Durbeyfield sat down upon the grassy land by the roadside, putting his basket before him. In a few minutes, a youth from his village appeared in the distance. On seeing him, Durbeyfield held up his hand, and the boy quickened his steps and came near.
"Boy, take up that basket! I want you to do something for me."
The skinny boy frowned ( 皱眉 ), "who are you then, John Durbeyfield, to order me about and call me ‘boy'? You know my name as well as I know yours!"
"Do you, do you? That's the secret — That's the secret! Now obey my orders, and Fred, I don't mind telling you that the secret is that I'm one of a noble race ( 贵族 ) — it has been just found out by me this present afternoon." And as he made the announcement, he luxuriously ( 奢侈地 ) lay himself upon the land among the flowers.
The boy stood before Durbeyfield, and looked at him from head to foot.
"Sir, John D' Urberville — that's who I am," continued Durbeyfield. "Do you know such a place as Greenhill?"
"Yes. I have been there to Greenhill fair ( 集市 )."
"Well, under the church of that city there lie my ancestors ( 祖先 ) — hundreds of them — in coats of jewellery. There is not a man here who's got greater and nobler ancestors than I."
"Oh?"
"Now take up that basket, and go on to the Pure Drop Inn, telling them to send a horse and carriage ( 马车 ) with a servant ( 仆人 ) here quickly, to carry me home. And when you've done that, go on to my house with the basket, and tell my wife to put away that washing, because she needn't finish it, and wait till I come home, as I've news to tell her."
As the boy stood in doubt, Durbeyfield put his hand into his pocket, and produced a shilling (a unit of money used in Britain until 1971).
"Here is for your work, son."
This made a difference.
"Yes. Sir John. Thank you."
The boy took up the basket, and set out at once.
