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第29节

elizabeth and her german garden-第29节

小说: elizabeth and her german garden 字数: 每页4000字

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e this mysterious political flower; and has made me promise to telegraph when it appears; and she will come over。 Bur they are not going to do anything this year; and I only hope those cold days did not send them off to the Paradise of flowers。 I am afraid their first impression of Germany was a chilly one。

Irais writes about once a week; and inquires after the garden and the babies; and announces her intention of coming back as soon as the numerous relations staying with her have left;〃which they won't do;〃 she wrote the other day; 〃until the first frosts nip them off; when they will disappear like belated dahliasdouble ones of course; for single dahlias are too charming to be compared to relations。 I have every sort of cousin and uncle and aunt here; and here they have been ever since my husband's birthdaynot the same ones exactly; but I get so confused that I never know where one ends and the other begins。 My husband goes off after breakfast to look at his crops; he says; and I am left at their mercy。  I wish I had crops to go and look at I should be grateful even for one; and would look at it from morning till night; and quite stare it out of countenance; sooner than stay at home and have the truth told me by enigmatic aunts。  Do you know my Aunt Bertha? she; in particular; spends her time propounding obscure questions for my solution。  I get so tired and worried trying to guess the answers; which are always truths supposed to be good for me to hear。 'Why do you wear your hair on your forehead?' she asks;and that sets me off wondering why I do wear it on my forehead; and what she wants to know for; or whether she does know and only wants to know if I will answer truthfully。 'I am sure I don't know; aunt;' I say meekly; after puzzling over it for ever so long; 'perhaps my maid knows。  Shall I ring and ask her?' And then she informs me that I wear it so to hide an ugly line she says I have down the middle of my forehead; and that betokens a listless and discontented disposition。  Well; if she knew; what did she ask me for? Whenever I am with them they ask me riddles like that; and I simply lead a dog's life。  Oh; my dear; relations are like drugs;useful sometimes; and even pleasant; if taken in small quantities and seldom; but dreadfully pernicious on the whole; and the truly wise avoid them。〃

From Minora I have only had one communication since her departure; in which she thanked me for her pleasant visit; and said she was sending me a bottle of English embrocation to rub on my bruises after skating; that it was wonderful stuff; and she was sure I would like it; and that it cost two marks; and would I send stamps。  I pondered long over this。 Was it a parting hit; intended as revenge for our having laughed at her? Was she personally interested in the sale of embrocation?  Or was it merely Minora's idea of a graceful return for my hospitality?  As for bruises; nobody who skates decently regards it as a bruise…producing exercise; and whenever there were any they were all on Minora; but she did happen to turn round once; I remember; just as I was in the act of tumbling down for the first and only time; and her delight was but thinly veiled by her excessive solicitude and sympathy。  I sent her the stamps; received the bottle; and resolved to let her drop out of my life; I had been a good Samaritan to her at the request of my friend; but the best of Samaritans resents the offer of healing oil for his own use。   But why waste a thought on Minora at Easter; the real beginning of the year in defiance of calendars。 She belongs to the winter that is past; to the darkness that is over; and has no part or lot in the life I shall lead for the next six months。  Oh; I could dance and sing for joy that the spring is here!  What a resurrection of beauty there is in my garden; and of brightest hope in my heart! The whole of this radiant Easter day I have spent out of doors; sitting at first among the windflowers and celandines; and then; later; walking with the babies to the Hirschwald; to see what the spring had been doing there; and the afternoon was so hot that we lay a long time on the turf; blinking up through the leafless branches of the silver birches at the soft; fat little white clouds floating motionless in the blue。 We had tea on the grass in the sun; and when it began to grow late; and the babies were in bed; and all the little wind…flowers folded up for the night; I still wandered in the green paths; my heart full of happiest gratitude。  It makes one very humble to see oneself surrounded by such a wealth of beauty and perfection anonymously lavished; and to think of the infinite meanness of our own grudging charities; and how displeased we are if they are not promptly and properly appreciated。 I do sincerely trust that the benediction that is always awaiting me in my garden may by degrees be more deserved; and that I may grow in grace; and patience; and cheerfulness; just like the happy flowers I so much love。




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