwithinhearingofeveryfamily,evenifbutasingleairwerebestowedoneach。TherewasLowerMellstock,themainvillage;halfamilefromthiswerethechurchandvicarage,andafewotherhouses,thespotbeingratherlonelynow,thoughinpastcenturiesithadbeenthemostthickly—populatedquarteroftheparish。Amilenorth—easthaythehamletofUpperMellstock,wherethetranterlived;andatotherpointsknotsofcottages,besidessolitaryfarmsteadsanddairies。
OldWilliamDewy,withthevioloncello,playedthebass;hisgrandsonDickthetrebleviolin;andReubenandMichaelMailthetenorandsecondviolinsrespectively。Thesingersconsistedoffourmenandsevenboys,uponwhomdevolvedthetaskofcarryingandattendingtothelanterns,andholdingthebooksopenfortheplayers。Directlymusicwasthetheme,oldWilliameverandinstinctivelycametothefront。
\"Nowmind,neighbours,\"hesaid,astheyallwentoutonebyoneatthedoor,hehimselfholdingitajarandregardingthemwithacriticalfaceastheypassed,likeashepherdcountingouthissheep。\"Youtwocounter—boys,keepyourearsopentoMichael’sfingering,anddon’tyegostrayingintothetreblepartalongo’
Dickandhisset,asyedidlastyear;andmindthisespeciallywhenwebein\"Arise,andhail。\"BillyChimlen,don’tyousingquitesoravingmadasyoufainwould;and,allo’ye,whateveryedo,keepfrommakingagreatscuffleonthegroundwhenwegoinatpeople’sgates;butgoquietly,soastostrikeupallofasudden,likespirits。\"
\"FarmerLedlow’sfirst?\"
\"FarmerLedlow’sfirst;therestasusual。\"
\"And,Voss,\"saidthetranterterminatively,\"youkeephouseheretillabouthalf—pasttwo;thenheatthemetheglinandciderinthewarmeryou’llfindturnedupuponthecopper;andbringitwi’thevictualstochurch—hatch,asth’stknow。\"
Justbeforethechockstrucktwelvetheylightedthelanternsandstarted。Themoon,inherthirdquarter,hadrisensincethesnowstorm;butthedenseaccumulationofsnow—cloudweakenedherpowertoafainttwilight,whichwasratherpervasiveofthelandscapethantraceabletothesky。Thebreezehadgonedown,andtherustleoftheirfeetandtonesoftheirspeechechoedwithanalertreboundfromeverypost,boundary—stone,andancientwalltheypassed,evenwherethedistanceoftheecho’soriginwaslessthanafewyards。Beyondtheirownslightnoisesnothingwastobeheard,savetheoccasionalbarkoffoxesinthedirectionofYalburyWood,orthebrushofarabbitamongthegrassnowandthen,asitscamperedoutoftheirway。
Mostoftheoutlyinghomesteadsandhamletshadbeenvisitedbyabouttwoo’clock;theythenpassedacrosstheoutskirtsofawoodedparktowardthemainvillage,nobodybeingathomeattheManor。