hans brinker-第46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！


up　of　blue　forget…me…nots。　　Raff；　seeing　a　shade　of　intense　disappointment　pass　over　the　doctor's　face；　hastened　to　say；　〃There　was　something　else　in　it；　mynheer；　but　the　young　gentleman　tore　it　out　before　he　handed　it　to　me。　　I　saw　him　kiss　it　as　he　put　it　away。〃

〃It　was　his　mother's　picture；〃　moaned　the　doctor。　　〃She　died　when　he　was　ten　years　old。　　Thank　God！　　The　boy　had　not　forgotten！　　Both　dead？　　It　is　impossible！〃　he　cried；　starting　up。　　〃My　boy　is　alive。　　You　shall　hear　his　story。　　Laurens　acted　as　my　assistant。　　By　mistake　he　portioned　out　the　wrong　medicine　for　one　of　my　patientsa　deadly　poisonbut　it　was　never　administered；　for　I　discovered　the　error　in　time。　　The　man　died　that　day。　　I　was　detained　with　other　bad　cases　until　the　next　evening。　　When　I　reached　home　my　boy　was　gone。　　Poor　Laurens！〃　sobbed　the　doctor；　breaking　down　completely。　　〃Never　to　hear　from　me　through　all　these　years。　　His　message　disregarded。　　Oh；　what　he　must　have　suffered！〃

Dame　Brinker　ventured　to　speak。　　Anything　was　better　than　to　see　the　meester　cry。

〃It　is　a　mercy　to　know　the　young　gentleman　was　innocent。　　Ah；　how　he　fretted！　　Telling　you；　Raff；　that　his　crime　was　like　unto　murder。　　It　was　sending　the　wrong　physic　that　he　meant。　　Crime　indeed！　　Why；　our　own　Gretel　might　have　done　that！　　Like　enough　the　poor　young　gentleman　heard　that　the　man　was　deadthat's　why　he　ran；　mynheer。　　He　said；　you　know；　Raff；　that　he　never　could　come　back　to　Holland　again；　unless〃she　hesitated〃ah；　your　honor；　ten　years　is　a　dreary　time　to　be　waiting　to　hear　from〃

〃Hist；　vrouw！〃　said　Raff　sharply。

〃Waiting　to　hear〃the　doctor　groaned〃and　I；　like　a　fool；　sitting　stubbornly　at　home；　thinking　that　he　had　abandoned　me。　　I　never　dreamed；　Brinker；　that　the　boy　had　discovered　the　mistake。　　I　believed　it　was　youthful　folly；　ingratitude；　love　of　adventure；　that　sent　him　away。　　My　poor；　poor　Laurens！〃

〃But　you　know　all；　now；　mynheer；〃　whispered　Hans。　　〃You　know　he　was　innocent　of　wrong；　that　he　loved　you　and　his　dead　mother。　　We　will　find　him。　　You　shall　see　him　again；　dear　meester。〃

〃God　bless　you！〃　said　Dr。　Boekman；　seizing　the　boy's　hand。　　〃It　may　be　as　you　say。　　I　shall　tryI　shall　tryand；　Brinker；　if　ever　the　faintest　gleam　of　recollection　concerning　him　should　come　to　you；　you　will　send　me　word　at　once？〃

〃Indeed　we　will！〃　cried　all　but　Hans；　whose　silent　promise　would　have　satisfied　the　doctor　even　had　the　others　not　spoken。

〃Your　boy's　eyes；〃　he　said；　turning　to　Dame　Brinker；　〃are　strangely　like　my　son's。　　The　first　time　I　met　him　it　seemed　that　Laurens　himself　was　looking　at　me。〃

〃Aye；　mynheer；〃　replied　the　mother　proudly。　　〃I　have　marked　that　you　were　much　drawn　to　the　child。〃

For　a　few　moments　the　meester　seemed　lost　in　thought；　then；　arousing　himself；　he　spoke　in　a　new　voice。　　〃Forgive　me；　Raff　Brinker；　for　this　tumult。　　Do　not　feel　distressed　on　my　account。　　I　leave　your　house　today　a　happier　man　than　I　have　been　for　many　a　long　year。　　Shall　I　take　the　watch？〃

