the story of an african farm-第11节
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on Sunday afternoon to have a general conversation； to see her； you know。
Nothingnothing particular； you know。〃
The old man put his book into his pocket； and walked up to the farmhouse
with a peculiarly knowing and delighted expression of countenance。
〃He doesn't suspect what I'm going to do；〃 soliloquized the German； 〃hasn't
the least idea。 A nice surprise for him。〃
The man whom he had left at his doorway winked at the retreating figure
with a wink that was not to be described。
Chapter 1。VI。 Bonaparte Blenkins Makes His Nest。
〃Ah； what is the matter？〃 asked Waldo； stopping at the foot of the ladder
with a load of skins on his back that he was carrying up to the loft。
Through the open door in the gable little Em was visible； her feet dangling
from the high bench on which she sat。 The room； once a storeroom； had been
divided by a row of mealie bags into two partsthe back being Bonaparte's
bedroom； the front his schoolroom。
〃Lyndall made him angry；〃 said the girl tearfully； 〃and he has given me the
fourteenth of John to learn。 He says he will teach me to behave myself
when Lyndall troubles him。〃
〃What did she do？〃 asked the boy。
〃You see；〃 said Em； hopelessly turning the leaves； 〃whenever he talks she
looks out at the door； as though she did not hear him。 Today she asked him
what the signs of the Zodiac were； and he said he was surprised that she
should ask him； it was not a fit and proper thing for little girls to talk
about。 Then she asked him who Copernicus was； and he said he was one of
the Emperors of Rome； who burned the Christians in a golden pig； and the
worms ate him up while he was still alive。 I don't know why；〃 said Em
plaintively； 〃but she just put her books under her arm and walked out； and
she will never come to his school again； she says； and she always does what
she says。 And now I must sit here every day alone；〃 said Em； the great
tears dropping softly。
〃Perhaps Tant Sannie will send him away；〃 said the boy； in his mumbling
way； trying to comfort her。
〃No；〃 said Em； shaking her head； 〃no。 Last night when the little Hottentot
maid was washing her feet； he told her he liked such feet； and that fat
women were so nice to him； and she said I must always put pure cream in his
coffee now。 No； he'll never go away；〃 said Em dolorously。
The boy put down his skins and fumbled in his pocket； and produced a small
piece of paper containing something。 He stuck it out toward her。
〃There； take it for you；〃 he said。 This was by way of comfort。
Em opened it and found a small bit of gum； a commodity prized by the
children； but the great tears dropped down slowly on to it。
Waldo was distressed。 He had cried so much in his morsel of life that
tears in another seemed to burn him。
〃If；〃 he said； stepping in awkwardly and standing by the table； 〃if you
will not cry I will tell you somethinga secret。〃
〃What is that？〃 asked Em； instantly becoming decidedly better。
〃You will tell it to no human being？〃
〃No。〃
He bent nearer to her； and with deep solemnity said：
〃I have made a machine！〃
Em opened her eyes。
〃Yes； a machine for shearing sheep。 It is almost done；〃 said the boy。
〃There is only one thing that is not right yet； but it will be soon。 When
you think； and think； and think； all night and all day； it comes at last；〃
he added mysteriously。
〃Where is it？〃
〃Here！ I always carry it here；〃 said the boy； putting his hand to his
breast； where a bulging…out was visible。 〃This is a model。 When it is
done they will have to make a large one。〃
〃Show it me。〃
The boy shook his head。
〃No； not till it is done。 I cannot let any human being see it till then。〃
〃It is a beautiful secret；〃 said Em； and the boy shuffled out to pick up
his skins。
That evening father and son sat in the cabin eating their supper。 The
father sighed deeply sometimes。 Perhaps he thought how long a time it was
since Bonaparte had visited the cabin； but his son was in that land in
which sighs have no part。 It is a question whether it were not better to
be the shabbiest of fools； and know the way up the little stair of
imagination to the land of dreams； than the wisest of men； who see nothing
that the eyes do not show； and feel nothing that the hands do not touch。
The boy chewed his brown bread and drank his coffee； but in truth he saw
