Chapter 27 Chapter 7 Morning and Evening of the Day

The morning of the wedding day came.From the surface, no one imagined that Hualuo Village had any interest in what happened at Misty Hill this day.Clem's mother's room was filled with a grim silence, and there was no life in it.Mrs. Yeobright, who had refused to go to the wedding, was sitting at the breakfast table in the old house adjoining the porch, her eyes staring blankly at the open door.It was in this very room that the Christmas party had been held six months ago.Eustacia had come here secretly as a stranger.But now the only living thing that came in was a sparrow. Seeing that there was no movement, it boldly jumped out of the room. It desperately tried to get out of the window, and was still fluttering back and forth between the vases.This startled the woman who was sitting alone, she got up, let the sparrow go, and went to the door.She was waiting for Thomasy, who had written to say that she wished to have the money, and would come today if possible.

Mrs. Yeobright looked up at this valley in the moor, with butterflies flying, and four A whispered chorus of grasshoppers from all directions animated the valley; and Mrs Yeobright was not thinking much of Thomas as she faced the sight. Qian.A mile or two from here, preparations were going on for a family drama which was almost alive to her, almost as if it were going on before her.She wanted to get rid of this vision, so she walked back and forth in the yard; but her eyes turned from time to time in the direction of the church where Misty Hill belonged, and her excited imagination flew to the church through the hills in front of her eyes. go.One morning passed like this.The clock struck eleven, and by this time the wedding might already be underway?It must be so.She kept replaying scenes in the church, and by this time he and the bride must have been there.She imagined the group of children gathered at the church gate, looking at the approaching pony carriage, which Thomasy already knew they were going to take for the short journey. journey.Then she saw them enter the church and kneel before the altar, and the wedding ceremony seemed to be going on.

She covered her face with her hands.Oh, what a mistake!She groaned.One day he will regret it, and then he will think of me! Foreseeing the sad prospect of this event, she could not help sinking into grief, when the old clock in the house hissed twelve times.Not long after, she heard a soft sound floating over from the other side of the hill.From there the breeze blew, bringing with it a distant chime, a rhythmic chime of one, two, three, four, five.Bells to the east of Eden were announcing the wedding of Eustacia and her son. So the wedding is done, she murmured.very good!Life will end soon too.Why should I wash my face with hot tears?Cry for one thing in life, and weep for all; for there is one thread that holds all of life together.But we always say, there is always a time to laugh!

In the evening Wildeff came.Ever since Thomasy's marriage Mrs. Yeobright had been stern and unkind to him, as always happens in the end in a marriage that doesn't work out.Extreme disheartening causes one to set aside the prospect of what should have been realized, and when all kinds of human efforts are repeatedly frustrated, one has to accept the fact and face the reality listlessly from the best point of view.In all fairness Wildeve had always been quite courteous to his wife's aunt, and she was not particularly surprised now to see him enter. Thomasy had promised to come, but she couldn't, he told her.She had been anxiously waiting for Thomasy, knowing that her niece was in dire need of money.The old captain came over last night and personally invited her to their wedding today, so she decided to go with great joy, and they came to fetch her in the buggy and bring her back.

So it's settled, Mrs Yeobright said.Have they gone to their new home? I have no idea.I haven't heard anything from Misty Heights since Thomasy left home. You didn't go with her?She asked back, it seems that he should have a legitimate reason not to go. I can't go, said Wildoff, flushing a little.Both of us couldn't leave; the store was very busy in the morning, because there was a big market in the corner.I suppose you have something for Thomasy?I'll take it with me if I can. Mrs. Yeobright hesitated, wondering if Wildoff knew what it was. Did she tell you about it?she asked.

Did not go into detail.She mentioned it casually, saying that she had agreed to come and pick up something. There is no need to ask someone to pick it up.She can come and get it whenever she wants. Not right now.According to her current physical condition, she cannot walk as much as before.He added with a little sarcasm, what the hell is it?Even I can't believe that I can't take it. Nothing worth bothering you about. Others will think you doubt my honesty.he said, laughing, but his face turned red with irritation. Don't take it to heart, she said dryly, it's just because I, like the world, feel that some things should be done by some people, and that's better than others.

