书虫2级《草垛之恋》3. 流浪汉和女人

3. The tramp and the woman

We're not going to finish that last bit of hay today,' Henry said crossly.

The father still looked worried about Maurice. 'Are you sure you're all right?' he asked.

Yes, I'm all right. I've told you.'

Then sit down and rest for a bit. In a while you can get the dinner out for us.'

The men went back to work, and the governess ran back to the vicar's house, to her job with the children. Maurice sat down under a tree. 'I'll marry her,' he thought. 'Yes, I will. I've got fifty pounds, and mother will help me.' For a long time he sat there, thinking about married life. Then he got up and went to get the dinner from the big wagon by the road.

The two fields belonged to the Wookey family, but they were four miles from the home farm. So the father had to bring dinner and tea to the fields every day, and the workers ate there. Cutting the hay usually took about two weeks, and somebody had to sleep in the field at night, to watch the tools. Either Maurice or Geoffrey usually did this.

Mrs Wookey always sent a good dinner, and today was no different. There were two big meat pies, cold potatoes, bread, and a great piece of cheese. Maurice put the food out in the shade of a big tree. Everybody sat down in a circle, and ate their meal.

Everybody sat down in a circle, and ate their meal.

It was good to be out of the burning sun, under the shade of the tree. The men ate and drank silently, the father reading a newspaper, the others eating busily.

Then, 'She's here again!' said Bill. Everybody looked up. Paula was coming across the field, carrying a plate.

She's bringing something for you, Maurice,' said Henry, laughing at him. Maurice was halfway through a great piece of meat pie and some cold potatoes.

The father laughed too. 'Put that away, Maurice. She'll want you to eat what she's brought for you.'

The father laughed. 'Put that away, Maurice.'

Give it here,' said Bill. 'I'll eat it for you.'

Then Paula arrived. 'I bring him some chicken – him!'

She gave Maurice a bright smile. Maurice's face turned deep red, and everybody laughed aloud.

The father felt sorry for his shy son. 'Come and sit here by me,' he said to Paula.

Thank you,' said Paula happily. She sat down next to the father and smiled at him.

My name,' she said, 'is Paula Jablonowsky.'

Paula, what?' said the father. The other men laughed. 'Paula, eh? Strange kind of name. My son's name is—'

Maurice – I know.' She said the name sweetly, and Maurice's face turned an even deeper red.

Tell me about yourself,' the father said to the girl.

I come from Hanover, in Germany,' she said. 'My father is a shop-keeper, and I ran away from home because I didn't like him. I went to Paris and I worked in a girls' school there.'

Did you like it?'

Oh no – it was so boring! Nothing to do.'

And do you like life in England?' said the father.

No – ah, no. The vicar and his wife... no, no, no.'

And what will you do?' the father asked.

I will go to London, or to Paris. Or get married!' She laughed into the father's eyes.

The father laughed too. 'Get married, eh? Who to?'

I don't know. I am going away.'

Do you think you'd like making butter and cheese?'

Oh yes!' She smiled her quick bright smile, and her eyes shone.

I think she'd like anything different from her life now,' said Henry. He heard a noise and looked round. 'Hallo, who's this?' he said.

A tramp was crossing the field towards them. He was small, thin, and dirty, with mean little eyes.

Have you got a bit of work for me?' he called out.

A bit of work?' said the father. 'Can't you see that we've nearly finished these fields?'

And you don't know anything about hay-making,' said Henry, coldly.

I'm a hard worker,' said the tramp. His small eyes looked from father to son, and back again.

Well, we've got no work for you,' said the father. 'But you can have a bit of something to eat, if you like.'

Yes, I would,' said the man.

They gave him the last piece of meat pie. He ate it quickly, hungrily. 'That was good,' he said. He did not go away, so they gave him a piece of bread and cheese. Then he asked for a drink of water. He sat down to drink it, but the other men did not talk to him. They did not like him, and had nothing to say to him.

While he sat there, a young woman came into the field and walked down beside the hedge. She was small and finely made. Her clothes were neat and tidy, and her hair was pulled back under a sailor hat. She had a pretty face, but there was a hard, cold look in her eyes.

Have you got some work?' she asked her man.

Have you got some work?' the young woman asked.

No, they haven't got any work for me. They just gave me a drink of water.'

He was a mean, hateful little man.

And do I have to wait for you in the road all day?'

You don't have to if you don't want to. You can go on. But if you wait a bit, perhaps you'll get something.'

The woman looked for the first time at the men, staring at them, unsmiling.

Have you had your dinner?' asked the father. 'He's had a lot to eat. You can have some, if you want it.'

What have you had?' she asked the man angrily.

A great piece of meat pie, and a great piece of bread and cheese,' said Geoffrey.

The young woman looked at Geoffrey, and he at her. There was a kind of understanding between them. Both of them felt alone in the world. Geoffrey smiled a little, but she was too angry to smile.

There's some cold potatoes,' Maurice said to the woman. 'You can have some of them.'

She frowned and did not answer. Again she looked at Geoffrey, and again there was a silent understanding between them. Then she turned and walked away.

We must get back to work,' said Henry. He stood up and stared coldly at the tramp. 'Time to go.'

The tramp stood up too. 'Aren't you going to give me something for her? She's had nothing to eat all day.'

They gave him some bread and cheese. He pushed it into his pocket, and walked away.