only his machine finishedthat last something found out and added。 He saw
it as it worked with beautiful smoothness； and over and above； as he chewed
his bread and drank his coffee； there was that delightful consciousness of
something bending over him and loving him。 It would not have been better
in one of the courts of heaven； where the walls are set with rows of the
King of Glory's amethysts and milk…white pearls； than there； eating his
supper in that little room。
As they sat in silence there was a knock at the door。 When it was opened
the small woolly head of a little nigger showed itself。 She was a
messenger from Tant Sannie： the German was wanted at once at the
homestead。 Putting on his hat with both hands； he hurried off。 The
kitchen was in darkness； but in the pantry beyond Tant Sannie and her maids
were assembled。
A Kaffer girl； who had been grinding pepper between two stones； knelt on
the floor； the lean Hottentot stood with a brass candlestick in her hand；
and Tant Sannie； near the shelf； with a hand on each hip； was evidently
listening intently； as were her companions。
〃What may be it？〃 cried the old German in astonishment。 The room beyond
the pantry was the storeroom。 Through the thin wooden partition there
arose at that instant； evidently from some creature ensconced there； a
prolonged and prodigious howl； followed by a succession of violent blows
against the partition wall。
The German seized the churn…stick； and was about to rush round the house；
when the Boer…woman impressively laid her hand upon his arm。
〃That is his head；〃 said Tant Sannie； 〃that is his head。〃
〃But what might it be？〃 asked the German； looking from one to the other；
churn…stick in hand。
A low hollow bellow prevented reply； and the voice of Bonaparte lifted
itself on high。
〃Mary…Ann！ my angel！ my wife！〃
〃Isn't it dreadful？〃 said Tant Sannie； as the blows were repeated fiercely。
〃He has got a letter； his wife is dead。 You must go and comfort him；〃 said
Tant Sannie at last； 〃and I will go with you。 It would not be the thing
for me to go aloneme； who am only thirty…three； and he an unmarried man
now；〃 said Tant Sannie； blushing and smoothing out her apron。
Upon this they all trudged round the house in companythe Hottentot maid
carrying the light； Tant Sannie and the German following； and the Kaffer
girl bringing up the rear。
〃Oh；〃 said Tant Sannie； 〃I see now it wasn't wickedness made him do without
his wife so longonly necessity。〃
At the door she motioned to the German to enter； and followed him closely。
On the stretcher behind the sacks Bonaparte lay on his face； his head
pressed into a pillow； his legs kicking gently。 The Boer…woman sat down on
a box at the foot of the bed。 The German stood with folded hands looking
on。
〃We must all die；〃 said Tant Sannie at last； 〃it is the dear Lord's will。〃
Hearing her voice； Bonaparte turned himself on to his back。
〃It's very hard；〃 said Tant Sannie； 〃I know； for I've lost two husbands。〃
Bonaparte looked up into the German's face。
〃Oh； what does she say？ Speak to me words of comfort！〃
The German repeated Tant Sannie's remark。
〃Ah； II also！ Two dear； dear wives； whom I shall never see any more！〃
cried Bonaparte； flinging himself back upon the bed。
He howled； till the tarantulas； who lived between the rafters and the zinc
roof； felt the unusual vibration； and looked out with their wicked bright
eyes； to see what was going on。
Tant Sannie sighed； the Hottentot maid sighed； the Kaffer girl who looked
in at the door put her hand over her mouth and said 〃Mow…wah！〃
〃You must trust in the Lord；〃 said Tant Sannie。 〃He can give you more than
you have lost。〃
〃I do； I do！〃 he cried； 〃but oh； I have no wife！ I have no wife！〃
Tant Sannie was much affected； and came and stood near the bed。
〃Ask him if he won't have a little papnice； fine； flour pap。 There is
some boiling on the kitchen fire。〃
The German made the proposal； but the widower waved his hand。
〃No； nothing shall pass my lips。 I should be suffocated。 No； no！ Speak
not of food to me！〃
〃Pap； and a little brandy in；〃 said Tant Sannie coaxingly。
Bonaparte caught the word。
〃Perhaps； perhapsif I struggled with myselffor the sake of my duties I
might imbibe a few drops；〃 he said； looking with quivering lip up into the
German's face。 〃I must do my duty； must I not？〃
Tant Sannie gave the order； and
