hans brinker-第44节

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te　red　and　scant　of　breath。

Raff's　voice　was　feeble　yet。　　〃Treat　you　WHAT　way；　Meitje？〃

〃What　way；〃　said　Dame　Brinker；　mimicking　his　voice　and　manner。　　〃What　way？　　Why；　just　as　every　woman　in　the　world　is　treated　after　she's　stood　by　a　man　through　the　worst；　like　a〃

〃Meitje！〃

Raff　was　leaning　forward　with　outstretched　arms。　　His　eyes　were　full　of　tears。

In　an　instant　Dame　Brinker　was　at　his　feet；　clasping　his　hands　in　hers。

〃Oh；　what　have　I　done！　　Made　my　good　man　cry；　and　he　not　back　with　me　four　days！　　Look　up；　Raff！　　Nay；　Raff；　my　own　boy；　I'm　sorry　I　hurt　thee。　　It's　hard　not　to　be　told　about　the　watch　after　waiting　ten　years　to　know；　but　I'll　ask　thee　no　more；　Raff。　　Here；　we'll　put　the　thing　away　that's　made　the　first　trouble　between　us；　after　God　just　gave　thee　back　to　me。〃

〃I　was　a　fool　to　cry；　Meitje；〃　he　said；　kissing　her；　〃and　it's　no　more　than　right　that　ye　should　know　the　truth。　　But　it　seemed　as　if　it　might　be　telling　the　secrets　of　the　dead　to　talk　about　the　matter。〃

〃Is　the　manthe　ladthou　wert　talking　of　dead；　think　thee？〃　asked　the　vrouw；　hiding　the　watch　in　her　hand　but　seating　herself　expectantly　on　the　end　of　his　long　foot　bench。

〃It's　hard　telling；〃　he　answered。

〃Was　he　so　sick；　Raff？〃

〃No；　not　sick；　I　may　say；　but　troubled；　vrouw；　very　troubled。〃

〃Had　he　done　wrong；　think　ye？〃　she　asked；　lowering　her　voice。

Raff　nodded。

〃MURDER？〃　whispered　the　wife；　not　daring　to　look　up。

〃He　said　it　was　like　to　that；　indeed。〃

〃Oh！　　Raff；　you　frighten　me。　　Tell　me　more；　you　speak　so　strange　and　you　tremble。　　I　must　know　all。〃

〃If　I　tremble；　mine　vrouw；　it　must　be　from　the　fever。　　There　is　no　guilt　on　my　soul；　thank　God！〃

〃Take　a　sip　of　this　wine；　Raff。　　There；　now　you　are　better。　　It　was　like　to　a　crime；　you　were　saying。〃

〃Aye；　Meitje；　like　to　murder。　　THAT　he　told　me　himself。　　But　I'll　never　believe　it。　　A　likely　lad；　fresh　and　honest…looking　as　our　own　youngster　but　with　something　not　so　bold　and　straight　about　him。〃

〃Aye；　I　know；〃　said　the　dame　gently；　fearing　to　interrupt　the　story。

〃He　came　upon　me　quite　suddenly；〃　continued　Raff。　　〃I　had　never　seen　his　face　before；　the　palest；　frightenedest　face　that　ever　was。　　He　caught　me　by　the　arm。　　'You　look　like　an　honest　man；'　says　he。〃

〃Aye；　he　was　right　in　that；〃　interrupted　the　dame　emphatically。

Raff　looked　somewhat　bewildered。

〃Where　was　I；　mine　vrouw？〃

〃The　lad　took　hold　of　your　arm；　Raff；〃　she　said；　gazing　at　him　anxiously。

〃Aye；　so。　　The　words　come　awkward　to　me；　and　everything　is　like　a　dream；　ye　see。〃

〃S…stut！　　What　wonder；　poor　man。〃　　She　sighed；　stroking　his　hand。　　〃If　ye　had　not　had　enough　for　a　dozen；　the　wit　would　never　have　come　to　ye　again。　　Well；　the　lad　caught　me　by　the　arm　and　said　ye　looked　honest。　　（Well　he　might！）　　What　then？　　Was　it　noontime？

〃Nay；　before　daylightlong　before　early　chimes。〃

〃It　was　the　same　day　you　were　hurt；〃　said　the　dame。　　〃I　know　it　seemed　that　you　went　to　your　work　in　the　middle　of　the　night。　　You　left　off　where　he　caught　your　arm；　Raff。〃

