按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
became necessary to start comparatively early。 Half an hour later
would certainly have answered his purpose quite as well； yet at the
last moment nothing would content his ardent mind but that he must
go a mile out of his way in the direction of the school； in the hope
of getting a glimpse of his Love as she started for church。
Striking； therefore； into the lane towards the school； instead of
across the ewelease direct to Charmley； he arrived opposite her door
as his goddess emerged。
If ever a woman looked a divinity； Fancy Day appeared one that
morning as she floated down those school steps； in the form of a
nebulous collection of colours inclining to blue。 With an audacity
unparalleled in the whole history of village…school…mistresses at
this datepartly owing； no doubt； to papa's respectable
accumulation of cash； which rendered her profession not altogether
one of necessityshe had actually donned a hat and feather； and
lowered her hitherto plainly looped…up hair； which now fell about
her shoulders in a profusion of curls。 Poor Dick was astonished：
he had never seen her look so distractingly beautiful before； save
on Christmas…eve； when her hair was in the same luxuriant condition
of freedom。 But his first burst of delighted surprise was followed
by less comfortable feelings； as soon as his brain recovered its
power to think。
Fancy had blushed；was it with confusion？ She had also
involuntarily pressed back her curls。 She had not expected him。
〃Fancy； you didn't know me for a moment in my funeral clothes； did
you？〃
〃Good…morning； Dickno； really； I didn't know you for an instant in
such a sad suit。〃
He looked again at the gay tresses and hat。 〃You've never dressed
so charming before； dearest。〃
〃I like to hear you praise me in that way； Dick；〃 she said； smiling
archly。 〃It is meat and drink to a woman。 Do I look nice really？〃
〃Fie！ you know it。 Did you remember；I mean didn't you remember
about my going away to…day？〃
〃Well； yes； I did； Dick； but； you know； I wanted to look well；
forgive me。〃
〃Yes； darling； yes； of course；there's nothing to forgive。 No； I
was only thinking that when we talked on Tuesday and Wednesday and
Thursday and Friday about my absence to…day； and I was so sorry for
it； you said； Fancy； so were you sorry； and almost cried； and said
it would be no pleasure to you to be the attraction of the church
to…day； since I could not be there。〃
〃My dear one； neither will it be so much pleasure to me 。 。 。 But I
do take a little delight in my life； I suppose；〃 she pouted。
〃Apart from mine？〃
She looked at him with perplexed eyes。 〃I know you are vexed with
me； Dick； and it is because the first Sunday I have curls and a hat
and feather since I have been here happens to be the very day you
are away and won't be with me。 Yes； say it is； for that is it！ And
you think that all this week I ought to have remembered you wouldn't
be here to…day； and not have cared to be better dressed than usual。
Yes； you do； Dick； and it is rather unkind！〃
〃No； no；〃 said Dick earnestly and simply； 〃I didn't think so badly
of you as that。 I only thought thatif YOU had been going away； I
shouldn't have tried new attractions for the eyes of other people。
But then of course you and I are different； naturally。〃
〃Well； perhaps we are。〃
〃Whatever will the vicar say； Fancy？〃
〃I don't fear what he says in the least！〃 she answered proudly。
〃But he won't say anything of the sort you think。 No； no。〃
〃He can hardly have conscience to； indeed。〃
〃Now come； you say； Dick； that you quite forgive me； for I must go；〃
she said with sudden gaiety； and skipped backwards into the porch。
〃Come here； sir；say you forgive me； and then you shall kiss me；
you never have yet when I have worn curls； you know。 Yes； just
where you want to so much；yes； you may！〃
Dick followed her into the inner corner； where he was probably not
slow in availing himself of the privilege offered。
〃Now that's a treat for you； isn't it？〃 she continued。 〃Good…bye；
or I shall be late。 Come and see me to…morrow： you'll be tired to
night。〃
Thus they parted； and Fancy proceeded to the church。 The organ
stood on one side of the chancel； close to and under the immediate
eye of the vicar when he was in the pulpit； and also in full view of
the congregation。 Here she sat down； for the first time in such a
conspicuous position； her seat having previously been in a remote
spot in the aisle。
〃Good heavensdisgraceful！ Curls and a hat and feather！〃 said the
daughters of the small gentry； who had either only curly hair
without a hat and feather； or a hat and feather without curly hair。
〃A bonnet for church always；〃 said sober matrons。
That Mr。 Maybold was conscious of her presence close beside him
during the sermon； that he was not at all angry at her development
of costume； that he admired her； she perceived。 But she did not see
that he loved her during that sermon…time as he had never loved a
woman before； that her proximity was a strange delight to him； and
that he gloried in her musical success that morning in a spirit
quite beyond a mere cleric's glory at the inauguration of a new
order of things。
The old choir； with humbled hearts； no longer took their seats in
the gallery as heretofore （which was now given up to the school…
children who were not singers； and a pupil…teacher）； but were
scattered about with their wives in different parts of the church。
Having nothing to do with conducting the service for almost the
first time in their lives； they all felt awkward； out of place；
abashed； and inconvenienced by their hands。 The tranter had
proposed that they should stay away to…day and go nutting； but
grandfather William would not hear of such a thing for a moment。
〃No；〃 he replied reproachfully； and quoted a verse 〃Though this has
come upon us； let not our hearts be turned back； or our steps go out
of the way。〃
So they stood and watched the curls of hair trailing down the back
of the successful rival； and the waving of her feather； as she
swayed her head。 After a few timid notes and uncertain touches her
playing became markedly correct； and towards the end full and free。
But； whether from prejudice or unbiassed judgment； the venerable
body of musicians could not help thinking that the simpler notes
they had been wont to bring forth were more in keeping with the
simplicity of their old church than the crowded chords and
interludes it was her pleasure to produce。
CHAPTER VI： INTO TEMPTATION
The day was done； and Fancy was again in the school…house。 About
five o'clock it began to rain； and in rather a dull frame of mind
she wandered into the schoolroom； for want of something better to
do。 She was thinkingof her lover Dick Dewy？ Not precisely。 Of
how weary she was of living alone： how unbearable it would be to
return to Ya