the story of an african farm-第17章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



awake。　　〃It's　because　he　thinks　you　look　like　me。　　I　tell　you；　Trana；〃　said

Tant　Sannie；　〃the　man　is　mad　with　love　of　me。　　I　told　him　the　other　night　I

couldn't　marry　till　Em　was　sixteen；　or　I'd　lose　all　the　sheep　her　father

left　me。　　And　he　talked　about　Jacob　working　seven　years　and　seven　years

again　for　his　wife。　　And　of　course　he　meant　me；〃　said　Tant　Sannie

pompously。　　〃But　he　won't　get　me　so　easily　as　he　thinks；　he'll　have　to　ask

more　than　once。〃



〃Oh！〃　said　Trana；　who　was　a　lumpish　girl　and　not　much　given　to　talking；　but

presently　she　added；　〃Aunt；　why　does　the　Englishman　always　knock　against　a

person　when　he　passes　them？〃



〃That's　because　you　are　always　in　the　way；〃　said　Tant　Sannie。



〃But；　aunt；　said　Trana；　presently；　〃I　think　he　is　very　ugly。〃



〃Phugh！〃　said　Tant　Sannie。　　It's　only　because　we're　not　accustomed　to　such

noses　in　this　country。　　In　his　country　he　says　all　the　people　have　such

noses；　and　the　redder　your　nose　is　the　higher　you　are。　　He's　of　the　family

of　the　Queen　Victoria；　you　know；〃　said　Tant　Sannie；　wakening　up　with　her

subject；　〃and　he　doesn't　think　anything　of　governors　and　church　elders　and

such　people；　they　are　nothing　to　him。　　When　his　aunt　with　the　dropsy　dies

he'll　have　money　enough　to　buy　all　the　farms　in　this　district。〃



〃Oh！〃　said　Trana。　　That　certainly　made　a　difference。



〃Yes；〃　said　Tant　Sannie；　〃and　he's　only　forty…one；　though　you'd　take　him　to

be　sixty。　　And　he　told　me　last　night　the　real　reason　of　his　baldness。〃



Tant　Sannie　then　proceeded　to　relate　how；　at　eighteen　years　of　age；

Bonaparte　had　courted　a　fair　young　lady。　　How　a　deadly　rival；　jealous　of

his　verdant　locks；　his　golden　flowing　hair；　had；　with　a　damnable　and

insinuating　deception；　made　him　a　present　of　a　pot　of　pomatum。　　How；

applying　it　in　the　evening；　on　rising　in　the　morning　he　found　his　pillow

strewn　with　the　golden　locks；　and；　looking　into　the　glass；　beheld　the

shining　and　smooth　expanse　which　henceforth　he　must　bear。　　The　few

remaining　hairs　were　turned　to　a　silvery　whiteness；　and　the　young　lady

married　his　rival。



〃And；〃　said　Tant　Sannie　solemnly；　〃if　it　had　not　been　for　the　grace　of　God；

and　reading　of　the　psalms；　he　says　he　would　have　killed　himself。　　He　says

he　could　kill　himself　quite　easily　if　he　wants　to　marry　a　woman　and　she

won't。〃



〃Alle　wereld！〃　said　Trana：　　and　then　they　went　to　sleep。



Every　one　was　lost　in　sleep　soon；　but　from　the　window　of　the　cabin　the

light　streamed　forth。　　It　came　from　a　dung　fire；　over　which　Waldo　sat

brooding。　　Hour　after　hour　he　sat　there；　now　and　again　throwing　a　fresh

lump　of　fuel　on　to　the　fire；　which　burnt　up　bravely；　and　then　sank　into　a

great　bed　of　red　coals；　which　reflected　themselves　in　the　boy's　eyes　as　he

sat　there　brooding；　brooding；　brooding。　　At　last；　when　the　fire　was　blazing

at　its　brightest；　he　rose　suddenly　and　walked　slowly　to　a　beam　from　which

an　ox　riem　hung。　　Loosening　it；　he　ran　a　noose　in　one　end　and　then　doubled

it　round　his　arm。



〃Mine；　mine！　　I　have　a　right；〃　he　muttered；　and　then　something　louder；　〃if

I　fall　and　am　killed；　so　much　the　better！〃



He　opened　the　door　and　went　out　into　the　starlight。



He　walked　with　his　eyes　bent　upon　the　ground；　but　overhead　it　was　one　of

those　brilliant　southern　nights　when　every　space　so　small　that　your　hand

might　cover　it　shows　fifty　cold　white　points；　and　the　Milky…Way　is　a　belt

of　sharp　frosted　silver。　　He　passed　the　door　where　Bonaparte　lay　dreaming

of　Trana　and　her　wealth；　and　he　mounted　the　ladder　steps。　　From　those　he

