登陆注册
5254300000002

第2章

The foregoing remarks were written during the early career of this story, when a spirited public and private criticism of its points was still fresh to the feelings.The pages are allowed to stand for what they are worth, as something once said; but probably they would not have been written now.

Even in the short time which has elapsed since the book was first published, some of the critics who provoked the reply have `gone down into silence', as if to remind one of the infinite unimportance of both their say and mine.

January 1895

The present edition of this novel contains a few pages that have never appeared in any previous edition.When the detached episodes were collected as stated in the preface of 1891, these pages were overlooked, though they were in the original manuscript.They occur in chapter 10.

Respecting the sub-title, to which allusion was made above, I may add that it was appended at the last moment, after reading the final proofs, as being the estimate left in a candid mind of the heroine's character - an estimate that nobody would be likely to dispute.It was disputed more than anything else in the book.Melius fuerat non scribere.But there it stands.

The novel was first published complete, in three volumes, in November 1891.

March 1912 T.H.

PHASE THE FIRST THE MAIDEN Chapter 1 On an evening in the latter part of May a middle-aged man was walking homeward from Shaston to the village of Marlott, in the adjoining Vale of Blakemore or Blackmoor.The pair of legs that carried him were rickety, and there was a bias in his gait which inclined him somewhat to the left of a straight line.He occasionally gave a smart nod, as if in confirmation of some opinion, though he was not thinking of anything in particular.An empty egg-basket was slung upon his arm, the nap of his hat was ruffled, a patch being quite worn away at its brim where his thumb came in taking it off.Presently he was met by an elderly parson astride on a gray mare, who, as he rode, hummed a wandering tune.`Good night t'ee,' said the man with the basket.

`Good night, Sir John,' said the parson.

The pedestrian, after another pace or two, halted, and turned round.

`Now, sir, begging your pardon; we met last market-day on this road about this time, and I zaid "Good-night", and you made reply " Good night, Sir John ", as now.'

`I did,' said the parson.

`And once before that - near a month ago.'

`I may have.'

`Then what might your meaning be in calling me "Sir John" these different times, when I be plain Jack Durbeyfield, the haggler?'

The parson rode a step or two nearer.

`It was only my whim,' he said; and, after a moment's hesitation: 'It was on account of a discovery I made some little time ago, whilst I was hunting up pedigrees for the new county history.I am Parson Tringham, the antiquary, of Stagfoot Lane.Don't you really know, Durbeyfield, that you are the lineal representative of the ancient and knightly family of the d'Urbervilles, who derived their descent from Sir Pagan d'Urberville, that renowned knight who came from Normandy with William the Conqueror, as appears by Battle Abbey Roll?'

`Never heard it before, sir!'

`Well it's true.Throw up your chin a moment, so that I may catch the profile of your face better.Yes, that's the d'Urberville nose and chin - a little debased.Your ancestor was one of the twelve knights who assisted the Lord of Estremavilla in Normandy in his conquest of Glamorganshire.

Branches of your family held manors over all this part of England; their names appear in the Pipe Rolls in the time of King Stephen.In the reign of King John one of them was rich enough to give a manor to the Knights Hospitallers; and in Edward the Second's time your forefather Brian was summoned to Westminster to attend the great Council there.You declined a little in Oliver Cromwell's time, but to no serious extent, and in Charles the Second's reign you were made Knights of the Royal Oak for your loyalty.

Aye, there have been generations of Sir Johns among you, and if knighthood were hereditary, like a baronetcy, as it practically was in old times, when men were knighted from father to son, you would be Sir, John now.'

`Ye don't say so!'

`In short,' concluded the parson, decisively smacking his leg with his switch, `there's hardly such another family in England.'

`Daze my eyes, and isn't there?' said Durbeyfield.'And here have Ibeen knocking about, year after year, from pillar to post, as if I was no more than the commonest feller in the parish...And how long hev this news about me been knowed, Pa'son Tringham?'

The clergyman explained that, as far as he was aware, it had quite died out of knowledge, and could hardly bc said to be known at all.His own investigations had begun on a day in the preceding spring when, having been engaged in tracing the vicissitudes of the d'Urberville family, he had observed Durbeyfield's name on his waggon, and had thereupon been led to make inquiries about his father and grandfather till he had no doubt on the subject.

`At first I resolved not to disturb you with such a useless piece of information,' said he.`However, our impulses are too strong for our judgment sometimes.I thought you might perhaps know something of it all the while.'

`Well, I have heard once or twice, `tis true, that my family had seen better days afore they came to Blackmoor.But I took no notice o't, thinking it to mean that we had once kept two horses where we now keep only one.

I've got a wold silver spoon, and a wold graven seal at home, too; but, Lord, what's a spoon and seal?...And to think that I and these noble d'Urbervilles were one flesh all the time.'Twas said that my gr't-grandfer had secrets, and didn't care to talk of where he came from...And where do we raise our smoke, now, parson, if I may make so bold; I mean, where do we d'Urbervilles live?'

`You don't live anywhere.You are extinct - as a county family.'

`That's bad.'

`Yes - what the mendacious family chronicles call extinct in the male line - that is, gone down - gone under.'

`Then where do we lie?'

