Вдалині від божевільного натовпу

XLII. Joseph and His Burden—Buck's Head

           Thenearerboughswerebeadedwiththemisttothegreynessofagedmen,andtherusty-redleavesofthebeecheswerehungwithsimilardrops,likediamondsonauburnhair.

           AttheroadsidehamletcalledRoy-Town,justbeyondthiswood,wastheoldinnBuck’sHead.ItwasaboutamileandahalffromWeatherbury,andinthemeridiantimesofstage-coachtravellinghadbeentheplacewheremanycoacheschangedandkepttheirrelaysofhorses.Alltheoldstablingwasnowpulleddown,andlittleremainedbesidesthehabitableinnitself,which,standingalittlewaybackfromtheroad,signifieditsexistencetopeoplefarupanddownthehighwaybyasignhangingfromthehorizontalboughofanelmontheoppositesideoftheway.

           Travellersforthevarietytouristhadhardlydevelopedintoadistinctspeciesatthisdatesometimessaidinpassing,whentheycasttheireyesuptothesign-bearingtree,thatartistswerefondofrepresentingthesignboardhangingthus,butthattheythemselveshadneverbeforenoticedsoperfectaninstanceinactualworkingorder.ItwasnearthistreethatthewaggonwasstandingintowhichGabrielOakcreptonhisfirstjourneytoWeatherbury;but,owingtothedarkness,thesignandtheinnhadbeenunobserved.

           Themannersoftheinnwereoftheold-establishedtype.Indeed,inthemindsofitsfrequenterstheyexistedasunalterableformulæ:e.g.

           Rapwiththebottomofyourpintformoreliquor.

           Fortobacco,shout.

           Incallingforthegirlinwaiting,say,"Maid!"

           Dittoforthelandlady,"OldSoul!"etc.,etc.

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