hans brinker-第33部分

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！


。　　None　would　think　of　the　trembling　little　creature　crouching　there　in　the　dark。

Dr。　Boekman　took　off　his　heavy　coat；　filled　an　earthen　basin　with　water；　and　placed　it　near　the　bed。　　Then　turning　to　Hans　he　asked；　〃Can　I　depend　upon　you；　boy？〃

〃You　can；　mynheer。〃

〃I　believe　you。　　Stand　at　the　head；　hereyour　mother　may　sit　at　your　rightso。〃　　And　he　placed　a　chair　near　the　cot。

〃Remember；　jufvrouw；　there　must　be　no　cries；　no　fainting。〃

Dame　Brinker　answered　him　with　a　look。

He　was　satisfied。

〃Now；　Vollenhoven。〃

Oh；　that　case　with　the　terrible　instruments！　　The　assistant　lifted　them。　　Gretel；　who　had　been　peering　with　brimming　eyes　through　the　crack　of　the　closet　door；　could　remain　silent　no　longer。

She　rushed　frantically　across　the　apartment；　seized　her　hood；　and　ran　from　the　cottage。





Gretel　and　Hilda



It　was　recess　hour。　　At　the　first　stroke　of　the　schoolhouse　bell；　the　canal　seemed　to　give　a　tremendous　shout　and　grow　suddenly　alive　with　boys　and　girls。

Dozens　of　gaily　clad　children　were　skating　in　and　out　among　each　other；　and　all　their　pent…up　merriment　of　the　morning　was　relieving　itself　in　song　and　shout　and　laughter。　　There　was　nothing　to　check　the　flow　of　frolic。　　Not　a　thought　of　schoolbooks　came　out　with　them　into　the　sunshine。　　Latin；　arithmetic；　grammarall　were　locked　up　for　an　hour　in　the　dingy　schoolroom。　　The　teacher　might　be　a　noun　if　he　wished；　and　a　proper　one　at　that；　but　THEY　meant　to　enjoy　themselves。　　As　long　as　the　skating　was　as　perfect　as　this；　it　made　no　difference　whether　Holland　were　on　the　North　Pole　or　the　equator；　and；　as　for　philosophy；　how　could　they　bother　themselves　with　inertia　and　gravitation　and　such　things　when　it　was　as　much　as　they　could　do　to　keep　from　getting　knocked　over　in　the　commotion。

In　the　height　of　the　fun；　one　of　the　children　called　out；　〃What　is　that？〃

〃What？　　Where？〃　cried　a　dozen　voices。

〃Why；　don't　you　see？　　That　dark　thing　over　there　by　the　idiot's　cottage。〃

〃I　don't　see　anything；〃　said　one。

〃I　do；〃　shouted　another。　　〃It's　a　dog。〃

〃Where's　any　dog？〃　put　in　a　squeaky　voice　that　we　have　heard　before。　　〃It's　no　such　thingit's　a　heap　of　rags。〃

〃Pooh！　　Voost；〃　retorted　another　gruffly；　〃that's　about　as　near　the　fact　as　you　ever　get。　　It's　the　goose　girl；　Gretel；　looking　for　rats。〃

〃Well；　what　of　it？〃　squeaked　Voost。　　〃Isn't　SHE　a　bundle　of　rags；　I'd　like　to　know？〃

〃Ha！　ha！　　Pretty　good　for　you；　Voost！　　You'll　get　a　medal　for　wit　yet；　if　you　keep　on。〃

〃You'd　get　something　else；　if　her　brother　Hans　were　here。　　I'll　warrant　you　would！〃　said　a　muffled…up　little　fellow　with　a　cold　in　his　head。〃

As　Hans　was　NOT　there；　Voost　could　afford　to　scout　the　insinuation。

〃Who　cares　for　HIM；　little　sneezer？　　I'd　fight　a　dozen　like　him　any　day；　and　you　in　the　bargain。〃

〃You　would；　would　you？　　I'd　like　to　catch　you　all　at　it；〃　and；　by　way　of　proving　his　words；　the　sneezer　skated　off　at　the　top　of　his　speed。

Just　then　a　general　chase　after　three　of　the　biggest　boys　of　the　school　was　proposedand　friend　and　foe；　frolicsome　as　ever；　were　soon　united　in　a　common　cause。

Only　one　of　all　that　happy　throng　remembered　the　dark　little　form　by　the　idiot's　cottage。　　Poor；　frightened　little　Gretel！　　She　was　not　thinking　of　them；　though　their　merry　laughter　floated　lightly　toward　her；　making　her　feel　like　one　in　a　dream。

