stories by english authors-orient (英国作家故事集)-第23节
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！
〃She wasn't always quite happy； and I wondered what brought the
shadow into her face； and why she would at times sigh that deep that I
could have cried。 After a bit I knew what it was。 It was the Maori in her。
She told me one night that she was a wicked woman； and ought never to
have married Master Horace； for she got tired sometimes of the English
house and its ways； and longed for her father's /whare/； （that's a native hut；
miss）。 She grieved something awful one day when she had been to see old
Tim； the Maori who lives behind the stables。 She called herself a bad and
ungrateful woman； and thought there must be some evil spirit in her
tempting her into the old ways； because； when she saw Tim eating； and
you know what bad stuff they eat； she had fair longed to join him。 She
gave me a fright I didn't get over for nigh a week。 She leaned her bonny
head against my knee； and I stroked her cheek and hummed some silly
nursery tune；for she was all of a tremble and like a child；and she fell
asleep just where she was。〃
〃Poor thing！〃 said Alice； softly。
〃Eh； but it's what's coming that upsets me； ma'am。 Eh； what suffering
for my pretty lamb； and her that wouldn't have hurt a worm！ Baby would
be about six months old when she came in one day with him in her arms；
and they /were/ a picture。 His little hand was fast in her hair。 She always
walked as if she'd wheels on her feet； that gliding and graceful。 She had on
a sort of sheeny yellow silk； and her cheeks were like them damask roses
at home； and her eyes fair shone like stars。 'Isn't he a beauty； Nana？' she
asked me。 'If only he had blue eyes； and that hair of gold like my
husband's； and not these ugly eyes of mine！' And as she spoke she sighed
as I dreaded to hear。 Then she told me to help her to unpack her new dress
77
… Page 78…
STORIES
from Paris； which she was to wear at the Rochester races the next day。
Master Horace always chose her dresses； and he was right proud of her in
them。 And next morning he came into the nursery with her； and she was all
in pale red； and that beautiful！ 'Isn't she scrumptious； Nana？' he said； in his
boyish way。 'Don't spoil her dress； children。 How like her Marie grows！'
Those two little ones they had got her on her knees on the ground； and
were hugging her as if they couldn't let her go。 But when he said that； she
got up very still and white。
〃 'I am sorry；' she said； 'they must never be like me。'
〃 'They can't be any one better； can they； baby？' he answered her； and
he tossed the child nearly up to the ceiling。 But he looked worried as he
went out。 I saw them drive away； and they looked happy enough。 And oh；
miss； I saw them come back。 We were in the porch； me and the children。
Master Horace lifted her down； and I heard him say； 'Never mind； Marie。'
But she never looked his way nor ours； she walked straight in and upstairs
to her room； past my bonny darling with his arm stretched out to her； and
past Miss Marie； who was jumping up and down； and shouting 'Muvver'；
and I heard her door shut。 Then Master Horace took baby from me。
〃 'Go up to her；' he said； and I could scarce hear him。 His face was all
drawn like； but I felt that silly and stupid that I could say nothing； and just
went upstairs。〃 Mrs。 Bentley put her knitting down； and throwing her
apron over her head sobbed aloud。
〃O nurse； what was it？〃 cried Alice； and the colour left her cheeks。
〃Do tell me。 I am so sorry for them。 What was it？〃 It was several minutes
before the good woman could recover herself； then she began：
〃She told me； and Dick Burdas he told me； and it was like this。 When
they got to the race…course；it was the first races they'd had in Rochester；…
…all the gentry was there； and those that knew her always made a deal of
her； she had such half…shy； winning ways。 And she seemed very bright；
Dick said； talking with the governor's lady； who is full of fun and sparkle。
The carriages were all together； and Major Beaumont； a kind old
gentleman who's always been a good friend to Master Horace； would have
them in his carriage for luncheon； or whatever it was。 Dick says he was
thinking that she was the prettiest lady there； when his eye was caught by
78
… Page 79…
STORIES
two or three parties of Maoris setting themselves right in front of the
carriages。 There were four or five in each lot； and they were mostly old。
They got out their sharks' flesh and that bad corn they eat； and began to
make their meal of them。 Near Mrs。 Denison there was one old man with a
better sort of face； and Dick heard her say to master； 'Isn't he like my
father？' What Master Horace answered he didn't hear； he says he never
saw anything like her face； so sad and wild； and working for all the world
as if something were fighting her within。 Then all in a minute she ran out
and slipped down in her beautiful dress close by the old Maori in his dirty
rags； and was rubbing her face against his； as them folks do when they
meet。 She had just taken a mouthful of the raw fish when Master Horace
missed her。 He hadn't noticed her slip away。 But in a moment he seemed to
understand what it meant。 He saw the Maori come out strong in her face；
and he knew the Maori had got the better of everything； husband and
friends and all。 He gave a little cry； and in a minute he had her on her feet
and was bringing her back to the carriage。 Some folks thought Dick
Burdas a rough hard man； and I know he was a shocker of a lad （he was
fra Whitby）； but that night he cried like a baby when he tell 't me；〃 and
Mrs。 Bentley fell for a moment into the dialect of her youth。
〃He said；〃 she continued； 〃that she looked like a poor stricken thing
condemned； and let herself be led back as submissive as a child； and
Master Horace's face was like the dead。 He didn't think any one but the
major and Dr。 Danby saw her go； all was done in a minute。 But it was
done； and some few had seen； and it got out； and things were said that
wasn't true。 Not the doctor！ No； miss； you needn't tell me that； he's told
none； that I'll warrant。 He's faithful and he's close。〃
〃O Mrs。 Bentley； how dreadful for her； how dreadful！〃 and the girl
went down on her knees by the old woman； her tears flowing fast。
〃That's it； miss； you understand。 I feel like that。 It was bad enough for
Master Horace with the future before him； and his children to think of； but
for her it was desperate cruel。 Eh； ma'am； what she went through！ She
loved more than you'd have thought us poor human beings could。 And；
after all； the nature was in her； she didn't put it there。 I've had a deal to do
to keep down sinful thoughts since then； there's a lot of things that's wrong
79
… Page 80…
STORIES
in this world； ma'am。〃
〃What did she do？〃 Alice whispered。
〃She！ She was for going away and leaving everything； she felt herself
the worst woman in the world。 It was only by begging and praying of her
on my knees that I got her to stay in the house that night； for she was so
far English； and had such a fancy； that she saw everything blacker than
any Englishwoman would； even the partick'lerest。 Afterward Master
Horace was that good and gentle； and she loved him so much； that he
persuaded her to say nothing more about it； and to try to live as if it hadn't
been。 And so she seemed to do； outward like； to other people。 But it wasn't
ever the same again。 Something had broken in them both； with him it was
his trust and his pride； but in her it was her heart。〃
〃But the childrensurely they comforted her。〃
〃Eh； miss； that was the worst。 Poor lamb； poor lamb！ Never after that
day； though they were more to her nor children ever were to a mother
before； would she have them with her。 Just a morning and a good…night
kiss； and a quarter of an hour at most； and I mus
