weir of hermiston(赫米斯顿的魏尔)-第16章
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and he stopped to contemplate the random apologue。 They stood forth on
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the cold earth with a trenchancy of contrast； and he was struck with a
sense of incompleteness in the day； the season； and the beauty that
surrounded him … the chill there was in the warmth； the gross black clods
about the opening primroses； the damp earthy smell that was everywhere
intermingled with the scents。 The voice of the aged Torrance within rose in
an ecstasy。 And he wondered if Torrance also felt in his old bones the
joyous influence of the spring morning； Torrance； or the shadow of what
once was Torrance； that must come so soon to lie outside here in the sun
and rain with all his rheumatisms； while a new minister stood in his room
and thundered from his own familiar pulpit？ The pity of it； and something
of the chill of the grave； shook him for a moment as he made haste to
enter。
He went up the aisle reverently； and took his place in the pew with
lowered eyes； for he feared he had already offended the kind old
gentleman in the pulpit； and was sedulous to offend no further。 He could
not follow the prayer； not even the heads of it。 Brightnesses of azure；
clouds of fragrance； a tinkle of falling water and singing birds； rose like
exhalations from some deeper； aboriginal memory； that was not his； but
belonged to the flesh on his bones。 His body remembered； and it seemed
to him that his body was in no way gross； but ethereal and perishable like
a strain of music； and he felt for it an exquisite tenderness as for a child；
an innocent； full of beautiful instincts and destined to an early death。 And
he felt for old Torrance … of the many supplications； of the few days … a
pity that was near to tears。 The prayer ended。 Right over him was a tablet
in the wall； the only ornament in the roughly masoned chapel … for it was
no more； the tablet commemorated； I was about to say the virtues； but
rather the existence of a former Rutherford of Hermiston； and Archie；
under that trophy of his long descent and local greatness； leaned back in
the pew and contemplated vacancy with the shadow of a smile between
playful and sad； that became him strangely。 Dandie's sister； sitting by the
side of Clem in her new Glasgow finery； chose that moment to observe the
young laird。 Aware of the stir of his entrance； the little formalist had kept
her eyes fastened and her face prettily composed during the prayer。 It was
not hypocrisy； there was no one further from a hypocrite。 The girl had
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been taught to behave： to look up； to look down； to look unconscious； to
look seriously impressed in church； and in every conjuncture to look her
best。 That was the game of female life； and she played it frankly。 Archie
was the one person in church who was of interest； who was somebody new；
reputed eccentric； known to be young； and a laird； and still unseen by
Christina。 Small wonder that； as she stood there in her attitude of pretty
decency； her mind should run upon him！ If he spared a glance in her
direction； he should know she was a well…behaved young lady who had
been to Glasgow。 In reason he must admire her clothes； and it was possible
that he should think her pretty。 At that her heart beat the least thing in the
world； and she proceeded； by way of a corrective； to call up and dismiss a
series of fancied pictures of the young man who should now； by rights； be
looking at her。 She settled on the plainest of them； … a pink short young
man with a dish face and no figure； at whose admiration she could afford
to smile； but for all that； the consciousness of his gaze （which was really
fixed on Torrance and his mittens） kept her in something of a flutter till the
word Amen。 Even then； she was far too well…bred to gratify her curiosity
with any impatience。 She resumed her seat languidly … this was a Glasgow
touch … she composed her dress； rearranged her nosegay of primroses；
looked first in front； then behind upon the other side； and at last allowed
her eyes to move； without hurry； in the direction of the Hermiston pew。
For a moment； they were riveted。 Next she had plucked her gaze home
again like a tame bird who should have meditated flight。 Possibilities
crowded on her； she hung over the future and grew dizzy； the image of
this young man； slim； graceful； dark； with the inscrutable half…smile；
attracted and repelled her like a chasm。 〃I wonder； will I have met my
fate？〃 she thought； and her heart swelled。
Torrance was got some way into his first exposition； positing a deep
layer of texts as he went along； laying the foundations of his discourse；
