hans brinker-第32部分

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This　would　be　pretty　sure　to　start　a　laugh　at　the　clumsy；　ill…natured　Kate's　expense；　and　Annie　would　walk　loftily　away　from　the　group　of　young　gossips。　　Perhaps　some　memory　of　Gretel's　assailants　crossed　her　mind　as　she　skated　rapidly　toward　Amsterdam；　for　her　eyes　sparkled　ominously　and　she　more　than　once　gave　her　pretty　head　a　defiant　toss。　　When　that　mood　passed；　such　a　bright；　rosy；　affectionate　look　illuminated　her　face　that　more　than　one　weary　working　man　turned　to　gaze　after　her　and　to　wish　that　he　had　a　glad；　contented　lass　like　that　for　a　daughter。


There　were　five　joyous　households　in　Broek　that　night。

The　boys　were　back　safe　and　sound；　and　they　found　all　well　at　home。　　Even　the　sick　lady　at　neighbor　Van　Stoepel's　was　out　of　danger。

But　the　next　morning！　　Ah；　how　stupidly　school　bells　will　ding…dong；　ding…dong；　when　one　is　tired。

Ludwig　was　sure　that　he　had　never　listened　to　anything　so　odious。　　Even　Peter　felt　pathetic　on　the　occasion。　　Carl　said　it　was　a　shameful　thing　for　a　fellow　to　have　to　turn　out　when　his　bones　were　splitting。　　And　Jacob　soberly　bade　Ben　〃Goot…pye！〃　and　walked　off　with　his　satchel　as　if　it　weighed　a　hundred　pounds。




The　Crisis



While　the　boys　are　nursing　their　fatigue；　we　will　take　a　peep　into　the　Brinker　cottage。

Can　it　be　that　Gretel　and　her　mother　have　not　stirred　since　we　saw　them　last？　　That　the　sick　man　upon　the　bed　has　not　even　turned　over？　　It　was　four　days　ago；　and　there　is　the　sad　group　just　as　it　was　before。　　No；　not　precisely　the　same；　for　Raff　Brinker　is　paler；　his　fever　is　gone；　though　he　knows　nothing　of　what　is　passing。　　Then　they　were　alone　in　the　bare；　clean　room。　　Now　there　is　another　group　in　an　opposite　corner。

Dr。　Boekman　is　there；　talking　in　a　low　tone　with　a　stout　young　man　who　listens　intently。　　The　stout　young　man　is　his　student　and　assistant。　　Hans　is　there　also。　　He　stands　near　the　window；　respectfully　waiting　until　he　shall　be　accosted。

〃You　see；　Vollenhoven；〃　said　Dr。　Boekman；　〃it　is　a　clear　case　of〃　　And　here　the　doctor　went　off　into　a　queer　jumble　of　Latin　and　Dutch　that　I　cannot　conveniently　translate。

After　a　while；　as　Vollenhoven　looked　at　him　rather　blankly；　the　learned　man　condescended　to　speak　to　him　in　simpler　phrase。

〃It　is　probably　like　Rip　Donderdunck's　case；〃　he　exclaimed　in　a　low；　mumbling　tone。　　〃He　fell　from　the　top　of　Voppelploot's　windmill。　　After　the　accident　the　man　was　stupid　and　finally　became　idiotic。　　In　time　he　lay　helpless　like　yon　fellow　on　the　bed；　moaned；　too；　like　him；　and　kept　constantly　lifting　his　hand　to　his　head。　　My　learned　friend　Von　Choppem　performed　an　operation　upon　this　Donderdunck　and　discovered　under　the　skull　a　small　dark　sac；　which　pressed　upon　the　brain。　　This　had　been　the　cause　of　the　trouble。　　My　friend　Von　Choppem　removed　ita　splendid　operation！　　You　see；　according　to　Celsius〃　　And　here　the　doctor　again　went　off　into　Latin。

〃Did　the　man　live？〃　asked　the　assistant　respectfully。

Dr。　Boekman　scowled。　　〃That　is　of　no　consequence。　　I　believe　he　died；　but　why　not　fix　your　mind　on　the　grand　features　of　the　case？　　Consider　a　moment　how〃　　And　he　plunged　into　Latin　mysteries　more　deeply　than　ever。

〃But　mynheer；〃　gently　persisted　the　student；　who　knew　that　the　doctor　would　not　rise　to　the　surface　for　hours　unless　pulled　at　once　from　his　favorite　depths。　　〃Mynheer；　you　have　other　engagements　today；　three　legs　in　Amsterdam；　you　remember；　and　an　eye　in　Broek；　and　that　tumor　up　the　canal。〃

