the mysterious stranger-第6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！


had　the　mortgage…money　in　its　grip　for　the　present。　　Old　Ursula；　who　was
cook；　chambermaid；　housekeeper；　laundress；　and　everything　else　for　Father
Peter；　and　had　been　Marget's　nurse　in　earlier　years；　said　God　would
provide。　　But　she　said　that　from　habit；　for　she　was　a　good　Christian。
She　meant　to　help　in　the　providing；　to　make　sure；　if　she　could　find　a
way。

We　boys　wanted　to　go　and　see　Marget　and　show　friendliness　for　her；　but
our　parents　were　afraid　of　offending　the　community　and　wouldn't　let　us。
The　astrologer　was　going　around　inflaming　everybody　against　Father　Peter；
and　saying　he　was　an　abandoned　thief　and　had　stolen　eleven　hundred　and
seven　gold　ducats　from　him。　　He　said　he　knew　he　was　a　thief　from　that
fact；　for　it　was　exactly　the　sum　he　had　lost　and　which　Father　Peter
pretended　he　had　〃found。〃

In　the　afternoon　of　the　fourth　day　after　the　catastrophe　old　Ursula
appeared　at　our　house　and　asked　for　some　washing　to　do；　and　begged　my
mother　to　keep　this　secret；　to　save　Marget's　pride；　who　would　stop　this
project　if　she　found　it　out；　yet　Marget　had　not　enough　to　eat　and　was
growing　weak。　　Ursula　was　growing　weak　herself；　and　showed　it；　and　she
ate　of　the　food　that　was　offered　her　like　a　starving　person；　but　could
not　be　persuaded　to　carry　any　home；　for　Marget　would　not　eat　charity
food。　　She　took　some　clothes　down　to　the　stream　to　wash　them；　but　we　saw
from　the　window　that　handling　the　bat　was　too　much　for　her　strength；　so
she　was　called　back　and　a　trifle　of　money　offered　her；　which　she　was
afraid　to　take　lest　Marget　should　suspect；　then　she　took　it；　saying　she
would　explain　that　she　found　it　in　the　road。　　To　keep　it　from　being　a　lie
and　damning　her　soul；　she　got　me　to　drop　it　while　she　watched；　then　she
went　along　by　there　and　found　it；　and　exclaimed　with　surprise　and　joy；
and　picked　it　up　and　went　her　way。　　Like　the　rest　of　the　village；　she
could　tell　every…day　lies　fast　enough　and　without　taking　any　precautions
against　fire　and　brimstone　on　their　account；　but　this　was　a　new　kind　of
lie；　and　it　had　a　dangerous　look　because　she　hadn't　had　any　practice　in
it。　　After　a　week's　practice　it　wouldn't　have　given　her　any　trouble。　　It
is　the　way　we　are　made。

I　was　in　trouble；　for　how　would　Marget　live？　　Ursula　could　not　find　a
coin　in　the　road　every　dayperhaps　not　even　a　second　one。　　And　I　was
ashamed；　too；　for　not　having　been　near　Marget；　and　she　so　in　need　of
friends；　but　that　was　my　parents'　fault；　not　mine；　and　I　couldn't　help
it。

I　was　walking　along　the　path；　feeling　very　down…hearted；　when　a　most
cheery　and　tingling　freshening…up　sensation　went　rippling　through　me；　and
I　was　too　glad　for　any　words；　for　I　knew　by　that　sign　that　Satan　was　by。
I　had　noticed　it　before。　　Next　moment　he　was　alongside　of　me　and　I　was
telling　him　all　my　trouble　and　what　had　been　happening　to　Marget　and　her
uncle。　　While　we　were　talking　we　turned　a　curve　and　saw　old　Ursula
resting　in　the　shade　of　a　tree；　and　she　had　a　lean　stray　kitten　in　her
lap　and　was　petting　it。　　I　asked　her　where　she　got　it；　and　she　said　it
came　out　of　the　woods　and　followed　her；　and　she　said　it　probably　hadn't
any　mother　or　any　friends　and　she　was　going　to　take　it　home　and　take　care
of　it。　　Satan　said：

〃I　understand　you　are　very　poor。　　Why　do　you　want　to　add　another　mouth　to
feed？　　Why　don't　you　give　it　to　some　rich　person？〃

