TheThreeStrangers(1883)AmongthefewfeaturesofagriculturalEnglandwhichretainanappearancebutlittlemodifiedbythelapseofcenturies,maybereckonedthehigh,grassyandfurzydowns,coombs,orewe-leases,astheyareindifferentlycalled,thatfillalargeareaofcertaincountiesinthesouthandsouth-west.Ifanymarkofhumanoccupationismetwithhereon,itusuallytakestheformofthesolitarycottageofsomeshepherd. Fiftyyearsagosuchalonelycottagestoodonsuchadown,andmaypossiblybestandingtherenow.Inspiteofitsloneliness,however,thespot,byactualmeasurement,wasnotmorethanfivemilesfromacounty-town.Yetthataffecteditlittle.Fivemilesofirregularupland,duringthelonginimicalseasons,withtheirsleets,snows,rains,andmists,affordwithdrawingspaceenoughtoisolateaTimonoraNebuchadnezzar;muchless,infairweather,topleasethatlessrepellenttribe,thepoets,philosophers,artists,andotherswho'conceiveandmeditateofpleasantthings.' Someoldearthencamporbarrow,someclumpoftrees,atleastsomestarvedfragmentofancienthedgeisusuallytakenadvantageofintheerectionoftheseforlorndwellings.But,inthepresentcase,suchakindofshelterhadbeendisregarded.HigherCrowstairs,asthehousewascalled,stoodquitedetachedandundefended.Theonlyreasonforitsprecisesituationseemedtobethecrossingoftwofootpathsatrightangleshardby,whichmayhavecrossedthereandthusforagoodfivehundredyears.Hencethehousewasexposedtotheelementsonallsides.But,thoughthewinduphereblewunmistakablywhenitdidblow,andtherainhithardwheneveritfell,thevariousweathersofthewinterseasonwerenotquitesoformidableonthecoombastheywereimaginedtobebydwellersonlowground.Therawrimeswerenotsoperniciousasinthehollows,andthefrostswerescarcelysosevere.Whentheshepherdandhisfamilywhotenantedthehousewerepitiedfortheirsufferingsfromtheexposure,theysaidthatuponthewholetheywerelessinconveniencedby'wuzzesandflames'(hoarsesandphlegms)thanwhentheyhadlivedbythestreamofasnugneighbouringvalley. ThenightofMarch28,182-,waspreciselyoneofthenightsthatwerewonttocallforththeseexpressionsofcommiseration.Thelevelrainstormsmotewalls,slopes,andhedgesliketheclothyardshaftsofSenlacandCrecy.Suchsheepandoutdooranimalsashadnoshelterstoodwiththeirbuttockstothewinds;whilethetailsoflittlebirdstryingtoroostonsomescraggythornwereblowninside-outlikeumbrellas.Thegable-endofthecottagewasstainedwithwet,andtheeavesdroppingsflappedagainstthewall.Yetneverwascommiserationfortheshepherdmoremisplaced.Forthatcheerfulrusticwasentertainingalargepartyinglorificationofthechristeningofhissecondgirl. Theguestshadarrivedbeforetherainbegantofall,andtheywereallnowassembledinthechieforlivingroomofthedwelling.Aglanceintotheapartmentateighto'clockonthiseventfuleveningwouldhaveresultedintheopinionthatitwasascosyandcomfortableanookascouldbewishedforinboisterousweather.Thecallingofitsinhabitantwasproclaimedbyanumberofhighly-polishedsheep-crookswithoutstemsthatwerehungornamentallyoverthefireplace,thecurlofeachshiningcrookvaryingfromtheantiquatedtypeengravedinthepatriarchalpicturesofoldfamilyBiblestothemostapprovedfashionofthelastlocalsheep-fair.Theroomwaslightedbyhalf-a-dozencandles,havingwicksonlyatriflesmallerthanthegreasewhichenvelopedthem,incandlesticksthatwereneverusedbutathigh-days,holy-days,andfamilyfeasts.Thelightswerescatteredabouttheroom,twoofthemstandingonthechimney-piece.Thispositionofcandleswasinitselfsignificant.Candlesonthechimney-piecealwaysmeantaparty. Onthehearth,infrontofaback-brandtogivesubstance,blazedafireofthorns,thatcrackled'likethelaughterofthefool.' Nineteenpersonsweregatheredhere.Ofthese,fivewomen,wearinggownsofvariousbrighthues,satinchairsalongthewall;girlsshyandnotshyfilledthewindow-bench;fourmen,includingCharleyJakethehedge-carpenter,ElijahNewtheparish-clerk,andJohnPitcher,aneighbouringdairyman,theshepherd'sfather-in-law,lolledinthesettle;ayoungmanandmaid,whowereblushingovertentativepourparlersonalife-companionship,satbeneaththecorner-cupboard;andanelderlyengagedmanoffiftyorupwardmovedrestlesslyaboutfromspotswherehisbetrothedwasnottothespotwhereshewas.Enjoymentwasprettygeneral,andsomuchthemoreprevailedinbeingunhamperedbyconventionalrestrictions.Absoluteconfidenceineachother'sgoodopinionbegatperfectease,whilethefinishingstrokeofmanner,amountingtoatrulyprincelyserenity,waslenttothemajoritybytheabsenceofanyexpressionortraitdenotingthattheywishedtogetonintheworld,enlargetheirminds,ordoanyeclipsingthingwhatever--whichnowadayssogenerallynipsthebloomandbonhomieofallexceptthetwoextremesofthesocialscale. ShepherdFennelhadmarriedwell,hiswifebeingadairyman'sdaughterfromavaleatadistance,whobroughtfiftyguineasinherpocket--andkeptthemthere,tilltheyshouldberequiredforministeringtotheneedsofacomingfamily.Thisfrugalwomanhadbeensomewhatexercisedastothecharacterthatshouldbegiventothegathering.Asit-stillpartyhaditsadvantages;butanundisturbedpositionofeaseinchairsandsettleswasapttoleadonthementosuchanunconscionabledealoftopingthattheywouldsometimesfairlydrinkthehousedry.Adancing-partywasthealternative;butthis,whileavoidingtheforegoingobjectiononthescoreofgooddrink,hadacounterbalancingdisadvantageinthematterofgoodvictuals,theravenousappetitesengenderedbytheexercisecausingimmensehavocinthebuttery.ShepherdessFennelfellbackupontheintermediateplanofminglingshortdanceswithshortperiodsoftalkandsinging,soastohinderanyungovernablerageineither.Butthisschemewasentirelyconfinedtoherowngentlemind:theshepherdhimselfwasinthemoodtoexhibitthemostrecklessphasesofhospitality. Thefiddlerwasaboyofthoseparts,abouttwelveyearsofage,whohadawonderfuldexterityinjigsandreels,thoughhisfingersweresosmallandshortastonecessitateaconstantshiftingforthehighnotes,fromwhichhescrambledbacktothefirstpositionwithsoundsnotofunmixedpurityoftone.Atseventheshrilltweedle-deeofthisyoungsterhadbegun,accompaniedbyaboomingground-bassfromElijahNew,theparish-clerk,whohadthoughtfullybroughtwithhimhisfavouritemusicalinstrument,theserpent.Dancingwasinstantaneous,Mrs.Fennelprivatelyenjoiningtheplayersonnoaccounttoletthedanceexceedthelengthofaquarterofanhour. ButElijahandtheboy,intheexcitementoftheirposition,quiteforgottheinjunction.Moreover,OliverGiles,amanofseventeen,oneofthedancers,whowasenamouredofhispartner,afairgirlofthirty-threerollingyears,hadrecklesslyhandedanewcrown-piecetothemusicians,asabribetokeepgoingaslongastheyhadmuscleandwind.Mrs.Fennel,seeingthesteambegintogenerateonthecountenancesofherguests,crossedoverandtouchedthefiddler'selbowandputherhandontheserpent'smouth.Buttheytooknonotice,andfearingshemightlosehercharacterofgenialhostessifsheweretointerferetoomarkedly,sheretiredandsatdownhelpless.Andsothedancewhizzedonwithcumulativefury,theperformersmovingintheirplanet-likecourses,directandretrograde,fromapogeetoperigee,tillthehandofthewell-kickedclockatthebottomoftheroomhadtravelledoverthecircumferenceofanhour. WhilethesecheerfuleventswereincourseofenactmentwithinFennel'spastoraldwelling,anincidenthavingconsiderablebearingonthepartyhadoccurredinthegloomynightwithout.Mrs.Fennel'sconcernaboutthegrowingfiercenessofthedancecorrespondedinpointoftimewiththeascentofahumanfiguretothesolitaryhillofHigherCrowstairsfromthedirectionofthedistanttown.Thispersonagestrodeonthroughtherainwithoutapause,followingthelittle-wornpathwhich,furtheroninitscourse,skirtedtheshepherd'scottage. Itwasnearlythetimeoffullmoon,andonthisaccount,thoughtheskywaslinedwithauniformsheetofdrippingcloud,ordinaryobjectsoutofdoorswerereadilyvisible.Thesadwanlightrevealedthelonelypedestriantobeamanofsuppleframe;hisgaitsuggestedthathehadsomewhatpassedtheperiodofperfectandinstinctiveagility,thoughnotsofarastobeotherwisethanrapidofmotionwhenoccasionrequired.Ataroughguess,hemighthavebeenaboutfortyyearsofage.Heappearedtall,butarecruitingsergeant,orotherpersonaccustomedtothejudgingofmen'sheightsbytheeye,wouldhavediscernedthatthiswaschieflyowingtohisgauntness,andthathewasnotmorethanfive-feet-eightornine. Notwithstandingtheregularityofhistread,therewascautioninit,asinthatofonewhomentallyfeelshisway;anddespitethefactthatitwasnotablackcoatnoradarkgarmentofanysortthathewore,therewassomethingabouthimwhichsuggestedthathenaturallybelongedtotheblack-coatedtribesofmen.Hisclotheswereoffustian,andhisbootshobnailed,yetinhisprogressheshowednotthemud-accustomedbearingofhobnailedandfustianedpeasantry. Bythetimethathehadarrivedabreastoftheshepherd'spremisestheraincamedown,orrathercamealong,withyetmoredeterminedviolence.Theoutskirtsofthelittlesettlementpartiallybroketheforceofwindandrain,andthisinducedhimtostandstill.Themostsalientoftheshepherd'sdomesticerectionswasanemptystyattheforwardcornerofhishedgelessgarden,forintheselatitudestheprincipleofmaskingthehomelierfeaturesofyourestablishmentbyaconventionalfrontagewasunknown.Thetraveller'seyewasattractedtothissmallbuildingbythepallidshineofthewetslatesthatcoveredit.Heturnedaside,and,findingitempty,stoodunderthepent-roofforshelter. Whilehestood,theboomoftheserpentwithintheadjacenthouse,andthelesserstrainsofthefiddler,reachedthespotasanaccompanimenttothesurginghissoftheflyingrainonthesod,itslouderbeatingonthecabbage-leavesofthegarden,ontheeightortenbeehivesjustdiscerniblebythepath,anditsdrippingfromtheeavesintoarowofbucketsandpansthathadbeenplacedunderthewallsofthecottage.ForatHigherCrowstairs,asatallsuchelevateddomiciles,thegranddifficultyofhousekeepingwasaninsufficiencyofwater;andacasualrainfallwasutilizedbyturningout,ascatchers,everyutensilthatthehousecontained.Somequeerstoriesmightbetoldofthecontrivancesforeconomyinsudsanddish-watersthatareabsolutelynecessitatedinuplandhabitationsduringthedroughtsofsummer.Butatthisseasontherewerenosuchexigencies;amereacceptanceofwhattheskiesbestowedwassufficientforanabundantstore. Atlastthenotesoftheserpentceasedandthehousewassilent.Thiscessationofactivityarousedthesolitarypedestrianfromthereverieintowhichhehadlapsed,and,emergingfromtheshed,withanapparentlynewintention,hewalkedupthepathtothehouse-door.Arrivedhere,hisfirstactwastokneeldownonalargestonebesidetherowofvessels,andtodrinkacopiousdraughtfromoneofthem.Havingquenchedhisthirstheroseandliftedhishandtoknock,butpausedwithhiseyeuponthepanel.Sincethedarksurfaceofthewoodrevealedabsolutelynothing,itwasevidentthathemustbementallylookingthroughthedoor,asifhewishedtomeasuretherebyallthepossibilitiesthatahouseofthissortmightinclude,andhowtheymightbearuponthequestionofhisentry. Inhisindecisionheturnedandsurveyedthescenearound.Notasoulwasanywherevisible.Thegarden-pathstretcheddownwardfromhisfeet,gleaminglikethetrackofasnail;theroofofthelittlewell(mostlydry),thewell-cover,thetoprailofthegarden-gate,werevarnishedwiththesamedullliquidglaze;while,farawayinthevale,afaintwhitenessofmorethanusualextentshowedthattheriverswerehighinthemeads.Beyondallthiswinkedafewblearedlamplightsthroughthebeatingdrops--lightsthatdenotedthesituationofthecounty-townfromwhichhehadappearedtocome.Theabsenceofallnotesoflifeinthatdirectionseemedtoclinchhisintentions,andheknockedatthedoor. Within,adesultorychathadtakentheplaceofmovementandmusicalsound.Thehedge-carpenterwassuggestingasongtothecompany,whichnobodyjustthenwasinclinedtoundertake,sothattheknockaffordedanotunwelcomediversion. 'Walkin!'saidtheshepherdpromptly. Thelatchclickedupward,andoutofthenightourpedestrianappeareduponthedoor-mat.Theshepherdarose,snuffedtwoofthenearestcandles,andturnedtolookathim. Theirlightdisclosedthatthestrangerwasdarkincomplexionandnotunprepossessingastofeature.Hishat,whichforamomenthedidnotremove,hunglowoverhiseyes,withoutconcealingthattheywerelarge,open,anddetermined,movingwithaflashratherthanaglanceroundtheroom.Heseemedpleasedwithhissurvey,and,baringhisshaggyhead,said,inarichdeepvoice,'Therainissoheavy,friends,thatIaskleavetocomeinandrestawhile.' 'Tobesure,stranger,'saidtheshepherd.'Andfaith,you'vebeenluckyinchoosingyourtime,forwearehavingabitofaflingforagladcause--though,tobesure,amancouldhardlywishthatgladcausetohappenmorethanonceayear.' 'Norless,'spokeupawoman.'For'tisbesttogetyourfamilyoveranddonewith,assoonasyoucan,soastobealltheearlieroutofthefago't.' 'Andwhatmaybethisgladcause?'askedthestranger. 'Abirthandchristening,'saidtheshepherd. Thestrangerhopedhishostmightnotbemadeunhappyeitherbytoomanyortoofewofsuchepisodes,andbeinginvitedbyagesturetoapullatthemug,hereadilyacquiesced.Hismanner,which,beforeentering,hadbeensodubious,wasnowaltogetherthatofacarelessandcandidman. 