stories by english authors in germany(旅德英国作家的故事)-第19节
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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； had left
one of the doors unlocked。 By that accident the footfalls Patrasche sought
had passed through into the building； leaving the white marks of snow
upon the dark stone floor。 By that slender white thread； frozen as it fell； he
was guided through the intense silence； through the immensity of the
vaulted spaceguided straight to the gates of the chancel； and； stretched
there upon the stones； he found Nello。 He crept up； and touched the face of
the boy。 〃Didst thou dream that I should be faithless and forsake thee？ Ia
dog？〃 said that mute caress。
The lad raised himself with a low cry and clasped him close。 〃Let us
lie down and die together；〃 he murmured。 〃Men have no need of us； and
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we are all alone。〃
In answer； Patrasche crept closer yet； and laid his head upon the young
boy's breast。 The great tears stood in his brown； sad eyes； not for himself
for himself he was happy。
They lay close together in the piercing cold。 The blasts that blew over
the Flemish dikes from the northern seas were like waves of ice； which
froze every living thing they touched。 The interior of the immense vault of
stone in which they were was even more bitterly chill than the snow…
covered plains without。 Now and then a bat moved in the shadows； now
and then a gleam of light came on the ranks of carven figures。 Under the
Rubens they lay together quite still； and soothed almost into a dreaming
slumber by the numbing narcotic of the cold。 Together they dreamed of the
old glad days when they had chased each other through the flowering
grasses of the summer meadows； or sat hidden in the tall bulrushes by the
water's side； watching the boats go seaward in the sun。
Suddenly through the darkness a great white radiance streamed
through the vastness of the aisles； the moon； that was at her height； had
broken through the clouds； the snow had ceased to fall； the light reflected
from the snow without was clear as the light of dawn。 It fell through the
arches full upon the two pictures above； from which the boy on his
entrance had flung back the veil： the 〃Elevation〃 and the 〃Descent of the
Cross〃 were for one instant visible。
Nello rose to his feet and stretched his arms to them； the tears of a
passionate ecstasy glistened on the paleness of his face。 〃I have seen them
at last！〃 he cried aloud。 〃O God； it is enough！〃
His limbs failed under him； and he sank upon his knees； still gazing
upward at the majesty that he adored。 For a few brief moments the light
illumined the divine visions that had been denied to him so long light
clear and sweet and strong as though it streamed from the throne of
Heaven。 Then suddenly it passed away； once more a great darkness
covered the face of Christ。
The arms of the boy drew close again the body of the dog。 〃We shall
see His face/there/；〃 he murmured； 〃and He will not part us； I think。〃
On the morrow； by the chancel of the cathedral； the people of Antwerp
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found them both。 They were both dead； the cold of the night had frozen
into stillness alike the young life and the old。 When the Christmas
morning broke and the priests came to the temple； they saw them lying
thus on the stones together。 Above； the veils were drawn back from the
great visions of Rubens； and the fresh rays of the sunrise touched the
thorn…crowned head of the Christ。
As the day grew on there came an old； hard…featured man who wept as
women weep。 〃I was cruel to the lad；〃 he muttered； 〃and now I would
have made amends；yea； to the half of my substance；and he should have
been to me as a son。〃
There came also； as the day grew apace； a painter who had fame in the
world； and who was liberal of hand and of spirit。 〃I seek one who should
have had the prize yesterday had worth won；〃 he said to the people〃a
boy of rare promise and genius。 An old wood…cutter on a fallen tree at
eventidethat was all his theme； but there was greatness for the future in it。
I would fain find him； and take him with me and teach him art。〃
And a little child with curling fair hair； sobbing bitterly as she clung to
her father's arm； cried aloud； 〃Oh； Nello； come！ We have all ready for thee。
The Christ…child's hands are full of gifts； and the old piper will play for us；
and the mother says thou shalt stay by the hearth and burn nuts with us all
the Noel week longyes； even to the Feast of the Kings！ And Patrasche
will be so happy！ Oh； Nello； wake and come！〃
But the young pale face； turned upward to the light of the great Rubens
with a smile upon its mouth； answered them all； 〃It is too late。〃
For the sweet； sonorous bells went ringing through the frost； and the
sunlight shone upon the plains of snow； and the populace trooped gay and
glad through the streets； but Nello and Patrasche no more asked charity at
their hands。 All they needed now Antwerp gave unbidden。
Death had been more pitiful to them than longer life would have been。
It had taken the one in the loyalty of love； and the other in the innocence
of faith； from a world which for love has no recompense and for faith no
fulfilment。
All their lives they had been together； and in t