As you please, as you please, Wildoff said curtly.It's not worth arguing about it.Well, I think I must go home, and the shop should not be left too long to the servants and maids alone. He left, and the farewell when he was leaving was far less polite than the greeting when he came.But now Mrs. Yeobright saw through him, and cared nothing for his good or bad manners. Mrs. Yeobright stood there after Wildford had gone, thinking that she had not trusted Wildford to give him the money, and what was the best thing to do next.As Tomasy had difficulty getting money from him, and she had to ask her aunt for the guineas, it was hard to believe, under the circumstances, that Tomasy would tell him and ask him to come and get the money .Besides, Thomasy really needed the money, but she might not be able to come to Hualuo Village for at least a week.It wasn't very prudent to go or have the money delivered to the shop, for Wildoff was sure to be there, and he would find out if he paid; and besides, if, as her aunt already suspected, he treated her badly ( Although she deserves to be treated well), he might take all the money out of her delicate hands.And on this unusual night, Thomasy was at Misty Hill, and whatever was sent to her, her husband would not know.In short, this opportunity can be used.

Her son is there now too, married.There would never have been a more opportune time to give him his share of the money.To send him this present, as a token of her complete indifference to him, was a great relief to my mother's mournful heart at such a good opportunity. She went upstairs, took a small box from a locked drawer, and emptied out the rough, unused guineas that had been lying there for many years.There were a hundred dollars in all, and she divided them into two piles of fifty dollars each.She put the money in a little canvas bag, went downstairs into the garden, and called Christine.Cantor.He was loitering there, hoping to get a supper, which wasn't really what he was supposed to be eating.Mrs. Yeobright handed him the purse, to take it to Misty Heights, and hand it into the hands of her son and Thomasy herself, and no one else would.On further considerations, she thought it advisable to tell Christine exactly how much money was in both purses; that way he might fully appreciate the importance of the matter.Christine pocketed the purse, promised the utmost care, and prepared to go.

You don't have to hurry, said Mrs Yeobright, you'd better get there after dark so no one will notice you.If it's not too late, come back for dinner. It was almost nine o'clock when he walked up the valley toward Misty Heights, but it was the longest day in summer, and the first twilight was just casting a hazy color on the earth.At this time, Christine heard the noise of people, and found that a group of men and women were walking by in a depression in front of him. The sound was made by them, and he could only see crowds of people. He stopped and began to fumble with the money he was carrying.It was so early in the day that even Christine was not seriously apprehensive about being robbed, but nevertheless he took a cautious approach, and from boyhood he would have been the only one with more than two or three shillings in his pocket. This kind of caution is somewhat like the Pitt diamond [Note: A large diamond produced in India was brought to France in the 18th century, and it was stolen in 1792. ], always full of fear.He took off his boots, untied his guinea bags, and poured one bag of guineas into his right boot and the other bag into his left boot, spreading the coins as evenly as possible across the soles of each boot. , this boot has indeed become a very spacious safe, not limited by the size of the foot at all.He put on the boots again, tightened them again, and then continued to walk forward. Although the soles of his feet were not very comfortable to step on, he felt much more relaxed in his heart.

The path under his feet merged with the path of the noisy group.After getting closer, he breathed a sigh of relief, because he found that they were a few Aydon people he was familiar with, and with them was Fareway from Hualuo Village. how!Christine too?Once he recognized the newcomer, Fayway said.I am sure you have neither lover nor wife to give them a piece of clothing. What do you mean by that?asked Christine. Hi, it's a prize-matching event.We go every year.Do you want to join us in the prize matching event? I don't know anything about that.Like a game of sticks or something like bloody fighting?Thank you, Mr. Fairway, and don't be surprised if I don't want to go.

