第45章BOOKTHESECOND：THEGOLDENTHREAD(28)

第45章bookthesecond：thegoldenthread(28)

now，thesunwasfullup，andmovementbeganinthevillage.casementwindowsopened，crazydoorswereunbarred，andpeoplecameforthshivering—chilled，asyet，bythenewsweetair.thenbegantherarelylightenedtoilofthedayamongthevillagepopulation.sometothefountain；some，tothefields；menandwomenhere，todiganddelve；menandwomenthere，toseetothepoorlivestock，andleadthebonycowsout，tosuchpastureascouldbefoundbytheroadside.inthechurchandatthecross，akneelingfigureortwo；attendantonthelatterprayers，theledcow，tryingforabreakfastamongtheweedsatitsfoot.

thechateauawokelater，asbecameitsquality，butawokegraduallyandsurely.first，thelonelyboar-spearsandknivesofthechasehadbeenreddenedasofold；then，hadgleamedtrenchantinthemorningsunshine；now，doorsandwindowswerethrownopen，horsesintheirstableslookedroundovertheirshouldersatthelightandfreshnesspouringinatdoorways，leavessparkledandrustledatiron-gratedwindows，dogspulledhardattheirchains，andrearedimpatienttobeloosed.

allthesetrivialincidentsbelongedtotheroutineoflifeandthereturnofmorning.surely，notsotheringingofthegreatbellofthechateau，northerunningupanddownthestairs；northehurriedfiguresontheterrace；northebootingandtrampinghereandthereandeverywhere，northequicksaddlingofhorsesandridingaway？whatwindsconveyedthishurrytothegrizzledmenderofroads，alreadyatworkonthehill-topbeyondthevillage，withhisday'sdinner（notmuchtocarry）lyinginabundlethatitwasworthnocrow'swhiletopeckat，onaheapofstones？hadthebirds，carryingsomegrainsofittoadistance，droppedoneoverhimastheysowchanceseeds？whetherorno，themenderofroadsran，onthesultrymorning，asifforhislife，downthehill，knee-highindust，andneverstoppedtillhegottothefountain.

allthepeopleofthevillagewereatthefountain，standingaboutintheirdepressedmanner，andwhisperinglow，butshowingnootheremotionsthangrimcuriosityandsurprise.theledcows，hastilybroughtinandtetheredtoanythingthatwouldholdthem，werelookingstupidlyon，orlyingdownchewingthecudofnothingparticularlyrepayingtheirtrouble，whichtheyhadpickedupintheirinterruptedsaunter.someofthepeopleofthechateau，andsomeofthoseoftheposting-house，andallthetaxingauthorities，werearmedmoreorless，andwerecrowdedontheothersideofthelittlestreetinapurposelessway，thatwashighlyfraughtwithnothing.already，themenderofroadshadpenetratedintothemidstofagroupoffiftyparticularfriends，andwassmitinghimselfinthebreastwithhisbluecap.whatdidallthisportend，andwhatportendedtheswifthoisting-upofmonsieurgabellebehindaservantonhorseback，andtheconveyingawayofthesaidgabelle（double-ladenthoughthehorsewas），atagallop，likeanewversionofthegermanballadofleonora？

itportendedthattherewasonestonefacetoomany，upatthechateau.

thegorgonhadsurveyedthebuildingagaininthenight，andhadaddedtheonestonefacewanting；thestonefaceforwhichithadwaitedthroughabouttwohundredyears.

itlaybackonthepillowofmonsieurthemarquis.itwaslikeafinemask，suddenlystartled，madeangry，andpetrified.drivenhomeintotheheartofthestonefigureattachedtoit，wasaknife.rounditshiltwasafrillofpaper，onwhichwasscrawled：

'drivehimfasttohistomb.this，fromjacques.'

xvi.twopromises

moremonths，tothenumberoftwelve，hadcomeandgone，andmr.charlesdarnaywasestablishedinenglandasahigherteacherofthefrenchlanguagewhowasconversantwithfrenchliterature.inthisage，hewouldhavebeenaprofessor；inthatagehewasatutor.hereadwithyoungmenwhocouldfindanyleisureandinterestforthestudyofalivingtonguespokenallovertheworld，andhecultivatedatasteforitsstoresofknowledgeandfancy.hecouldwriteofthem，besides，insoundenglish，andrenderthemintosoundenglish.suchmasterswerenotatthattimeeasilyfound；princesthathadbeen，andkingsthatweretobe，werenotyetoftheteacherclass，andnoruinednobilityhaddroppedoutoftellson'sledgers，toturncooksandcarpenters.asatutor，whoseattainmentsmadethestudent'swayunusuallypleasantandprofitable，andasaneleganttranslatorwhobroughtsomethingtohisworkbesidesmeredictionaryknowledge，youngmr.darnaysoonbecameknownandencouraged.hewaswellacquainted，moreover，withthecircumstancesofhiscountry，andthosewereofever-growinginterest.so，withgreatperseveranceanduntiringindustry，heprospered.

inlondon，hehadexpectedneithertowalkonpavementsofgold，nortolieonbedsofroses；ifhehadhadanysuchexaltedexpectation，hewouldnothaveprospered.hehadexpectedlabour，andhefoundit，anddidit，andmadethebestofit.inthis，hisprosperityconsisted.

acertainportionofhistimewaspassedatcambridge，wherehereadwithundergraduatesasasortoftoleratedlerwhodroveacontrabandtradeineuropeanlanguages，insteadofconveyinggreekandlatinthroughthecustom-house.therestofhistimehepassedinlondon.

now，fromthedayswhenitwasalwayssummerineden，tothesedayswhenitismostlywinterinfallenlatitudes，theworldofamanhasinvariablygoneoneway—charlesdarnay'sway—thewayoftheloveofawoman.