our village-第10部分

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y　that　magnificent　plume；　there　is　something　that　does　almost　as　well；Lizzy　and　Mayflower　in　the　midst　of　a　game　at　romps；　'making　a　sunshine　in　the　shady　place；'　Lizzy　rolling；　laughing；　clapping　her　hands；　and　glowing　like　a　rose；　Mayflower　playing　about　her　like　summer　lightning；　dazzling　the　eyes　with　her　sudden　turns；　her　leaps；　her　bounds；　her　attacks；　and　her　escapes。　　She　darts　round　the　lovely　little　girl；　with　the　same　momentary　touch　that　the　swallow　skims　over　the　water；　and　has　exactly　the　same　power　of　flight；　the　same　matchless　ease　and　strength　and　grace。　　What　a　pretty　picture　they　would　make；　what　a　pretty　foreground　they　do　make　to　the　real　landscape！　　The　road　winding　down　the　hill　with　a　slight　bend；　like　that　in　the　High　Street　at　Oxford；　a　waggon　slowly　ascending；　and　a　horseman　passing　it　at　a　full　trot（ah！　Lizzy；　Mayflower　will　certainly　desert　you　to　have　a　gambol　with　that　blood…horse！）　half…way　down；　just　at　the　turn；　the　red　cottage　of　the　lieutenant；　covered　with　vines；　the　very　image　of　comfort　and　content；　farther　down；　on　the　opposite　side；　the　small　white　dwelling　of　the　little　mason；　then　the　limes　and　the　rope…walk；　then　the　village　street；　peeping　through　the　trees；　whose　clustering　tops　hide　all　but　the　chimneys；　and　various　roofs　of　the　houses；　and　here　and　there　some　angle　of　a　wall；　farther　on；　the　elegant　town　of　B；　with　its　fine　old　church…towers　and　spires；　the　whole　view　shut　in　by　a　range　of　chalky　hills　and　over　every　part　of　the　picture；　trees　so　profusely　scattered；　that　it　appears　like　a　woodland　scene；　with　glades　and　villages　intermixed。　　The　trees　are　of　all　kinds　and　all　hues；　chiefly　the　finely…shaped　elm；　of　so　bright　and　deep　a　green；　the　tips　of　whose　high　outer　branches　drop　down　with　such　a　crisp　and　garland…like　richness；　and　the　oak；　whose　stately　form　is　just　now　so　splendidly　adorned　by　the　sunny　colouring　of　the　young　leaves。　Turning　again　up　the　hill；　we　find　ourselves　on　that　peculiar　charm　of　English　scenery；　a　green　common；　divided　by　the　road；　the　right　side　fringed　by　hedgerows　and　trees；　with　cottages　and　farmhouses　irregularly　placed；　and　terminated　by　a　double　avenue　of　noble　oaks；　the　left；　prettier　still；　dappled　by　bright　pools　of　water；　and　islands　of　cottages　and　cottage…gardens；　and　sinking　gradually　down　to　cornfields　and　meadows；　and　an　old　farmhouse；　with　pointed　roofs　and　clustered　chimneys；　looking　out　from　its　blooming　orchard；　and　backed　by　woody　hills。　　The　common　is　itself　the　prettiest　part　of　the　prospect；　half　covered　with　low　furze；　whose　golden　blossoms　reflect　so　intensely　the　last　beams　of　the　setting　sun；　and　alive　with　cows　and　sheep；　and　two　sets　of　cricketers；　one　of　young　men；　surrounded　by　spectators；　some　standing；　some　sitting；　some　stretched　on　the　grass；　all　taking　a　delighted　interest　in　the　game；　the　other；　a　merry　group　of　little　boys；　at　a　humble　distance；　for　whom　even　cricket　is　scarcely　lively　enough；　shouting；　leaping；　and　enjoying　themselves　to　their　hearts'　content。　　But　cricketers　and　country　boys　are　too　important　persons　in　our　village　to　be　talked　of　merely　as　figures　in　the　landscape。　　They　deserve　an　individual　introductionan　essay　to　themselvesand　they　shall　have　it。　　No　fear　of　forgetting　the　good…humoured　faces　that　meet　us　in　our　walks　every　day。



