stories by english authors-orient (英国作家故事集)-第22节
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companion's hand with a sudden close pressure。 〃But you will help them；
Alice； you will make them English like youlike him。 We will not pretend
to…night； it is not long that I shall speak to you。 I ask you to promise me to
help them to be English。〃
〃Dear；〃 the girl urged； 〃they are such a delicious mixture of England
and New Zealandprettier； sweeter than any mere English child could
ever be。 They are enchanting。〃
But into the dying woman's eyes leaped an eager flame。
〃They must all be English； no Maori！〃 she cried。 A violent fit of
coughing interrupted her； and when the paroxysm was over she was too
exhausted to speak。 The English nurse； Mrs。 Bentley； an elderly Yorkshire
woman； who had been with Mrs。 Denison since her first baby came six
years ago； and who had； in fact； been Horace Denison's own nurse…maid；
came in and sent the agitated girl into the garden。 〃For you haven't had a
breath of fresh air to…day；〃 she said。
At the door Alice turned。 The large eyes were resting upon her with an
intent and solemn regard； in which lay a message。 〃What was it？〃 she
thought； as she passed through the wide hall sweet with flowers。 〃She
wanted to say something； I am sure she did。 To…morrow I will ask her。〃
But before the morrow came she knew。 Mrs。 Dennison had said /good…
bye/。
The funeral was over。 Mr。 Denison； who had looked unaccountably ill
and weary for months； had been sent home by Mr。 Danby for at least a
year's change and rest； and the doctor's young sister had yielded to various
pressure； and promised to stay with the children until he returned。 There
was every reason for it。 She had loved and been loved by the gentle Maori
mother； she delighted in the dark beauty and sweetness of the children。
And they； on their side； clung to her as to an adorable fairy relative；
dowered with love and the fruits of love tales and new games and tender
ways。 Best reason of all； in a sense； Mrs。 Bentley； that kind autocrat；
entreated her to stay； 〃as the happiest thing for the children； and to please
that poor lamb we laid yonder； who fair longed that you should！ She was
mightily taken up with you； Miss Danby； and you've your brother and his
wife near； so that you won't be lonesome； and if there's aught I can do to
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make you comfortable； you've only to speak； miss。〃 As for Mr。 Denison；
he was pathetically grateful and relieved when Alice promised to remain。
After the evening romp and the last good…night； when the two elder
children； Ben and Marie； called after her mother； Maritana； had given her
their last injunctions to be sure and come for them 〃her very own self〃 on
her way down to breakfast in the morning； she usually rode down between
the cabbage…trees； down by the old rata； fired last autumn； away through
the grasslands to the doctor's house； a few miles nearer Rochester； or he
and his wife would ride out to chat with her。 But there were many
evenings when she preferred the quiet of the airy house and the garden。
The colonial life was new to her； everything had its charm； and in the
colonies there is always a letter to write to those at homethe mail…bag is
never satisfied。 On such evenings it was her custom to cross the meadow
to the copse of feathery trees beyond； where； sung to by the brook and the
Tui； the children's mother slept。 And from the high presence of the
Mountain Beautiful there fell a dew of peace。
She would often ask Mrs。 Bentley to sit with her until bedtime； and
revel in the shrewd north…country woman's experiences； and her
impressions of the new land to which love had brought her。 Both women
grew to have a sincere and trustful affection for each other； and one night；
seven or eight months after Mrs。 Denison's death； Mrs。 Bentley told a
story which explained what had frequently puzzled Alicethe patient
sorrow in Mrs。 Denison's eyes； and Mr。 Denison's harassed and dejected
manner。 〃But for your goodness to the children；〃 said the old woman； 〃and
the way that precious baby takes to you； I don't think I should be willing to
say what I am going to do； miss。 Though my dear mistress wished it； and
said； the very last night； 'You must tell her all about it； some day； Nana；'
and I promised； to quiet her；I don't think I could bring myself to it if I
hadn't lived with you and known you。〃 And then the good nurse told her
strange and moving tale。
She described how her master had come out young and careless…
hearted to New Zealand in the service of the government； and how
scandalised and angry his father and mother； the old Tory squire and his
wife； had been to receive from him； after a year or two； letters brimming
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with a boyish love for his 〃beautiful Maori princess；〃 whom he described
as having 〃the sweetest heart and the loveliest eyes in the world。〃 It gave
them little comfort to hear that her father was one of the wealthiest Maoris
in the island； and that； though but half civilised himself； he had had his
daughter well educated in the 〃bishop's〃 and other English schools。 To
them she was a savage。 There was no threat of disinheritance； for there
was nothing for him to inherit。 There was little money； and the estate was
entailed on the elder brother。 But all that could be done to intimidate him
was done； and in vain。 Then silence fell between the parents and the son。
But one spring day came the news of a grandson； called Benjamin
after his grandfather； and an urgent letter from their boy himself； enclosing
a prettily and humbly worded note from the new strange daughter； begging
for an English nurse。 She told them that she had now no father and no
mother； for they had died before the baby came； and if she might love her
husband's parents a little she would be glad。
〃My lady read the letters to me herself；〃 Mrs。 Bentley said； 〃I'd taken
the housekeeper's place a bit before； and she asked me to find her a
sensible young woman。 Well； I tried； but there wasn't a girl in the place
that was fit to nurse Master Horace's child。 And the end of it was； I came
myself； for Master Horace had been like my own when he was a little lad。
My lady pretended to be vexed with me； but the day I sailed she thanked
me in words I never thought to hear from her； for she was a bit proud
always。〃 The faithful servant's voice trembled。 She leaned back in her
chair； and forgot for the moment the new house and the new duties。 She
was back again in the old nursery with the fair…haired child playing about
her knees。 But Alice's face recalled her； and she continued the story。 She
had； she said； dreaded the meeting with her new mistress； and was
prepared to find her 〃a sort of a heathen woman； who'd pull down Master
Horace till he couldn't call himself a gentleman。〃
But when she saw the graceful creature who received her with gentle
words and gestures of kindliness； and when she found her young master
not only content； but happy； and when she took in her arms the laughing
healthy baby； she feltthough she regretted its dark eyes and hairmore at
home than she could have believed possible。 The nurseries were so large
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and comfortable； and so much consideration was shown to her； that she
confessed； 〃I should have been more ungrateful than a cat if I hadn't
settled comfortable。〃
Then came nearly five happy years； during which time her young
mistress had found a warm and secure place in the good Yorkshire heart。
〃She was that loving and that kind that Dick Burdas； the groom； used to
say that he believed she was an angel as had took up with them dark folks；
to show 'em what an angel was like。〃 Mrs。 Bentley went on：
〃She wasn't always quite happy； and I wondered
