下载辰思小说免费APP
Theyearchangedfromgreentogold，andfromgoldtogrey，butlittlechangecameoverthehouseofLoveday。DuringthelasttwelvemonthsBobhadbeenoccasionallyheardofasupholdinghiscountry’shonourinDenmark，theWestIndies，Gibraltar，Malta，andotherplacesabouttheglobe，tillthefamilyreceivedashortletterstatingthathehadarrivedagainatPortsmouth。AtPortsmouthBobseemeddisposedtoremain，forthoughsometimeelapsedwithoutfurtherintelligence，thegallantseamanneverappearedatOvercombe。ThenonasuddenJohnlearntthatBob’slong-talked-ofpromotionforsignalservicesrenderedwastobeanaccomplishedfact。Thetrumpet-majoratoncewalkedofftoOvercombe，andreachedthevillageintheearlyafternoon。Notoneofthefamilywasinthehouseatthemoment，andJohnstrolledonwardsoverthehilltowardsCasterbridge，withoutmuchthoughtofdirectiontill，liftinghiseyes，hebeheldAnneGarlandwanderingaboutwithalittlebasketuponherarm。
AtfirstJohnblushedwithdelightatthesweetvision；but，recalledbyhisconscience，theblushofdelightwasatoncemangledandslain。Helookedforameansofretreat。Butthefieldwasopen，andasoldierwasaconspicuousobject:therewasnoescapingher。
’Itwaskindofyoutocome，’shesaid，withaninvitingsmile。
’Itwasquitebyaccident，’heanswered，withanindifferentlaugh。
’Ithoughtyouwasathome。’
Anneblushedandsaidnothing，andtheyrambledontogether。Inthemiddleofthefieldroseafragmentofstonewallintheformofagable，knownasFaringdonRuin；andwhentheyhadreacheditJohnpausedandpolitelyaskedherifshewerenotalittletiredwithwalkingsofar。Noparticularreplywasreturnedbytheyounglady，buttheybothstopped，andAnneseatedherselfonastone，whichhadfallenfromtheruintotheground。
’Achurchoncestoodhere，’observedJohninamatter-of-facttone。
’Yes，Ihaveoftenshapeditoutinmymind，’shereturned。’HerewhereIsitmusthavebeenthealtar。’
’True；thisstandingbitofwallwasthechancelend。’
Annehadbeenaddingupherlittlestudiesofthetrumpet-major’scharacter，andwassurprisedtofindhowthebrightnessofthatcharacterincreasedinhereyeswitheachexamination。Akindlyandgentlesensationwasagainarousedinher。Herewasaneglectedheroicman，who，lovinghertodistraction，deliberatelydoomedhimselftopensiveshadetoavoideventheappearanceofstandinginabrother’sway。
’Ifthealtarstoodhere，hundredsofpeoplehavebeenmademanandwifejustthere，inpasttimes，’shesaid，withcalmdeliberateness，throwingalittlestoneonaspotaboutayardwestward。
Johnannihilatedanothertenderburstandreplied，’Yes，thisfieldusedtobeavillage。Mygrandfathercouldcalltomindwhentherewerehouseshere。Butthesquirepulled’emdown，becausepoorfolkwereaneyesoretohim。’
’Doyouknow，John，whatyouonceaskedmetodo？’shecontinued，notacceptingthedigression，andturninghereyesuponhim。
’Inwhatsortofway？’
’Inthematterofmyfuturelife，andyours。’
’IamafraidIdon’t。’
’JohnLoveday！’
Heturnedhisbackuponherforamoment，thatshemightnotseehisface。’Ah——Idoremember，’hesaidatlast，inadry，small，repressedvoice。
’Well——needIsaymore？Isn’titsufficient？’
’Itwouldbesufficient，’answeredtheunhappyman。’But——’
Shelookedupwithareproachfulsmile，andshookherhead。’Thatsummer，’shewenton，’youaskedmetentimesifyouaskedmeonce。
Iamoldernow；muchmoreofawoman，youknow；andmyopinionischangedaboutsomepeople；especiallyaboutone。’
’OAnne，Anne！’heburstoutas，rackedbetweenhonouranddesire，hesnatchedupherhand。Thenextmomentitfellheavilytoherlap。Hehadabsolutelyrelinquishedithalf-waytohislips。
’Ihavebeenthinkinglately，’hesaid，withpreternaturallysuddencalmness，’thatmenofthemilitaryprofessionoughtnottom——