WALKS　IN　THE　COUNTRY。

Frost。

January　23rd。At　noon　to…day　I　and　my　white　greyhound；　Mayflower；　set　out　for　a　walk　into　a　very　beautiful　world；a　sort　of　silent　fairyland；a　creation　of　that　matchless　magician　the　hoar…frost。　There　had　been　just　snow　enough　to　cover　the　earth　and　all　its　covers　with　one　sheet　of　pure　and　uniform　white；　and　just　time　enough　since　the　snow　had　fallen　to　allow　the　hedges　to　be　freed　of　their　fleecy　load；　and　clothed　with　a　delicate　coating　of　rime。　　The　atmosphere　was　deliciously　calm；　soft；　even　mild；　in　spite　of　the　thermometer；　no　perceptible　air；　but　a　stillness　that　might　almost　be　felt；　the　sky；　rather　gray　than　blue；　throwing　out　in　bold　relief　the　snow…covered　roofs　of　our　village；　and　the　rimy　trees　that　rise　above　them；　and　the　sun　shining　dimly　as　through　a　veil；　giving　a　pale　fair　light；　like　the　moon；　only　brighter。　　There　was　a　silence；　too；　that　might　become　the　moon；　as　we　stood　at　our　little　gate　looking　up　the　quiet　street；　a　Sabbath…like　pause　of　work　and　play；　rare　on　a　work…day；　nothing　was　audible　but　the　pleasant　hum　of　frost；　that　low　monotonous　sound；　which　is　perhaps　the　nearest　approach　that　life　and　nature　can　make　to　absolute　silence。　　The　very　waggons　as　they　come　down　the　hill　along　the　beaten　track　of　crisp　yellowish　frost…dust；　glide　along　like　shadows；　even　May's　bounding　footsteps；　at　her　height　of　glee　and　of　speed；　fall　like　snow　upon　snow。

But　we　shall　have　noise　enough　presently：　　May　has　stopped　at　Lizzy's　door；　and　Lizzy；　as　she　sat　on　the　window…sill　with　her　bright　rosy　face　laughing　through　the　casement；　has　seen　her　and　disappeared。　　She　is　coming。　　No！　　The　key　is　turning　in　the　door；　and　sounds　of　evil　omen　issue　through　the　keyholesturdy　'let　me　outs；'　and　'I　will　goes；'　mixed　with　shrill　cries　on　May　and　on　me　from　Lizzy；　piercing　through　a　low　continuous　harangue；　of　which　the　prominent　parts　are　apologies；　chilblains；　sliding；　broken　bones；　lollypops；　rods；　and　gingerbread；　from　Lizzy's　careful　mother。　'Don't　scratch　the　door；　May！　　Don't　roar　so；　my　Lizzy！　　We'll　call　for　you　as　we　come　back。'　　'I'll　go　now！　　Let　me　out！　　I　will　go！'　are　the　last　words　of　Miss　Lizzy。　　Mem。　　Not　to　spoil　that　childif　I　can　help　it。　　But　I　do　think　her　mother　might　have　let　the　poor　little　soul　walk　with　us　to…day。　　Nothing　worse　for　children　than　coddling。　　Nothing　better　for　chilblains　than　exercise。　　Besides；　I　don't　believe　she　has　anyand　as　to　breaking　her　bones　in　sliding；　I　don't　suppose　there's　a　slide　on　the　common。　　These　murmuring　cogitations　have　brought　us　up　the　hill；　and　half…way　across　the　light　and　airy　common；　with　its　bright　expanse　of　snow　and　its　clusters　of　cottages；　whose　turf　fires　send　such　wreaths　of　smoke　sailing　up　the　air；　and　diffuse　such　aromatic　fragrance　around。　　And　now　comes　the　delightful　sound　of　childish　voices；　ringing　with　glee　and　merriment　almost　from　beneath　our　feet。　　Ah；　Lizzy；　your　mother　was　right！　　They　are　shouting　from　that　deep　irregular　pool；　all　glass　now；　where；　on　two　long；　smooth；　liny　slides；　half　a　dozen　ragged　urchins　are　slipping　along　in　tottering　triumph。　　Half　a　dozen　steps　bring　us　to　the　bank　right　above　them。　　May　can　hardly　resist　the　temptation　of　joining　her　friends；　for　most　of　the　varlets　are　of　her　acquaintance；　especially　the　rogue　who　leads　the　slide；he　with　the　brimless　hat；　whose　bronzed　complexion　and　white　flaxen　hair；　reversing　the　usual　lights　and　shadows　of　the　human　countenance；　give　so　strange　and　foreign　a　look　to　his　flat　and　comic　features。　　This　hobgoblin；　Jack　Rapley　by　name；　is　May's　great　crony；　and　she　stands　on　the　brink　of　the　steep；　irregular　descent；　her　black　eyes　fixed　full　upon　him；　as　if　she　intended　him　the　favour　of　jumping　on　his　head。　　She　does：　　she　is　down；　and　upon　him；　but　Jack　Rapley　is　not　easily　to　be　knocked　off　his　feet。　　He　saw　her　coming；　and　in　the　moment　of　her　leap　sprung　dexterously　off　the　slide　on　the　rough　ice；　steadying　himself　by　the　shoulder　of　the　next　in　the　file；　which　unlucky　follower；　thus　unexpectedly　checked　in　his　career；　fell　plump　backwards；　knocking　down　the　rest　of　the　line　like　a　nest　of　card…houses。　　There　is　no　harm　done；　but　there　they　lie；　roaring；　kicking；　sprawling；　in　every　attitude　of　comic　distress；　whilst　Jack　Rapley　and　Mayflower；　sole　authors　of　this　calamity；　stand　apart　from　the　throng；　fondling；　and　coquetting；　and　complimenting　each　other；　and　very　visibly　laughing；　May　in　her　black　eyes；　Jack　in　his　wide；　close…shut　mouth；　and　his　whole　monkey…face；　at　their　comrades'　mischances。　　I　think；　Miss　May；　you　may　as　well　come　up　again；　and　leave　Master　Rapley　to　fight　your　battles。　　He'll　get　out　of　the　scrape。　　He　is　a　rustic　wita　sort　of　Robin　Goodfellowthe　sauciest；　idlest；　cleverest；　best…natured　boy　in　the　parish；　always　foremost　in　mischief；　and　always　ready　to　do　a　good　turn。　　The　sages　of　our　village　predict　sad　things　of　Jack　Rapley；　so　that　I　am　sometimes　a　little　ashamed　to　confess；　before　wise　people；　that　I　have　a　lurking　predilection　for　him　（in　common　with　other　naughty　ones）；　and　that　I　like　to　hear　him　talk　to　May　almost　as　well　as　she　does。　　'Come；　May！'　and　up　she　springs；　as　light　as　a　bird。　　The　road　is　gay　now；　carts　and　post…chaises；　and　girls　in　red　cloaks；　and；　afar　off；　looking　almost　like　a　toy；　the　coach。　　It　meets　us　fast　and　soon。　　How　much　happier　the　walkers　look　than　the　ridersespecially　the　frost…bitten　gentleman；　and　the　shivering　lady　with　the　invisible　face；　sole　passengers　of　that　commodious　machine！　　Hooded；　veiled；　and　bonneted；　as　she　is；　one　sees　from　her　attitude　how　miserable　she　would　look　uncovered。