clambered　with　some　difficulty　on　to　the　roof　of　the　house。　　It　was　of　old

rotten　thatch　with　a　ridge　of　white　plaster；　and　it　crumbled　away　under　his

feet　at　every　step。　　He　trod　as　heavily　as　he　could。　　So　much　the　better　if

he　fell。



He　knelt　down　when　he　got　to　the　far　gable；　and　began　to　fasten　his　riem　to

the　crumbling　bricks。　　Below　was　the　little　window　of　the　loft。　　With　one

end　of　the　riem　tied　round　the　gable；　the　other　end　round　his　waist；　how

easy　to　slide　down　to　it；　and　to　open　it；　through　one　of　the　broken　panes；

and　to　go　in；　and　to　fill　his　arms　with　books；　and　to　clamber　up　again！　

They　had　burnt　one　bookhe　would　have　twenty。　　Every　man's　hand　was

against　hishis　should　be　against　every　man's。　　No　one　would　help　himhe

would　help　himself。



He　lifted　the　black　damp　hair　from　his　knit　forehead；　and　looked　round　to

cool　his　hot　face。　　Then　he　saw　what　a　regal　night　it　was。　　He　knelt

silently　and　looked　up。　　A　thousand　eyes　were　looking　down　at　him；　bright

and　so　cold。　　There　was　a　laughing　irony　in　them。



〃So　hot；　so　bitter；　so　angry？　　Poor　little　mortal？〃



He　was　ashamed。　　He　folded　his　arms；　and　sat　on　the　ridge　of　the　roof

looking　up　at　them。



〃So　hot；　so　bitter；　so　angry？〃



It　was　as　though　a　cold　hand　had　been　laid　upon　his　throbbing　forehead；　and

slowly　they　began　to　fade　and　grow　dim。　　Tant　Sannie　and　the　burnt　book；

Bonaparte　and　the　broken　machine；　the　box　in　the　loft；　he　himself　sitting

therehow　small　they　all　became！　　Even　the　grave　over　yonder。　　Those　stars

that　shone　on　up　above　so　quietly；　they　had　seen　a　thousand　such　little

existences　fight　just　so　fiercely；　flare　up　just　so　brightly　and　go　out；

and　they；　the　old；　old　stars；　shone　on　forever。



〃So　hot；　so　angry；　poor　little　soul？〃　they　said。



The　riem　slipped　from　his　fingers；　he　sat　with　his　arms　folded；　looking　up。



〃We；〃　said　the　stars；　have　seen　the　earth　when　it　was　young。　　We　have　seen

small　things　creep　out　upon　its　surfacesmall　things　that　prayed　and　loved

and　cried　very　loudly；　and　then　crept　under　it　again。　　But　we；〃　said　the

stars；　〃are　as　old　as　the　Unknown。〃



He　leaned　his　chin　against　the　palm　of　his　hand　and　looked　up　at　them。　　So

long　he　sat　there　that　bright　stars　set　and　new　ones　rose；　and　yet　he　sat

on。



Then　at　last　he　stood　up；　and　began　to　loosen　the　riem　from　the　gable。



What　did　it　matter　about　the　books？　　The　lust　and　the　desire　for　them　had

died　out。　　If　they　pleased　to　keep　them　from　him　they　might。　　What　matter？

it　was　a　very　little　thing。　　Why　hate；　and　struggle；　and　fight？　　Let　it　be

as　it　would。



He　twisted　the　riem　round　his　arm　and　walked　back　along　the　ridge　of　the

house。



By　this　time　Bonaparte　Blenkins　had　finished　his　dream　of　Trana；　and　as　he

turned　himself　round　for　a　fresh　doze　he　heard　the　steps　descending　the

ladder。　　His　first　impulse　was　to　draw　the　blanket　over　his　head　and　his

legs　under　him；　and　to　shout；　but　recollecting　that　the　door　was　locked　and

the　window　carefully　bolted；　he　allowed　his　head　slowly　to　crop　out　among

the　blankets；　and　listened　intently。　　Whosoever　it　might　be；　there　was　no

danger　of　their　getting　at　him；　so　he　clambered　out　of　bed；　and　going　on

tiptoe　to　the　door；　applied　his　eye　to　the　keyhole。　　There　was　nothing　to

be　seen；　so　walking　to　the　window；　he　brought　his　face　as　close　to　the

glass　as　his　nose　would　allow。　　There　was　a　figure　just　discernible。　　The

lad　was　not　trying　to　walk　softly；　and　the　heavy　shuffling　of　the　well…

known　velschoens　could　be　clearly　heard　through　the　closed　window　as　they

crossed　the　stones　in　the　yard。　　Bonaparte　listened　till　they　had　died　away

round　the　corner　of　the　wagon…house；　and；　feeling　that　his　bare　legs　were