'Latetobetraipsingathwartthiscoomb--hey?'saidtheengagedmanoffifty. 'Lateitis,master,asyousay.--I'lltakeaseatinthechimney-corner,ifyouhavenothingtourgeagainstit,ma'am;forIamalittlemoistonthesidethatwasnexttherain.' Mrs.ShepherdFennelassented,andmaderoomfortheself-invitedcomer,who,havinggotcompletelyinsidethechimney-corner,stretchedouthislegsandhisarmswiththeexpansivenessofapersonquiteathome. 'Yes,Iamrathercrackedinthevamp,'hesaidfreely,seeingthattheeyesoftheshepherd'swifefelluponhisboots,'andIamnotwellfittedeither.Ihavehadsomeroughtimeslately,andhavebeenforcedtopickupwhatIcangetinthewayofwearing,butImustfindasuitbetterfitforworking-dayswhenIreachhome.' 'Oneofhereabouts?'sheinquired. 'Notquitethat--furtherupthecountry.' 'Ithoughtso.AndsobeI;andbyyourtongueyoucomefrommyneighbourhood.' 'Butyouwouldhardlyhaveheardofme,'hesaidquickly.'Mytimewouldbelongbeforeyours,ma'am,yousee.' Thistestimonytotheyouthfulnessofhishostesshadtheeffectofstoppinghercross-examination. 'Thereisonlyonethingmorewantedtomakemehappy,'continuedthenew-comer.'Andthatisalittlebaccy,whichIamsorrytosayIamoutof.' 'I'llfillyourpipe,'saidtheshepherd. 'Imustaskyoutolendmeapipelikewise.' 'Asmoker,andnopipeabout'ee?' 'Ihavedroppeditsomewhereontheroad.' Theshepherdfilledandhandedhimanewclaypipe,saying,ashedidso,'Handmeyourbaccy-box--I'llfillthattoo,nowIamaboutit.' Themanwentthroughthemovementofsearchinghispockets. 'Lostthattoo?'saidhisentertainer,withsomesurprise. 'Iamafraidso,'saidthemanwithsomeconfusion.'Giveittomeinascrewofpaper.'Lightinghispipeatthecandlewithasuctionthatdrewthewholeflameintothebowl,heresettledhimselfinthecornerandbenthislooksuponthefaintsteamfromhisdamplegs,asifhewishedtosaynomore. Meanwhilethegeneralbodyofguestshadbeentakinglittlenoticeofthisvisitorbyreasonofanabsorbingdiscussioninwhichtheywereengagedwiththebandaboutatuneforthenextdance.Thematterbeingsettled,theywereabouttostandupwhenaninterruptioncameintheshapeofanotherknockatthedoor. Atsoundofthesamethemaninthechimney-cornertookupthepokerandbeganstirringthebrandsasifdoingitthoroughlyweretheoneaimofhisexistence;andasecondtimetheshepherdsaid,'Walkin!'Inamomentanothermanstooduponthestraw-wovendoor-mat.Hetoowasastranger. Thisindividualwasoneofatyperadicallydifferentfromthefirst.Therewasmoreofthecommonplaceinhismanner,andacertainjovialcosmopolitanismsatuponhisfeatures.Hewasseveralyearsolderthanthefirstarrival,hishairbeingslightlyfrosted,hiseyebrowsbristly,andhiswhiskerscutbackfromhischeeks.Hisfacewasratherfullandflabby,andyetitwasnotaltogetherafacewithoutpower.Afewgrog-blossomsmarkedtheneighbourhoodofhisnose.Heflungbackhislongdrabgreatcoat,revealingthatbeneathitheworeasuitofcinder-grayshadethroughout,largeheavyseals,ofsomemetalorotherthatwouldtakeapolish,danglingfromhisfobashisonlypersonalornament.Shakingthewater-dropsfromhislow-crownedglazedhat,hesaid,'Imustaskforafewminutes'shelter,comrades,orIshallbewettedtomyskinbeforeIgettoCasterbridge.' 