Another　pond；　and　another　noise　of　children。　　More　sliding？　　Oh　no！　This　is　a　sport　of　higher　pretension。　　Our　good　neighbour；　the　lieutenant；　skating；　and　his　own　pretty　little　boys；　and　two　or　three　other　four…year…old　elves；　standing　on　the　brink　in　an　ecstasy　of　joy　and　wonder！　　Oh　what　happy　spectators！　　And　what　a　happy　performer！　　They　admiring；　he　admired；　with　an　ardour　and　sincerity　never　excited　by　all　the　quadrilles　and　the　spread…eagles　of　the　Seine　and　the　Serpentine。　　He　really　skates　well　though；　and　I　am　glad　I　came　this　way；　for；　with　all　the　father's　feelings　sitting　gaily　at　his　heart；　it　must　still　gratify　the　pride　of　skill　to　have　one　spectator　at　that　solitary　pond　who　has　seen　skating　before。

Now　we　have　reached　the　trees；the　beautiful　trees！　never　so　beautiful　as　to…day。　　Imagine　the　effect　of　a　straight　and　regular　double　avenue　of　oaks；　nearly　a　mile　long；　arching　overhead；　and　closing　into　perspective　like　the　roof　and　columns　of　a　cathedral；　every　tree　and　branch　incrusted　with　the　bright　and　delicate　congelation　of　hoar…frost；　white　and　pure　as　snow；　delicate　and　defined　as　carved　ivory。　　How　beautiful　it　is；　how　uniform；　how　various；　how　filling；　how　satiating　to　the　eye　and　to　the　mind　above　all；　how　melancholy！　　There　is　a　thrilling　awfulness；　an　intense　feeling　of　simple　power