第66部分(第4/7 页)

ields；　and　cornfields；　and　wood；　and　a　glittering　stream　ran　zig…zag　through　the　varied　shades　of　green；　the　mellowing　grain；　the　sombre　woodland；　the　clear　and　sunny　lea。　Recalled　by　the　rumbling　of　wheels　to　the　road　before　me；　I　saw　a　heavily…laden　waggon　labouring　up　the　hill；　and　not　far　beyond　were　two　cows　and　their　drover。　Human　life　and　human　labour　were　near。　I　must　struggle　on：　strive　to　live　and　bend　to　toil　like　the　rest。

About　two　o’clock　p。m。　I　entered　the　village。　At　the　bottom　of　its　one　street　there　was　a　little　shop　with　some　cakes　of　bread　in　the　window。　I　coveted　a　cake　of　bread。　With　that　refreshment　I　could　perhaps　regain　a　degree　of　energy：　without　it；　it　would　be　difficult　to　proceed。　The　wish　to　have　some　strength　and　some　vigour　returned　to　me　as　soon　as　I　was　amongst　my　fellow…beings。　I　felt　it　would　be　degrading　to　faint　with　hunger　on　the　causeway　of　a　hamlet。　Had　I　nothing　about　me　I　could　offer　in　exchange　for　one　of　these　rolls？　I　considered。　I　had　a　small　silk　handkerchief　tied　round　my　throat；　I　had　my　gloves。　I　could　hardly　tell　how　men　and　women　in　extremities　of　destitution　proceeded。　I　did　not　know　whether　either　of　these　articles　would　be　accepted：　probably　they　would　not；　but　I　must　try。

I　entered　the　shop：　a　woman　was　there。　Seeing　a　respectably…　dressed　person；　a　lady　as　she　supposed；　she　came　forward　with　civility。　How　could　she　serve　me？　I　was　seized　with　shame：　my　tongue　would　not　utter　the　request　I　had　prepared。　I　dared　not　offer　her　the　half…worn　gloves；　the　creased　handkerchief：　besides；　I　felt　it　would　be　absurd。　I　only　begged　permission　to　sit　down　a　moment；　as　I　was　tired。　Disappointed　in　the　expectation　of　a　customer；　she　coolly　acceded　to　my　request。　She　pointed　to　a　seat；　I　sank　into　it。　I　felt　sorely