our village-第17部分
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thirty or forty acres； perhaps； of arable land； which the owner and his sons cultivated themselves； whilst the wife and daughters assisted in the husbandry； and eked out the slender earnings by the produce of the dairy； the poultry yard； and the orchard；an order of cultivators now passing rapidly away； but in which much of the best part of the English character； its industry； its frugality； its sound sense； and its kindness might be found。 Farmer Allen himself is an excellent specimen； the cheerful venerable old man with his long white hair； and his bright grey eye； and his wife is a still finer。 They have had a hard struggle to win through the world and keep their little property undivided； but good management and good principles； and the assistance afforded them by an admirable son； who left our village a poor 'prentice boy； and is now a partner in a great house in London have enabled them to overcome all the difficulties of these trying times； and they are now enjoying the peaceful evenings of a well…spent life as free from care and anxiety as their best friends could desire。
Ah！ there is Mr。 Allen in the orchard； the beautiful orchard； with its glorious gardens of pink and white； its pearly pear…blossoms and coral apple…buds。 What a flush of bloom it is！ How brightly delicate it appears； thrown into strong relief by the dark house and the weather…stained barn； in this soft evening light！ The very grass is strewed with the snowy petals of the pear and the cherry。 And there sits Mrs。 Allen； feeding her poultry； with her three little grand…daughters from London； pretty fairies from three years old to five （only two…and…twenty months elapsed between the birth of the eldest and the youngest） playing round her feet。
Mrs。 Allen； my dear Mrs。 Allen； has been that rare thing a beauty； and although she be now an old woman I had almost said that she is so still。 Why should I not say so？ Nobleness of feature and sweetness of expression are surely as delightful in age as in youth。 Her face and figure are much like those which are stamped indelibly on the memory of every one who ever saw that grand specimen of womanMrs。 Siddons。 The outline of Mrs。 Allen's face is exactly the same； but there is more softness； more gentleness； a more feminine composure in the eye and in the smile。 Mrs。 Allen never played Lady Macbeth。 Her hair； almost as black as at twenty； is parted on her large fair forehead； and combed under her exquisitely neat and snowy cap； a muslin neckerchief； a grey stuff gown and a white apron complete the picture。
There she sits under an old elder…tree which flings its branches over her like a canopy； whilst the setting sun illumines her venerable figure and touches the leaves with an emerald light； there she sits； placid and smiling； with her spectacles in her hand and a measure of barley on her lap； into which the little girls are dipping their chubby hands and scattering the corn amongst the ducks and chickens with unspeakable glee。 But those ingrates the poultry don't seem so pleased and thankful as they ought to be； they mistrust their young feeders。 All domestic animals dislike children； partly from an instinctive fear of their tricks and their thoughtlessness； partly； I suspect； from jealousy。 Jealousy seems a strange tragic passion to attribute to the inmates of the basse cour；but only look at that strutting fellow of a bantam cock （evidently a favourite）； who sidles up to his old mistress with an air half affronted and half tender； turning so scornfully from the barley…corns which Annie is flinging towards him； and say if he be not as jealous as Othello？ Nothing can pacify him but Mrs。 Allen's notice and a dole from her hand。 See； she is calling to him and feeding him； and now how he swells out his feathers； and flutters his wings； and erects his glossy neck； and struts and crows and pecks； proudest and happiest of bantams； the pet and glory of the poultry yard！
In the meantime my own pet May； who has all this while been peeping into every hole； and penetrating every nook and winding of the dell； in hopes to find another rabbit； has returned to my side； and is sliding her snake…like head into my hand； at once to invite the caress which she likes so well； and to intimate； with all due respect； that it is time to go home。 The setting sun gives the same warning； and in a moment we are through the dell； the field； and the gate； past the farm and the mill； and hanging over the bridge that crosses the Loddon river。
