Chapter 118
ItwaslateintheeveningwhenPhiliparrivedatFerne.ItwasMrs.Athelny』snativevillage,andshehadbeenaccustomedfromherchildhoodtopickinthehop-fieldtowhichwithherhusbandandherchildrenshestillwenteveryyear.LikemanyKentishfolkherfamilyhadgoneoutregularly,gladtoearnalittlemoney,butespeciallyregardingtheannualouting,lookedforwardtoformonths,asthebestofholidays.Theworkwasnothard,itwasdoneincommon,intheopenair,andforthechildrenitwasalong,delightfulpicnic;heretheyoungmenmetthemaidens;inthelongeveningswhenworkwasovertheywanderedaboutthelanes,makinglove;andthehoppingseasonwasgenerallyfollowedbyweddings.Theywentoutincartswithbedding,potsandpans,chairsandtables;andFernewhilethehoppinglastedwasdeserted.Theywereveryexclusiveandwouldhaveresentedtheintrusionofforeigners,astheycalledthepeoplewhocamefromLondon;theylookeddownuponthemandfearedthemtoo;theywerearoughlot,andtherespectablecountryfolkdidnotwanttomixwiththem.Intheolddaysthehopperssleptinbarns,buttenyearsagoarowofhutshadbeenerectedatthesideofameadow;andtheAthelnys,likemanyothers,hadthesamehuteveryyear.
AthelnymetPhilipatthestationinacarthehadborrowedfromthepublic-houseatwhichhehadgotaroomforPhilip.Itwasaquarterofamilefromthehop-field.Theylefthisbagthereandwalkedovertothemeadowinwhichwerethehuts.Theywerenothingmorethanalong,lowshed,dividedintolittleroomsabouttwelvefeetsquare.Infrontofeachwasafireofsticks,roundwhichafamilywasgrouped,eagerlywatchingthecookingofsupper.Thesea-airandthesunhadbrownedalreadythefacesofAthelny』schildren.Mrs.Athelnyseemedadifferentwomaninhersun-bonnet:youfeltthatthelongyearsinthecityhadmadenorealdifferencetoher;shewasthecountrywomanbornandbred,andyoucouldseehowmuchathomeshefoundherselfinthecountry.Shewasfryingbaconandatthesametimekeepinganeyeontheyoungerchildren,butshehadaheartyhandshakeandajollysmileforPhilip.Athelnywasenthusiasticoverthedelightsofaruralexistence.
「We』restarvedforsunandlightinthecitieswelivein.Itisn』tlife,it』salongimprisonment.Letussellallwehave,Betty,andtakeafarminthecountry.」
「Icanseeyouinthecountry,」sheansweredwithgood-humouredscorn.「Why,thefirstrainydaywe
hadinthewinteryou』dbecryingforLondon.」SheturnedtoPhilip.「Athelny』salwayslikethiswhenwecomedownhere.Country,Ilikethat!Why,hedon』tknowaswedefromamangel-wurzel.」
「Daddywaslazytoday,」remarkedJane,withthefranknesswhichcharacterizedher,「hedidn』tfillonebin.」
「I』mgettingintopractice,child,andtomorrowIshallfillmorebinsthanallofyouputtogether.」
「Comeandeatyoursupper,children,」saidMrs.Athelny.「Where』sSally?」
「HereIam,mother.」
Shesteppedoutoftheirlittlehut,andtheflamesofthewoodfireleapedupandcastsharpcolouruponherface.OflatePhiliphadonlyseenherinthetrimfrocksshehadtakentosinceshewasatthedressmaker』s,andtherewassomethingverycharmingintheprintdresssheworenow,looseandeasytoworkin;thesleevesweretuckedupandshowedherstrong,roundarms.Shetoohadasun-bonnet.
「Youlooklikeamilkmaidinafairystory,」saidPhilip,asheshookhandswithher.
