Chapter 3 third chapter

One afternoon that summer, after Vespers had been given to the church, Miss Langton walked listlessly towards the door, only to see a young man sitting behind the nave; Therefore, the two of them seem to occupy this huge building.His piercing eyes seemed to be dazed, as if shrouded by his own thoughts, but they were extraordinarily dark.His hair was well developed, and he had a thin duck-egg face, and the skin on his face was as transparent and delicate as a woman's.Soon a sexton came up to him and told him that the church would be closing, so he stood up, but seemed not to heed the sexton's words, and passed Bella.Although they were very close, the young man was still lost in thought and didn't notice Bella.She didn't think of him again, but the following Saturday, she went to church to serve everyone as usual, and saw the young man again: he was still sitting in the back of the nave, with the tourists or the devout. The prayers are far away.Driven by an inexplicable curiosity, Bella decided not to join the choir, but to remain there.An elaborate curtain separated the choir from the nave, and there, because of her dignity, a place was always reserved for her next to her father's pew.

The boy (perhaps a little older than the boy) was reading there, and Miss Langton noticed that it was a book of poetry; the boy would smile and look up from time to time, and Miss Langton guessed that he might be silently reciting something he liked. sentence.The ceremony began, and because of the long distance this time, the already familiar form also had a different sense of mystery; Like a child making a noise among the tall columns.Every once in a while, the voice of the chorus will overwhelm the organ music, and after being attenuated by the sound-absorbing stone, it sounds like the waves of the sea are in a trance.Presently the sound ceased, and the voice of a solo tenor wafted into the ears of the crowd—this is the pride of this church; and this voice seemed to be full of magic that transcended all material barriers, the tune of this ancient hymn— Miss Langton's father was fond of the unadorned songs of the old days--the ones that seemed to carry the sobbing prayers to heaven.The book slipped from the hands of the young man, and he lost himself in the harmonious music, and his face wore an expression of longing; his face was all the more charming because of the ecstasy, like the face of the saint in some portraits because It becomes even more dazzling with the magical skylight.Next, he cupped his face in his hands and put his head close to his knees, and Bella saw that the boy was praying to God with all his heart, thanking him for giving humans ears to hear the sounds of nature and eyes to see the beauty of the world .The scene touched Bella deeply, and caused some new feelings in her.

When the boy sat back on the seat again, there was something exciting on his face again, and a happy smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, which made Bella feel sick because of jealousy.What is the unique power in his soul that enables him to endow all things with magical colors?And all of this is something that Bella, who has tried so hard, has never been able to penetrate.She waited until he walked slowly out and saw him nodding to the sexton standing at the door, so Bella went to ask the sexton who the boy was. "I don't know, madam," replied the sexton, "he comes every Saturday and Sunday. But he never joins the choir. He just sits and reads in a corner where no one can see him. I Never bothered him because he was so quiet and so respectable."

Bella didn't understand why she often thought of this young man with good-looking hair, and why she went to the middle hall to wait for him again on the following Sunday, and he didn't even notice her existence.After a closer look, she found that the child was thin and had well-shaped hands; when they met each other, she found that his eyes were blue and deep like the Italian summer sea.As a timid woman, Miss Langton would not dare to strike up a conversation with strangers rashly, but the frankness and simplicity shown by this young man, coupled with a melancholy temperament that seemed very attractive, made Miss Langton overcome herself Her shyness also broke through her inappropriate cognition that she should not be friends with people she didn't know.Some hidden intuitions made her realize that she had reached a turning point in her life, and she needed courage to seize a new happiness; and, it seemed that the shining stars also gave her hints on how to approach this young man .It must have been an adventure for Miss Langton, and she was so excited that she waited anxiously for Saturday, then asked her favorite sexton for the key, and after the church service she boldly To the young man she didn't even know the name of.

"Would you like to go to the cathedral with me?" She skipped the introduction and issued the invitation directly. "We can go alone, so that we can avoid the chattering sextons and the crowds. You will definitely agree satisfied with this.” "It's very kind of you," replied the young man, "I've always wanted to do the same." His voice was low and sweet, and he showed no surprise at the invitation; but at the same time Bella, frightened by her own audacity, thought it necessary to explain why she had sent the invitation. "I see you here often, and it is very kind of you to be willing to see the cathedral at its best. But I'm afraid you will have to bear with me."

The young man smiled again, and seemed to really notice Bella for the first time.Bella standing in front of him felt that he was looking at her carefully, and suddenly felt that she was an old, shabby and wrinkled woman. In order to break the silence in front of her eyes, Bella asked, "What book are you reading?" He didn't answer, but handed her the book.This is a small anthology of Shelley's lyric poems, obviously well-done, with some pages on the verge of falling. Bella opened the door to the apse of the church and locked it after they passed. "It's good to be here alone!" cried the young man, walking happily forward with a cheerful step.