同类推荐
  • The Song of Hiawatha

    The Song of Hiawatha

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 修真精义杂论

    修真精义杂论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 无文道灿禅师语录

    无文道灿禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 六月霜

    六月霜

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • The Complete Angler

    The Complete Angler

    To the Right worshipfulJohn Offleyof Madeley Manor, in the County of Stafford Esquire, My most honoured FriendSir,-- I have made so ill use of your former favours, as by them to be encouraged to entreat, that they may be enlarged to the patronage and protection of this Book.汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 萧红经典

    萧红经典

    本书从萧红的作品中精选《回忆鲁迅先生》《永远的憧憬和追求》《镀金的学说》《蹲在洋车上》《呼兰河传(节选)》等三十余篇代表作,全面呈现了萧红别具一格的创作风貌和人生态度。同时,由苏州市语文学科带头人杨文贵老师从审美、阅读、写作等角度进行详细导读,使本书更适合课堂内外阅读使用。
  • 亘古相思终相遇

    亘古相思终相遇

    一朝重生,人人爱的召唤女王重生为废柴纨绔?啧,虐渣打脸她最爱,美男排队来告白,迷倒众人怪她风华太绝代。可……为什么,某位夜殿应抢她风头,还非要把她打包带走?喂,不要影响她独出风头好不好!【女扮男装、打脸、甜宠、爽文】
  • 游绝

    游绝

    曾创过无尽诸域辉煌纪元,也曾见无数文明自取灭亡。放弃不该放弃的,去追求乃至沉迷于不该选择的。吾曾为亡国覆灭,而如今终归游绝。伴随着悠扬的乐声,“系统激活成功,欢迎来到《地域纪》的世界。”游绝:原来,“地域”是指空间,“纪”是指时间。
  • 人人都能小而美

    人人都能小而美

    如果我是一个没钱没背景没资源的三无人员,能自己创业吗?只要有创意、有技巧、有方法,小生意也能造就大富翁。本书精选15个小而美店铺的成功营销案例,助你在细分市场中找到蓝海,让你闷声不响发大财!
  • 重生学霸致富忙

    重生学霸致富忙

    【种田经商+双洁+爆宠+强势】朱砂兴奋的挑起某人的下巴,霸道宣布:“从今以后,你负责貌美如花,我负责赚钱养家。”某人黑了脸:“媳妇,这话该我说。”重生前,朱砂被亲妈毁了容,只能象个“男人婆”那样拼事业。重生后,朱砂顶着张千娇百媚的脸,还是想象“男人婆”那样拼事业,肿么破?数钱数到手抽筋的朱砂,侧脸看着旁边某人:“打个商量,你还是负责貌美如花,我负责赚钱养家吧。真的,我赚钱养家,特别在行。”书友群:883891686
  • 凌天圣尊

    凌天圣尊

    白云天重生归来,发现自己正在被人埋,不过人已不同,乃是无上之界的道殿道子重生归来,凭借无上的武道意志,看他如何步步冲关,弥补前世之缺。
  • 能说会道:一分钟无敌说服术

    能说会道:一分钟无敌说服术

    说服是一门艺术,要想成功地说服他人,不仅需要有能言善辩的口才,还需要懂得一定的说服技巧。本书选取了大量的现实生活案例,并赋予其典型的意义,将各种实用、精妙的说服技巧展现在读者面前,让读者学会用最短的时间说服他人,从而可为演说、辩论、谈判等社交活动带来便利。本书中提到的说服术,更实用、更典型,一定可以让你快速成为说服高手。
  • 破解电磁场奥秘的天才:麦克斯韦

    破解电磁场奥秘的天才:麦克斯韦

    记述了伟大的科学家麦克斯韦的科学人生,他是继法拉第之后,集电磁学大成的伟大科学家,他依据库仑、高斯、欧姆、安培、毕奥、萨伐尔、法拉第等前人的一系列发现和实验成果,建立了第一个完整的电磁理论体系,科学地预言了电磁波的存在,揭示了光、电、磁现象的本质的统一性,完成了物理学的又一次大综合。
  • 重生景少帅炸天

    重生景少帅炸天

    “现在开始,你的位置是我的了!”学生会主席:“凭什么?”她邪肆一笑,“凭我比你帅!”因为他一句“只要你成为学生会主席,我就跟你牵手”的承诺,她霸占了学生会主席的位置。然后,学校众人开始了每天被狗粮撑死的日子……【女扮男装,甜爽无虐】
  • 隐婚独宠:权少追妻100式

    隐婚独宠:权少追妻100式

    重生前,她软弱无能,虽贵为第一名媛,却身败名裂,最终落得家破人亡;重生后,她摇身一变成为总裁夫人,脚踩小三,手摧白莲花和渣男,打脸?分分钟的事!可是,不是说权大少冷酷无情吗?怎么到她这里变了一个人!“无耻!你放开我!”“嗯,跟夫人学的。”“放开我!我要离家出走!”“嗯,收拾东西,我再给你一个家。”“不要老抓着我!我要自由!”“幼儿园的老师没教过你?贵重物品要要随身携带。”【1v1双洁复仇甜宠文】【情话大魔王VS小可爱明星】【女强男更强】(一句话简介:这是一个大灰狼一步一步把小白兔骗到自己怀里的故事~)本书交流QQ群:816138285