the trumpet-major-第23部分

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o'　Sundays　as　far　as　that　goes。'

The　sailor　now　untied　a　small　wooden　box　about　a　foot　square；
perforated　with　holes。　　'Here　are　two　marmosets；'　he　continued。
'You　can't　see　them　tonight；　but　they　are　beautiesthe　tufted
sort。'

'What's　a　marmoset？'　said　the　miller。

'O；　a　little　kind　of　monkey。　　They　bite　strangers　rather　hard；　but
you'll　soon　get　used　to　'em。'

'They　are　wrapped　up　in　something；　I　declare；'　said　Mrs。　Garland；
peeping　in　through　a　chink。

'Yes；　that's　my　flannel　shirt；'　said　Bob　apologetically。　　'They
suffer　terribly　from　cold　in　this　climate；　poor　things！　and　I　had
nothing　better　to　give　them。　　Well；　now；　in　this　next　box　I've　got
things　of　different　sorts。'

The　latter　was　a　regular　seaman's　chest；　and　out　of　it　he　produced
shells　of　many　sizes　and　colours；　carved　ivories；　queer　little
caskets；　gorgeous　feathers；　and　several　silk　handkerchiefs；　which
articles　were　spread　out　upon　all　the　available　tables　and　chairs
till　the　house　began　to　look　like　a　bazaar。

'What　a　lovely　shawl！'　exclaimed　Widow　Garland；　in　her　interest
forestalling　the　regular　exhibition　by　looking　into　the　box　at　what
was　coming。

'O　yes；'　said　the　mate；　pulling　out　a　couple　of　the　most　bewitching
shawls　that　eyes　ever　saw。　　'One　of　these　I　am　going　to　give　to　that
young　lady　I　am　shortly　to　be　married　to；　you　know；　Mrs。　Garland。
Has　father　told　you　about　it？　　Matilda　Johnson；　of　Southampton；
that's　her　name。'

'Yes；　we　know　all　about　it；'　said　the　widow。

'Well；　I　shall　give　one　of　these　shawls　to　herbecause；　of　course；
I　ought　to。'

'Of　course；'　said　she。

'But　the　other　one　I've　got　no　use　for　at　all；　and；'　he　continued；
looking　round；　'will　you　have　it；　Miss　Anne？　　You　refused　the
parrot；　and　you　ought　not　to　refuse　this。'

'Thank　you；'　said　Anne　calmly；　but　much　distressed；　'but　really　I
don't　want　it；　and　couldn't　take　it。'

'But　do　have　it！'　said　Bob　in　hurt　tones；　Mrs。　Garland　being　all　the
while　on　tenter…hooks　lest　Anne　should　persist　in　her　absurd
refusal。

'Why；　there's　another　reason　why　you　ought　to！'　said　he；　his　face
lighting　up　with　recollections。　　'It　never　came　into　my　head　till
this　moment　that　I　used　to　be　your　beau　in　a　humble　sort　of　way。
Faith；　so　I　did；　and　we　used　to　meet　at　places　sometimes；　didn't　we…
…that　is；　when　you　were　not　too　proud；　and　once　I　gave　you；　or
somebody　else；　a　bit　of　my　hair　in　fun。'

'It　was　somebody　else；'　said　Anne　quickly。

'Ah；　perhaps　it　was；'　said　Bob　innocently。　　'But　it　was　you　I　used
to　meet；　or　try　to；　I　am　sure。　　Well；　I've　never　thought　of　that
boyish　time　for　years　till　this　minute！　　I　am　sure　you　ought　to
accept　some　one　gift；　dear；　out　of　compliment　to　those　old　times！'

Anne　drew　back　and　shook　her　head；　for　she　would　not　trust　her
voice。

'Well；　Mrs。　Garland；　then　you　shall　have　it；'　said　Bob；　tossing　the
shawl　to　that　ready　receiver。　　'If　you　don't；　upon　my　life　I　will
throw　it　out　to　the　first　beggar　I　see。　　Now；　here's　a　parcel　of　cap
ribbons　of　the　splendidest　sort　I　could　get。　　Have　thesedo；　Anne！'

'Yes；　do；'　said　Mrs。　Garland。

'I　promised　them　to　Matilda；'　continued　Bob；　'but　I　am　sure　she
won't　want　'em；　as　she　has　got　some　of　her　own：　　and　I　would　as　soon
see　them　upon　your　head；　my　dear；　as　upon　hers。'

'I　think　you　had　better　keep　them　for　your　bride　if　you　have
promised　them　to　her；'　said　Mrs。　Garland　mildly。

