stories by english authors in germany(旅德英国作家的故事)-第15章
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not his own！ A slow； sonorous voice was proclaiming aloud that victory
had been adjudged to Stephen Kiesslinger； born in the burg of Antwerp；
son of a wharfinger in that town。
When Nello recovered his consciousness he was lying on the stones
without； and Patrasche was trying with every art he knew to call him back
to life。 In the distance a throng of the youths of Antwerp were shouting
around their successful comrade； and escorting him with acclamations to
his home upon the quay。
The boy staggered to his feet and drew the dog into his embrace。 〃It is
all over； dear Patrasche；〃 he murmured〃all over！〃
He rallied himself as best he could； for he was weak from fasting； and
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retraced his steps to the village。 Patrasche paced by his side with his head
drooping and his old limbs feeble from hunger and sorrow。
The snow was falling fast； a keen hurricane blew from the north； it
was bitter as death on the plains。 It took them long to traverse the familiar
path； and the bells were sounding four of the clock as they approached the
hamlet。 Suddenly Patrasche paused； arrested by a scent in the snow；
scratched； whined； and drew out with his teeth a small case of brown
leather。 He held it up to Nello in the darkness。 Where they were there
stood a little Calvary； and a lamp burned dully under the cross； the boy
mechanically turned the case to the light； on it was the name of Baas
Cogez； and within it were notes for two thousand francs。
The sight roused the lad a little from his stupor。 He thrust it in his shirt；
and stroked Patrasche and drew him onward。 The dog looked up wistfully
in his face。
Nello made straight for the mill…house； and went to the house door and
struck on its panels。 The miller's wife opened it weeping； with little Alois
clinging close to her skirts。 〃Is it thee； thou poor lad？〃 she said kindly；
through her tears。 〃Get thee gone ere the Baas see thee。 We are in sore
trouble to…night。 He is out seeking for a power of money that he has let fall
riding homeward； and in this snow he never will find it； and God knows it
will go nigh to ruin us。 It is Heaven's own judgment for the things we have
done to thee。〃
Nello put the note…case in her hand and called Patrasche within the
house。 〃Patrasche found the money to…night；〃 he said quickly。 〃Tell Baas
Cogez so； I think he will not deny the dog shelter and food in his old age。
Keep him from pursuing me； and I pray of you to be good to him。〃
Ere either woman or dog knew what he meant he had stooped and
kissed Patrasche； then closed the door hurriedly； and disappeared in the
gloom of the fast…falling night。
The woman and the child stood speechless with joy and fear； Patrasche
vainly spent the fury of his anguish against the iron…bound oak of the
barred house door。 They did not dare unbar the door and let him forth；
they tried all they could to solace him。 They brought him sweet cakes and
juicy meats； they tempted him with the best they had； they tried to lure
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him to abide by the warmth of the hearth； but it was of no avail。 Patrasche
refused to be comforted or to stir from the barred portal。
It was six o'clock when from an opposite entrance the miller at last
came； jaded and broken； into his wife's presence。 〃It is lost forever；〃 he
said； with an ashen cheek and a quiver in his stern voice。 〃We have looked
with lanterns everywhere； it is gonethe little maiden's portion and all！〃
His wife put the money into his hand； and told him how it had come to
her。 The strong man sank trembling into a seat and covered his face；
ashamed and almost afraid。 〃I have been cruel to the lad；〃 he muttered at
length； 〃I deserved not to have good at his hands。〃
Little Alois； taking courage； crept close to her father and nestled
against him her fair curly head。 〃Nello may come here again； father？〃 she
whispered。 〃He may come to…morrow as he used to do？〃
The miller pressed her in his arms； his hard； sunburnt face was very
pale and his mouth trembled。 〃Surely； surely；〃 he answered his child。 〃He
shall bide here on Christmas Day； and any other day he will。 God helping
me； I will make amends to the boyI will make amends。〃
Little Alois kissed him in gratitude and joy； then slid from his knees
and ran to where the dog kept watch by the door。 〃And to…night I may
feast Patrasche？〃 she cried in a child's thoughtless glee。
Her father bent his head gravely： 〃Ay； ay！ let the dog have the best；〃
for the stern old man was moved and shaken to his heart's depths。
It was Christmas eve； and the mill…house was filled with oak logs and