〃Certainly；　you　must；　mynheer。　　It　was　your　son's　wish。〃

〃Even　so；〃　responded　the　doctor；　regarding　his　treasure　with　a　queer　frown；　for　his　face　could　not　throw　off　its　bad　habits　in　an　hour；　〃even　so。　　And　now　I　must　be　gone。　　No　medicine　is　needed　by　my　patient；　only　peace　and　cheerfulness；　and　both　are　here　in　plenty。　　Heaven　bless　you；　my　good　friends！　　I　shall　ever　be　grateful　to　you。〃

〃May　Heaven　bless　you；　too；　mynheer；　and　may　you　soon　find　the　young　gentleman；〃　said　Dame　Brinker　earnestly；　after　hurriedly　wiping　her　eyes　upon　the　corner　of　her　apron。

Raff　uttered　a　hearty；　〃Amen！〃　and　Gretel　threw　such　a　wistful；　eager　glance　at　the　doctor　that　he　patted　her　head　as　he　turned　to　leave　the　cottage。

Hans　went　out　also。

〃When　I　can　serve　you；　mynheer；　I　am　ready。〃

〃Very　well；　boy；〃　replied　Dr。　Boekman　with　peculiar　mildness。　　〃Tell　them；　within；　to　say　nothing　of　what　has　just　happened。　　Meantime；　Hans；　when　you　are　with　his　father；　watch　his　mood。　　You　have　tact。　　At　any　moment　he　may　suddenly　be　able　to　tell　us　more。〃

〃Trust　me　for　that；　mynheer。〃

〃Good　day；　my　boy！〃　cried　the　doctor　as　he　sprang　into　his　stately　coach。

Aha！　thought　Hans　as　it　rolled　away；　the　meester　has　more　life　in　him　than　I　thought。




The　Race



The　twentieth　of　December　came　at　last；　bringing　with　it　the　perfection　of　winter　weather。　　All　over　the　level　landscape　lay　the　warm　sunlight。　　It　tried　its　power　on　lake；　canal；　and　river；　but　the　ice　flashed　defiance　and　showed　no　sign　of　melting。　　The　very　weathercocks　stood　still　to　enjoy　the　sight。　　This　gave　the　windmills　a　holiday。　　Nearly　all　the　past　week　they　had　been　whirling　briskly；　now；　being　rather　out　of　breath；　they　rocked　lazily　in　the　clear；　still　air。　　Catch　a　windmill　working　when　the　weathercocks　have　nothing　to　do！

There　was　an　end　to　grinding；　crushing；　and　sawing　for　that　day。　　It　was　a　good　thing　for　the　millers　near　Broek。　　Long　before　noon　they　concluded　to　take　in　their　sails　and　go　to　the　race。　　Everybody　would　be　therealready　the　north　side　of　the　frozen　Y　was　bordered　with　eager　spectators。　　The　news　of　the　great　skating　match　had　traveled　far　and　wide。　　Men；　women；　and　children　in　holiday　attire　were　flocking　toward　the　spot。　　Some　wore　furs　and　wintry　cloaks　or　shawls；　but　many；　consulting　their　feelings　rather　than　the　almanac；　were　dressed　as　for　an　October　day。

The　site　selected　for　the　race　was　a　faultless　plain　of　ice　near　Amsterdam；　on　that　great　arm　of　the　Zuider　Zee；　which　Dutchmen；　of　course；　must　call　the　Eye。　　The　townspeople　turned　out　in　large　numbers。　　Strangers　to　the　city　deemed　it　a　fine　chance　to　see　what　was　to　be　seen。　　Many　a　peasant　from　the　northward　had　wisely　chosen　the　twentieth　as　the　day　for　the　next　city　trading。　　It　seemed　that　everybody；　young　and　old；　who　had　wheels；　skates；　or　feet　at　command　had　hastened　to　the　scene。