Christine has no idea how much fun this game is, it can open his eyes, a plump woman said, there is no danger at all, Christine.Every man puts down a shilling, and one man wins a piece of cloth for his wife or sweetheart, if he has a mistress or wife. Well, if I'm not lucky, it doesn't mean much to me to go there.But I'd like to have a look at this game. As long as there's nothing shady about the game and you don't need to spend money, if you go and watch it by yourself, you won't necessarily get involved in any dangerous fights, right? There was no trouble there, Timothy said.No problem, Christine, if you want to go, you will see that there is no danger at all. I don't think there will be any joy in playing tricks, right?You think, folks, if there is one, they will give my father a bad look, because he is the most unruly person.But a piece of cloth for a shilling, and nothing shady about it, is worth a visit, and it won't take me half an hour.Okay, I'll go, if you can follow me a short turn towards Misty Hill, I'm afraid it will be too late and no one will go that way, okay? One or two obliged, and Christine left the lane he had taken, turned to the right, and joined the group toward the Ladies' Shop. When they entered the large lounge room of the small shop, they found that a dozen or so men from the surrounding area had already arrived there. Once they arrived, the number of people here doubled immediately.Most of them sat in rings of pews arranged around the room separated by armrests, like the rows of rough church chairs, with the initials of the famous drunkards of previous ages carved on them. The letters, on which they had spent their days and nights, now lie in the graveyard of the nearby church, the ashes of alcohol.There are wine glasses on the long table in front of these people sitting, and a package is spread out in the middle, which is made of light cloth called robe material, which is the prize of the lottery.Wildoff stood with his back to the fire, smoking a cigar; and a peddler from a distant town, who had done the lottery, was boasting how good the material was for summer clothes. Well, gentlemen, when the newcomer approaches the table, he goes on, five come in, and we'll have four more to round us up.I think from the faces of these gentlemen who have just come in, it can be seen that they are all shrewd people, and they will definitely spend a small price to make good use of this opportunity to dress up their wives. Fareway, Sam, and another put their shillings on the table, and the peddler turned to Christine. No, sir, Christine drew back and gave him a quick, apprehensive look.I'm a poor boy, I just came to see, I'm sorry, but I don't know how you play.I'd put down my shilling too if I was sure I could touch the cloth, but if I couldn't win I wouldn't. You have very little to worry about, I suppose, said the peddler.In fact, looking at your face right now, I can't say that you're sure to win, but I can say that I've never seen anyone's face look more likely to win than yours in my entire life. You've got as much chance as the rest of us anyway, Sam said. And extra luck always goes to whoever comes last, said another. I was born with a fetal amniotic membrane [Note: It is said that a newborn with a fetal amniotic membrane is good luck and will not drown. 】Yes, maybe there is no greater bad luck than drowning?Christine added, beginning to waver. Christine finally put down his shilling, and the lottery began, and the dice passed one by one. When it was Christine's turn, he took the box with trembling hands, shook it desperately, and rolled a pair of identical dice. idea.The other three all rolled low pips, and the rest were just a few pips. As I said, this gentleman looks like a winner, the peddler said kindly, take it, sir, this piece of material is yours. Ha | Ha | Ha!Fareway said.This is the strangest beginning I know, if not, I will die! mine?Christine stared blankly with his target-like eyes.I have neither mistress, nor wife, nor widow of my own, that would be laughed at if I took it, Mr. Peddler.I did it out of curiosity, I didn't expect this at all!What use is it for me to have such womanly stuff in my bedroom, but to lose my decency! Take it, don't worry, said Fairway, even if it's just luck.maybe it You're going to get a woman's heart, and you're not attractive to a woman when you're standing there empty-handed, poor fellow. Take it, really, said Wildoff, who was idly watching from a distance. So the piece of material was taken from the table.The group started drinking. Well, don't worry!Christine said it half to herself.Come to think of it, I was born so lucky, but I didn't realize it until now!What strange spiritual things these dice are, powerful masters of us all, yet at my command!From now on, I believe I have nothing to fear anymore.He played with the dice lovingly one by one.Well, sir, he said in a confident whisper to Wilderf, who was on his left, if I could use my power to keep growing money, I could do something for one of your loved ones Good thing, do you know what I've got on her eh?He stamped a money boot on the ground. What do you mean by that?asked Wildef. That's a secret.Well, I have to go now.He looked anxiously at Fairway. where are you going?asked Wildef. Go to Misty Hill.I went there to see Mrs. Thomasy, that's all. I am going to fetch Mrs. Wildoff there too.We can go together. Wildev's mind was spinning, and then there was an epiphany in his eyes.It turned out that what Mrs. Yeobright refused to trust to him was money for his wife.And she can trust this guy, he thought to himself.Why shouldn't what belongs to the wife belong to the husband? He ordered the clerk in the shop to fetch his hat, and said, Christine, I'm