At first he was a little shy, but presently the spirit of the sanctuary, through its gloomy chapel, its stone knight's couch, and its bejeweled windows, eased his nerves, and he began to radiate with childlike ecstasy, Bella was a little surprised.The joy he showed made Bella discover another charm about him; his ardent poetic enthusiasm seemed to coat the ancient walls with a magical sunshine; Miraculously flung to heaven, to be alive with flowers, grass, and leafy trees: the westerly wind, passing between the Gothic balusters, gave new splendor to the ancient windows, It also adds a more lively charm.The boy's cheeks were flushed with excitement, while Bella's heart was pounding, reveling in his joy; Although she was born into a cultivated family, her hands were stubby and not at all graceful), the past of the Church of the Almighty floated before Bella's eyes, and she heard the sound of the armed procession of knights passing by the quiet banner. The clanging of steel, a vivid vision of Kent, the gentlemen in Garry stockings and doublets, and the ladies with wide, stiff ruffs and skirts stretched with whalebone rings, Gather together and pray for the storm and battle, for Howard of Effingham has routed King Philip's fleet.

"Let's go into the cloister!" he said eagerly. They sat on a stone balustrade, looking out at the green lawn where the Augustinian monks used to wander and meditate; One can't help but think of the Italian cloisters, where the cypress trees, despite their rotting decay, promise a quiet bliss rather than the crippling guilt of the North.Although the boy had only seen the magic of the south from books and pictures, he quickly grasped the artistic conception, and his face showed great yearning.When Bella told him that she had been to Italy, he eagerly asked about this and that. In the past, Bella, who was worried about being laughed at by others, would answer these questions with restraint, but the enthusiasm of the young people dispelled Bella's enthusiasm. Because of her scruples, she began to talk about everything.The view, too, was delightful; the great central tower looked down upon them in radiance, and its majestic beauty entered their souls, so that, though the young man had never seen a Tuscan monastery, A little solace was found in the central tower.For a while they just sat in silence.

Finally, turning to her, he said, "You must be someone of great importance, or we would not have been here so long." "I think I may indeed be important to some sexton," she replied, laughing. "It may be late now." "Would you come and have a cup of tea with me?" he asked. "I live just across from the cathedral entrance." Noticing that Bella was looking at him, he added with a smile: "My name is Herbert. Field, I am definitely a man of high character." She hesitated, because it seemed strange to her to drink tea with a young man she had never met before, but she was also afraid that people would think she was prudish; if she went to his place, she would learn more. More things about him can also bring an end to this adventure.In the end, she felt that, this time, actually living (rather than just being) depended on her decisions.

"Come on," he said, "I want you to read my book." Then the young man made a more convincing gesture: he touched Bella's hand. "I think I should like it very much." He took her to a small room behind a pharmacist's shop. The layout of the room was very simple, like a study, with a low ceiling and partition walls.There are paintings by Pietro Perugino on the ceiling and walls, and there are many books in the room. "It's very small, but I live here and I can always see the church entrance. I think that's one of the nicest things about Tkenbury."

