stories by english authors in germany(旅德英国作家的故事)-第5章
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no means inclined to rush headlong into matrimony with undue hurry。 It
was more pleasant to live in the professor's good house； to have delightful
walks arm in arm with Jan under the trees in the Baan or round the Singels；
parting under the stars with many a lingering word and promise to meet
again。 It was during one of those very partings that the professor suddenly
became aware； as he walked placidly home； of the change that had come
into Koosje's life。
However； Koosje told him blushingly that she did not wish to leave
him just at present； so he did not trouble himself about the matter。 He was
a wise man； this old authority on osteology； and quoted oftentimes；
〃Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof。〃
So the courtship sped smoothly on； seeming for once to contradict the
truth of the old saying； 〃The course of true love never did run smooth。〃
The course of their love did； of a truth； run marvellously smooth indeed。
Koosje； if a trifle coy； was pleasant and sweet； Jan as fine a fellow as ever
waited round a corner on a cold winter night。 So brightly the happy days
slipped by； when suddenly a change was effected in the professor's
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household which made； as a matter of course； somewhat of a change in
Koosje's life。 It came about in this wise。
Koosje had been on an errand for the professor；one that had kept her
out of doors some time；and it happened that the night was bitterly cold；
the cold； indeed； was fearful。 The air had that damp rawness so noticeable
in Dutch climate； a thick mist overhung the city； and a drizzling rain came
down with a steady persistence such as quickly soaked through the
stoutest and thickest garments。 The streets were well…nigh empty。 The
great thoroughfare； the Oude Gracht； was almost deserted； and as Koosje
hurried along the Meinerbroederstraatfor she had a second commission
thereshe drew her great shawl more tightly round her； muttering crossly；
〃What weather！ yesterday so warm； to…day so cold。 'Tis enough to give
one the fever。〃
She delivered her message； and ran on through Oude Kerkhoff as fast
as her feet could carry her； when； just as she turned the corner into the
Domplein； a fierce gust of wind； accompanied by a blinding shower of
rain； assailed her； her foot caught against something soft and heavy； and
she fell。
〃Bless us！〃 she ejaculated； blankly。 〃What fool has left a bundle out on
the path on such a night？ Pitch dark； with half the lamps out； and rain and
mist enough to blind one。〃
She gathered herself up； rubbing elbows and knees vigorously； casting
the while dark glances at the obnoxious bundle which had caused the
disaster。 Just then the wind was lulled； the lamp close at hand gave out a
steady light； which shed its rays through the fog upon Koosje and the
bundle； from which； to the girl's horror and dismay； came a faint moan。
Quickly she drew nearer； when she perceived that what she had believed
to be a bundle was indeed a woman； apparently in the last stage of
exhaustion。
Koosje tried to lift her； but the dead…weight was beyond her； young
and strong as she was。 Then the rain and the wind came on again in fiercer
gusts than before； the woman's moans grew louder and louder； and what to
do Koosje knew not。
She struggled on for the few steps that lay between her and the
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professor's house； and then she rang a peal which resounded through the
echoing passages； bringing Dortje； the other maid； running out； after the
manner of her class； imagining all sorts of terrible catastrophes had
happened。 She uttered a cry of relief when she perceived it was only
Koosje； who； without vouchsafing any explanation； dashed past her and
ran straight into the professor's room。
〃O professor！〃 she gasped out； but； between her efforts to remove the
woman； her struggle with the elements； and her race down the passage； her
breath was utterly gone。
The professor looked up from his book and his tea…tray in surprise。 For
a moment he thought that Koosje； his domestic treasure； had altogether
taken leave of her senses； for she was streaming with water； covered with
mud； and head and cap were in a state of disorder； such as neither he nor
any one else had ever seen them in since the last time she had been fished
out of the Nieuwe Gracht。
〃What is the matter； Koosje？〃 he asked； regarding her gravely over his
spectacles。
〃There's a woman outsidedying；〃 she panted； 〃I fell over her。〃
〃You had better try to get her in then；〃 the old gentleman said； in quite
a relieved tone。 〃You and Dortje must bring her in。 Dear； dear； poor soul！
but it is a dreadful night。〃