ready. Mr. Wildford, said Christine sheepishly, as he turned to leave the door, will you let me take that bauble?They bring me luck, and you know I can practice on my own.He gazed longingly at the dice and the box in which they stood on the mantelpiece. Of course, Wildoff said casually.It was just carved by some young man with a knife, and it is worth nothing.Christine turned around and secretly hid them in her pocket. Wildef opened the door and looked out.It was a cloudy, warm night.God, it's so dark, then he said, but I think we can see the way. It's embarrassing if you get lost, Christine said.Only a light will keep us out of trouble. Let us take a lantern, then.The lamp in the stable was fetched and lit.Christine took his piece of clothing, and the two of them went out and up the slope. In the room, people were chatting, and after a while their attention was drawn to the warmth of the fireplace.The fire place was large, like many in Ayton, and it was not only a good alcove with side walls, but also a concealed seat, so that it would never be possible for a person to sit in it. No one noticed, unless the fire lit would reflect him, which was the case then, all summer long.It was the light of a candle placed on the table that illuminated an object in the alcove.It was a clay pipe, and the pipe was red.The attention was attracted by a voice behind the pipe calling for a light to be lit. When the man spoke, I dare say, I was taken aback!said Faherway, passing a candle.Oh, it's the red clay dealers!You can hold your breath, young man. Yeah, I have nothing to say, Wayne said.After a few minutes he got up and said good night to the party. Meanwhile, Wildford and Christine plunge into the wasteland. It was a hot and foggy night, and there was a strong scent of fresh vegetation undried by the hot sun, especially ferns in the middle.The lantern that Christine held was bouncing up and down, brushing the feathery fern fronds along the way, disturbing moths and other winged insects, which flew up and landed on the corners of the lantern. on the lampshade. So you have money to bring to Mrs. Wildeff?After a moment of silence, Christine's partner asked.Don't you just think about it, isn't it weird not to give me the money? I should think so, since a man and his wife are one, they should be the same, said Christine.But it is my strict creed that in getting the money into Mrs. Wildoff's hands, it must be done right. Yes, Wildoff said.It turned out that when he was in Hualuo Village, he always thought that it was just a strange gadget that women were interested in, but now he found that it was not the case, and what was sent was money, which really made him feel very happy. Annoyance, anyone who knew the situation would see it in Wildoff.Mrs. Yeobright's refusal to turn over his wife's property to him showed that she did not consider him sufficiently trustworthy that she did not think it safe to turn things over to him. It's hot enough tonight, Christine!He gasped, and they were almost at the bottom of the Rainmound by this time.For heaven's sake, let's sit for a while. Wilderf sank down on the soft fern, and Christine put the lantern and bundle on the ground, curled up, and squatted down, his knees almost touching his chin.He put one hand happily into the pocket of his coat and began to shake it here and there. What is it that you shake so loudly in the bag?asked Wildef. That's the dice, sir, said Christine, drawing her hand quickly.Wonderful little things, Mr Wildef!I can't get enough of it.I take them out and watch for a while to see how they're made, don't you care?I don't want to take a closer look in front of those people, for fear that they will think that I don't know the rules.Christine took out the dice, put it in the palm of his hand, and examined it carefully by the light.I have never seen or heard of these little things bringing such luck, such charm and magic, and such power.He continued, staring at the dice fascinated.Like most rural areas, these dice are usually made of wood, and the dots on each side are burnt out with the end of a wire. do you know?This thing is small, but it can place big bets. Yes.Do you think they're really the devil's playthings, Mr. Wildford?If so, it doesn't bode well for me to be a lucky guy. Now that you have the dice, you should go and win some money.Any woman will marry you by then.It's your time to get lucky, Christine, and I'll teach you not to let this chance slip away.Some people are born with good luck, some people are not, and I belong to the latter kind of people. Do you know anyone who is born lucky besides me? Oh yes.I once heard of an Italian who sat down at a gaming table with only a louis in his pocket, a foreign safrin, who played for twenty-four hours and won ten thousand pounds. All the money was won.There was another man who lost a thousand pounds, and the next day went to his brokers to sell his securities so that he could pay off his gambling debts.His creditor went with him in a cab.To while away the time on the road, they tossed coins to bet on who should pay the carriage fare.The broke guy won this time, the other guy wouldn't let it go, so they gambled along.When the coachman stopped the carriage, they ordered him to drive the carriage back again, and the whole thousand pounds were won back by the man who was about to sell the securities. Haha that's brilliant!Christine cried out.Go on go on go on! There is a man in London who is no more than a waiter at the White's Club.At first he bet only half a crown, and then he bet more and more until he became very rich, was sent to India, and was promoted to Madras [Note: Indian port city. 