How　loud　the　moans　were　behind　the　darkened　window！　　What　if　those　strange　men　were　really　killing　her　father！

The　thought　made　her　spring　to　her　feet　with　a　cry　of　horror。

〃Ah；　no！〃　　She　sobbed；　sinking　upon　the　frozen　mound　of　earth　where　she　had　been　sitting。　　Mother　is　there；　and　Hans。　　They　will　care　for　him。　　But　how　pale　they　were。　　And　even　Hans　was　crying！

Why　did　the　cross　old　meester　keep　him　and　send　me　away？　she　thought。　　I　could　have　clung　to　the　mother　and　kissed　her。　　That　always　makes　her　stroke　my　hair　and　speak　gently；　even　after　she　has　scolded　me。　　How　quiet　it　is　now！　　Oh；　if　the　father　should　die；　and　Hans；　and　the　mother；　what　WOULD　I　do？　　And　Gretel；　shivering　with　cold；　buried　her　face　in　her　arms　and　cried　as　if　her　heart　would　break。

The　poor　child　had　been　tasked　beyond　her　strength　during　the　past　four　days。　　Through　all；　she　had　been　her　mother's　willing　little　handmaiden；　soothing；　helping；　and　cheering　the　half…widowed　woman　by　day　and　watching　and　praying　beside　her　all　the　long　night。　　She　knew　that　something　terrible　and　mysterious　was　taking　place　at　this　moment；　something　that　had　been　too　terrible　and　mysterious　for　even　kind；　good　Hans　to　tell。

Then　new　thoughts　came。　　Why　had　not　Hans　told　her？　　It　was　a　shame。　　It　was　HER　father　as　well　as　his。　　She　was　no　baby。　　She　had　once　taken　a　sharp　knife　from　the　father's　hand。　　She　had　even　drawn　him　away　from　the　mother　on　that　awful　night　when　Hans；　as　big　as　he　was；　could　not　help　her。　　Why；　then；　must　she　be　treated　like　one　who　could　do　nothing？　　oh；　how　very　still　it　washow　bitter；　bitter　cold！　　If　Annie　Bouman　had　only　stayed　home　instead　of　going　to　Amsterdam；　it　wouldn't　be　so　lonely。　　How　cold　her　feet　were　growing！　　Was　it　the　moaning　that　made　her　feel　as　if　she　were　floating　in　the　air？

This　would　not　dothe　mother　might　need　her　help　at　any　moment！

Rousing　herself　with　an　effort；　Gretel　sat　upright；　rubbing　her　eyes　and　wonderingwondering　that　the　sky　was　so　bright　and　blue；　wondering　at　the　stillness　in　the　cottage；　more　than　all；　at　the　laughter　rising　and　falling　in　the　distance。

Soon　she　sank　down　again；　the　strange　medley　of　thought　growing　more　and　more　confused　in　her　bewildered　brain。

What　a　strange　lip　the　meester　had！　　How　the　stork's　nest　upon　the　roof　seemed　to　rustle　and　whisper　down　to　her！　　How　bright　those　knives　were　in　the　leather　casebrighter　perhaps　than　the　silver　skates。　　If　she　had　but　worn　her　new　jacket；　she　would　not　shiver　so。　　The　new　jacket　was　prettythe　only　pretty　thing　she　had　ever　worn。　　God　had　taken　care　of　her　father　so　long。　　He　would　do　it　still；　if　those　two　men　would　but　go　away。　　Ah；　now　the　meesters　were　on　the　roof；　they　were　clambering　to　the　topnoit　was　her　mother　and　Hansor　the　storks。　　It　was　so　dark；　who　could　tell？　　And　the　mound　rocking；　swinging　in　that　strange　way。　　How　sweetly　the　birds　were　singing。　　They　must　be　winter　birds；　for　the　air　was　thick　with　iciclesnot　one　bird　but　twenty。　　Oh！　hear　them；　Mother。　　Wake　me；　Mother；　for　the　race。　　I　am　so　tired　with　crying；　and　crying

A　firm　hand　was　laid　upon　her　shoulder。

〃Get　up；　little　girl！〃　cried　a　kind　voice。　　〃This　will　not　do；　for　you　to　lie　here　and　freeze。〃

Gretel　slowly　raised　her　head。　　She　was　so　sleepy　that　it　seemed　nothing　strange　to　her　that　Hilda　van　Gleck　should　be　leaning　over　her；　looking　with　kind；　beautiful　eyes　into　her　face。　　She　had　often　dreamed　it　before。

But　she　had　never　dreamed　that　Hilda　was　shaking　her　roughly；　almost　dragging　her　by　main　force；　never　dreamed　that　she　heard　her　saying；　〃Gretel！　　Gretel　Brinker！　　You　MUST　wake！〃