getting　cold；　he　jumped　back　into　bed　again。



。。。



〃What　do　you　keep　up　in　your　loft？〃　inquired　Bonaparte　of　the　Boer…woman

the　next　evening；　pointing　upwards　and　elucidating　his　meaning　by　the

addition　of　such　Dutch　words　as　he　knew；　for　the　lean　Hottentot　was　gone

home。



〃Dried　skins；〃　said　the　Boer…woman；　〃and　empty　bottles；　and　boxes；　and

sacks；　and　soap。〃



〃You　don't　keep　any　of　your　provisions　theresugar；　now？〃　said　Bonaparte；

pointing　to　the　sugar…basin　and　then　up　at　the　loft。



Tant　Sannie　shook　her　head。



〃Only　salt；　and　dried　peaches。〃



〃Dried　peaches！　Eh？〃　said　Bonaparte。　　〃Shut　the　door；　my　dear　child；　shut

it　tight；〃　he　called　out　to　Em；　who　stood　in　the　dining　room。　　Then　he

leaned　over　the　elbow　of　the　sofa　and　brought　his　face　as　close　as　possible

to　the　Boer…woman's；　and　made　signs　of　eating。　　Then　he　said　something　she

did　not　comprehend；　then　said；　〃Waldo；　Waldo；　Waldo；〃　pointed　up　to　the

loft；　and　made　signs　of　eating　again。



Now　an　inkling　of　his　meaning　dawned　on　the　Boer…woman's　mind。　　To　make　it

clearer；　he　moved　his　legs　after　the　manner　of　one　going　up　a　ladder；

appeared　to　be　opening　a　door；　masticated　vigorously；　said；　〃Peaches；

peaches；　peaches；〃　and　appeared　to　be　coming　down　the　ladder。



It　was　now　evident　to　Tant　Sannie　that　Waldo　had　been　in　her　loft　and　eaten

her　peaches。



To　exemplify　his　own　share　in　the　proceedings；　Bonaparte　lay　down　on　the

sofa；　and　shutting　his　eyes　tightly；　said；　〃Night；　night；　night！〃　　Then　he

sat　up　wildly；　appearing　to　be　intently　listening；　mimicked　with　his　feet

the　coming　down　a　ladder；　and　looked　at　Tant　Sannie。　　This　clearly　showed

how；　roused　in　the　night；　he　had　discovered　the　theft。



〃He　must　have　been　a　great　fool　to　eat　my　peaches；〃　said　Tant　Sannie。　

〃They　are　full　of　mites　as　a　sheepskin；　and　as　hard　as　stones。〃



Bonaparte；　fumbling　in　his　pocket；　did　not　even　hear　her　remark；　and　took

out　from　his　coat…tail　a　little　horsewhip；　nicely　rolled　up。　　Bonaparte

winked　at　the　little　rhinoceros　horsewhip；　at　the　Boer…woman；　and　then　at

the　door。



〃Shall　we　call　himWaldo；　Waldo？〃　he　said。



Tant　Sannie　nodded；　and　giggled。　　There　was　something　so　exceedingly

humorous　in　the　idea　that　he　was　going　to　beat　the　boy；　though　for　her　own

part　she　did　not　see　that　the　peaches　were　worth　it。　　When　the　Kaffer　maid

came　with　the　wash…tub　she　was　sent　to　summon　Waldo；　and　Bonaparte　doubled

up　the　little　whip　and　put　it　in　his　pocket。　　Then　he　drew　himself　up；　and

prepared　to　act　his　important　part　with　becoming　gravity。　　Soon　Waldo　stood

in　the　door；　and　took　off　his　hat。



〃Come　in；　come　in；　my　lad；〃　said　Bonaparte；　〃and　shut　the　door　behind。〃



The　boy　came　in　and　stood　before　them。



〃You　need　not　be　so　afraid；　child；〃　said　Tant　Sannie。　　〃I　was　a　child

myself　once。　　It's　no　great　harm　if　you　have　taken　a　few。〃



Bonaparte　perceived　that　her　remark　was　not　in　keeping　with　the　nature　of

the　proceedings；　and　of　the　little　drama　he　intended　to　act。　　Pursing　out

his　lips；　and　waving　his　hand；　he　solemnly　addressed　the　boy。



〃Waldo；　it　grieves　me　beyond　expression　to　have　to　summon　you　for　so

painful　a　purpose；　but　it　is　at　the　imperative　call　of　duty；　which　I　dare

not　evade。　　I　do　not　state　that　frank　and　unreserved　confession　will

obviate　the　necessity　of　chastisement；　which　if　requisite　shall　be　fully

administered；　but　the　nature　of　that　chastisement　may　be　mitigated　by　free

and　humble　confession。　　Waldo；　answer　me　as　you　would　your　own　father；　in

whose　place　I　now　stand　to　you；　have　you；　or　have　you　not；　did　you；　or　did

you　not；　eat　of　the　peaches　in　the　l