squares of turf； with cream and honey； with meat and bread； and the rafters
were hung with wreaths of evergreen； and the Calvary and the cuckoo
clock looked out from a mass of holly。 There were little paper lanterns； too；
for Alois； and toys of various fashions and sweetmeats in bright…pictured
papers。 There were light and warmth and abundance everywhere； and the
child would fain have made the dog a guest honoured and feasted。
But Patrasche would neither lie in the warmth nor share in the cheer。
Famished he was and very cold； but without Nello he would partake
neither of comfort nor food。 Against all temptation he was proof； and close
against the door he leaned always； watching only for a means of escape。
〃He wants the lad；〃 said Baas Cogez。 〃Good dog！ good dog！ I will go
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over to the lad the first thing at day…dawn。〃 For no one but Patrasche knew
that Nello had left the hut； and no one but Patrasche divined that Nello had
gone to face starvation and misery alone。
The mill kitchen was very warm； great logs crackled and flamed on
the hearth； neighbours came in for a glass of wine and a slice of the fat
goose baking for supper。 Alois； gleeful and sure of her playmate back on
the morrow； bounded and sang and tossed back her yellow hair。 Baas
Cogez； in the fulness of his heart； smiled on her through moistened eyes；
and spoke of the way in which he would befriend her favourite companion；
the house…mother sat with calm； contented face at the spinning…wheel； the
cuckoo in the clock chirped mirthful hours。 Amidst it all Patrasche was
bidden with a thousand words of welcome to tarry there a cherished guest。
But neither peace nor plenty could allure him where Nello was not。
When the supper smoked on the board； and the voices were loudest
and gladdest； and the Christ…child brought choicest gifts to Alois；
Patrasche； watching always an occasion； glided out when the door was
unlatched by a careless new…comer； and； as swiftly as his weak and tired
limbs would bear him sped over the snow in the bitter； black night。 He had
only one thoughtto follow Nello。 A human friend might have paused for
the pleasant meal； the cheery warmth； the cosey slumber； but that was not
the friendship of Patrasche。 He remembered a bygone time； when an old
man and a little child had found him sick unto death in the wayside ditch。
Snow had fallen freshly all the evening long； it was now nearly ten；
the trail of the boy's footsteps was almost obliterated。 It took Patrasche
long to discover any scent。 When at last he found it； it was lost again
quickly； and lost and recovered； and again lost and again recovered； a
hundred times or more。
The night was very wild。 The lamps under the wayside crosses were
blown out； the roads were sheets of ice； the impenetrable darkness hid
every trace of habitations； there was no living thing abroad。 All the cattle
were housed； and in all the huts and homesteads men and women rejoiced
and feasted。 There was only Patrasche out in the cruel cold old and
famished and full of pain； but with the strength and the patience of a great
love to sustain him in his search。
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The trail of Nello's steps； faint and obscure as it was under the new
snow； went straightly along the accustomed tracks into Antwerp。 It was
past midnight when Patrasche traced it over the boundaries of the town
and into the narrow； tortuous； gloomy streets。 It was all quite dark in the
town； save where some light gleamed ruddily through the crevices of
house shutters； or some group went homeward with lanterns chanting
drinking…songs。 The streets were all white with ice； the high walls and
roofs loomed black against them。 There was scarce a sound save the riot of
the winds down the passages as they tossed the creaking signs and shook
the tall lamp…irons。
So many passers…by had trodden through and through the snow； so
many diverse paths had crossed and recrossed each other； that the dog had
a hard task to retain any hold on the track he followed。 But he kept on his
way； though the cold pierced him to the bone； and the jagged ice cut his
feet； and the hunger in his body gnawed like a rat's teeth。 He kept on his
way；a poor gaunt； shivering thing；and by long patience traced the steps
he loved into the very heart of the burg and up to the steps of the great
cathedral。
〃He is gone to the things that he loved；〃 thought Patrasche； he could
not understand； but he was full of sorrow and of pity for the art passion
that to him was so incomprehensible and yet so sacred。
The portals of the cathedral were unclosed after the midnight mass。
Some heedlessness in the custodians； too eager to go home and feast or
sleep； or too drowsy to know whether they turned the keys aright