which was to deal with a nice point in divinity； before Archie suffered his
eyes to wander。 They fell first of all on Clem； looking insupportably
prosperous； and patronising Torrance with the favour of a modified
attention； as of one who was used to better things in Glasgow。 Though he
had never before set eyes on him； Archie had no difficulty in identifying
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him； and no hesitation in pronouncing him vulgar； the worst of the family。
Clem was leaning lazily forward when Archie first saw him。 Presently he
leaned nonchalantly back； and that deadly instrument； the maiden； was
suddenly unmasked in profile。 Though not quite in the front of the fashion
（had anybody cared！）； certain artful Glasgow mantua…makers； and her own
inherent taste； had arrayed her to great advantage。 Her accoutrement was；
indeed； a cause of heart… burning； and almost of scandal； in that
infinitesimal kirk company。 Mrs。 Hob had said her say at Cauldstaneslap。
〃Daft…like！〃 she had pronounced it。 〃A jaiket that'll no meet！ Whaur's the
sense of a jaiket that'll no button upon you； if it should come to be weet？
What do ye ca' thir things？ Demmy brokens； d'ye say？ They'll be brokens
wi' a vengeance or ye can win back！ Weel； I have nae thing to do wi' it …
it's no good taste。〃 Clem； whose purse had thus metamorphosed his sister；
and who was not insensible to the advertisement； had come to the rescue
with a 〃Hoot； woman！ What do you ken of good taste that has never been
to the ceety？〃 And Hob； looking on the girl with pleased smiles； as she
timidly displayed her finery in the midst of the dark kitchen； had thus
ended the dispute： 〃The cutty looks weel；〃 he had said； 〃and it's no very
like rain。 Wear them the day； hizzie； but it's no a thing to make a practice
o'。〃 In the breasts of her rivals； coming to the kirk very conscious of white
under…linen； and their faces splendid with much soap； the sight of the toilet
had raised a storm of varying emotion； from the mere unenvious
admiration that was expressed in a long…drawn 〃Eh！〃 to the angrier feeling
that found vent in an emphatic 〃Set her up！〃 Her frock was of straw…
coloured jaconet muslin； cut low at the bosom and short at the ankle； so as
to display her DEMI… BROQUINS of Regency violet； crossing with many
straps upon a yellow cobweb stocking。 According to the pretty fashion in
which our grandmothers did not hesitate to appear； and our great…aunts
went forth armed for the pursuit and capture of our great…uncles； the dress
was drawn up so as to mould the contour of both breasts； and in the nook
between； a cairngorm brooch maintained it。 Here； too； surely in a very
enviable position； trembled the nosegay of primroses。 She wore on her
shoulders … or rather on her back and not her shoulders； which it scarcely
passed … a French coat of sarsenet； tied in front with Margate braces； and
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of the same colour with her violet shoes。 About her face clustered a
disorder of dark ringlets； a little garland of yellow French roses
surmounted her brow； and the whole was crowned by a village hat of
chipped straw。 Amongst all the rosy and all the weathered faces that
surrounded her in church； she glowed like an open flower … girl and
raiment； and the cairngorm that caught the daylight and returned it in a
fiery flash； and the threads of bronze and gold that played in her hair。
Archie was attracted by the bright thing like a child。 He looked at her
again and yet again； and their looks crossed。 The lip was lifted from her
little teeth。 He saw the red blood work vividly under her tawny skin。 Her
eye； which was great as a stag's； struck and held his gaze。 He knew who
she must be … Kirstie； she of the harsh diminutive； his housekeeper's niece；
the sister of the rustic prophet； Gib … and he found in her the answer to his
wishes。
Christina felt the shock of their encountering glances； and seemed to
rise； clothed in smiles； into a region of the vague and bright。 But the
gratification was not more exquisite than it was brief。 She looked away
abruptly； and immediately began to blame herself for that abruptness。 She
knew what she should have done； too late … turned slowly with her nose in
the air。 And meantime his look was not removed； but continued to play
upon her like a battery of cannon constantly aimed； and now seemed to
isolate her alone with him； and now seemed to uplift her； as on a pillory；
before the congregation。 For Archie continued to drink her in with his eyes；
even as a wayfarer comes to a well…head on a mountain； and stoops his
face； and drinks with thirst unassuageable。 In the cleft of her little breasts
the fiery eye of the topaz and the pale florets of primrose fascinated him。
He
