beasts and super-beasts(野兽与超级野兽)-第14章
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〃Is anything the matter； Martha？〃 asked the young woman。
〃'Tis death； 'tis death a…coming；〃 answered the quavering voice； 〃I
knew 'twere coming。 I knew it。 'Tweren't for nothing that old Shep's
been howling all morning。 An' last night I heard the screech…owl give
the death…cry； and there were something white as run across the yard
yesterday； 'tweren't a cat nor a stoat； 'twere something。 The fowls knew
'twere something； they all drew off to one side。 Ay； there's been
warnings。 I knew it were a…coming。〃
The young woman's eyes clouded with pity。 The old thing sitting
there so white and shrunken had once been a merry； noisy child； playing
about in lanes and hay…lofts and farmhouse garrets； that had been eighty
odd years ago； and now she was just a frail old body cowering under
the approaching chill of the death that was coming at last to take her。 It
was not probable that much could be done for her； but Emma hastened
away to get assistance and counsel。 Her husband； she knew； was down
at a tree… felling some little distance off； but she might find some other
intelligent soul who knew the old woman better than she did。 The farm；
she soon found out； had that faculty common to farmyards of
swallowing up and losing its human population。 The poultry followed
her in interested fashion； and swine grunted interrogations at her from
behind the bars of their styes； but barnyard and rickyard； orchard and
stables and dairy； gave no reward to her search。 Then； as she retraced
her steps towards the kitchen； she came suddenly on her cousin； young
Mr。 Jim； as every one called him； who divided his time between
amateur horse…dealing； rabbit…shooting； and flirting with the farm maids。
〃I'm afraid old Martha is dying；〃 said Emma。 Jim was not the sort
of person to whom one had to break news gently。
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〃Nonsense；〃 he said； 〃Martha means to live to a hundred。 She told
me so； and she'll do it。〃
〃She may be actually dying at this moment； or it may just be the
beginning of the break…up；〃 persisted Emma； with a feeling of contempt
for the slowness and dulness of the young man。
A grin spread over his good…natured features。
〃It don't look like it；〃 he said； nodding towards the yard。 Emma
turned to catch the meaning of his remark。 Old Martha stood in the
middle of a mob of poultry scattering handfuls of grain around her。
The turkey…cock； with the bronzed sheen of his feathers and the
purple…red of his wattles； the gamecock； with the glowing metallic lustre
of his Eastern plumage； the hens； with their ochres and buffs and umbers
and their scarlet combs； and the drakes； with their bottle…green heads；
made a medley of rich colour； in the centre of which the old woman
looked like a withered stalk standing amid a riotous growth of gaily…
hued flowers。 But she threw the grain deftly amid the wilderness of
beaks； and her quavering voice carried as far as the two people who
were watching her。 She was still harping on the theme of death
coming to the farm。
〃I knew 'twere a…coming。 There's been signs an' warnings。〃
〃Who's dead； then； old Mother？〃 called out the young man。
〃'Tis young Mister Ladbruk；〃 she shrilled back； 〃they've just a…
carried his body in。 Run out of the way of a tree that was coming down
an' ran hisself on to an iron post。 Dead when they picked un up。 Aye；
I knew 'twere coming。〃
And she turned to fling a handful of barley at a belated group of
guinea…fowl that came racing toward her。
* * * *
The farm was a family property； and passed to the rabbit…shooting
cousin as the next…of…kin。 Emma Ladbruk drifted out of its history as a
bee that had wandered in at an open window might flit its way out again。
On a cold grey morning she stood waiting； with her boxes already
stowed in the farm cart； till the last of the market produce should be
ready； for the train she was to catch was of less importance than the
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chickens and butter and eggs that were to be offered for sale。 From
where she stood she could see an angle of the long latticed window
that was to have been cosy with curtains and gay with bowls of flowers。
Into her mind came the thought that for months； perhaps for years； long
after she had been utterly forgotten； a white； unheeding face would be
seen peering out through those latticed panes； and a weak muttering
voice would be heard quavering up and down those flagged passages。
She made her way to a narrow barred casement that opened into the farm
larder。 Old Martha was standing at a table trussing a pair of chickens
for the market stall as she had trussed them for nearly fourscore years。
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THE LULL
I'VE asked Latimer Springfield to spend Sunday with us and stop
the night；〃 announced Mrs。 Durmot at the breakfast…table。
〃I thought he was in the throes of an election；〃 remarked her
husband。
〃Exactly； the poll is on Wednesday； and the poor man will have
worked himself to a shadow by that time。 Imagine what electioneering
must be like in this awful soaking rain； going along slushy country roads
and speaking to damp audiences in draughty schoolrooms； day after
day for a fortnight。 He'll have to put in an appearance at some place of
worship on Sunday morning； and he can come to us immediately
afterwards and have a thorough respite from everything connected with
politics。 I won't let him even think of them。 I've had the picture of
Cromwell dissolving the Long Parliament taken down from the staircase；
and even the portrait of Lord Rosebery's 'Ladas' removed from the
smoking…room。 And Vera；〃 added Mrs。 Durmot； turning to her sixteen…
year…old niece； 〃be careful what colour ribbon you wear in your hair；
not blue or yellow on any account； those are the rival party colours； and
emerald green or orange would be almost as bad； with this Home Rule
business to the fore。〃
〃On state occasions I always wear a black ribbon in my hair；〃 said
Vera with crushing dignity。
