the diary of a goose girl-第7章

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of　pitch　and　toss；　and　swings；　and　French　bagatelle；　and；　to　crown
all；　a　wonderful　orchestrion　that　goes　by　steam。　　The　water　is
boiled　for　the　public's　tea；　and　at　the　same　time　thrilling　strains
of　melody　are　flung　into　the　air。　　There　is　at　present　only　one
tune　in　the　orchestrion's　repertory；　but　it　is　a　very　good　tune；
though　after　hearing　it　three　hundred　and　seven　times　in　a　single
afternoon；　it　pursues　one；　sleeping　and　waking；　for　the　next　week。
Phoebe　and　I　took　the　Square　Baby　and　went　in　to　this　diversified
entertainment。　　There　was　a　small　crowd　of　children　at　the
entrance；　but　as　none　of　them　seemed　to　be　provided　with　pennies；
and　I　felt　in　a　fairy　godmother　mood；　I　offered　them　the　freedom　of
the　place　at　my　expense。

I　never　purchased　more　radiant　good…will　for　less　money；　but　the
combined　effect　of　the　well…boiled　tea　and　the　boiling　orchestrion
produced　many　village　nightmares；　so　the　mothers　told　me　at　chapel
next　morning。

*　*　*

I　have　many　friends　in　Barbury　Green；　and　often　have　a　pleasant
chat　with　the　draper；　and　the　watch…maker；　and　the　chemist。

The　last　house　on　the　principal　street　is　rather　an　ugly　one；　with
especially　nice　window　curtains。　　As　I　was　taking　my　daily　walk　to
the　post…office　（an　entirely　unfruitful　expedition　thus　far；　as
nobody　has　taken　the　pains　to　write　to　me）　I　saw　a　nursemaid　coming
out　of　the　gate；　wheeling　a　baby　in　a　perambulator。　　She　was　going
placidly　away　from　the　Green　when；　far　in　the　distance；　she　espied
a　man　walking　rapidly　toward　us；　a　heavy　Gladstone　bag　in　one　hand。
She　gazed　fixedly　for　a　moment；　her　eyes　brightening　and　her　cheeks
flushing　with　pleasure；whoever　it　was；　it　was　an　unexpected
arrival；then　she　retraced　her　steps　and；　running　up　the　garden…
path；　opened　the　front　door　and　held　an　excited　colloquy　with
somebody；　a　slender　somebody　in　a　nice　print　gown　and　neatly…
dressed　hair；　who　came　to　the　gate　and　peeped　beyond　the　hedge
several　times；　drawing　back　between　peeps　with　smiles　and
heightened　colour。　　She　did　not　run　down　the　road；　even　when　she
had　satisfied　herself　of　the　identity　of　the　traveller；　perhaps
that　would　not　have　been　good　form　in　an　English　village；　for　there
were　houses　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　way。　　She　waited　until　he
opened　the　gate；　the　nursemaid　took　the　bag　and　looked　discreetly
into　the　hedge；　then　the　mistress　slipped　her　hand　through　the
traveller's　arm　and　walked　up　the　path　as　if　she　had　nothing　else
in　the　world　to　wish　for。　　The　nurse　had　a　part　in　the　joy；　for　she
lifted　the　baby　out　of　the　perambulator　and　showed　proudly　how　much
he　had　grown。

It　was　a　dear　little　scene；　and　I；　a　passer…by；　had　shared　in　it
and　felt　better　for　it。　　I　think　their　content　was　no　less　because
part　of　it　had　enriched　my　life；　for　happiness；　like　mercy；　is
twice　blessed；　it　blesses　those　who　are　most　intimately　associated
in　it；　and　it　blesses　all　those　who　see　it；　hear　it；　feel　it；　touch
it；　or　breathe　the　same　atmosphere。　　A　laughing；　crowing　baby　in　a
house；　one　cheerful　woman　singing　about　her　work；　a　boy　whistling
at　the　plough；　a　romance　just　suspected；　with　its　miracle　of　two
hearts　melting　into　onethe　wind's　always　in　the　west　when　you
have　any　of　these　wonder…workers　in　your　neighbourhood。

I　have　talks　too；　sometimes；　with　the　old　parson；　who　lives　in　a
quaint　house　with　〃Parva　Domus　Magna　Quies〃　cut　into　the　stone　over
the　doorway。　　He　is　not　a　preaching　parson；　but　a　retired　one；
almost　the　nicest　kind；　I　often　think。

He　has　been　married　thirty　years；　he　tells　me；　thirty　years；　spent
in　the　one　little　house　with　the　bricks　painted　red　and　grey
alternately；　and　the　scarlet　holly…hocks　growing　under　the　windows。
I　am　sure　they　have　been　sweet；　true；　kind　years；　and　that　his
heart　must　be　a　quiet；　peaceful　place　just　like　his　house　and
garden。