「She』sthebelleofthehop-fields,」saidAthelny.「Myword,iftheSquire』ssonseesyouhe』llmakeyouanofferofmarriagebeforeyoucansayJackRobinson.」
「TheSquirehasn』tgotason,father,」saidSally.
Shelookedaboutforaplacetositdownin,andPhilipmaderoomforherbesidehim.Shelookedwonderfulinthenightlitbywoodfires.Shewaslikesomeruralgoddess,andyouthoughtofthosefresh,stronggirlswhomoldHerrickhadpraisedinexquisitenumbers.Thesupperwassimple,breadandbutter,crispbacon,teaforthechildren,andbeerforMr.andMrs.AthelnyandPhilip.Athelny,eatinghungrily,praisedloudlyallheate.HeflungwordsofscornatLucullusandpiledinvectivesuponBrillat-Savarin.
「There』sonethingonecansayforyou,Athelny,」saidhiswife,「youdoenjoyyourfoodandno
mistake!」
「Cookedbyyourhand,myBetty,」hesaid,stretchingoutaneloquentforefinger.
Philipfelthimselfverycomfortable.Helookedhappilyatthelineoffires,withpeoplegroupedaboutthem,andthecolouroftheflamesagainstthenight;attheendofthemeadowwasalineofgreatelms,andabovethestarrysky.Thechildrentalkedandlaughed,andAthelny,achildamongthem,madethemroarbyhistricksandfancies.
「TheythinkararelotofAthelnydownhere,」saidhiswife.「Why,Mrs.Bridgessaidtome,Idon』tknowwhatweshoulddowithoutMr.Athelnynow,shesaid.He』salwaysuptosomething,he』smorelikeaschoolboythanthefatherofafamily.」
Sallysatinsilence,butsheattendedtoPhilip』swantsinathoughtfulfashionthatcharmedhim.Itwaspleasanttohaveherbesidehim,andnowandthenheglancedathersunburned,healthyface.Oncehecaughthereyes,andshesmiledquietly.WhensupperwasoverJaneandasmallbrotherweresentdowntoabrookthatranatthebottomofthemeadowtofetchapailofwaterforwashingup.
「Youchildren,showyourUnclePhilipwherewesleep,andthenyoumustbethinkingofgoingtobed.」
SmallhandsseizedPhilip,andhewasdraggedtowardsthehut.Hewentinandstruckamatch.Therewasnofurnitureinit;andbesideatinbox,inwhichclotheswerekept,therewasnothingbutthebeds;therewerethreeofthem,oneagainsteachwall.AthelnyfollowedPhilipinandshowedthemproudly.
「That』sthestufftosleepon,」hecried.「Noneofyourspring-mattressesandswansdown.Ineversleepsosoundlyanywhereashere.YOUwillsleepbetweensheets.Mydearfellow,Ipityyoufromthebottomofmysoul.」
Thebedsconsistedofathicklayerofhopvine,onthetopofwhichwasacoatingofstraw,andthiswas
coveredwithablanket.Afteradayintheopenair,withthearomaticscentofthehopsallroundthem,thehappypickerssleptliketops.Bynineo』clockallwasquietinthemeadowandeveryoneinbedbutoneortwomenwhostilllingeredinthepublic-houseandwouldnotcomebacktillitwasclosedatten.AthelnywalkedtherewithPhilip.ButbeforehewentMrs.Athelnysaidtohim:
「Webreakfastaboutaquartertosix,butIdaresayyouwon』twanttogetupasearlyasthat.Yousee,wehavetosettoworkatsix.」
「Ofcoursehemustgetupearly,」criedAthelny,「andhemustworkliketherestofus.He』sgottoearnhisboard.Nowork,nodinner,mylad.」
「Thechildrengodowntobathebeforebreakfast,andtheycangiveyouacallontheirwayback.TheypassTheJollySailor.」
「Ifthey』llwakemeI』llcomeandbathewiththem,」saidPhilip.
