第21章 THE WAITING SUPPER(14)

The twenty-third of December,the eve of the wedding-day,had arrived at last in the train of such uneventful ones as these.Nicholas had arranged to visit her that day a little later than usual,and see that everything was ready with her for the morrow's event and her removal to his house;for he had begun to look after her domestic affairs,and to lighten as much as possible the duties of her housekeeping.

He was to come to an early supper,which she had arranged to take the place of a wedding-breakfast next day--the latter not being feasible in her present situation.An hour or so after dark the wife of the farmer who lived in the other part of the house entered Christine's parlour to lay the cloth.

'What with getting the ham skinned,and the black-puddings hotted up,'she said,'it will take me all my time before he's here,if Ibegin this minute.'

'I'll lay the table myself,'said Christine,jumping up.'Do you attend to the cooking.'

'Thank you,ma'am.And perhaps 'tis no matter,seeing that it is the last night you'll have to do such work.I knew this sort of life wouldn't last long for 'ee,being born to better things.''It has lasted rather long,Mrs.Wake.And if he had not found me out it would have lasted all my days.''But he did find you out.'

'He did.And I'll lay the cloth immediately.'

Mrs.Wake went back to the kitchen,and Christine began to bustle about.She greatly enjoyed preparing this table for Nicholas and herself with her own hands.She took artistic pleasure in adjusting each article to its position,as if half an inch error were a point of high importance.Finally she placed the two candles where they were to stand,and sat down by the fire.

Mrs.Wake re-entered and regarded the effect.'Why not have another candle or two,ma'am?'she said.''Twould make it livelier.Say four.'

'Very well,'said Christine,and four candles were lighted.

'Really,'she added,surveying them,'I have been now so long accustomed to little economies that they look quite extravagant.'

'Ah,you'll soon think nothing of forty in his grand new house!

Shall I bring in supper directly he comes,ma'am?'

'No,not for half an hour;and,Mrs.Wake,you and Betsy are busy in the kitchen,I know;so when he knocks don't disturb yourselves;Ican let him in.'

She was again left alone,and,as it still wanted some time to Nicholas's appointment,she stood by the fire,looking at herself in the glass over the mantel.Reflectively raising a lock of her hair just above her temple she uncovered a small scar.That scar had a history.The terrible temper of her late husband--those sudden moods of irascibility which had made even his friendly excitements look like anger--had once caused him to set that mark upon her with the bezel of a ring he wore.He declared that the whole thing was an accident.She was a woman,and kept her own opinion.

Christine then turned her back to the glass and scanned the table and the candles,shining one at each corner like types of the four Evangelists,and thought they looked too assuming--too confident.

She glanced up at the clock,which stood also in this room,there not being space enough for it in the passage.It was nearly seven,and she expected Nicholas at half-past.She liked the company of this venerable article in her lonely life:its tickings and whizzings were a sort of conversation.It now began to strike the hour.At the end something grated slightly.Then,without any warning,the clock slowly inclined forward and fell at full length upon the floor.

The crash brought the farmer's wife rushing into the room.Christine had well-nigh sprung out of her shoes.Mrs.Wake's enquiry what had happened was answered by the evidence of her own eyes.

'How did it occur?'she said.

'I cannot say;it was not firmly fixed,I suppose.Dear me,how sorry I am!My dear father's hall-clock!And now I suppose it is ruined.'Assisted by Mrs.Wake,she lifted the clock.Every inch of glass was,of course,shattered,but very little harm besides appeared to be done.They propped it up temporarily,though it would not go again.

Christine had soon recovered her composure,but she saw that Mrs.

Wake was gloomy.'What does it mean,Mrs.Wake?'she said.'Is it ominous?''It is a sign of a violent death in the family.''Don't talk of it.I don't believe such things;and don't mention it to Mr.Long when he comes.HE'S not in the family yet,you know.''O no,it cannot refer to him,'said Mrs.Wake musingly.

'Some remote cousin,perhaps,'observed Christine,no less willing to humour her than to get rid of a shapeless dread which the incident had caused in her own mind.'And--supper is almost ready,Mrs.

Wake?'

'In three-quarters of an hour.'

Mrs.Wake left the room,and Christine sat on.Though it still wanted fifteen minutes to the hour at which Nicholas had promised to be there,she began to grow impatient.After the accustomed ticking the dead silence was oppressive.But she had not to wait so long as she had expected;steps were heard approaching the door,and there was a knock.

Christine was already there to open it.The entrance had no lamp,but it was not particularly dark out of doors.She could see the outline of a man,and cried cheerfully,'You are early;it is very good of you.''I beg pardon.It is not Mr.Bellston himself--only a messenger with his bag and great-coat.But he will be here soon.'The voice was not the voice of Nicholas,and the intelligence was strange.'I--I don't understand.Mr.Bellston?'she faintly replied.

'Yes,ma'am.A gentleman--a stranger to me--gave me these things at Casterbridge station to bring on here,and told me to say that Mr.

Bellston had arrived there,and is detained for half-an-hour,but will be here in the course of the evening.'She sank into a chair.The porter put a small battered portmanteau on the floor,the coat on a chair,and looking into the room at the spread table said,'If you are disappointed,ma'am,that your husband (as I s'pose he is)is not come,I can assure you he'll soon be here.