The old gentleman shivered as he spoke； and drew a little nearer to the
tall white porcelain stove。
It was； as he had said a minute before； a terrible night。 He could hear
the wind beating about the house and rattling about the casements and
moaning down the chimneys； and to think any poor soul should be out on
such a night； /dying/！ Heaven preserve others who might be belated or
houseless in any part of the world！
He fell into a fit of abstraction；a habit not uncommon with learned
men；wondering why life should be so different with different people；
why he should be in that warm； handsome room； with its soft rich
hangings and carpet； with its beautiful furniture of carved wood； its
pictures； and the rare china scattered here and there among the grim array
of skeletons which were his delight。 He wondered why he should take his
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tea out of costly and valuable Oriental china； sugar and cream out of
antique silver； while other poor souls had no tea at all； and nothing to take
it out of even if they had。 He wondered why he should have a lamp under
his teapot that was a very marvel of art transparencies； why he should
have every luxury； and this poor creature should be dying in the street
amid the wind and the rain。 It was all very unequal。
It was very odd； the professor argued； leaning his back against the tall；
warm stove； it was very odd indeed。 He began to feel that； grand as the
study of osteology undoubtedly is； he ought not to permit it to become so
engrossing as to blind him to the study of the greater philosophies of life。
His reverie was； however； broken by the abrupt reentrance of Koosje； who
this time was a trifle less breathless than she had been before。
〃We have got her into the kitchen； professor；〃 she announced。 〃She is a
childa mere baby； and so pretty！ She has opened her eyes and spoken。〃
〃Give her some soup and winehot；〃 said the professor； without
stirring。
〃But won't you come？〃 she asked。
The professor hesitated； he hated attending in cases of illness； though
he was a properly qualified doctor and in an emergency would lay his
prejudice aside。
〃Or shall I run across for the good Dr。 Smit？〃 Koosje asked。 〃He
would come in a minute； only it is /such/ a night！〃
At that moment a fiercer gust than before rattled at the casements； and
the professor laid aside his scruples。
He followed his housekeeper down the chilly； marble…flagged passage
into the kitchen； where he never went for months togethera cosey enough；
pleasant place； with a deep valance hanging from the mantel… shelf； with
many great copper pans； bright and shining as new gold； and furniture all
scrubbed to the whiteness of snow。
In an arm…chair before the opened stove sat the rescued girla slight；
golden…haired thing； with wistful blue eyes and a frightened air。 Every
moment she caught her breath in a half…hysterical sob； while violent
shivers shook her from head to foot。
The professor went and looked at her over his spectacles； as if she had
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been some curious specimen of his favourite study； but at the same time
he kept at a respectful distance from her。
〃Give her some soup and wine；〃 he said； at length； putting his hands
under the tails of his long dressing…gown of flowered cashmere。 〃Some
soup and winehot； and put her to bed。〃
〃Is she then to remain for the night？〃 Koosje asked； a little surprised。
〃Oh； don't send me away！〃 the golden…haired girl broke out； in a voice
that was positively a wail； and clasping a pair of pretty； slender hands in
piteous supplication。
〃Where do you come from？〃 the old gentleman asked； much as if he
expected she might suddenly jump up and bite him。
〃From Beijerland； mynheer；〃 she answered； with a sob。
〃So！ Koosje； she is remarkably well dressed； is she not？〃 the professor
said； glancing at the costly lace head…gear； the heavy gold head…piece；
which lay on the table together with the great gold spiral ornaments and
filigree pendantsa dazzling head of richness。 He looked； too； at the girl's
white hands； at the rich； crape…laden gown； at their delicate beauty； and
shower of waving golden hair； which； released from the confinement of
the cap and head…piece； floated in a rich mass of glittering beauty over the
pillows which his servant had placed beneath her head。
The professor was old； the professor was wholly given up to his
profession； which he jokingly called his sweetheart； and； though he cut
half of his acquaintances in the street through inattention and the shortness
of his sight； he had eyes in his head； and upon occasions could use them。
He therefore repeated the question。
〃Very well dressed indeed； professor；〃 returned Koosje； promptly。
〃And what are you doing in Utrechtin su