JaneandHaroldandEdwardshoutedwithdelightattheprospect,andnextmorningPhilipwasawakenedoutofasoundsleepbytheirburstingintohisroom.Theboysjumpedonhisbed,andhehadtochasethemoutwithhisslippers.Heputonacoatandapairoftrousersandwentdown.Thedayhadonlyjustbroken,andtherewasanipintheair;buttheskywascloudless,andthesunwasshiningyellow.Sally,holdingConnie』shand,wasstandinginthemiddleoftheroad,withatowelandabathing-dressoverherarm.Hesawnowthathersun-bonnetwasofthecolouroflavender,andagainstitherface,redandbrown,waslikeanapple.Shegreetedhimwithherslow,sweetsmile,andhenoticedsuddenlythatherteethweresmallandregularandverywhite.Hewonderedwhytheyhadnevercaughthisattentionbefore.
「Iwasforlettingyousleepon,」shesaid,「buttheywouldgoupandwakeyou.Isaidyoudidn』treally
wanttocome.」
「Oh,yes,Idid.」
Theywalkeddowntheroadandthencutacrossthemarshes.Thatwayitwasunderamiletothesea.Thewaterlookedcoldandgray,andPhilipshiveredatthesightofit;buttheotherstoreofftheirclothesandraninshouting.Sallydideverythingalittleslowly,andshedidnotcomeintothewatertillalltherestweresplashingroundPhilip.Swimmingwashisonlyaccomplishment;hefeltathomeinthewater;andsoonhehadthemallimitatinghimasheplayedatbeingaporpoise,andadrowningman,andafatladyafraidofwettingherhair.Thebathewasuproarious,anditwasnecessaryforSallytobeveryseveretoinducethemalltocomeout.
「You』reasbadasanyofthem,」shesaidtoPhilip,inhergrave,maternalway,whichwasatoncecomicandtouching.「They』renotanythinglikesonaughtywhenyou』renothere.」
Theywalkedback,Sallywithherbrighthairstreamingoveroneshoulderandhersun-bonnetinherhand,butwhentheygottothehutsMrs.Athelnyhadalreadystartedforthehop-garden.Athleny,inapairoftheoldesttrousersanyonehadeverworn,hisjacketbuttoneduptoshowhehadnoshirton,andinawide-brimmedsofthat,wasfryingkippersoverafireofsticks.Hewasdelightedwithhimself:helookedeveryinchabrigand.Assoonashesawthepartyhebegantoshoutthewitches』chorusfromMacbethovertheodorouskippers.
「Youmustn』tdawdleoveryourbreakfastormotherwillbeangry,」hesaid,whentheycameup.
Andinafewminutes,HaroldandJanewithpiecesofbreadandbutterintheirhands,theysaunteredthroughthemeadowintothehop-field.Theywerethelasttoleave.Ahop-gardenwasoneofthesightsconnectedwithPhilip』sboyhoodandtheoast-housestohimthemosttypicalfeatureoftheKentishscene.
Itwaswithnosenseofstrangeness,butasthoughhewereathome,thatPhilipfollowedSallythroughthelonglinesofthehops.Thesunwasbrightnowandcastasharpshadow.Philipfeastedhiseyesontherichnessofthegreenleaves.Thehopswereyellowing,andtohimtheyhadthebeautyandthepassionwhichpoetsinSicilyhavefoundinthepurplegrape.AstheywalkedalongPhilipfelthimselfoverwhelmedbytherichluxuriance.AsweetscentarosefromthefatKentishsoil,andthefitfulSeptemberbreezewasheavywiththegoodlyperfumeofthehops.Athelstanfelttheexhilarationinstinctively,forhelifteduphisvoiceandsang;itwasthecrackedvoiceoftheboyoffifteen,andSallyturnedround.