'It　wasn't　exactly　a　promise。　　I　just　said；　〃Til；　there's　some　cap
ribbons　in　my　box；　if　you　would　like　to　have　them。〃　　But　she's　got
enough　things　already　for　any　bride　in　creation。　　Anne；　now　you
shall　have　'emupon　my　soul　you　shallor　I'll　fling　them　down　the
mill…tail！'

Anne　had　meant　to　be　perfectly　firm　in　refusing　everything；　for
reasons　obvious　even　to　that　poor　waif；　the　meanest　capacity；　but
when　it　came　to　this　point　she　was　absolutely　compelled　to　give　in；
and　reluctantly　received　the　cap　ribbons　in　her　arms；　blushing
fitfully；　and　with　her　lip　trembling　in　a　motion　which　she　tried　to
exhibit　as　a　smile。

'What　would　Tilly　say　if　she　knew！'　said　the　miller　slily。

'Yes；　indeedand　it　is　wrong　of　him！'　Anne　instantly　cried；　tears
running　down　her　face　as　she　threw　the　parcel　of　ribbons　on　the
floor。　　'You'd　better　bestow　your　gifts　where　you　bestow　your　ll
love；　Mr。　Lovedaythat's　what　I　say！'　　And　Anne　turned　her　back　and
went　away。

'I'll　take　them　for　her；'　said　Mrs。　Garland；　quickly　picking　up　the
parcel。

'Now　that's　a　pity；'　said　Bob；　looking　regretfully　after　Anne。　　'I
didn't　remember　that　she　was　a　quick…tempered　sort　of　girl　at　all。
Tell　her；　Mrs。　Garland；　that　I　ask　her　pardon。　　But　of　course　I
didn't　know　she　was　too　proud　to　accept　a　little　presenthow　should
I？　　Upon　my　life　if　it　wasn't　for　Matilda　I'dWell；　that　can't　be；
of　course。'

'What's　this？'　said　Mrs。　Garland；　touching　with　her　foot　a　large
package　that　had　been　laid　down　by　Bob　unseen。

'That's　a　bit　of　baccy　for　myself；'　said　Robert　meekly。

The　examination　of　presents　at　last　ended；　and　the　two　families
parted　for　the　night。　　When　they　were　alone；　Mrs。　Garland　said　to
Anne；　'What　a　close　girl　you　are！　　I　am　sure　I　never　knew　that　Bob
Loveday　and　you　had　walked　together：　　you　must　have　been　mere
children。'

'O　yesso　we　were；'　said　Anne；　now　quite　recovered。　　'It　was　when
we　first　came　here；　about　a　year　after　father　died。　　We　did　not　walk
together　in　any　regular　way。　　You　know　I　have　never　thought　the
Lovedays　high　enough　for　me。　　It　was　only　justnothing　at　all；　and
I　had　almost　forgotten　it。'

It　is　to　be　hoped　that　somebody's　sins　were　forgiven　her　that　night
before　she　went　to　bed。

When　Bob　and　his　father　were　left　alone；　the　miller　said；　'Well；
Robert；　about　this　young　woman　of　thineMatilda　what's　her　name？'

'Yes；　fatherMatilda　Johnson。　　I　was　just　going　to　tell　ye　about
her。'

The　miller　nodded；　and　sipped　his　mug。

'Well；　she　is　an　excellent　body；'　continued　Bob；　'that　can　truly　be
saida　real　charmer；　you　knowa　nice　good　comely　young　woman；　a
miracle　of　genteel　breeding；　you　know；　and　all　that。　　She　can　throw
her　hair　into　the　nicest　curls；　and　she's　got　splendid　gowns　and
headclothes。　　In　short；　you　might　call　her　a　land　mermaid。　　She'll
make　such　a　first…rate　wife　as　there　never　was。'

'No　doubt　she　will；'　said　the　miller；　'for　I　have　never　known　thee
wanting　in　sense　in　a　jineral　way。'　　He　turned　his　cup　round　on　its
axis　till　the　handle　had　travelled　a　complete　circle。　　'How　long　did
you　say　in　your　letter　that　you　had　known　her？'

'A　fortnight。'

'Not　VERY　long。'

'It　don't　sound　long；　'tis　true；　and　'twas　really　longer'twas
fifteen　days　and　a　quarter。　　But　hang　it；　father；　I　could　see　in　the
twinkling　of　an　eye　that　the　girl　would　do。　　I　know　a　woman　well
enough　when　I　see　herI　ought　to；　indeed；　having　been　so　much　about
the　world。　　Now；　for　instance；　there's　Widow　Garland　and　her
daughter。　　The　girl　is　a　nice　little　thing；　but　the　old　womanO
no！'　　Bob　shook　his　head。