There　were　the　gentry　in　their　coaches；　dressed　like　Parisians；　fresh　from　the　boulevards；　Amsterdam　children　in　charity　uniforms；　girls　from　the　Roman　Catholic　Orphan　House；　in　sable　gowns　and　white　headbands；　boys　from　the　Burgher　Asylum；　with　their　black　tights　and　short…skirted；　harlequin　coats。　*｛This　is　not　said　in　derision。　　Both　the　boys　and　girls　of　this　institution　wear　garments　quartered　in　red　and　black；　alternately。　　By　making　the　dress　thus　conspicuous；　the　children　are；　in　a　measure；　deterred　from　wrongdoing　while　going　about　the　city。　　The　Burgher　Orphan　Asylum　affords　a　comfortable　home　to　several　hundred　boys　and　girls。　　Holland　is　famous　for　its　charitable　institutions。｝　　There　were　old…fashioned　gentlemen　in　cocked　hats　and　velvet　knee　breeches；　old…fashioned　ladies；　too；　in　stiff　quilted　skirts　and　bodices　of　dazzling　brocade。　　These　were　accompanied　by　servants　bearing　foot　stoves　and　cloaks。　　There　were　the　peasant　folk　arrayed　in　every　possible　Dutch　costume；　shy　young　rustics　in　brazen　buckles；　simple　village　maidens　concealing　their　flaxen　hair　under　fillets　of　gold；　women　whose　long；　narrow　aprons　were　stiff　with　embroidery；　women　with　short　corkscrew　curls　hanging　over　their　foreheads；　women　with　shaved　heads　and　close…fitting　caps；　and　women　in　striped　skirts　and　windmill　bonnets。　　Men　in　leather；　in　homespun；　in　velvet；　and　in　broadcloth；　burghers　in　model　European　attire；　and　burghers　in　short　jackets；　wide　trousers；　and　steeple…crowned　hats。

There　were　beautiful　Friesland　girls　in　wooden　shoes　and　coarse　petticoats；　with　solid　gold　crescents　encircling　their　heads；　finished　at　each　temple　with　a　golden　rosette　and　hung　with　lace　a　century　old。　　Some　wore　necklaces；　pendants；　and　earrings　of　the　purest　gold。　　Many　were　content　with　gilt　or　even　with　brass；　but　it　is　not　an　uncommon　thing　for　a　Friesland　woman　to　have　all　the　family　treasure　in　her　headgear。　　More　than　one　rustic　lass　displayed　the　value　of　two　thousand　guilders　upon　her　head　that　day。

Scattered　throughout　the　crowd　were　peasants　from　the　Island　or　Marken；　with　sabots；　black　stockings；　and　the　widest　of　breeches；　also　women　from　Marken　with　short　blue　petticoats；　and　black　jackets；　gaily　figured　in　front。　　They　wore　red　sleeves；　white　aprons；　and　a　cap　like　a　bishop's　miter　over　their　golden　hair。

The　children　often　were　as　quaint　and　odd…looking　as　their　elders。　　In　short；　one…third　of　the　crowd　seemed　to　have　stepped　bodily　from　a　collection　of　Dutch　paintings。

Everywhere　could　be　seen　tall　women　and　stumpy　men；　lively…faced　girls；　and　youths　whose　expression　never　changed　from　sunrise　to　sunset。

There　seemed　to　be　at　least　one　specimen　from　every　known　town　in　Holland。　　There　were　Utrecht　water　bearers；　Gouda　cheesemakers；　Delft　pottery　men；　Schiedam　distillers；　Amsterdam　diamond　cutters；　Rotterdam　merchants；　dried…up　herring　packers；　and　two　sleepy…eyes　shepherds　from　Texel。　　Every　man　of　them　had　his　pipe　and　tobacco　pouch。　　Some　carried　what　might　be　called　the　smoker's　complete　outfita　pipe；　tobacco；　a　pricker　with　which　to　clean　the　tube；　a　silver　net　for　protecting　the　bowl；　and　a　box　of　the　strongest　brimstone　matches。

A　true　Dutchman；　you　must　remember；　is　rarely　without　his　pipe　on　any　possible　occasion。　　He　may　for　a　moment　neglect　to　breathe；　but　when　the　pipe　is　forgotten；　he　must　be　dying　indeed。　　There　w