第77章

’Theboywhowasatthepump，’saidI，’whenthecarriagebrokedownatDulverton。Theboythatlivesatoh——ah；andsomedayyouwouldcomeseekforhim。’

’Oh，yes，Iremembercertainly。Myleetleboy，withthefairwhiteskin。Ihavedesiredtoseehim，ohmany，yes，manytimes。’

Shewasopeningthedoor，whilesayingthis，andthenshestartedbackinaffrightthatthelittleboyshouldhavegrownso。

’Youcannotbethatleetleboy。Itisquiteimpossible。Whydoyouimposeonme？’

’NotonlyamIthatlittleboy，whomadethewatertoflowforyou，tillthenebulecameupontheglass；butalsoIamcometotellyouallaboutyourlittlegirl。’

’Comein，youverygreatleetleboy，’sheanswered，withherdarkeyesbrightened。AndIwentin，andlookedather。Shewasalteredbytime，asmuchasI

was。Theslightandgracefulshapewasgone；notthatIrememberedanythingofherfigure，ifyouplease；forboysoftwelvearenotyetpronetonotetheshapesofwomen；butthatherlithestraightgaithadstruckmeasbeingsounlikeourpeople。Nowhertimeforwalkingsowaspast，andtransmittedtoherchildren。

Yetherfacewascomelystill，andfullofstrongintelligence。Igazedather，andsheatme；andweweresureofoneanother。

’Nowwhatwillyepleasetoeat？’sheasked，withalivelyglanceatthesizeofmymouth：’thatisalwaysthefirstthingyoupeopleask，inthesebarbarousplaces。’

’Iwilltellyouby-and-by，’Ianswered，mislikingthissatireuponus；’butImightbeginwithaquartofale，toenablemetospeak，madam。’

’Verywell。Onequevartofbe-or；’shecalledouttoalittlemaid，whowashereldestchild，nodoubt。’Itistobeexpected，sir。Be-or，be-or，be-or，alldaylong，withyouEnglishmen!’

’Nay，’Ireplied，’notalldaylong，ifmadamwillexcuseme。Onlyapintatbreakfast-time，andapintandahalfateleveno’clock，andaquartorsoatdinner。Andthennomoretilltheafternoon；andhalfagallonatsupper-time。Noonecanobjecttothat。’

’Well，Isupposeitisright，’shesaid，withanairofresignation；’Godknows。ButIdonotunderstandit。Itis“goodforbusiness，“asyousay，toprecludeeverything。’

’Anditisgoodforus，madam，’Iansweredwithindignation，forbeerismyfavouritebeverage；’andI

amacredittobeer，madam；andsoareallwhotrusttoit。’

’Atanyrate，youare，youngman。Ifbeerhasmadeyougrowsolarge，Iwillputmychildrenuponit；itistoolateformetobegin。Thesmelltomeishateful。’

NowIonlysetdownthattoshowhowperversethoseforeignpeopleare。Theywilldrinktheirwretchedheartlessstuff，suchastheycallclaret，orwineofMedoc，orBordeaux，orwhatnot，withnomoremeaningthansourrennet，stirredwiththepulpfromtheciderpress，andstrainedthroughthecapofourBetty。Thisisverywellforthem；andasgoodastheydeserve，nodoubt，andmeantperhapsbythewillofGod，forthoseunhappynatives。ButtobringitovertoEnglandandsetitagainstourhome-brewedale(nottospeakofwinesfromPortugal)andsellitattentimestheprice，asacureforBritishbile，andagreatenlightenment；thisIsayisthevilestfeatureoftheagewelivein。

MadamBenitaOdam——forthenameofthemanwhoturnedthewheelprovedtobeJohnOdam——showedmeintoalittleroomcontainingtwochairsandafir-woodtable，andsatdownonathree-leggedseatandstudiedmeverysteadfastly。Thisshehadarighttodo；andI，havingallmyclothesonnow，wasnotdisconcerted。Itwouldnotbecomemetorepeatherjudgmentuponmyappearance，whichshedeliveredascalmlyasifIwereapigatmarket，andasproudlyasifherownpig。AndsheaskedmewhetherIhadevergotridoftheblackmarksonmybreast。

Notwantingtotalkaboutmyself(thoughveryfondofdoingso，whentimeandseasonfavour)IledherbacktothatfearfulnightofthedaywhenfirstIhadseenher。Shewasnotdesiroustospeakofit，becauseofherownlittlechildren；however，IdrewhergraduallytorecollectionofLorna，andthenofthelittleboywhod