the trumpet-major-第24部分
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bygone shoulders in the passage were removed without regard to a
certain genial and historical value which they had acquired。 The
face of the clock； coated with verdigris as thick as a diachylon
plaister； was rubbed till the figures emerged into day； while；
inside the case of the same chronometer； the cobwebs that formed
triangular hammocks； which the pendulum could hardly wade through；
were cleared away at one swoop。
Mrs。 Garland also assisted at the invasion of worm…eaten cupboards；
where layers of ancient smells lingered on in the stagnant air； and
recalled to the reflective nose the many good things that had been
kept there。 The upper floors were scrubbed with such abundance of
water that the old…established death…watches； wood…lice； and
flour…worms were all drowned； the suds trickling down into the room
below in so lively and novel a manner as to convey the romantic
notion that the miller lived in a cave with dripping stalactites。
They moved what had never been moved beforethe oak coffer；
containing the miller's wardrobea tremendous weight； what with its
locks； hinges； nails； dirt； framework； and the hard stratification
of old jackets； waistcoats； and knee…breeches at the bottom； never
disturbed since the miller's wife died； and half pulverized by the
moths； whose flattened skeletons lay amid the mass in thousands。
'It fairly makes my back open and shut！' said Loveday； as； in
obedience to Mrs。 Garland's direction； he lifted one corner； the
grinder and David assisting at the others。 'All together： speak
when ye be going to heave。 Now！'
The pot covers and skimmers were brought to such a state that； on
examining them； the beholder was not conscious of utensils； but of
his own face in a condition of hideous elasticity。 The broken
clock…line was mended； the kettles rocked； the creeper nailed up；
and a new handle put to the warming…pan。 The large household
lantern was cleaned out； after three years of uninterrupted
accumulation； the operation yielding a conglomerate of
candle…snuffs； candle…ends； remains of matches； lamp…black； and
eleven ounces and a half of good greaseinvaluable as dubbing for
skitty boots and ointment for cart…wheels。
Everybody said that the mill residence had not been so thoroughly
scoured for twenty years。 The miller and David looked on with a
sort of awe tempered by gratitude； tacitly admitting by their gaze
that this was beyond what they had ever thought of。 Mrs。 Garland
supervised all with disinterested benevolence。 It would never have
done； she said； for his future daughter…in…law to see the house in
its original state。 She would have taken a dislike to him； and
perhaps to Bob likewise。
'Why don't ye come and live here with me； and then you would be able
to see to it at all times？' said the miller as she bustled about
again。 To which she answered that she was considering the matter；
and might in good time。 He had previously informed her that his
plan was to put Bob and his wife in the part of the house that she；
Mrs。 Garland； occupied； as soon as she chose to enter his； which
relieved her of any fear of being incommoded by Matilda。
The cooking for the wedding festivities was on a proportionate scale
of thoroughness。 They killed the four supernumerary chickens that
had just begun to crow； and the little curly…tailed barrow pig； in
preference to the sow； not having been put up fattening for more
than five weeks it was excellent small meat； and therefore more
delicate and likely to suit a town…bred lady's taste than the large
one； which； having reached the weight of fourteen score； might have
been a little gross to a cultured palate。 There were also provided
a cold chine； stuffed veal； and two pigeon pies。 Also thirty rings
of black…pot； a dozen of white…pot； and ten knots of tender and
well…washed chitterlings； cooked plain in case she should like a
change。
As additional reserves there were sweetbreads； and five milts； sewed
up at one side in the form of a chrysalis； and stuffed with thyme；
sage； parsley； mint； groats； rice； milk； chopped egg； and other
ingredients。 They were afterwards roasted before a slow fire； and
eaten hot。
The business of chopping so many herbs for the various stuffings was
found to be aching work for women； and David； the miller； the
grinder； and the grinder's boy being fully occupied in their proper
branches； and Bob being very busy painting the gig and touching up
the harness； Loveday called in a friendly dragoon of John's regiment
who was passing by； and he； being a muscular man； willingly chopped
all the afternoon for a quart of strong； judiciously administered；
and all other victuals found； taking off his jacket and gloves；
rolling up his shirt…sleeves and unfastening his collar in an
honourable and energetic way。
All windfalls and maggot…cored codlins were excluded from the apple
pies； and as there was no known dish large enough for the purpose；
the puddings were stirred up in the milking…pail； and boiled in the
three…legged bell…metal crock； of great weight and antiquity； which
