the story of an african farm-第4章
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！
for nights on nights to come！ The anguish that sleeps all day on the heart
like a heavy worm； and wakes up at night to feed！
There are some of us who in after years say to Fate； 〃Now deal us your
hardest blow； give us what you will； but let us never again suffer as we
suffered when we were children。〃
The barb in the arrow of childhood's suffering is this： its intense
loneliness； its intense agony。
Chapter 1。II。 Plans and Bushman Paintings。
At last came the year of the great drought； the year of eighteen…sixty…two。
From end to end of the land the earth cried for water。 Man and beast
turned their eyes to the pitiless sky； that like the roof of some brazen
oven arched overhead。 On the farm； day after day； month after month； the
water in the dams fell lower and lower； the sheep died in the fields； the
cattle； scarcely able to crawl； tottered as they moved from spot to spot in
search of food。 Week after week； month after month； the sun looked down
from the cloudless sky； till the karoo…bushes were leafless sticks； broken
into the earth； and the earth itself was naked and bare； and only the milk…
bushes； like old hags； pointed their shrivelled fingers heavenward； praying
for the rain that never came。
。。。
It was on an afternoon of a long day in that thirsty summer； that on the
side of the kopje furthest from the homestead the two girls sat。 They were
somewhat grown since the days when they played hide…and…seek there； but
they were mere children still。
Their dress was of dark； coarse stuff； their common blue pinafores reached
to their ankles； and on their feet they wore home…made velschoen。
They sat under a shelving rock； on the surface of which were still visible
some old Bushman paintings； their red and black pigments having been
preserved through long years from wind and rain by the overhanging ledge；
grotesque oxen； elephants； rhinoceroses； and a one…horned beast； such as no
man ever has seen or ever shall。
The girls sat with their backs to the paintings。 In their laps were a few
fern and ice…plant leaves； which by dint of much searching they had
gathered under the rocks。
Em took off her big brown kapje and began vigorously to fan her red face
with it； but her companion bent low over the leaves in her lap； and at last
took up an ice…plant leaf and fastened it on to the front of her blue
pinafore with a pin。
〃Diamonds must look as these drops do；〃 she said； carefully bending over
the leaf； and crushing one crystal drop with her delicate little nail。
〃When I；〃 she said； 〃am grown up； I shall wear real diamonds； exactly like
these in my hair。〃
Her companion opened her eyes and wrinkled her low forehead。
〃Where will you find them； Lyndall？ The stones are only crystals that we
picked up yesterday。 Old Otto says so。〃
〃And you think that I am going to stay here always？〃
The lip trembled scornfully。
〃Ah； no；〃 said her companion。 〃I suppose some day we shall go somewhere；
but now we are only twelve； and we cannot marry till we are seventeen。
Four years； fivethat is a long time to wait。 And we might not have
diamonds if we did marry。〃
〃And you think that I am going to stay here till then？〃
〃Well； where are you going？〃 asked her companion。
The girl crushed an ice…plant leaf between her fingers。
〃Tant Sannie is a miserable old woman；〃 she said。 〃Your father married her
when he was dying； because he thought she would take better care of the
farm； and of us； than an English woman。 He said we should be taught and
sent to school。 Now she saves every farthing for herself； buys us not even
one old book。 She does not ill…use uswhy？ Because she is afraid of your
father's ghost。 Only this morning she told her Hottentot that she would
have beaten you for breaking the plate； but that three nights ago she heard
a rustling and a grunting behind the pantry door； and knew it was your
father coming to spook her。 She is a miserable old woman；〃 said the girl；
throwing the leaf from her； 〃but I intend to go to school。〃
〃And if she won't let you？〃
〃I shall make her。〃
〃How？〃
The child took not the slightest notice of the last question； and folded
her small arms across her knees。
〃But why do you want to go； Lyndall？〃
〃There is nothing helps in this world；〃 said the child slowly； 〃but to be
very wise； and to know everythingto be clever。〃
〃But I should not like to go to school！〃 persisted the small freckled face。
〃And you do not need to。 When you are seventeen this Boer…woman will go；
you will have this farm and everything that is upon it for your own； but
I；〃 said Lyndall； 〃will have nothing。 I must learn。〃
〃Oh； Lyndall！ I will give you some of my sheep；〃 said Em； with a sudden
burst of pitying generosity。
〃I do not want your sheep；〃 said the girl slowly； 〃I want things of my own。
When I am grown up；〃 she added； the flush on her delicate features
deepening at every word； 〃there will be nothing that I do not know。 I
shall be rich； very rich； and I shall wear not only for best； but every
day； a pure white silk； and little rose…buds； like the lady in Tant
Sannie's bedroom； and my petticoats will be embroidered； not only at the
bottom； but all through。〃
The lady in Tant Sannie's bedroom was a gorgeous creature from a fashion…
sheet； which the Boer…woman； somewhere obtaining； had pasted up at the foot
of her bed； to be profoundly admired by the children。
〃It would be very nice；〃 said Em； but it seemed a dream of quite too
transcendent a glory ever to be realized。
At this instant there appeared at the foot of the kopje two figuresthe
one； a dog； white and sleek； one yellow ear hanging down over his left eye；
the other； his master； a lad of fourteen； and no other than the boy Waldo；
grown into a heavy； slouching youth of fourteen。 The dog mounted the kopje
quickly； his master followed slowly。 He wore an aged jacket much too large
for him； and rolled up at the wrists； and； as of old； a pair of dilapidated
velschoens and a felt hat。 He stood before the two girls at last。
〃What have you been doing today？〃 asked Lyndall； lifting her eyes to his
face。
〃Looking after ewes and lambs below the dam。 Here！〃 he said； holding out
his hand awkwardly； 〃I brought them for you。〃
There were a few green blades of tender grass。
〃Where did you find them？〃
〃On the dam wall。〃
She fastened them beside the leaf on her blue pinafore。
〃They look nice there；〃 said the boy； awkwardly rubbing his great hands and
watching her。
〃Yes； but the pinafore spoils it all； it is not pretty。〃
He looked at it closely。
〃Yes； the squares are ugly； but it looks nice upon youbeautiful。〃
He now stood silent before them； his great hands hanging loosely at either
side。
〃Some one has come today；〃 he mumbled out suddenly； when the idea struck
him。
〃Who？〃 asked both girls。
〃An Englishman on foot。〃
〃What does he look like？〃 asked Em。
〃I did not notice； but he has a very large nose；〃 said the boy slowly。 〃He
asked the way to the house。〃
〃Didn't he tell you his name？〃
〃YesBonaparte Blenkins。〃
〃Bonaparte！〃 said Em； 〃why that is like the reel Hottentot Hans plays on
the violin
'Bonaparte； Bonaparte； my wife is sick；
In the middle of the week； but Sundays not；
I give her rice and beans for soup'
It is a funny name。〃
〃There was a living man called Bonaparte once；〃 said she of the great eyes。
〃Ah yes； I know；〃 said Em〃the poor prophet whom the lions ate。 I am
always so sorry for him。〃
Her companion cast a quiet glance upon her。
〃He was the greatest man who ever lived；〃 she said； 〃the man I like best。〃
〃And what did he do？〃 asked Em； conscious that she had made a mistake； and
that her prophet was not the man。
〃He was one man； only one；〃 said her little companion slowly；