〃Yes；〃　resumed　her　husband；　〃and　I　can　see　his　face　this　minuteso　white　and　wild…looking。　　'Take　me　down　this　river　a　way；'　says　he。　　I　was　working　then；　you'll　remember；　far　down　on　the　line；　across　from　Amsterdam。　　I　told　him　I　was　no　boatman。　　'It's　an　affair　of　life　and　death；'　says　he。　　'Take　me　on　a　few　miles。　　Yonder　skiff　is　not　locked；　but　it　may　be　a　poor　man's　boat　and　I'd　be　loath　to　rob　him！'　　（The　words　might　differ　some；　vrouw；　for　it's　all　like　a　dream。）　　Well；　I　took　him　downit　might　be　six　or　eight　milesand　then　he　said　he　could　run　the　rest　of　the　way　on　shore。　　I　was　in　haste　to　get　the　boat　back。　　Before　he　jumped　out；　he　says；　sobbing…like；　'I　can　trust　you。　　I've　done　a　thingGod　knows　I　never　intended　itbut　the　man　is　dead。　　I　must　fly　from　Holland。〃

〃What　was　it？　　Did　he　say；　Raff？　　Had　he　been　shooting　at　a　comrade；　as　they　do　down　at　the　University　at　Gottingen？〃

〃I　can't　recall　that。　　Mayhap　he　told　me；　but　it's　all　like　a　dream。　　I　said　it　wasn't　for　me；　a　good　Hollander；　to　cheat　the　laws　of　my　country　by　helping　him　off　that　way；　but　he　kept　saying；　'God　knows　I　am　innocent！'　　And　he　looked　at　me　in　the　starlight　as　fair；　now；　and　clear…eyed　as　our　little　Hans　mightand　I　just　pulled　away　faster。〃

〃It　must　have　been　Jan　Kamphuisen's　boat；〃　remarked　Dame　Brinker　dryly。　　〃None　other　would　have　left　his　oars　out　that　careless。〃

〃Aye；　it　was　Jan's　boat；　sure　enough。　　The　man　will　be　coming　in　to　see　me　Sunday；　likely；　if　he's　heard；　and　young　Hoogsvliet　too。　　Where　was　I？〃

〃Where　were　you？　　Why；　not　very　far；　forsooththe　lad　hadn't　yet　given　ye　the　watchalack；　I　misgive　whether　he　came　by　it　honestly！〃

〃Why；　vrouw；〃　exclaimed　Raff　Brinker　in　an　injured　tone。　　〃He　was　dressed　soft　and　fine　as　the　prince　himself。　　The　watch　was　his　own；　clear　enough。〃

〃How　came　he　to　give　it　up？〃　asked　the　dame；　looking　uneasily　at　the　fire；　for　it　needed　another　block　of　peat。

〃I　told　ye　just　now；〃　he　answered　with　a　puzzled　air。

〃Tell　me　again；〃　said　Dame　Brinker；　wisely　warding　off　another　digression。

〃Well；　just　before　jumping　from　the　boat；　he　says；　handing　me　the　watch；　'I'm　flying　from　my　country　as　I　never　thought　I　could。　　I'll　trust　you　because　you　look　honest。　　Will　you　take　this　to　my　fathernot　today　but　in　a　weekand　tell　him　his　unhappy　boy　sent　it；　and　tell　him　if　ever　the　time　comes　that　he　wants　me　to　come　back　to　him；　I'll　brave　everything　and　come。　　Tell　him　to　send　a　letter　toto'there；　the　rest　is　all　gone　from　me。　　I　CAN'T　remember　where　the　letter　was　to　go。　　Poor　lad；　poor　lad！〃　resumed　Raff；　sorrowfully；　taking　the　watch　from　his　vrouw's　lap　as　he　spoke。　　〃And　it's　never　been　sent　to　his　father　to　this　day。〃

〃I'll　take　it；　Raff；　never　fearthe　moment　Gretel　gets　back。　　She　will　be　in　soon。　　What　was　the　father's　name；　did　you　say？　　Where　were　you　to　find　him？〃

〃Alack！〃　answered　Raff；　speaking　very　slowly。　　〃It's　all　slipped　me。　　I　can　see　the　lad's　face　and　his　great　eyes；　just　as　plainand　I　remember　his　opening　the　watch　and　snatching　something　from　it　and　kissing　itbut　no　more。　　All　the　rest　whirls　past　me；　there's　a　sound　like　rushing　waters　comes　over　me　when　I　try　to　think。〃