〃I　was　only　eleven　years　old　when　I　fell　in　love　with　my　wife；〃　he
told　me　as　we　sat　on　the　seat　under　the　lime…tree；　he　puffing
cosily　at　his　pipe；　I　plaiting　grasses　for　a　hatband。

〃It　was　just　before　Sunday…school。　　Her　mother　had　dressed　her　all
in　white　muslin　like　a　fairy；　but　she　had　stepped　on　the　edge　of　a
puddle；　and　some　of　the　muddy　water　had　bespattered　her　frock。　　A
circle　of　children　had　surrounded　her；　and　some　of　the　motherly
little　girls　were　on　their　knees　rubbing　at　the　spots　anxiously；
while　one　of　them　wiped　away　the　tears　that　were　running　down　her
pretty　cheeks。　　I　looked！　　It　was　fatal！　　I　did　not　look　again；　but
I　was　smitten　to　the　very　heart！　　I　did　not　speak　to　her　for　six
years；　but　when　I　did；　it　was　all　right　with　both　of　us；　thank　God！
and　I've　been　in　love　with　her　ever　since；　when　she　behaves
herself！〃

That　is　the　way　they　speak　of　love　in　Barbury　Green；　and　oh！　how
much　sweeter　and　more　wholesome　it　is　than　the　language　of　the
town！　　Who　would　not　be　a　Goose　Girl；　〃to　win　the　secret　of　the
weed's　plain　heart〃？　　It　seems　to　me　that　in　society　we　are　always
gazing　at　magic…lantern　shows；　but　here　we　rest　our　tired　eyes　with
looking　at　the　stars。



CHAPTER　XI



July　16th。

Phoebe　and　I　have　been　to　a　Hen　Conference　at　Buffington。　　It　was
for　the　purpose　of　raising　the　standard　of　the　British　Hen；　and　our
local　Countess；　who　is　much　interested　in　poultry；　was　in　the
chair。

It　was　a　very　learned　body；　but　Phoebe　had　coached　me　so　well　that
at　the　noon　recess　I　could　talk　confidently　with　the　members；
discussing　the　various　advantages　of　True　and　Crossed　Minorcas；
Feverels；　Andalusians；　Cochin　Chinas；　Shanghais；　and　the　White
Leghorn。　　（Phoebe；　when　she　pronounces　this　word；　leaves　out　the
〃h〃　and　bears　down　heavily　on　the　last　syllable；　so　that　it　rhymes
with　begone！）

As　I　was　sitting　under　the　trees　waiting　for　Phoebe　to　finish　some
shopping　in　the　village；　a　travelling　poultry…dealer　came　along　and
offered　to　sell　me　a　silver　Wyandotte　pullet　and　cockerel。　　This
was　a　new　breed　to　me　and　I　asked　the　price；　which　proved　to　be
more　than　I　should　pay　for　a　hat　in　Bond　Street。　　I　hesitated；
thinking　meantime　what　a　delightful　parting　gift　they　would　be　for
Phoebe；　I　mean　if　we　ever　should　part；　which　seems　more　and　more
unlikely；　as　I　shall　never　leave　Thornycroft　until　somebody　comes
properly　to　fetch　me；　indeed；　unless　the　〃fetching〃　is　done
somewhat　speedily　I　may　decline　to　go　under　any　circumstances。　　My
indecision　as　to　the　purchase　was　finally　banished　when　the
poultryman　asserted　that　the　fowls　had　clear　open　centres　all　over；
black　lacing　entirely　round　the　white　centres；　were　free　from　white
edging；　and　each　had　a　cherry…red　eye。　　This　catalogue　of　charms
inflamed　my　imagination；　though　it　gave　me　no　mental　picture　of　a
silver　Wyandotte　fowl；　and　I　paid　the　money　while　the　dealer
crammed　the　chicks；　squawking　into　my　five…o'clock　tea…basket。