every travelling tinker for the previous thirty years had tapped
with his stick； coveted； made a bid for； and often attempted to
steal。
In the liquor line Loveday laid in an ample barrel of Casterbridge
'strong beer。' This renowned drinknow almost as much a thing of
the past as Falstaff's favourite beveragewas not only well
calculated to win the hearts of soldiers blown dry and dusty by
residence in tents on a hill…top； but of any wayfarer whatever in
that land。 It was of the most beautiful colour that the eye of an
artist in beer could desire； full in body； yet brisk as a volcano；
piquant； yet without a twang； luminous as an autumn sunset； free
from streakiness of taste； but； finally； rather heady。 The masses
worshipped it； the minor gentry loved it more than wine； and by the
most illustrious county families it was not despised。 Anybody
brought up for being drunk and disorderly in the streets of its
natal borough； had only to prove that he was a stranger to the place
and its liquor to be honourably dismissed by the magistrates； as one
overtaken in a fault that no man could guard against who entered the
town unawares。
In addition； Mr。 Loveday also tapped a hogshead of fine cider that
he had had mellowing in the house for several months； having bought
it of an honest down…country man； who did not colour； for any
special occasion like the present。 It had been pressed from fruit
judiciously chosen by an old handHorner and Cleeves apple for the
body； a few Tom…Putts for colour； and just a dash of Old
Five…corners for sparklea selection originally made to please the
palate of a well…known temperate earl who was a regular
cider…drinker； and lived to be eighty…eight。
On the morning of the Sunday appointed for her coming Captain Bob
Loveday set out to meet his bride。 He had been all the week engaged
in painting the gig； assisted by his brother at odd times； and it
now appeared of a gorgeous yellow； with blue streaks； and tassels at
the corners； and red wheels outlined with a darker shade。 He put in
the pony at half…past eleven； Anne looking at him from the door as
he packed himself into the vehicle and drove off。 There may be
young women who look out at young men driving to meet their brides
as Anne looked at Captain Bob； and yet are quite indifferent to the
circumstances； but they are not often met with。
So much dust had been raised on the highway by traffic resulting
from the presence of the Court at the town further on； that brambles
hanging from the fence； and giving a friendly scratch to the
wanderer's face； were dingy as church cobwebs； and the grass on the
margin had assumed a paper…shaving hue。 Bob's father had wished him
to take David； lest； from want of recent experience at the whip； he
should meet with any mishap； but； picturing to himself the
awkwardness of three in such circumstances； Bob would not hear of
this； and nothing more serious happened to his driving than that the
wheel…marks formed two serpentine lines along the road during the
first mile or two； before he had got his hand in； and that the horse
shied at a milestone； a piece of paper； a sleeping tramp； and a
wheelbarrow； just to make use of the opportunity of being in bad
hands。
He entered Casterbridge between twelve and one； and； putting up at
the Old Greyhound； walked on to the Bow。 Here； rather dusty on the
ledges of his clothes； he stood and waited while the people in their
best summer dresses poured out of the three churches round him。
When they had all gone； and a smell of cinders and gravy had spread
down the ancient high…street； and the pie…dishes from adjacent
bakehouses had all travelled past； he saw the mail coach rise above
the arch of Grey's Bridge； a quarter of a mile distant； surmounted
by swaying knobs； which proved to be the heads of the outside
travellers。
'That's the way for a man's bride to come to him；' said Robert to
himself with a feeling of poetry； and as the horn sounded and the
horses clattered up the street he walked down to the inn。 The knot
of hostlers and inn…servants had gathered； the horses were dragged
from the vehicle； and the passengers for Casterbridge began to
descend。 Captain Bob eyed them over； looked inside； looked outside
again； to his disappointment Matilda was not there； nor her boxes；
nor anything that was hers。 Neither coachman nor guard had seen or
heard of such a person at Melchester； and Bob walked slowly away。
Depressed by forebodings to an extent which took away nearly a third
of his appetite； he sat down in the parlour of the Old Greyhound to
a slice from the family joint of the landlord。 This gentleman； who
dined in his shirt…sleeves； partly because it was August； and partly
from a sense that they would not be so fit for public view further
on in the week； suggested that Bob should wait till three or four
that afternoon； when the road…waggon would arrive； as the lost lady
might have preferred that mode of conveyance； and when Bob appeared
rather hurt at the suggestion； the landlord's wife assured him； as a
woman who knew good life； that many genteel persons travelled in
that