What a sunset！ how golden！ how beautiful！ The sun just disappearing； and the narrow liny clouds； which a few minutes ago lay like soft vapoury streaks along the horizon； lighted up with a golden splendour that the eye can scarcely endure； and those still softer clouds which floated above them wreathing and curling into a thousand fantastic forms； as thin and changeful as summer smoke； now defined and deepened into grandeur； and edged with ineffable； insufferable light！ Another minute and the brilliant orb totally disappears； and the sky above grows every moment more varied and more beautiful as the dazzling golden lines are mixed with glowing red and gorgeous purple； dappled with small dark specks； and mingled with such a blue as the egg of the hedge…sparrow。 To look up at that glorious sky； and then to see that magnificent picture reflected in the clear and lovely Loddon water； is a pleasure never to be described and never forgotten。 My heart swells and my eyes fill as I write of it； and think of the immeasurable majesty of nature； and the unspeakable goodness of God； who has spread an enjoyment so pure； so peaceful； and so intense before the meanest and the lowliest of His creatures。
THE COWSLIP…BALL。
May 16th。There are moments in life when； without any visible or immediate cause； the spirits sink and fail； as it were； under the mere pressure of existence： moments of unaccountable depression； when one is weary of one's very thoughts； haunted by images that will not departimages many and various； but all painful； friends lost； or changed； or dead； hopes disappointed even in their accomplishment； fruitless regrets； powerless wishes； doubt and fear； and self…distrust； and self…disapprobation。 They who have known these feelings （and who is there so happy as not to have known some of them？） will understand why Alfieri became powerless； and Froissart dull； and why even needle…work； the most effectual sedative； that grand soother and composer of woman's distress； fails to comfort me to…day。 I will go out into the air this cool； pleasant afternoon； and try what that will do。 I fancy that exercise or exertion of any kind； is the true specific for nervousness。 'Fling but a stone； the giant dies。' I will go to the meadows； the beautiful meadows！ and I will have my materials of happiness； Lizzy and May； and a basket for flowers； and we will make a cowslip…ball。 'Did you ever see a cowslip…ball； my Lizzy？' 'No。''Come away； then； make haste！ run； Lizzy！'
And on we go； fast； fast！ down the road； across the lea； past the workhouse； along by the great pond； till we slide into the deep narrow lane； whose hedges seem to meet over the water； and win our way to the little farmhouse at the end。 'Through the farmyard； Lizzy； over the gate； never mind the cows； they are quiet enough。' 'I don't mind 'em；' said Miss Lizzy； boldly and truly； and with a proud affronted air； displeased at being thought to mind anything； and showing by her attitude and manner some design of proving her courage by an attack on the largest of the herd； in the shape of a pull by the tail。 'I don't mind 'em。''I know you don't； Lizzy； but let them alone； and don't chase the turkey…cock。 Come to me； my dear！' and； for a wonder； Lizzy came。
In the meantime； my other pet； Mayflower； had also gotten into a scrape。 She had driven about a huge unwieldy sow； till the animal's grunting had disturbed the repose of a still more enormous Newfoundland dog； the guardian of the yard。 Out he sallied； growling； from the depth of his kennel； erecting his tail； and shaking his long chain。 May's attention was instantly diverted from the sow to this new playmate； friend or foe； she cared not which； and he of the kennel； seeing his charge unhurt； and out of danger； was at leisure to observe the charms of his fair enemy； as she frolicked round him； always beyond the reach of his chain； yet always； with the natural instinctive coquetry of her sex； alluring him to the pursuit which she knew to be vain。 I never saw a prettier flirtation。 At last the noble animal； wearied out； retired to the inmost recesses of his habitation； and would not even approach her when she stood right before the entrance。 'You are properly served； May。 Come along； Lizzy。 Across this wheatfield； and now over the gate。 Stop！ let me lift you down。 No jumping； no breaking of necks； Lizzy！' And here we are in the meadows； and out of the world。 Robinson Crusoe； in his lonely island； had scarcely a more complete； or a more beautiful solitude。
These meadows consist of a double row of small enclosures of rich grass…land； a mile or two in length； sloping down from high arable grounds on either side； to a little nameless brook that winds between them with a course which； in its infinite variety； clearness； and rapidity； seems to emulate the bold rivers of the north； of whom； far more than of our lazy southern streams； our rivulet presents a miniature likeness。 Never was water more exquisitely tricksy：now darting over the bright pebbles； sparkling and flashing in the light with a bubbling music； as sweet and wild as the song of the woodlark； now stretching quietly along； giving back the rich tufts of the golden marsh…marigolds which grow on its margin； now sweeping round a fine reach of green grass； rising steeply into a high mound； a mimic promontory； whilst the other side sinks softly away； like some tiny bay； and the water flows between； so clear； so wide； so shallow； that Lizzy； longing for adventure； is sure she could cross unwetted； now dashing through two sand…banks； a torrent deep and narrow； which May clears at a bound； now sleeping； half hidden； beneath the alders； and hawthorns； and wild roses； with which the banks are so profusely and variously fring