Ursula　bridled　at　this　and　said：　〃Perhaps　you　would　like　to　have　it。　　You
must　be　rich；　with　your　fine　clothes　and　quality　airs。〃　　Then　she　sniffed
and　said：　〃Give　it　to　the　richthe　idea！　　The　rich　don't　care　for
anybody　but　themselves；　it's　only　the　poor　that　have　feeling　for　the
poor；　and　help　them。　　The　poor　and　God。　　God　will　provide　for　this
kitten。〃

〃What　makes　you　think　so？〃

Ursula's　eyes　snapped　with　anger。　　〃Because　I　know　it！〃　she　said。　　〃Not　a
sparrow　falls　to　the　ground　without　His　seeing　it。〃

〃But　it　falls；　just　the　same。　　What　good　is　seeing　it　fall？〃

Old　Ursula's　jaws　worked；　but　she　could　not　get　any　word　out　for　the
moment；　she　was　so　horrified。　　When　she　got　her　tongue；　she　stormed　out；
〃Go　about　your　business；　you　puppy；　or　I　will　take　a　stick　to　you！〃

I　could　not　speak；　I　was　so　scared。　　I　knew　that　with　his　notions　about
the　human　race　Satan　would　consider　it　a　matter　of　no　consequence　to
strike　her　dead；　there　being　〃plenty　more〃；　but　my　tongue　stood　still；　I
could　give　her　no　warning。　　But　nothing　happened；　Satan　remained
tranquiltranquil　and　indifferent。　　I　suppose　he　could　not　be　insulted
by　Ursula　any　more　than　the　king　could　be　insulted　by　a　tumble…bug。　　The
old　woman　jumped　to　her　feet　when　she　made　her　remark；　and　did　it　as
briskly　as　a　young　girl。　　It　had　been　many　years　since　she　had　done　the
like　of　that。　　That　was　Satan's　influence；　he　was　a　fresh　breeze　to　the
weak　and　the　sick；　wherever　he　came。　　His　presence　affected　even　the　lean
kitten；　and　it　skipped　to　the　ground　and　began　to　chase　a　leaf。　　This
surprised　Ursula；　and　she　stood　looking　at　the　creature　and　nodding　her
head　wonderingly；　her　anger　quite　forgotten。

〃What's　come　over　it？〃　she　said。　　〃Awhile　ago　it　could　hardly　walk。〃

〃You　have　not　seen　a　kitten　of　that　breed　before；〃　said　Satan。

Ursula　was　not　proposing　to　be　friendly　with　the　mocking　stranger；　and
she　gave　him　an　ungentle　look　and　retorted：　〃Who　asked　you　to　come　here
and　pester　me；　I'd　like　to　know？　　And　what　do　you　know　about　what　I've
seen　and　what　I　haven't　seen？〃

〃You　haven't　seen　a　kitten　with　the　hair…spines　on　its　tongue　pointing　to
the　front；　have　you？〃

〃Nonor　you；　either。〃

〃Well；　examine　this　one　and　see。〃

Ursula　was　become　pretty　spry；　but　the　kitten　was　spryer；　and　she　could
not　catch　it；　and　had　to　give　it　up。　　Then　Satan　said：

〃Give　it　a　name；　and　maybe　it　will　come。〃

Ursula　tried　several　names；　but　the　kitten　was　not　interested。

〃Call　it　Agnes。　　Try　that。〃

The　creature　answered　to　the　name　and　came。　　Ursula　examined　its　tongue。
〃Upon　my　word；　it's　true！〃　she　said。　　〃I　have　not　seen　this　kind　of　a　cat
before。　　Is　it　yours？〃

〃No。〃

〃Then　how　did　you　know　its　name　so　pat？〃

〃Because　all　cats　of　that　breed　are　named　Agnes；　they　will　not　answer　to
any　other。〃

Ursula　was　impressed。　　〃It　is　the　most　wonderful　thing！〃　Then　a　shadow　of
trouble　came　into　her　face；　for　her　superstitions　were　aroused；　and　she
reluctantly　put　the　creature　down；　saying：　〃I　suppose　I　must　let　it　go；　I
am　not　afraidno；　not　exactly　that；　though　the　priestwell；　I've　heard
peopleindeed；　many　people。。。　　And；　besides；　it　is　quite　well　now　and
can　take　care　of　itself。〃　　She　sighed；　and　turned　to　go；　murmuring：　〃It
is　such　a　pretty　one；　too；　and　would　be　such　companyand　the　house　is　so
sad　and　lonesome　these　troubled　days。。。　　Miss　Marget　so　mournful　and　just
a　shadow；　and　the　old　master　shut　up　in　jail。〃

