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lavengro-第148部分
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then put fresh fuel on the fire; and sat for a long time looking on
the blaze; I then went into my tent。
I awoke; on my own calculation; about midnight … it was pitch dark;
and there was much fear upon me。
CHAPTER LXXXV
Free and independent … I don't see why … Oats … A noise … Unwelcome
visitors … What's the matter? … Good…day to ye … The tall girl …
Dovrefeld … Blow on the face … Civil enough … What's this? … Vulgar
woman … Hands off … Gasping for breath … Long Melford … A pretty
manoeuvre … A long draught … Signs of animation … It won't do … No
malice … Bad people。
Two mornings after the period to which I have brought the reader in
the preceding chapter; I sat by my fire at the bottom of the
dingle; I had just breakfasted; and had finished the last morsel of
food which I had brought with me to that solitude。
'What shall I now do?' said I to myself; 'shall I continue here; or
decamp? … this is a sad lonely spot … perhaps I had better quit it;
but whither shall I go? the wide world is before me; but what can I
do therein? I have been in the world already without much success。
No; I had better remain here; the place is lonely; it is true; but
here I am free and independent; and can do what I please; but I
can't remain here without food。 Well; I will find my way to the
nearest town; lay in a fresh supply of provision; and come back;
turning my back upon the world; which has turned its back upon me。
I don't see why I should not write a little sometimes; I have pens
and an ink…horn; and for a writing…desk I can place the Bible on my
knee。 I shouldn't wonder if I could write a capital satire on the
world on the back of that Bible; but; first of all; I must think of
supplying myself with food。'
I rose up from the stone on which I was seated; determining to go
to the nearest town; with my little horse and cart; and procure
what I wanted。 The nearest town; according to my best calculation;
lay about five miles distant; I had no doubt; however; that; by
using ordinary diligence; I should be back before evening。 In
order to go lighter; I determined to leave my tent standing as it
was; and all the things which I had purchased of the tinker; just
as they were。 'I need not be apprehensive on their account;' said
I to myself; 'nobody will come here to meddle with them … the great
recommendation of this place is its perfect solitude … I daresay
that I could live here six months without seeing a single human
visage。 I will now harness my little gry and be off to the town。'
At a whistle which I gave; the little gry; which was feeding on the
bank near the uppermost part of the dingle; came running to me; for
by this time he had become so accustomed to me that he would obey
my call; for all the world as if he had been one of the canine
species。 'Now;' said I to him; 'we are going to the town to buy
bread for myself and oats for you … I am in a hurry to be back;
therefore I pray you to do your best; and to draw me and the cart
to the town with all possible speed; and to bring us back; if you
do your best; I promise you oats on your return。 You know the
meaning of oats; Ambrol?' Ambrol whinnied as if to let me know
that he understood me perfectly well; as indeed he well might; as I
had never once fed him during the time that he had been in my
possession without saying the word in question to him。 Now;
Ambrol; in the gypsy tongue; signifieth a pear。
So I caparisoned Ambrol; and then; going to the cart; I removed two
or three things from it into the tent; I then lifted up the shafts;
and was just going to call to the pony to come and be fastened to
them; when I thought I heard a noise。
I stood stock still; supporting the shaft of the little cart in my
hand; and bending the right side of my face slightly towards the
ground; but I could hear nothing; the noise which I thought I had
heard was not one of those sounds which I was accustomed to hear in
that solitude … the note of a bird; or the rustling of a bough; it
was … there I heard it again; a sound very much resembling the
grating of a wheel amongst gravel。 Could it proceed from the road?
Oh no; the road was too far distant for me to hear the noise of
anything moving along it。 Again I listened; and now I distinctly
heard the sound of wheels; which seemed to be approaching the
dingle; nearer and nearer they drew; and presently the sound of
wheels was blended with the murmur of voices。 Anon I heard a
boisterous shout; which seemed to proceed from the entrance of the
dingle。 'Here are folks at hand;' said I; letting the shaft of the
cart fall to the ground; 'is it possible that they can be coming
here?' My doubts on that point; if I entertained any; were soon
dispelled; the wheels; which had ceased moving for a moment or two;
were once again in motion; and were now evidently moving down the
winding path which led to my retreat。 Leaving my cart; I came
forward and placed myself near the entrance of the open space; with
my eyes fixed on the path down which my unexpected; and I may say
unwelcome; visitors were coming。 Presently I heard a stamping or
sliding; as if of a horse in some difficulty; then a loud curse;
and the next moment appeared a man and a horse and cart; the former
holding the head of the horse up to prevent him from falling; of
which he was in danger; owing to the precipitous nature of the
path。 Whilst thus occupied; the head of the man was averted from
me。 When; however; he had reached the bottom of the descent; he
turned his head; and perceiving me; as I stood bareheaded; without
either coat or waistcoat; about two yards from him; he gave a
sudden start; so violent that the backward motion of his hand had
nearly flung the horse upon his haunches。
'Why don't you move forward?' said a voice from behind; apparently
that of a female; 'you are stopping up the way; and we shall be all
down upon one another'; and I saw the head of another horse
overtopping the back of the cart。
'Why don't you move forward; Jack?' said another voice; also a
female; yet higher up the path。
The man stirred not; but remained staring at me in the posture
which he had assumed on first perceiving me; his body very much
drawn back; his left foot far in advance of his right; and with his
right hand still grasping the halter of the horse; which gave way
more and more; till it was clean down on its haunches。
'What's the matter?' said the voice which I had last heard。
'Get back with you; Belle; Moll;' said the man; still staring at
me; 'here's something not over canny or comfortable。'
'What is it?' said the same voice; 'let me pass; Moll; and I'll
soon clear the way'; and I heard a kind of rushing down the path。
'You need not be afraid;' said I; addressing myself to the man; 'I
mean you no harm; I am a wanderer like
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