「Youbequiet,Athelstan,orweshallhaveathunderstorm.」
Inamomenttheyheardthehumofvoices,andinamomentmorecameuponthepickers.Theywereallhardatwork,talkingandlaughingastheypicked.Theysatonchairs,onstools,onboxes,withtheirbasketsbytheirsides,andsomestoodbythebinthrowingthehopstheypickedstraightintoit.Therewerealotofchildrenaboutandagoodmanybabies,someinmakeshiftcradles,sometuckedupinarugonthesoftbrowndryearth.Thechildrenpickedalittleandplayedagreatdeal.Thewomenworkedbusily,theyhadbeenpickersfromchildhood,andtheycouldpicktwiceasfastasforeignersfromLondon.Theyboastedaboutthenumberofbushelstheyhadpickedinaday,buttheycomplainedyoucouldnotmakemoneynowasinformertimes:thentheypaidyouashillingforfivebushels,butnowtheratewaseightandevenninebushelstotheshilling.Intheolddaysagoodpickercouldearnenoughintheseasontokeepherfortherestoftheyear,butnowtherewasnothinginit;yougotaholidayfornothing,andthatwasaboutall.Mrs.Hillhadboughtherselfapianneroutofwhatshemadepicking,soshesaid,butshewasverynear,
onewouldn』tliketobenearlikethat,andmostpeoplethoughtitwasonlywhatshesaid,ifthetruthwasknownperhapsitwouldbefoundthatshehadputabitofmoneyfromthesavingsbanktowardsit.
Thehoppersweredividedintobincompaniesoftenpickers,notcountingchildren,andAthelnyloudlyboastedofthedaywhenhewouldhaveacompanyconsistingentirelyofhisownfamily.Eachcompanyhadabin-man,whosedutyitwastosupplyitwithstringsofhopsattheirbins(thebinwasalargesackonawoodenframe,aboutsevenfeethigh,andlongrowsofthemwereplacedbetweentherowsofhops;)anditwastothispositionthatAthelnyaspiredwhenhisfamilywasoldenoughtoformacompany.Meanwhileheworkedratherbyencouragingothersthanbyexertionsofhisown.HesauntereduptoMrs.Athelny,whohadbeenbusyforhalfanhourandhadalreadyemptiedabasketintothebin,andwithhiscigarettebetweenhislipsbegantopick.Heassertedthathewasgoingtopickmorethananyonethatday,butmother;ofcoursenoonecouldpicksomuchasmother;thatremindedhimofthetrialswhichAphroditeputuponthecuriousPsyche,andhebegantotellhischildrenthestoryofherlovefortheunseenbridegroom.Hetolditverywell.ItseemedtoPhilip,listeningwithasmileonhislips,thattheoldtalefittedinwiththescene.Theskywasverybluenow,andhethoughtitcouldnotbemorelovelyeveninGreece.Thechildrenwiththeirfairhairandrosycheeks,strong,healthy,andvivacious;thedelicateformofthehops;thechallengingemeraldoftheleaves,likeablareoftrumpets;themagicofthegreenalley,narrowingtoapointasyoulookeddowntherow,withthepickersintheirsun-bonnets:perhapstherewasmoreoftheGreekspirittherethanyoucouldfindinthebooksofprofessorsorinmuseums.HewasthankfulforthebeautyofEngland.Hethoughtofthewindingwhiteroadsandthehedgerows,thegreenmeadowswiththeirelm-trees,thedelicatelineofthehillsandthecopsesthatcrownedthem,theflatnessofthemarshes,andthemelancholyoftheNorthSea.Hewasverygladthathefeltitsloveliness.ButpresentlyAthelnygrewrestlessandannouncedthathewouldgoandaskhowRobertKemp』smotherwas.HekneweveryoneinthegardenandcalledthemallbytheirChristiannames;heknewtheirfamilyhistoriesandallthathadhappenedtothemfrombirth.Withharmlessvanityheplayedthefinegentlemanamongthem,andtherewasatouchofcondescensioninhisfamiliarity.Philipwouldnotgowithhim.
「I』mgoingtoearnmydinner,」hesaid.
「Quiteright,myboy,」answeredAthelny,withawaveofthehand,ashestrolledaway.「Nowork,nodinner.」