〃The　tumor　can　wait；〃　said　the　doctor　reflectively。　　〃That　is　another　beautiful　casea　beautiful　case！　　The　woman　has　not　lifted　her　head　from　her　shoulder　for　two　monthsmagnificent　tumor；　sir！〃

The　doctor　by　this　time　was　speaking　aloud。　　He　had　quite　forgotten　where　he　was。

Vollenhoven　made　another　attempt。

〃This　poor　fellow　on　the　bed；　mynheer。　　Do　you　think　you　can　save　him？〃

〃Ah；　indeed；　certainly；〃　stammered　the　doctor；　suddenly　perceiving　that　he　had　been　talking　rather　off　the　point。　　〃Certainly；　that　isI　hope　so。〃

〃If　anyone　in　Holland　can；　mynheer；〃　murmured　the　assistant　with　honest　bluntness；　〃it　is　yourself。〃

The　doctor　looked　displeased；　growled　out　a　tender　request　for　the　student　to　talk　less；　and　beckoned　Hans　to　draw　near。

This　strange　man　had　a　great　horror　of　speaking　to　women；　especially　on　surgical　matters。　　〃One　can　never　tell；〃　he　said；　〃what　moment　the　creatures　will　scream　or　faint。〃　　Therefore　he　explained　Raff　Brinker's　case　to　Hans　and　told　him　what　he　believed　should　be　done　to　save　the　patient。

Hans　listened　attentively；　growing　red　and　pale　by　turns　and　throwing　quick；　anxious　glances　toward　the　bed。

〃It　may　KILL　the　fatherdid　you　say；　mynheer？〃　he　exclaimed　at　last　in　a　trembling　whisper。

〃It　may；　my　boy。　　But　I　have　a　strong　belief　that　it　will　cure　and　not　kill。　　Ah！　　If　boys　were　not　such　dunces；　I　could　lay　the　whole　matter　before　you；　but　it　would　be　of　no　use。〃

Hans　looked　blank　at　this　compliment。

〃It　would　be　of　no　use；〃　repeated　Dr。　Boekman　indignantly。　　〃A　great　operation　is　proposed；　but　one　might　as　well　do　it　with　a　hatchet。　　The　only　question　asked　is；　'Will　it　kill？'〃

〃The　question　is　EVERYTHING　to　us；　mynheer；〃　said　Hans　with　tearful　dignity。

Dr。　Boekman　looked　at　him　in　sudden　dismay。

〃Ah！　　Exactly　so。　　You　are　right；　boy；　I　am　a　fool。　　Good　boy。　　One　does　not　wish　one's　father　killedof　course　I　am　a　fool。〃

〃Will　he　die；　mynheer；　if　this　sickness　goes　on？〃

〃Humph！　　This　is　no　new　illness。　　The　same　thing　growing　worse　ever　instantpressure　on　the　brainwill　take　him　off　soon　like　THAT；〃　said　the　doctor；　snapping　his　fingers。

〃And　the　operation　MAY　save　him；〃　pursued　Hans。　　〃How　soon；　mynheer；　can　we　know？〃

Dr。　Boekman　grew　impatient。

〃In　a　day；　perhaps；　an　hour。　　Talk　with　your　mother；　boy；　and　let　her　decide。　　My　time　is　short。〃

Hans　approached　his　mother；　at　first；　when　she　looked　up　at　him；　he　could　not　utter　a　syllable；　then；　turning　his　eyes　away；　he　said　in　a　firm　voice；　〃I　must　speak　with　the　mother　alone。〃

Quick　little　Gretel；　who　could　not　quite　understand　what　was　passing；　threw　rather　an　indignant　look　at　Hans　and　walked　away。

〃Come　back；　Gretel；　and　sit　down；〃　said　Hans；　sorrowfully。

She　obeyed。

Dame　Brinker　and　her　boy　stood　by　the　window　while　the　doctor　and　his　assistant；　bending　over　the　bedside；　conversed　together　in　a　low　tone。　　There　was　no　danger　of　disturbing　the　patient。　　He　appeared　like　one　blind　and　deaf。　　Only　his　faint；　piteous　moans　showed　him　to　be　a　living　man。　　Hans　was　talking　earnestly；　and　in　a　low　voice；　for　he　did　not　wish　his　sister　to　hear。

With　dry；　parted　lips；　Dame　Brinker　leaned　toward　him；　searching　his　face；　as　if　suspecting　a　meaning　beyond　his　words。　　Once　she　gave　a　quick；　frightened　sob　that　made　Gretel　start；　but；　after　that；　she　listened　calmly。