'What　of　her？'　said　his　father；　slightly　shifting　in　his　chair。

'Well；　she's；　she'sI　mean；　I　should　never　have　chose　her；　you
know。　　She's　of　a　nice　disposition；　and　young　for　a　widow　with　a
grown…up　daughter；　but　if　all　the　men　had　been　like　me　she　would
never　have　had　a　husband。　　I　like　her　in　some　respects；　but　she's　a
style　of　beauty　I　don't　care　for。'

'O；　if　'tis　only　looks　you　are　thinking　of；'　said　the　miller；　much
relieved；　'there's　nothing　to　be　said；　of　course。　　Though　there's
many　a　duchess　worse…looking；　if　it　comes　to　argument；　as　you　would
find；　my　son；'　he　added；　with　a　sense　of　having　been　mollified　too
soon。

The　mate's　thoughts　were　elsewhere　by　this　time。

'As　to　my　marrying　Matilda；　thinks　I；　here's　one　of　the　very
genteelest　sort；　and　I　may　as　well　do　the　job　at　once。　　So　I　chose
her。　　She's　a　dear　girl；　there's　nobody　like　her；　search　where　you
will。'

'How　many　did　you　choose　her　out　from？'　inquired　his　father。

'Well；　she　was　the　only　young　woman　I　happened　to　know　in
Southampton；　that's　true。　　But　what　of　that？　　It　would　have　been　all
the　same　if　I　had　known　a　hundred。'

'Her　father　is　in　business　near　the　docks；　I　suppose？'

'Well；　no。　　In　short；　I　didn't　see　her　father。'

'Her　mother？'

'Her　mother？　　No；　I　didn't。　　I　think　her　mother　is　dead；　but　she　has
got　a　very　rich　aunt　living　at　Melchester。　　I　didn't　see　her　aunt；
because　there　wasn't　time　to　go；　but　of　course　we　shall　know　her
when　we　are　married。'

'Yes；　yes；　of　course；'　said　the　miller；　trying　to　feel　quite
satisfied。　　'And　she　will　soon　be　here？'

'Ay；　she's　coming　soon；'　said　Bob。　　'She　has　gone　to　this　aunt's　at
Melchester　to　get　her　things　packed；　and　suchlike；　or　she　would　have
come　with　me。　　I　am　going　to　meet　the　coach　at　the　King's　Arms；
Casterbridge；　on　Sunday；　at　one　o'clock。　　To　show　what　a　capital
sort　of　wife　she'll　be；　I　may　tell　you　that　she　wanted　to　come　by
the　Mercury；　because　'tis　a　little　cheaper　than　the　other。　　But　I
said；　〃For　once　in　your　life　do　it　well；　and　come　by　the　Royal　Mail；
and　I'll　pay。〃　　I　can　have　the　pony　and　trap　to　fetch　her；　I
suppose；　as　'tis　too　far　for　her　to　walk？'

'Of　course　you　can；　Bob；　or　anything　else。　　And　I'll　do　all　I　can　to
give　you　a　good　wedding　feast。'



XVI。　　THEY　MAKE　READY　FOR　THE　ILLUSTRIOUS　STRANGER

Preparations　for　Matilda's　welcome；　and　for　the　event　which　was　to
follow；　at　once　occupied　the　attention　of　the　mill。　　The　miller　and
his　man　had　but　dim　notions　of　housewifery　on　any　large　scale；　so
the　great　wedding　cleaning　was　kindly　supervised　by　Mrs。　Garland；
Bob　being　mostly　away　during　the　day　with　his　brother；　the
trumpet…major；　on　various　errands；　one　of　which　was　to　buy　paint　and
varnish　for　the　gig　that　Matilda　was　to　be　fetched　in；　which　he　had
determined　to　decorate　with　his　own　hands。

By　the　widow's　direction　the　old　familiar　incrustation　of　shining
dirt；　imprinted　along　the　back　of　the　settle　by　the　heads　of
countless　jolly　sitters；　was　scrubbed　and　scraped　away；　the　brown
circle　round　the　nail　whereon　the　miller　hung　his　hat；　stained　by
the　brim　in　wet　weather；　was　whitened　over；　the　tawny　smudges　of
bygone　shoulders　in　the　passage　were　removed　without　regard　to　a
certain　genial　and　historical　value　which　the