按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
was ruled by it。 She was in a new and handsome gown； of course； and
an old bonnet。 She was standing up； agitated； her hand was held by
her companionnone else than Sally's affianced； Farmer Charles
Darton； upon whose fine figure the pale stranger's eyes were fixed；
as his were fixed upon her。 His other hand held the rein of his
horse； which was standing saddled as if just led in。
At sight of Mrs。 Hall they both turned； looking at her in a way
neither quite conscious nor unconscious； and without seeming to
recollect that words were necessary as a solution to the scene。 In
another moment Sally entered also； when Mr。 Darton dropped his
companion's hand； led the horse aside； and came to greet his
betrothed and Mrs。 Hall。
'Ah！' he said； smilingwith something like forced composure'this
is a roundabout way of arriving； you will say； my dear Mrs。 Hall。
But we lost our way； which made us late。 I saw a light here； and
led in my horse at oncemy friend Johns and my man have gone back
to the little inn with theirs； not to crowd you too much。 No sooner
had I entered than I saw that this lady had taken temporary shelter
hereand found I was intruding。'
'She is my daughter…in…law；' said Mrs。 Hall calmly。 'My son； too；
is in the house； but he has gone to bed unwell。'
Sally had stood staring wonderingly at the scene until this moment；
hardly recognizing Darton's shake of the hand。 The spell that bound
her was broken by her perceiving the two little children seated on a
heap of hay。 She suddenly went forward； spoke to them； and took one
on her arm and the other in her hand。
'And two children？' said Mr。 Darton； showing thus that he had not
been there long enough as yet to understand the situation。
'My grandchildren；' said Mrs。 Hall； with as much affected ease as
before。
Philip Hall's wife； in spite of this interruption to her first
rencounter； seemed scarcely so much affected by it as to feel any
one's presence in addition to Mr。 Darton's。 However； arousing
herself by a quick reflection； she threw a sudden critical glance of
her sad eyes upon Mrs。 Hall； and； apparently finding her
satisfactory； advanced to her in a meek initiative。 Then Sally and
the stranger spoke some friendly words to each other； and Sally went
on with the children into the house。 Mrs。 Hall and Helena followed；
and Mr。 Darton followed these； looking at Helena's dress and
outline； and listening to her voice like a man in a dream。
By the time the others reached the house Sally had already gone
upstairs with the tired children。 She rapped against the wall for
Rebekah to come in and help to attend to them； Rebekah's house being
a little 'spit…and…dab' cabin leaning against the substantial stone…
work of Mrs。 Hall's taller erection。 When she came a bed was made
up for the little ones； and some supper given to them。 On
descending the stairs after seeing this done Sally went to the
sitting…room。 Young Mrs。 Hall entered it just in advance of her；
having in the interim retired with her mother…in…law to take off her
bonnet； and otherwise make herself presentable。 Hence it was
evident that no further communication could have passed between her
and Mr。 Darton since their brief interview in the stable。
Mr。 Japheth Johns now opportunely arrived； and broke up the
restraint of the company； after a few orthodox meteorological
commentaries had passed between him and Mrs。 Hall by way of
introduction。 They at once sat down to supper； the present of wine
and turkey not being produced for consumption to…night； lest the
premature display of those gifts should seem to throw doubt on Mrs。
Hall's capacities as a provider。
'Drink hearty； Mr。 Johnsdrink hearty；' said that matron
magnanimously。 'Such as it is there's plenty of。 But perhaps
cider…wine is not to your taste？though there's body in it。'
'Quite the contrairy； ma'amquite the contrairy；' said the
dairyman。 'For though I inherit the malt…liquor principle from my
father； I am a cider…drinker on my mother's side。 She came from
these parts； you know。 And there's this to be said for't'tis a
more peaceful liquor； and don't lie about a man like your hotter
drinks。 With care； one may live on it a twelvemonth without
knocking down a neighbour； or getting a black eye from an old
acquaintance。'
The general conversation thus begun was continued briskly； though it
was in the main restricted to Mrs。 Hall and Japheth； who in truth
required but little help from anybody。 There being slight call upon
Sally's tongue； she had ample leisure to do what her heart most
desired； namely； watch her intended husband and her sister…in…law
with a view of elucidating the strange momentary scene in which her
mother and herself had surprised them in the stable。 If that scene
meant anything； it meant； at least； that they had met before。 That
there had been no time for explanations Sally could see； for their
manner was still one of suppressed amazement at each other's
presence there。 Darton's eyes； too； fell continually on the gown
worn by Helena as if this were an added riddle to his perplexity；
though to Sally it was the one feature in the case which was no
mystery。 He seemed to feel that fate had impishly changed his vis…
a…vis in the lover's jig he was about to foot； that while the gown
had been expected to enclose a Sally； a Helena's face looked out
from the bodice； that some long…lost hand met his own from the
sleeves。
Sally could see that whatever Helena might know of Darton； she knew
nothing of how the dress entered into his embarrassment。 And at
moments the young girl would have persuaded herself that Darton's
looks at her sister…in…law were entirely the fruit of the clothes
query。 But surely at other times a more extensive range of
speculation and sentiment was expressed by her lover's eye than that
which the changed dress would account for。
Sally's independence made her one of the least jealous of women。
But there was something in the relations of these two visitors which
ought to be explained。
Japheth Johns continued to converse in his well…known style；
interspersing his talk with some private reflections on the position
of Darton and Sally； which； though the sparkle in his eye showed
them to be highly entertaining to himself； were apparently not quite
communicable to the company。 At last he withdrew for the night；
going off to the roadside inn half…a…mile back； whither Darton
promised to follow him in a few minutes。
Half…an…hour passed； and then Mr。 Darton also rose to leave； Sally
and her sister…in…law simultaneously wishing him good…night as they
retired upstairs to their rooms。 But on his arriving at the front
door with Mrs。 Hall a sharp shower of rain began to come down； when
the widow suggested that he should return to the fire…side till the
storm ceased。
Darton accepted her proposal； but insisted that； as it was getting
late； and she was obviously tired； she should not sit up on his
account； since he could let himself out of the house； and would
quite enjoy smoking a pipe by the hearth alone。 Mrs。 Hall assented；
and Darton was left by himself。 He spread his knees to the brands；
lit up h