The　afternoon　session　of　the　conference　was　most　exciting；　for　we
reached　the　subject　of　imported　eggs；　an　industry　that　is　assuming
terrifying　proportions。　　The　London　hotel　egg　comes　from　Denmark；
it　seems；I　should　think　by　sailing　vessel；　not　steamer；　but　I　may
be　wrong。　　After　we　had　settled　that　the　British　Hen　should　be
protected　and　encouraged；　and　agreed　solemnly　to　abstain　from
Danish　eggs　in　any　form；　and　made　a　resolution　stating　that　our
loyalty　to　Queen　Alexandra　would　remain　undiminished；　we　argued　the
subject　of　hen　diet。　　There　was　a　great　difference　of　opinion　here
and　the　discussion　was　heated；　the　honorary　treasurer　standing　for
pulped　mangold　and　flint　grit；　the　chair　insisting　on　barley　meal
and　randans；　while　one　eloquent　young　woman　declared；　to　loud　cries
of　〃'Ear；　'ear！〃　that　rice　pudding　and　bone　chips　produce　more　eggs
to　the　square　hen　than　any　other　sort　of　food。　　Impassioned　orators
arose　here　and　there　in　the　audience　demanding　recognition　for　beef
scraps；　charcoal；　round　corn　or　buckwheat。　　Foods　were　regarded
from　various　standpoints：　　as　general　invigorators；　growth
assisters；　and　egg　producers。　　A　very　handsome　young　farmer　carried
off　final　honours；　and　proved　to　the　satisfaction　of　all　the
feminine　poultry…raisers　that　green　young　hog　bones　fresh　cut　in
the　Banner　Bone　Breaker　（of　which　he　was　the　agent）　possessed　a
nutritive　value　not　to　be　expressed　in　human　language。

Phoebe　was　distinctly　nervous　when　I　rose　to　say　a　few　words　on
poultry　breeding；　announcing　as　my　topic　〃Mothers；　Stepmothers；
Foster…Mothers；　and　Incubators。〃　　Protected　by　the　consciousness
that　no　one　in　the　assemblage　could　possibly　know　me；　I　made　a
distinct　success　in　my　maiden　speech；　indeed；　I　somewhat　overshot
the　mark；　for　the　Countess　in　the　chair　sent　me　a　note　asking　me　to
dine　with　her　that　evening。　　I　suppressed　the　note　and　took　Phoebe
away　before　the　proceedings　were　finished；　vanishing　from　the　scene
of　my　triumphs　like　a　veiled　prophet。

Just　as　we　were　passing　out　the　door　we　paused　to　hear　the　report
of　a　special　committee　whose　chairman　read　the　following
resolutions：…

WHEREAS；It　has　pleased　the　Almighty　to　remove　from　our　midst　our
greatest　Rose　Comb　Buff　Orpington　fancier　and　esteemed　friend；
Albert　Edward　Sheridain；　therefore　be　it

RESOLVED；That　the　next　edition　of　our　catalogue　contain　an
illustrated　memorial　page　in　his　honour　and

RESOLVED；That　the　Rose　Comb　Buff　Orpington　Club　extend　to　the
bereaved　family　their　heartfelt　sympathy。

The　handsome　young　farmer　followed　us　out　to　our　trap；　invited　us
to　attend　the　next　meeting　of　the　R。　C。　B。　O。　Club；　of　which　he　was
the　secretary；　and　asked　if　I　were　intending　to　〃show。〃　　I
introduced　Phoebe　as　the　senior　partner；　and　she　concealed　the　fact
that　we　possessed　but　one　Buff　Orpington；　and　he　was　a　sad
〃invaleed〃　not　suitable　for　exhibition。　　The　farmer's　expression　as
he　looked　at　me　was　almost　lover…like；　and　when　he　pressed　a　bit　of
paper　into　my　hand　I　was　sure　it　must　be　an　offer　of　marriage。　　It
was　in　fact　only　a　circular　describing　the　Banner　Bone　Breaker。　　It
closed　with　an　appeal　to　Buff　Orpington　breeders　to　raise　and　ever
raise　the　standard；　bidding　them　remember；　in　the　midst　of　a　low…
minded　and　sordid　civilisation；　that　the　rose　comb　should　be　small
and　neat；　firmly　set　on；　with　good　working；　a　nice　spike　at　the
back　lying　well　down　to　head；　and　never；　under　any　circumstances；
never　sticking　up。　　This　adjuration　somewhat　alarmed　us　as　Phoebe
and　I　had　been　giving　our　Buff　Orpington　cockerel　the　most　drastic
remedies　for　his　languid　and　prostrate　comb。

Coming　home　we　alighted　from　the　trap　to　gather　hogweed　for　the
rabbits。　　I　sat　by　the　wayside　lazily　and　let　Phoebe　gather　the
appetising　weed；　which　grows　along　the　thorniest　hedges　in　close
proximity　to　nettles　and　thistles。

Workmen　were　trudging　along　with　their　luncheon…baskets　of　woven
bulrushes　slung　over　their　shoulders。　　Fields　of　ripening　grain　lay
on　either　hand；　the　sun　shining　on　their　every　shade　of　green　and
yellow；　bronze　and　orange；　while　the　breeze　stirred　the　bearded
barley　into　a　rippling　golden　sea。

Phoebe　asked　me　if　the　people　I　had　left　behind　at　the　Hydropathic
were　my　relatives。

〃Some　of　them　are　of　remote　consanguinity；〃　I　responded　evasively；
and　the　next　question　was　hushed　upon　her　awe…stricken　tongue；　as　I
intended。

〃They　are　obeying