〃Aye。　　That's　plain　to　see；　Raff；　but　I've　had　the　same　feeling　after　a　fever。　　You're　tired　now。　　I　must　get　ye　straight　on　the　bed　again。　　Where　IS　the　child；　I　wonder？〃

Dame　Brinker　opened　the　door；　and　called；　〃Gretel！　　Gretel！〃

〃Stand　aside；　vrouw；〃　said　Raff　feebly　as　he　leaned　forward　and　endeavored　to　look　out　upon　the　bare　landscape。　　〃I've　half　a　mind　to　stand　beyond　the　door　just　once。〃

〃Nay；　nay。〃　　She　laughed。　　〃I'll　tell　the　meester　how　ye　tease　and　fidget　and　bother　to　be　let　out　in　the　air；　and　if　he　says　it；　I'll　bundle　ye　warm　tomorrow　and　give　ye　a　turn　on　your　feet。　　But　I'm　freezing　you　with　this　door　open。　　I　declare　if　there　isn't　Gretel　with　her　apron　full；　skating　on　the　canal　like　wild。　　Why；　man；〃　she　continued　almost　in　a　scream　as　she　slammed　the　door；　〃thou'rt　walking　to　the　bed　without　my　touching　thee！　　Thou'lt　fall！〃

The　dame's　thee　proved　her　mingled　fear　and　delight；　even　more　than　the　rush　which　she　made　toward　her　husband。　　Soon　he　was　comfortably　settled　under　the　new　cover；　declaring；　as　his　vrouw　tucked　him　in　snug　and　warm；　that　it　was　the　last　daylight　that　should　see　him　abed。

〃Aye！　　I　can　hope　it　myself；〃　laughed　Dame　Brinker；　〃now　you　have　been　frisking　about　at　that　rate。〃　　As　Raff　closed　his　eyes；　the　dame　hastened　to　revive　her　fire；　or　rather　to　dull　it；　for　Dutch　peat　is　like　a　Dutchman；　slow　to　kindle；　but　very　good　at　a　blaze　once　started。　　Then；　putting　her　neglected　spinning　wheel　away；　she　drew　forth　her　knitting　from　some　invisible　pocket　and　seated　herself　by　the　bedside。

〃If　you　could　remember　the　man's　name；　Raff；〃　she　began　cautiously；　〃I　might　take　the　watch　to　him　while　you're　sleeping。　　Gretel　can't　but　be　in　soon。〃

Raff　tried　to　think　but　in　vain。

〃Could　it　be　Boomphoffen？〃　suggested　the　dame。　　〃I've　heard　how　they've　had　two　sons　turn　out　badGerard　and　Lambert？〃

〃It　might　be；〃　said　Raff。　　〃Look　if　there's　letters　on　the　watch；　that'll　guide　us　some。〃

〃Bless　thee；　man；〃　cried　the　happy　dame；　eagerly　lifting　the　watch。　　〃Why；　thou'rt　sharper　than　ever！　　Sure　enough。　　Here's　letters！　　L。J。B。　　That's　Lambert　Boomphoffen；　you　may　depend。　　What　the　J　is　for　I　can't　say；　but　they　used　to　be　grand　kind　o'　people；　high…feathered　as　fancy　fowl。　　Just　the　kind　to　give　their　children　all　double　names；　which　isn't　Scripture；　anyway。〃

〃I　don't　know　about　that；　vrouw。　　Seems　to　me　there's　long　mixed　names　in　the　holy　Book；　hard　enough　to　make　out。　　But　you've　got　the　right　guess　at　a　jump。　　It　was　your　way　always；〃　said　Raff；　closing　his　eyes。　　〃Take　the　watch　to　Boompkinks　and　try。〃

〃Not　Boompkinks。　　I　know　no　such　name；　it's　Boomphoffen。〃

〃Aye；　take　it　there。〃

〃Take　it　there；　man！　　Why　the　whole　brood　of　them's　been　gone　to　America　these　four　years。　　But　go　to　sleep；　Raff；　you　look　pale　and　out　of　strength。　　It'll　al　come　to　you；　what's　best　to　do；　in　the　morning。

〃So；　Mistress　Gretel！　　Here　you　are　at　last！〃


Before　Raff　awoke　that　evening；　the　fairy　godmother；　as　we　know；　had　be