He seated Bella while he boiled water and prepared bread and butter.Bella was at first somewhat frightened by the novelty, and was a little reserved; but the boy's delight in her presence affected Bella as well, and made her feel equally lighthearted.Next, the boy reveals another side of himself: his obsession with beauty is temporarily set aside, and for the moment he shows a surprisingly childish side.His smile was hearty, and, now that Miss Langton was his guest, he was no longer so shy, and began to talk freely about various topics in his mind. "Would you like a cigarette?" asked the young man after finishing his tea.After Bella smiled and said no, he continued: "You don't mind if I smoke, do you? I can talk more that way." He moved the chair to the window so they could see the majestic masonry in front of them, and continued talking as if they had known each other for a long time.But when she finally got up to leave, his eyes suddenly darkened and sad. "I can see you again, right? I finally found you, and I don't want to lose you just like that." In fact, he was asking Miss Langton for a secret date, but now, the presiding priest's daughter still had scruples for fear of causing any gossip. "I think we can make an appointment to meet in church." Like many other women, although she was willing to grant all his demands, she was unwilling to give in too soon. "Oh, that can't be done," he insisted. "I can't bear the fact that I have to wait another week to see you." Bella looked at him with a smile, but he stared passionately into Bella's eyes, and at the same time held her hand firmly, as if he would not let her go without a clear promise. "Let's go for a walk in the country tomorrow," he said. "Yes!" replied Bella, and at the same time said to herself silently that it would do no harm to go for a walk with a young man twenty years younger than herself. "I'll wait for you at Ximen at 5:30." But after going back, Miss Langton considered carefully again, and then she wrote a note to the young man, telling him that she had forgotten an important appointment and that she might not be able to see him.Again, however, she hesitated, and more than once reproached herself with the possible cowardice of disappointing the enthusiastic Herbert Field.So she found a far-fetched reason for herself, telling herself that maybe there would be some problems with the delivery of the letter on Sunday, and then the letter would not reach Herbert. In that case, he would still go to Simon to wait for her, but he did not Understand why she didn't show up.So she convinced herself that it was necessary to explain to him herself why she could not go for a walk with him, as she had promised. The West Gate is an old and handsome masonry building which in ancient times had been the outer wall of Tkenbury, and even now, though there are houses on one side of it, a road on the left side of the wall leads straight into the country.Bella got there a little early, but found that Herbert was already waiting there. He looked very young in a straw hat. "Did you get the note I wrote?" she asked. "Got it." He replied with a smile. "Then why are you still here?" "Because I thought, you might change your mind. I don't really believe in a date like that. I'd love to see you, so I thought, maybe you can't help yourself. I think you'll definitely come." "What if I don't come?" "Then I will wait too... Don't be afraid. You see, the sun is calling us. Yesterday, we saw the gray stone in the church; today, we will see the green fields and trees. You heard the whisper of the west wind Is it? They are talking about wonderful things." Bella looked at him, feeling irresistible the call of those passionate eyes. "I guess I'll have to do as you say," she replied. So they set off together.Miss Langton had convinced herself that her affection for Herbert was merely maternal, as she would give jelly to some motherless child, but what she didn't know was that Mr. Cupid was laughing at her subterfuge, gleefully Flying wildly, he shot his arrow.They wandered to a brook that ran gently northward to the sea, shaded by the overgrown willows; and the country air was so fresh and fragrant on this July afternoon: There was such a wonderful smell of cut hay that even the birds were quieted by it. "I'm glad you live at the Vicarage," he said. "It's satisfying just to imagine you sitting in that pretty garden." "Have you ever seen that garden?" "No, but I can imagine the view behind the old red wall, the shady grass and the roses. There should be a lot of roses there by now." The presiding priest was known to be a favorite of the royal flowers, and the ones he exhibited at the local flower show were a wonder of the town.They walked on, and after a while Herbert unconsciously put his arm on Bella, as if seeking protection from the cruel world.Bella blushed a little, but she had no intention of refusing; she was even inexplicably pleased at the confidence he displayed.She asked him some careful questions, and he told her very simply that his parents had struggled to give him a better education. "However, even so," he said, "I'm not as miserable as I thought. The bank gave me a lot of spare time, and I had books and hope." "What is your hope?" "Sometimes I write poetry," he said, blushing, "and I think it's kind of funny, but it gives me a great deal of happiness; who knows?—maybe someday, too, I'll Do something that will last forever." Bella then rested leaning against a gate, while Herbert stood aside, watching her, hesitating to say something. "Miss Langton, I want to tell you something, but I'm a little scared... You won't abandon me now, will you? I've found a friend at last, and I can't bear to lose her. You don't know, there's someone right What does it mean to me to have friendly people talking to me. I often feel a terrible sense of loneliness. And you have turned my life upside down; my whole world has changed since last week gone." She looked at him earnestly.Did he think he hadn't changed her life?What she couldn't say was that those captivating blue eyes were so irresistible to her that she would do anything for it. After a while she replied: "My father is going to Lynham on Wednesday, and will you come to the Rectory Garden for tea when your work is done?" Seeing the delighted expression on his face, Bella felt extremely rewarded. "Before that, I wouldn't think about anything else." Miss Langton also found that her nervousness and anxiety disappeared miraculously; life was no longer monotonous, and it shone with miraculous brilliance, because life began to have something fascinating, and it was no longer as it used to be. Living is just a responsibility .She was always recalling the insignificant but charming things the boy had said, and found the conversation with him pleasant, quite different from her usual discussions with the priests.They had good taste in prose, and the archdeacon's second wife had written a novel—it was only her nobility and the novel's obvious moral purpose that kept it from being too bawdy.The little priests discussed their devotion to the Royal Academy.But Herbert spoke of books and pictures as if art were living things, as indispensable to him as bread and water; while Bella felt that she had only been cultivated in some aspects of education, formal and dull. , so always listen very humbly to the enthusiastic Herbert's various descriptions. Wednesday came at last, and Bella, in her pretty summer cotton dress and a big hat, came into the promised garden, and the tea-things stood under a leafy tree.Miss Ley would have laughed uncontrollably had she noticed the place the presiding priest's daughter had placed so that she would look her best.The seclusion and quiet beauty of the garden aroused Herbert's boyishness, and his merry laugh broke through the grass like silver bell music to Bella's heart.Looking at the extended shade at their feet, they discussed Italy, Greece, poetry, and flowers; and soon, tired of serious conversation, they chatted more easily. "You know what? I can't call you Mr. Field," laughed Bella. "I must call you Herbert." "If you call me that, I'll call you Bella." "I don't know if you should call me that. You see, I'm almost an old fossil, so it's normal for me to call you by your first name." "However, I don't want you to feel like my elder. I want you to be completely my companion, and I don't care one bit that you're older than me. And, I think you'll always be Bella." She smiled again and looked at him more tenderly. "Well, I suppose, you can do what you want," she replied. "of course." Suddenly, he quickly took her hands, and before Bella knew what was going on, he kissed her hands. "Don't be stupid!" Bella yelled.She withdrew her hand quickly, blushing. After seeing Bella's uneasiness, he laughed childishly. "Ha, I made you blush." His blue eyes shine brightly and take pleasure in his little wickedness.What he didn't know was that afterward, in Bella's own room, the kiss was still burning her hands, and she was crying like her heart was about to break.