stories by english authors in africa(旅非英国作家的故事)-第28节
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〃There is only one way。〃
〃Only one way；〃 repeated Xantippe； dreamily。 There was a pause； and
then； as though the words had grown to have a meaning to her that she
could not fathom； she queried； 〃What way； Gregorio？〃
〃That；〃 he said； roughly； as he caught her by the wrist； and； dragging
her to the window； pointed to the women in the street beneath。
Xantippe hid her face on her husband's breast and cried softly； while
she murmured； 〃No； no； I will never consent。〃
〃Then the child will die；〃 answered the Greek； curtly； flinging her from
him。
And the poor woman cast herself upon the bed beside her boy； and
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when her tears ceased for a moment stammered； 〃When？〃
〃To…morrow；〃 was the answer； cruel and peremptory。 And as Gregorio
closed the lattice； shutting out the noise of song and laughter； the room
echoed with the mighty sobbing of a woman who was betrayed； and who
repeated hysterically； while kissing the face of her child； 〃To…morrow； to…
morrow there will be food for you。〃
And Gregorio slept peacefully； for the danger of starvation was over；
he would yet live to see his son become rich。
And the woman？
He kissed her before he slept； and women always cry。
IV CONCERNING TWO WOMEN
Gregorio felt a little bit ashamed of himself next morning。 The
excitement had passed； and the full meaning of his words came back to
him and made him shudder。 The sun； already risen； sent shafts of light
between the lips of the wooden lattice。 A faint sound of life and movement
stole upward from the street below。 But Xantippe and the boy still
slumbered； though the woman's form shook convulsively at times； for she
sobbed in her sleep。
Gregorio looked at the two for a minute and then raised himself with
an oath。 The woman's heavy breathing irritated him； for； after all； he
argued； it was her duty as well as his to sacrifice herself for the lad。
Moreover； the Jew must be paid； and to…day was that appointed by Amos
for the settling of their account。 There was no money to pay it with； and
they must lose their furniture； so much at least was certain。 But Amos
would not have the best of the bargain； thought the Greek as he looked
round the room with a grin； and the certainty that he had got the better of
Amos for the moment cheered his spirits。 Then； too； after to…day there
would be plenty to eat； for his wife could manage to earn money； nor was
the man so mean in his villainy as to shirk any effort to earn money
himself。 After first looking at his wife critically and with a satisfied smile；
he touched her on the shoulder to wake her。
〃I am going out for work；〃 he said； as Xantippe opened her eyes。
〃All right。〃
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〃Good…bye。〃
But Xantippe answered not。 She turned her face to the wall wearily as
Gregorio left her。
Entering the street he made straight for Amos's house； and told the
porter； who was still lying on the trestle before the door； that he could not
pay the Jew's bill。 Then without waiting for an answer； he hurried off to
the quay。
With better luck than on the previous day； he managed to obtain
employment for some hours。 The Greek mail…boat had arrived； and under
the blazing sun he toiled good…humouredly and patiently。 The work was
hard； but it gave him no opportunity of thinking。 He had to be continually
dodging large bales of fruit and wine； and if he made a mistake the officer
on duty would shout at him angrily； 〃Lazy dog！ you would not have left
Greece were you not an idle fellow。〃 Such words wounded his pride； and
he determined to do so well that he should earn praise。 But the little officer；
his bright buttons flashing in the sunlight； who smoked quietly in the
intervals of silence； never praised anybody； but he left off abusing
Gregorio at last； and when work ceased for the day bade him come again
on the morrow。
At sunset Gregorio pocketed his few hard…earned piastres and
wandered cityward。 He did not care to go back to his home； for he knew
there would be miserable stories to tell of the Jew's anger； and； moreover；
he was terribly thirsty。 So he went into a little cafeknown as the Penny…
farthing Shopopposite his house and called for a flask of kephisa。 As he
sipped the wine he glanced up nervously at his window and wondered
whether his wife had already left home。 Were he sure that she had； he
would leave his wine untouched and hasten to look after his son and give
him food。 But until he knew Xantippe had gone he would not move。 The
sobs of yesterday still disturbed him； and he was more than once on the
point of cancelling his resolves。 But as the wine stirred his blood he
became satisfied with what he had done and said。 The little cafe at Benhur
that was to make his fortune seemed nearly in his grasp。 Had he not； he
asked himself； worked all day without a murmur？ It was right Xantippe
should help him。
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As he sat dreamily thinking over these things； and watching the
shadows turn to a darker purple under the oil…lamps； a woman spoke to
him。
〃Well； Gregorio； are you asleep？〃
〃No；〃 said he； turning toward his questioner。
The woman laughed。 She was a big woman； dressed in loose folds of
red and blue。 Her hair was dishevelled； and ornamented with brass pins
fastened into it at random。 Her sleeves were rolled up to her armpits； and
she had her arms akimbofat； flabby arms that shook as she laughed。 Her
eyes were almost hidden； she screwed them up so closely； but her wide
mouth opened and disclosed a row of gigantic； flawless teeth。
Gregorio frowned as he looked at her。 He knew her well and had never
liked her。 But he dare not quarrel with her； for he owed her money； and
〃for the love of his black eyes；〃 as she told him； she had ever a bottle of
wine ready for him when he wished。
〃Well； my good woman；〃 he blurted out； surlily； 〃you seem to be
amused。〃
〃I am； Gregorio。 Tell me；〃 she continued； slyly； seating herself beside
him and placing her elbows on the table； 〃how is she？〃
〃Who？〃
〃Xantippe。 She came to me to…day； and I saw she had been crying。 But
I said nothing； because it is not always wise to ask questions。 I thought she
wept because she was hungry and because the baby was hungry。 I offered
her food and she took some； but so little； scarcely enough to cover a ten…
piastre piece。 'That is for the baby；' I said； 'now some for you。' But she
refused。〃
〃Perhaps she had food for herself；〃 said Gregorio； shifting uneasily in
his chair。
〃Perhaps；〃 said the woman； and laughed again； more loudly than ever；
till the table shook。 〃But she asked me for something else；〃 she continued；
when her merriment languished for want of breath； 〃she asked me to let
her have an old dress of mine； a bright yellow…and…red dress； and she
borrowed some ornaments。 It is not right of you； Gregorio； to keep an old
friend on the door…step when you have a fantasia。〃
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Gregorio scowled savagely。 After a pause he said； 〃I don't know why
my wife wanted your dress and ornaments。〃
〃Oh yes； you do； friend Gregorio。〃 And she laughed again； this time a
suppressed； chuckling laugh that threatened to choke her； and she
supported her chin on her hands； while her eyes peered through the
enveloping fat at the man who sat opposite to her。 Suddenly she stood up；
and taking Gregorio by the arm dragged him to the door。
〃See； there she goes。 My garments are cleverly altered and suit her
finely； don't they？ Ah； well； my friend； a man who cannot support a wife
should marry a woman who can support him。〃
Gregorio did