〃It　seems　a　pity　not　to　keep　it；〃　said　Satan。

Ursula　turned　quicklyjust　as　if　she　were　hoping　some　one　would
encourage　her。

〃Why？〃　she　asked；　wistfully。

〃Because　this　breed　brings　luck。〃

〃Does　it？　　Is　it　true？　　Young　man；　do　you　know　it　to　be　true？　　How　does
it　bring　luck？〃

〃Well；　it　brings　money；　anyway。〃

Ursula　looked　disappointed。　　〃Money？　　A　cat　bring　money？　　The　idea！　　You
could　never　sell　it　here；　people　do　not　buy　cats　here；　one　can't　even
give　them　away。〃　　She　turned　to　go。

〃I　don't　mean　sell　it。　　I　mean　have　an　income　from　it。　　This　kind　is
called　the　Lucky　Cat。　　Its　owner　finds　four　silver　groschen　in　his　pocket
every　morning。〃

I　saw　the　indignation　rising　in　the　old　woman's　face。　　She　was　insulted。
This　boy　was　making　fun　of　her。　　That　was　her　thought。　　She　thrust　her
hands　into　her　pockets　and　straightened　up　to　give　him　a　piece　of　her
mind。　　Her　temper　was　all　up；　and　hot。　　Her　mouth　came　open　and　let　out
three　words　of　a　bitter　sentence；。。。　　then　it　fell　silent；　and　the　anger
in　her　face　turned　to　surprise　or　wonder　or　fear；　or　something；　and　she
slowly　brought　out　her　hands　from　her　pockets　and　opened　them　and　held
them　so。　　In　one　was　my　piece　of　money；　in　the　other　lay　four　silver
groschen。　　She　gazed　a　little　while；　perhaps　to　see　if　the　groschen　would
vanish　away；　then　she　said；　fervently：

〃It's　trueit's　trueand　I'm　ashamed　and　beg　forgiveness；　O　dear　master
and　benefactor！〃　And　she　ran　to　Satan　and　kissed　his　hand；　over　and　over
again；　according　to　the　Austrian　custom。

In　her　heart　she　probably　believed　it　was　a　witch…cat　and　an　agent　of　the
Devil；　but　no　matter；　it　was　all　the　more　certain　to　be　able　to　keep　its
contract　and　furnish　a　daily　good　living　for　the　family；　for　in　matters
of　finance　even　the　piousest　of　our　peasants　would　have　more　confidence
in　an　arrangement　with　the　Devil　than　with　an　archangel。　　Ursula　started
homeward；　with　Agnes　in　her　arms；　and　I　said　I　wished　I　had　her　privilege
of　seeing　Marget。

Then　I　caught　my　breath；　for　we　were　there。　　There　in　the　parlor；　and
Marget　standing　looking　at　us；　astonished。　　She　was　feeble　and　pale；　but
I　knew　that　those　conditions　would　not　last　in　Satan's　atmosphere；　and　it
turned　out　so。　　I　introduced　Satanthat　is；　Philip　Traumand　we　sat
down　and　talked。　　There　was　no　constraint。　　We　were　simple　folk；　in　our
village；　and　when　a　stranger　was　a　pleasant　person　we　were　soon　friends。
Marget　wondered　how　we　got　in　without　her　hearing　us。　　Traum　said　the
door　was　open；　and　we　walked　in　and　waited　until　she　should　turn　around
and　greet　us。　　This　was　not　true；　no　door　was　open；　we　entered　through
the　walls　or　the　roof　or　down　the　chimney；　or　somehow；　but　no　matter；
what　Satan　wished　a　person　to　believe；　the　person　was　sure　to　believe；
and　so　Marget　was　quite　satisfied　with　that　explanation。　　And　then　the
main　part　of　her　mind　was　on　Traum；　anyway；　she　couldn't　keep　her　eyes
off　him；　he　was　so　beautiful。　　That　gratified　me；　and　made　me　proud。　　I
hoped　he　would　show　off　some；　but　he　didn't。　　He　seemed　only　interested
in　being　friendly　and　telling　lies。　　He　said　he　was　an　orphan。　　That　made
Marget　pity　him。　　The　water　came　into　her　eyes。　　He　said　he　had　never
known　his　mamma；　she　passed　away　while　he　was　a　young　thing；　and　said　his
papa　was　in　shattered　health；　and　had　no　property　to　speak　ofin　fact；
none　of　any　earthly　valuebut　he　had　an　uncle　in　busine