stories by english authors in germany(旅德英国作家的故事)-第8节
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like； so light； so delicate； so dainty。 Against Koosje's plumper； maturer
charms； she appeared to the infatuated young man like if he had ever
heard of it he would probably have said like a Dresden china image； but
since he had not； he compared her in his own foolish heart to an angel。 Her
feet were so tiny； her hands so soft； her eyes so expressive； her waist so
slim； her manner so bewitching！ Somehow Koosje was altogether different；
he could not endure the touch of her heavy hand； the tones of her less
refined voice； he grew impatient at the denser perceptions of her mind。 It
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was very foolish； very short…sighted； for the hands； though heavy； were
clever and willing； the voice； though a trifle coarser in accent than Truide's
childish tones； would never tell him a lie； the perceptions； though not
brilliant； were the perceptions of good； every…day common sense。 It really
was very foolish； for what charmed him most in Truide was the merest
outside polish； a certain ease of manner which doubtless she had caught
from the English aristocrats whom she had known in her native place。 She
had not half the sterling good qualities and steadfastness of Koosje； but
Jan was in love； and did not stop to argue the matter as you or I are able to
do。 Men in lovevery wise and great men； tooare often like Jan van der
Welde。 They lay aside pro tem。 the whole amount； be it great or small； of
wisdom they possess。 And it must be remembered that Jan van der Welde
was neither a wise nor a great man。
Well； in the end there came what the French call /un denouement/；
what we in forcible modern English would call a /smash/；and it
happened thus。 It was one evening toward the summer that Koosje's eyes
were suddenly opened； and she became aware of the free…and…easy
familiarity of Truide's manner toward her betrothed lover； Jan。 It was some
very slight and trivial thing that led her to notice it； but in an instant the
whole truth flashed across her mind。
〃Leave the kitchen！〃 she said； in a tone of authority。
But it happened that； at the very instant she spoke； Jan was furtively
holding Truide's fingers under the cover of the table…cloth； and when； on
hearing the sharp words； the girl would have snatched them away； he； with
true masculine instinct of opposition； held them fast。
〃What do you mean by speaking to her like that？〃 he demanded； an
angry flush overspreading his dark face。
〃What is the maid to you？〃 Koosje asked； indignantly。
〃Maybe more than you are；〃 he retorted； in answer to which Koosje
deliberately marched out of the kitchen； leaving them alone。
To say she was indignant would be but very mildly to express the state
of her feelings； she was /furious/。 She knew that the end of her romance
had come。 No thoughts of making friends with Jan entered her mind； only
a great storm filled her heart till it was ready to burst with pain and
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anguish。
As she went along the passage the professor's bell sounded； and
Koosje； being close to the door； went abruptly in。 The professor looked up
in mild astonishment； quickly enough changed to dismay as he caught
sight of his valued Koosje's face； from out of which anger seemed in a
moment to have thrust all the bright； comely beauty。
〃How now； my good Koosje？〃 said the old gentleman。 〃Is aught
amiss？〃
〃Yes； professor； there is；〃 returned Koosje； all in a blaze of anger； and
moving； as she spoke； the tea…tray； which she set down upon the oaken
buffet with a bang； which made its fair and delicate freight fairly jingle
again。
〃But you needn't break my china； Koosje；〃 suggested the old
gentleman； mildly； rising from his chair and getting into his favourite
attitude before the stove。
〃You are quite right； professor；〃 returned Koosje； curtly； she was
sensible even in her trouble。
〃And what is the trouble？〃 he asked； gently。
〃It's just this； professor；〃 cried Koosje； setting her arms akimbo and
speaking in a high…pitched； shrill voice； 〃you and I have been warming a
viper in our bosoms； and； viper…like； she has turned round and bitten me。〃
〃Is it Truide？〃
〃Truide；〃 she affirmed； disdainfully。 〃Yes； it is Truide； who but for me
would be dead now of hunger and coldor /worse/。 And she has been
making love to that great fool； Jan van der Welde；great oaf that he is；
after all I have done for her； after my dragging her in out of the cold and
rain； after all I have taught her。 Ah； professor； but it is a vile； venomous
viper that we have been warming in our bosoms！〃
〃I must beg； Koosje；〃 said the old gentleman； sedately； 〃that you will
exonerate me from any such proceeding。 If you remember rightly； I was
altogether against your plan for keeping her in the house。〃 He could not
resist giving her that little dig； kind of heart as he was。
〃Serves me right for being so soft…hearted！〃 thundered Koosje。 〃I'll be
wiser next time I fall over a bundle； and leave it where I find it。〃
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〃No； no； Koosje； don't say that；〃 the old gentleman remonstrated；
gently。 〃After all； it may be but a blessing in disguise。 God sends all our
trials for some good and wise purpose。 Our heaviest afflictions are often；
nay； most times； Koosje； means to some great end which； while the cloud
of adversity hangs over us； we are unable to discern。〃
〃Ah！〃 sniffed Koosje； scornfully。
〃This oafas I must say you justly term him； for you are a good clever
woman； Koosje； as I can testify after the experience of years has proved
that he can be false； he has shown that he can throw away substance for
shadow （for； of a truth； that poor； pretty child would make a sad wife for a
poor man）； yet it is better you should know it now than at some future date；
whenwhen there might be other ties to make the knowledge more bitter
to you。〃
〃Yes； that is true；〃 said Koosje； passing the back of her hand across her
trembling lips。 She could not shed tears over her trouble； her eyes were
dry and burning； as if anger had scorched the blessed drops up ere they
should fall。 She went on washing up the cups and saucers； or at least /the/
cup and saucer； and other articles the professor had used for his tea； and
after a few minutes' silence he spoke again。
〃What are you going to do？ Punish her； or turn her out； or what？〃
〃I shall let him/marry/ her；〃 replied Koosje； with a portentous nod。
The old gentleman couldn't help laughing。 〃You think he will pay off
your old scores？〃
〃Before long；〃 answered Koosje； grimly； 〃she will find him outas I
have done。〃
Then； having finished washing the tea…things； which the professor had
shuddered to behold in her angry hands； she whirled herself out of the
room and left him alone。
〃Oh； these womenthese women！〃 he cried； in confidence； to the
pictures and skeletons。 〃What a worry they are！ An old bachelor has the
best of it in the main； I do believe。 But oh； Jan van der Welde； what a
donkey you must be to get yourself mixed up in such a broil！ and yetah！〃
The fossilised old gentleman broke off with a sigh as he recalled the
memory of a certain dead…and…gone romance which had happened
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goodness only knows how many years beforewhen he； like Jan van der
Welde； would have thrown the world away for a glance of a certain pair of
blue eyes； at the bidding of a certain English tongue； whose broken
/Nederlandsche taal/ was to him the sweetest music ever heard on earth
sweeter even than the strains of the Stradivari when from under his skilful
fingers rose the perfect melodies of old masters。 Ay； but the sweet eyes had
been closed in death many a long； long； year； the sweet voice
