第46部分(第4/7 頁)

t　to　turn　a　dog　out；〃　he　said　to　himself；

aloud。　〃It's　high　time　as　it　did　a　bit　of　clearing　up；　I'll　be

damned　if　it　isn't。　It　was　a　lot　of　use　putting　those　ten　loads

of　cinders　on　th'　road。　They'll　be　washed　to　kingdom…e　if　it

doesn't　alter。　Well；　it's　our　Fred's　look…out；　if　they　are。　He's

top…sawyer　as　far　as　those　things　go。　I　don't　see　why　I　should

concern　myself。　They　can　wash　to　kingdom…e　and　back　again　for

what　I　care。　I　suppose　they　would　be　washed　back　again　some　day。

That's　how　things　are。　Th'　rain　tumbles　down　just　to　mount　up　in

clouds　again。　So　they　say。　There's　no　more　water　on　the　earth

than　there　was　in　the　year　naught。　That's　the　story；　my　boy；　if

you　understand　it。　There's　no　more　to…day　than　there　was　a

thousand　years　ago……nor　no　less　either。　You　can't　wear

water　out。　No；　my　boy：　it'll　give　you　the　go…by。　Try　to　wear　it

out；　and　it　takes　its　hook　into　vapour；　it　has　its　fingers　at

its　nose　to　you。　It　turns　into　cloud　and　falleth　as　rain　on　the

just　and　unjust。　I　wonder　if　I'm　the　just　or　the　unjust。〃

He　started　awake　as　the　trap　lurched　deep　into　a　rut。　And　he

wakened　to　the　point　in　his　journey。　He　had　travelled　some

distance　since　he　was　last　conscious。

But　at　length　he　reached　the　gate；　and　stumbled　heavily　down；

reeling；　gripping　fast　to　the　trap。　He　descended　into　several

inches　of　water。

〃Be　damned！〃　he　said　angrily。　〃Be　damned　to　the　miserable

slop。〃

And　he　led　the　horse　washing　through　the　gate。　He　was　quite

drunk　now；　moving　blindly；　in　habit。　Everywhere　there　was　water

underfoot。

The　raised　causeway　of　the　house　and　the　farm…stead　was　dry；