When　Hans　ceased　to　speak；　his　mother　turned；　gave　one　long；　agonized　look　at　her　husband；　lying　there　so　pale　and　unconscious；　and　threw　herself　on　her　knees　beside　the　bed。

Poor　little　Gretel！　　What　did　all　this　mean？　　She　looked　with　questioning　eyes　at　Hans；　he　was　standing；　but　his　head　was　bent　as　if　in　prayerat　the　doctor。　　He　was　gently　feeling　her　father's　head　and　looked　like　one　examining　some　curious　stoneat　the　assistant。　　The　man　coughed　and　turned　awayat　her　mother。　　Ah；　little　Gretel；　that　was　the　best　you　could　doto　kneel　beside　her　and　twine　your　warm；　young　arms　about　her　neck；　to　weep　and　implore　God　to　listen。

When　the　mother　arose；　Dr。　Boekman；　with　a　show　of　trouble　in　his　eyes；　asked　gruffly；　〃Well；　jufvrouw；　shall　it　be　done？〃

〃Will　it　pain　him；　mynheer？〃　she　asked　in　a　trembling　voice。

〃I　cannot　say。　　Probably　not。　　Shall　it　be　done？〃

〃It　MAY　cure　him；　you　said；　andmynheer；　did　you　tell　my　boy　thatperhapsperhaps。　。　。〃　　She　could　not　finish。

〃Yes；　jufvrouw；　I　said　the　patient　might　sink　under　the　operation；　but　we　hope　it　may　prove　otherwise。〃　　He　looked　at　his　watch。　　The　assistant　moved　impatiently　toward　the　window。　　〃Come；　jufvrouw；　time　presses。　　Yes　or　no？〃

Hans　wound　his　arm　about　his　mother。　　It　was　not　his　usual　way。　　He　even　leaned　his　head　against　her　shoulder。

〃The　meester　awaits　an　answer；〃　he　whispered。

Dame　Brinker　had　long　been　head　of　her　house　in　every　sense。　　Many　a　time　she　had　been　very　stern　with　Hans；　ruling　him　with　a　strong　hand　and　rejoicing　in　her　motherly　discipline。　　NOW　she　felt　so　weak；　so　helpless。　　It　was　something　to　feel　that　firm　embrace。　　There　was　strength　even　in　the　touch　of　that　yellow　hair。

She　turned　to　her　boy　imploringly。

〃Oh；　Hans！　　What　shall　I　say？〃

〃Say　what　God　tells　thee；　Mother；〃　answered　Hans；　bowing　his　head。

One　quick；　questioning　prayer　to　Heaven　rose　from　the　mother's　heart。

The　answer　came。

She　turned　toward　Dr。　Boekman。

〃It　is　right；　mynheer。　　I　consent。〃

〃Humph！〃　grunted　the　doctor；　as　if　to　say；　〃You've　been　long　enough　about　it。〃　　Then　he　conferred　a　moment　with　his　assistant；　who　listened　with　great　outward　deference　but　was　inwardly　rejoicing　at　the　grand　joke　he　would　have　to　tell　his　fellow　students。　　He　had　actually　seen　a　tear　in　〃old　Boekman's〃　eye。

Meanwhile　Gretel　looked　on　in　trembling　silence；　but　when　she　saw　the　doctor　open　a　leather　case　and　take　out　one　sharp；　gleaming　instrument　after　another；　she　sprang　forward。

〃Oh；　Mother！　　The　poor　father　meant　no　wrong。　　Are　they　going　to　MURDER　him？〃

〃I　do　not　know；　child；〃　screamed　Dame　Brinker；　looking　fiercely　at　Gretel。　　〃I　do　not　know。〃

〃This　will　not　do；　jufvrouw；〃　said　Dr。　Boekman　sternly；　and　at　the　same　time　he　cast　a　quick；　penetrating　look　at　Hans。　　〃You　and　the　girl　must　leave　the　room。　　The　boy　may　stay。〃

Dame　Brinker　drew　herself　up　in　an　instant。　　Her　eyes　flashed。　　Her　whole　countenance　was　changed。　　She　looked　like　one　who　had　never　wept；　never　felt　a　moment's　weakness。　　Her　voice　was　low　but　decided。　　〃I　stay　with　my　husband；　mynheer。〃

Dr。　Boekman　looked　astonished。　　His　orders　were　seldom　disregarded　in　this　style。　　For　an　instant　his　eye　met　hers。

〃You　may　remain；　jufvrouw；〃　he　said　in　an　altered　voice。

Gretel　had　already　disappeared。

In　one　corner　of　the　cottage　was　a　small　closet　where　her　rough；　boxlike　bed　was　fastened　against　the　wall。　　None　would