】The governor.His daughter married an MP, Carlisle [Note: A city in northwestern England, England. ]’s archbishop also became the godfather of one of his children. wonderful!Wonderful! Once, a young American gambled and lost his last dollar.He bet his watch and necklace, and lost as before; he bet his umbrella, lost again, bet his hat, lost again, bet his coat, left his shirt alone, lost again up.He began to take off his breeches when a bystander offered him a little money to support him.This way he won.He won his coat back, he won his hat back, he won his umbrella and his watch and his money back, and when he went out again he was a rich man. Oh that's great I can't breathe!Mr. Wilderf, I think that since I am such a man, I'll try to bet you another shilling; it won't do much, and you can afford to lose. "Very well," said Wildeff, rising to his feet, and looking round with his lantern, he found He lifted a large flat rock, which he placed between himself and Christine, and sat down again.The lantern door opened to let in more light, and the light illuminated the stone.Christine put down a shilling, Wildeff another, and each rolled the dice once.Christine won.They then bet two shillings, and Christine won again. Let's bet four, Wildoff said.So they bet four shillings.This time, the money was won by Wildeff. Ah, well, such little accidents happen to the luckiest of men sometimes, he said. Yo, now I'm out of money!Christine cried out excitedly.Still, if I had the money to gamble, I'd win it back, and more.I wish the money was all mine.He stomped his boot on the ground vigorously, and the guineas in the boot made a crisp sound. how!Didn't you put Mrs. Wildoff's money there? Yes.It's safe.If I gamble with a married lady's money, it doesn't matter, does it?If I win, I keep only the money I won, and I can still give her hers; and if the other person wins, her money still goes to the rightful owner of it. No problem at all. Ever since they left, Wildoff had been thinking how badly he stood in the eyes of his wife's relatives and friends, and it hurt his heart.As time passed, a plan of revenge gradually formed in his heart, but he didn't know when he could implement it.He figured he would thus teach Mrs Yeobright a lesson, that is, to show her, if he could, that her niece's husband was the best protector of her niece's money. Come on, let's get started!said Christine, unfastening a boot.I think I'll dream about this money day and night, but I can swear my mind isn't so cheap when I think about it. He reached into his boot and took out one of poor Thomasy's precious guineas, money hot.Wildeve has put a safrin in the stone.So the gamble starts all over again.Wildoff won first, and Christine ventured another, and this time he won.The gamble was highly variable, but on average Wildoff had a good chance of winning.The two men were so engrossed in the game that they forgot everything but the little things of the two gods under their noses; the flat stone, the opened lantern, the dice, and the few fern leaves that the light caught. It became their whole world. In the end, Christine lost quickly; he found to his horror at once that all fifty guineas belonging to Thomasy had gone to his opponent. I don't care I don't care!He groaned, and in desperation began to undo his left boot for another fifty guineas.I know the devil will throw me on the fire with his trident, for what I have done to-night!But maybe I can win it back, and then I can get a wife to sit with me through the night, and I'm not afraid, I'm not afraid!Dude, here's another one for you!He dropped a guinea on the slate with a snap, and the dice box rattled again. Time passed.Wildoff began to get as excited as Christine.All that was in his mind at the beginning of the game was to have a really bitter joke with Mrs. Yeobright.Win the money, justly or not, and hand it over to Thomasy in contempt in front of Aunt Tomasy's face.However, even in the process of carrying out their own plans, men will be tempted to change their original intentions. After winning the 20th guinea, all of Wildef's consciousness is to win the money for himself It is absolutely doubtful whether there are other ideas besides this.Besides, it was not his wife's money that he wanted to win now, but Yeobright's; Christine, out of fear, did not tell him this until after the game was over. It was nearly eleven o'clock by now, and Christine, almost with a shudder, put Yeobright's last guinea on the slate.Half a minute later, the guinea went over there to keep company with the other guineas. Christine turned and threw herself on the fern, remorseful.Oh, damn it, what can I do?He groaned.What should I do?What good god would have mercy on my wicked soul? what to do?Life is not the same. I can't live like this anymore!I have to die!I said you are one by one A man who is better than my neighbor. Yes, a better man than my folks; a real liar! Poor little thing, you are so rude. I didn't know this one!I said you were being rude.You took money that didn't belong to you.The half guinea was poor Clem's. That is how the matter? Because I have to give him fifty guineas.Mrs Yeobright said so. oh?Well, it would be more generous of her if she gave the money to his wife Eustacia.However, the money is now in my hands. Christine pulled up his boots, he was panting heavily, and his panting could be heard from a distance away, he gathered his legs, stood up, staggered away, and disappeared.Wilderf turned off his light and went home, for he decided it was too late to fetch his wife at Misty Heights, and she would go home in the old captain's wagon.Just as he closed the small corner door of the lantern, a man stood up behind a nearby bush and walked into the lantern's light circle.The person who approached turned out to be a red clay dealer.