小说园

第46部分（第3页）

He　was　always　ashamed　when　he　had　to　drive　after　he　had　been

drinking；　always　apologetic　to　the　horse。　His　apologetic　frame

made　him　facetious。　He　was　aware　of　his　inability　to　walk　quite

straight。　Nevertheless　his　will　kept　stiff　and　attentive；　in　all

his　fuddleness。

He　mounted　and　bowled　off　through　the　gates　of　the　innyard。

The　mare　went　well；　he　sat　fixed；　the　rain　beating　on　his　face。

His　heavy　body　rode　motionless　in　a　kind　of　sleep；　one　centre　of

attention　was　kept　fitfully　burning；　the　rest　was　dark。　He

concentrated　his　last　attention　on　the　fact　of　driving　along　the

road　he　knew　so　well。　He　knew　it　so　well；　he　watched　for　it

attentively；　with　an　effort　of　will。

He　talked　aloud　to　himself；　sententious　in　his　anxiety；　as　if

he　were　perfectly　sober；　whilst　the　mare　bowled　along　and　the

rain　beat　on　him。　He　watched　the　rain　before　the　gig…lamps；　the

faint　gleaming　of　the　shadowy　horses　body；　the　passing　of　the

dark　hedges。

〃Its　not　a　fit　night　to　turn　a　dog　out；〃　he　said　to　himself；

aloud。　〃Its　high　time　as　it　did　a　bit　of　clearing　up；　Ill　be

damned　if　it　isnt。　It　was　a　lot　of　use　putting　those　ten　loads

of　cinders　on　th　road。　Theyll　be　washed　to　kingdom…e　if　it

doesnt　alter。　Well；　its　our　Freds　look…out；　if　they　are。　Hes

top…sawyer　as　far　as　those　things　go。　I　dont　see　why　I　should

concern　myself。　They　can　wash　to　kingdom…e　and　back　again　for

what　I　care。　I　suppose　they　would　be　washed　back　again　some　day。

Thats　how　things　are。　Th　rain　tumbles　down　just　to　mount　up　in

clouds　again。　So　they　say。　Theres　no　more　water　on　the　earth

than　there　was　in　the　year　naught。　Thats　the　story；　my　boy；　if

you　understand　it。　Theres　no　more　to…day　than　there　was　a

thousand　years　ago……nor　no　less　either。　You　cant　wear

water　out。　No；　my　boy：　itll　give　you　the　go…by。　Try　to　wear　it

out；　and　it　takes　its　hook　into　vapour；　it　has　its　fingers　at

its　nose　to　you。　It　turns　into　cloud　and　falleth　as　rain　on　the

just　and　unjust。　I　wonder　if　Im　the　just　or　the　unjust。〃