第9章

In a large bedroom upstairs, the window of which was thickly curtained with a great woollen shawl lately discarded by the landlady Mrs Rolliver, were gathered on this evening nearly a dozen persons, all seeking beatitude;all old inhabitants of the nearer end of Marlott, and frequenters of this retreat.Not only did the distance to The Pure Drop, the fully-licensed tavern at the further part of the dispersed village, render its accommodation practically unavailable for dwellers at this end; but the far more serious question, the quality of the liquor, confirmed the prevalent opinion that it was better to drink with Rolliver in a corner of the housetop than with the other landlord in a wide house.

A gaunt four-post bedstead which stood in the room afforded sitting-space for several persons gathered round three of its sides; a couple more men had elevated themselves on a chest of drawers; another rested on the oak-carved `cwoffer'; two on the washstand; another on the stool; and thus all were, somehow, seated at their ease.The stage of mental comfort to which they had arrived at his hour was one wherein their souls expanded beyond their skins, and spread their personalities warmly through the room.In this process the chamber and its furniture grew more and more dignified and luxurious; the shawl hanging at the window took upon itself the richness of tapestry; the brass handles of the chest of drawers were as golden knockers;and the carved bed-posts seemed to have some kinship with the magnificent pillars of Solomon's temple.

Mrs Durbeyfield, having quickly walked hitherward after parting from Tess, opened the front door, crossed the downstairs room, which was in deep gloom, and then unfastened the stair-door like one whose fingers knew the tricks of the latches well.Her ascent of the crooked staircase was a slower process, and her face, as it rose into the light above the last stair, encountered the gaze of all the party assembled in the bedroom.

`Being a few private friends I've asked in to keep up club walking at my own expense,' the landlady exclaimed at the sound of footsteps, as glibly as a child repeating the Catechism, while she peered over the stairs.

`Oh, `tis you, Mrs Durbeyfield - Lard - how you frightened me! I thought it might be some gaffer sent by Government.'

Mrs Durbeyfield was welcomed with glances and nods by the remainder of the conclave, and turned to where her husband sat.He was humming absently to himself, in a low tone: `I be as good as some folks here and there!

I've got a great family vault at Kingsbere-sub-Greenhill, and finer skillentons than any man in Wessex!'

`I've something to tell `ee that's come into my head about that a grand projick!' whispered his cheerful wife.`Here, John, don't `ee see me?'

She nudged him, while he, looking through her as through a windowpane, went on with his recitative.

`Hush! Don't `ee sing so loud, my good man,'said the landlady; in case any member of the Government should be passing, and take away my license.'

`He's told `ee what's happened to us, I suppose?' asked Mrs Durbeyfield.

`Yes - in a way.D'ye think there's any money hanging by it?'

`Ah, that's the secret,' said Joan Durbeyfield sagely.`However, tis well to be kin to a coach, even if you don't ride in `en.' She dropped her public voice, and continued in a low tone to her husband: `I've been thinking since you brought the news that there's a great rich lady out by Trantridge, on the edge o' The Chase, of the name of d'Urberville.'

`Hey - what's that?' said Sir John.

She repeated the information.`That lady must be our relation,'she said.

`And my projick is to send Tess to claim kin.'

`There is a lady of the name, now you mention it,'said Durbeyfield.

`Pa'son Tringham didn't think of that.But she's nothing beside we - a junior branch of us, no doubt, hailing long since King Norman's day.'

While this question was being discussed neither of the pair noticed, in their preoccupation, that little Abraham had crept into the room, and was awaiting an opportunity of asking them to return.

`She is rich, and she'd be sure to take notice o' the maid,' continued Mrs Durbeyfield; `and `twill be a very good thing.I don't see why two branches o' one family should not be on visiting terms.'

`Yes; and we'll all claim kin!' said Abraham brightly from under the bedstead.`And we'll all go and see her when Tess has gone to live with her; and we'll ride in her coach and wear black clothes!'

`How do you come here, child? What nonsense be ye talking! Go away, and play on the stairs till father and mother be ready! Well, Tess ought to go to this other member of our family.She'd be sure to win the lady - Tess would; and likely enough It would lead to some noble gentleman marrying her.In short, I know it.'

`How?'

`I tried her fate in the Fortune-Teller , and it brought out that very thing! You should ha' seen how pretty she looked today; her skin is as sumple as a duchess's.'

`What says the maid herself to going?'

`I've not asked her.She don't know there is any such lady relation yet.But it would certainly put her in the way of a grand marriage, and she won't say nay to going.'

`Tess is queer.'

`But she's tractable at bottom.Leave her to me.'

Though this conversation had been private, sufficient of its import reached the understandings of those around to suggest to them that the Durbeyfields had weightier concerns to talk of now than common folks had, and that Tess, their pretty eldest daughter had fine prospects in store.

`Tess is a fine figure o' fun, as I said to myself today when I zeed her vamping round parish with the rest,' observed one of the elderly boozers in an undertone.'But Joan Durbeyfield must mind that she don't get green malt in floor.' It was a local phrase which had a peculiar meaning, and there was no reply.

The conversation became inclusive, and presently other footsteps were heard crossing the room below.