stories by english authors in germany(旅德英国作家的故事)-第17节
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to stem the popular tide。
〃Thou art very cruel to the lad；〃 the miller's wife dared to say； weeping；
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to her lord。 〃Sure； he is an innocent lad and a faithful； and would never
dream of any such wickedness； however sore his heart might be。〃
But Baas Cogez being an obstinate man； having once said a thing； held
to it doggedly； though in his innermost soul he knew well the injustice that
he was committing。
Meanwhile； Nello endured the injury done against him with a certain
proud patience that disdained to complain； he only gave way a little when
he was quite alone with old Patrasche。 Besides； he thought； 〃If it should
win！ They will be sorry then； perhaps。〃
Still； to a boy not quite sixteen； and who had dwelt in one little world
all his short life； and in his childhood had been caressed and applauded on
all sides； it was a hard trial to have the whole of that little world turn
against him for naught。 Especially hard in that bleak； snow…bound； famine…
stricken winter…time； when the only light and warmth there could be found
abode beside the village hearths and in the kindly greetings of neighbours。
In the winter…time all drew nearer to each other； all to all； except to Nello
and Patrasche； with whom none now would have anything to do； and who
were left to fare as they might with the old paralyzed； bedridden man in
the little cabin； whose fire was often low； and whose board was often
without bread； for there was a buyer from Antwerp who had taken to drive
his mule in of a day for the milk of the various dairies； and there were only
three or four of the people who had refused his terms of purchase and
remained faithful to the little green cart。 So that the burden which
Patrasche drew had become very light； and the centime pieces in Nello's
pouch had become； alas！ very small likewise。
The dog would stop； as usual； at all the familiar gates which were now
closed to him； and look up at them with wistful； mute appeal； and it cost
the neighbours a pang to shut their doors and their hearts； and let Patrasche
draw his cart on again； empty。 Nevertheless； they did it； for they desired to
please Baas Cogez。
Noel was close at hand。
The weather was very wild and cold； the snow was six feet deep； and
the ice was firm enough to bear oxen and men upon it everywhere。 At this
season the little village was always gay and cheerful。 At the poorest
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dwelling there were possets and cakes； joking and dancing； sugared saints
and gilded Jesus。 The merry Flemish bells jingled everywhere on the
horses； everywhere within doors some well…filled soup…pot sang and
smoked over the stove； and everywhere over the snow without laughing
maidens pattered in bright kerchiefs and stout kirtles； going to and from
the mass。 Only in the little hut it was very dark and very cold。
Nello and Patrasche were left utterly alone； for one night in the week
before the Christmas Day； death entered there； and took away from life
forever old Jehan Daas； who had never known life aught save its poverty
and its pains。 He had long been half dead； incapable of any movement
except a feeble gesture； and powerless for anything beyond a gentle word；
and yet his loss fell on them both with a great horror in it； they mourned
him passionately。 He had passed away from them in his sleep； and when in
the gray dawn they learned their bereavement； unutterable solitude and
desolation seemed to close around them。 He had long been only a poor；
feeble； paralyzed old man； who could not raise a hand in their defence； but
he had loved them well； his smile had always welcomed their return。 They
mourned for him unceasingly； refusing to be comforted； as in the white
winter day they followed the deal shell that held his body to the nameless
grave by the little gray church。 They were his only mourners； these two
whom he had left friendless upon earththe young boy and the old dog。
〃Surely； he will relent now and let the poor lad come hither？〃 thought
the miller's wife； glancing at her husband where he smoked by the hearth。
Baas Cogez knew her thought； but he hardened his heart； and would
not unbar his door as the little； humble funeral went by。 〃The boy is a
beggar；〃 he said to himself； 〃he shall not be about Alois。〃
The woman dared not say anything aloud； but when the grave was
closed and the mourners had gone； she put a wreath of immortelles into
Alois's hands and bade her go and lay it reverently on the dark； unmarked
mound where the snow was displaced。
Nello and Patrasche went home with broken hearts。 But even of that
poor； melancholy； cheerless home they were denied the consolation。 There
was a month's rent overdue for their little home； and when Nello had paid
the last sad service to the dead he had not a coin left。 He went and begged
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grace of the owner of the hut； a cobbler who went every Sunday night to
drink his pint of wine and smoke with Baas Cogez。 The cobbler would
grant no mercy。 He was a harsh； miserly man； and loved money。 He
claimed in default of his rent every stick and stone； every pot and pan； in
the hut； and bade Nello and Patrasche be out of it on the morrow。
Now； the cabin was lowly enough； and in some sense miserable
enough； and yet their hearts clove to it with a great affection。 They had
been so happy there； and in the summer； with its clambering vine and its
flowering beans； it was so pretty and bright in the midst of the sun… lighted
fields！ Their life in it had been full of labor and privation； and yet they had
been so well content； so gay of heart； running together to meet the old
man's never…failing smile of welcome！
All night long the boy and the dog sat by the fireless hearth in the
darkness； drawn close together for warmth and sorrow。 Their bodies were
insensible to the cold； but their hearts seemed frozen in them。
When the morning broke over the white； chill earth it was the morning
of Christmas Eve。 With a shudder； Nello clasped close to him his only
friend； while his tears fell hot and fast on the dog's frank forehead。 〃Let us
go； Patraschedear； dear Patrasche；〃 he murmured。 〃We will not wait to be
kicked out； let us go。〃
Patrasche had no will but his； and they went sadly； side by side； out
from the little place which was so dear to them both； and in which every
humble； homely thing was to them precious and beloved。 Patrasche
drooped his head wearily as he passed by his own green cart； it was no
longer his；it had to go with the rest to pay the rent；and his brass harness
lay idle and glittering on the snow。 The dog could have lain down beside it
and died for very heart…sickness as he went； but while the lad lived and
needed him Patrasche would not yield and give way。
They took the old accustomed road into Antwerp。 The day had yet
scarce more than dawned； most of the shutters were still closed； but some
of the villagers were about。 They took no notice while the dog and the boy
passed by them。 At one door Nello paused and looked wistfully within； his
grandfather had done many a kindly turn in neighbour's service to the
people who dwelt there。
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〃Would you give Patrasche a crust？〃 he said； timidly。 〃He is old； and
he has had nothing since last forenoon。〃
The woman shut the door hastily； murmuring some vague saying about
wheat and rye being very dear that season。 The boy and the dog went on
again wearily； they asked no more。
By slow and painful ways they reached Antwerp as the chimes tolled
ten。
〃If I had anything about me I could sell to get him bread！〃 thought
Nello； but he had nothing except the wisp of linen and serge that covered
him； and his pair of wooden shoes。
Patrasche understood； and nestled his nose