This　was　real。　　Gretel　looked　up。　　Still　the　lovely　delicate　young　lady　was　shaking；　rubbing；　fairly　pounding　her。　　It　must　be　a　dream。　　No；　there　was　the　cottageand　the　stork's　nest　and　the　meester's　coach　by　the　canal。　　She　could　see　them　now　quite　plainly。　　Her　hands　were　tingling；　her　feet　throbbing。　　Hilda　was　forcing　her　to　walk。

At　last　Gretel　began　to　feel　like　herself　again。

〃I　have　been　asleep；〃　she　faltered；　rubbing　her　eyes　with　both　hands　and　looking　very　much　ashamed。

〃Yes；　indeed；　entirely　too　much　asleep〃laughed　Hilda；　whose　lips　were　very　pale〃but　you　are　well　enough　now。　　Lean　upon　me；　Gretel。　　There；　keep　moving；　you　will　soon　be　warm　enough　to　go　by　the　fire。　　Now　let　me　take　you　into　the　cottage。〃

〃Oh；　no！　no！　no！　jufvrouw；　not　in　there！　　The　meester　is　there。　　He　sent　me　away！〃

Hilda　was　puzzled；　but　she　wisely　forebore　to　ask　at　present　for　an　explanation。　　〃Very　well；　Gretel；　try　to　walk　faster。　　I　saw　you　upon　the　mound；　some　time　ago；　but　I　thought　you　were　playing。　　That　is　right；　keep　moving。〃

All　this　time　the　kindhearted　girl　had　been　forcing　Gretel　to　walk　up　and　down；　supporting　her　with　one　arm　and；　with　the　other；　striving　as　well　as　she　could　to　take　off　her　own　warm　sacque。

Suddenly　Gretel　suspected　her　intention。

〃Oh；　jufvrouw！　jufvrouw！〃　she　cried　imploringly。　　〃PLEASE　never　think　of　such　a　thing　as　THAT。　　Oh！　please　keep　it　on；　I　am　burning　all　over；　jufvrouw！　　I　really　am　burning。　　Not　burning　exactly；　but　pins　and　needles　pricking　all　over　me。　　Oh；　jufvrouw；　don't！〃

The　poor　child's　dismay　was　so　genuine　that　Hilda　hastened　to　reassure　her。

〃Very　well；　Gretel；　move　your　arms　thenso。　　Why；　your　cheeks　are　as　pink　as　roses；　already。　　I　think　the　meester　would　let　you　in　now；　he　certainly　would。　　Is　your　father　so　very　ill？〃

〃Ah；　jufvrouw；〃　cried　Gretel；　weeping　afresh；　〃he　is　dying；　I　think。　　There　are　two　meesters　in　with　him　at　this　moment；　and　the　mother　has　scarcely　spoken　today。　　Can　you　hear　him　moan；　jufvrouw？〃　she　added　with　sudden　terror。　　〃The　air　buzzes　so　I　cannot　hear。　　He　may　be　dead！　　Oh；　I　do　wish　I　could　hear　him！〃

Hilda　listened。　　The　cottage　was　very　near；　but　not　a　sound　could　be　heard。

Something　told　her　that　Gretel　was　right。　　She　ran　to　the　window。

〃You　cannot　see　there；　my　lady；〃　sobbed　Gretel　eagerly。　　〃The　mother　has　oiled　paper　hanging　inside。　　But　at　the　other　one；　in　the　south　end　of　the　cottage；　you　can　look　in　where　the　paper　is　torn。〃

Hilda；　in　her　anxiety；　ran　around；　past　the　corner　where　the　low　roof　was　fringed　with　its　loosened　thatch。

A　sudden　thought　checked　her。

〃It　is　not　right　for　me　to　peep　into　another's　house　in　this　way；〃　she　said　to　herself。　　Then；　softly　calling　to　Gretel；　she　added　in　a　whisper；　〃You　may　lookperhaps　he　is　only　sleeping。〃

Gretel　tried　to　walk　briskly　toward　the　spot；　but　her　limbs　were　trembling。　　Hilda　hastened　to　her　support。

〃You　are　sick；　yourself；　I　fear；〃　she　said　kindly。

〃No；　not　sick；　jufvrouw；　but　my　heart　cries　all　the　time　now；　even　when　my　eyes　are　as　dry　as　yours。　　Why；　jufvrouw；　your　eyes　are　not　dry！　　Are　you　crying　for　US？　　Oh；　jufvrouw；　if　God　sees　you！　　Oh！　　I　know　father　will　get　better　now。〃　　And　the　little　creature；　even　while　reaching　to　look