'Makeyourselfathome,master,'saidtheshepherd,perhapsatriflelessheartilythanonthefirstoccasion.NotthatFennelhadtheleasttingeofniggardlinessinhiscomposition;buttheroomwasfarfromlarge,sparechairswerenotnumerous,anddampcompanionswerenotaltogetherdesirableatclosequartersforthewomenandgirlsintheirbright-colouredgowns. However,thesecondcomer,aftertakingoffhisgreatcoat,andhanginghishatonanailinoneoftheceiling-beamsasifhehadbeenspeciallyinvitedtoputitthere,advancedandsatdownatthetable.Thishadbeenpushedsocloselyintothechimney-corner,togiveallavailableroomtothedancers,thatitsinneredgegrazedtheelbowofthemanwhohadensconcedhimselfbythefire;andthusthetwostrangerswerebroughtintoclosecompanionship.Theynoddedtoeachotherbywayofbreakingtheiceofunacquaintance,andthefirststrangerhandedhisneighbourthefamilymug--ahugevesselofbrownware,havingitsupperedgewornawaylikeathresholdbytherubofwholegenerationsofthirstylipsthathadgonethewayofallflesh,andbearingthefollowinginscriptionburntuponitsrotundsideinyellowletters:THEREISNOFUNUNTILLiCUM.Theotherman,nothingloth,raisedthemugtohislips,anddrankon,andon,andon--tillacuriousbluenessoverspreadthecountenanceoftheshepherd'swife,whohadregardedwithnolittlesurprisethefirststranger'sfreeoffertothesecondofwhatdidnotbelongtohimtodispense. 'Iknewit!'saidthetopertotheshepherdwithmuchsatisfaction.'WhenIwalkedupyourgardenbeforecomingin,andsawthehivesallofarow,Isaidtomyself;"Wherethere'sbeesthere'shoney,andwherethere'shoneythere'smead."ButmeadofsuchatrulycomfortablesortasthisIreallydidn'texpecttomeetinmyolderdays.'Hetookyetanotherpullatthemug,tillitassumedanominouselevation. 'Gladyouenjoyit!'saidtheshepherdwarmly. 'Itisgoodishmead,'assentedMrs.Fennel,withanabsenceofenthusiasmwhichseemedtosaythatitwaspossibletobuypraiseforone'scellarattooheavyaprice.'Itistroubleenoughtomake--andreallyIhardlythinkweshallmakeanymore.Forhoneysellswell,andweourselvescanmakeshiftwithadropo'smallmeadandmetheglinforcommonusefromthecomb-washings." 'O,butyou'llneverhavetheheart!'reproachfullycriedthestrangerincinder-gray,aftertakingupthemugathirdtimeandsettingitdownempty.'Ilovemead,when'tisoldlikethis,asIlovetogotochurcho'Sundays,ortorelievetheneedyanydayoftheweek.' 'Ha,ha,ha!'saidthemaninthechimney-corner,who,inspiteofthetaciturnityinducedbythepipeoftobacco,couldnotorwouldnotrefrainfromthisslighttestimonytohiscomrade'shumour. Nowtheoldmeadofthosedays,brewedofthepurestfirst-yearormaidenhoney,fourpoundstothegallon--withitsduecomplementofwhiteofeggs,cinnamon,ginger,cloves,mace,rosemary,yeast,andprocessesofworking,bottling,andcellaring--tastedremarkablystrong;butitdidnottastesostrongasitactuallywas.Hence,presently,thestrangerincinder-grayatthetable,movedbyitscreepinginfluence,unbuttonedhiswaistcoat,threwhimselfbackinhischair,spreadhislegs,andmadehispresencefeltinvariousways. 'Well,well,asIsay,'heresumed,'IamgoingtoCasterbridge,andtoCasterbridgeImustgo.Ishouldhavebeenalmosttherebythistime;buttheraindrovemeintoyourdwelling,andI'mnotsorryforit.' 'Youdon'tliveinCasterbridge?'saidtheshepherd. 'Notasyet;thoughIshortlymeantomovethere.' 'G
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