a simpleton-第62章
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past。
Phoebe instantly drew her husband apart by the sleeve。 〃Who do you
think that is？ You'll never guess。 'Tis the great doctor that
saved Dick's life in England with cutting of his throat。 But； oh；
my dear； he is not the man he was。 He is afflicted。 Out of his
mind partly。 Well； we must cure him； and square the account for
Dick。 I'm a proud woman at finding him； and bringing him here to
make him all right again； I can tell you。 Oh； I am happy； I am
happy。 Little did I think to be so happy as I am。 And； my dear； I
have brought you a whole sackful of newspapers； old and new。〃
〃That is a good girl。 But tell me a little more about him。 What
is his name？〃
〃Christie。〃
〃Dr。 Christie？〃
〃No doubt。 He wasn't an apothecary； or a chemist； you may be sure；
but a high doctor； and the cleverest ever was or ever will be： and
isn't it sad； love； to see him brought down so？ My heart yearns
for the poor man： and then his wifethe sweetest； loveliest
creature you everoh！〃 Phoebe stopped very short； for she
remembered something all of a sudden； nor did she ever again give
Falcon a chance of knowing that the woman； whose presence had so
disturbed him； was this very Dr。 Christie's wife。 〃Curious！〃
thought she to herself； 〃the world to be so large； and yet so
small：〃 then aloud； 〃They are unpacking the wagon； come； dear。 I
don't think I have forgotten anything of yours。 There's cigars；
and tobacco； and powder； and shot； and bullets； and everything to
make you comfortable； as my duty 'tis； andoh； but I'm a happy
woman。〃
Hottentots； big and little； clustered about the wagon。 Treasure
after treasure was delivered with cries of delight； the dogs found
out it was a joyful time； and barked about the wheeled treasury；
and the place did not quiet down till sunset。
A plain but tidy little room was given to Christopher； and he slept
there like a top。 Next morning his nurse called him up to help her
water the grass。 She led the way with a tub on her head and two
buckets in it。 She took him to the dam； when she got there she
took out the buckets； left one on the bank； and gave the other to
Christie。 She then went down the steps till the water was up to
her neck； and bade Christie fill the tub。 He poured eight
bucketsful in。 Then she came slowly out； straight as an arrow；
balancing this tub full on her head。 Then she held out her hands
for the two buckets。 Christie filled them； wondering； and gave
them to her。 She took them like toy buckets； and glided slowly
home with this enormous weight； and never spilled a drop。 Indeed；
the walk was more smooth and noble than ever； if possible。
When she reached the house； she hailed a Hottentot； and it cost the
man and Christopher a great effort of strength to lower her tub
between them。
〃What a vertebral column you must have！〃 said Christopher。
〃You must not speak bad words； my child；〃 said she。 〃Now； you
water the grass and the flowers。〃 She gave him a watering…pot； and
watched him maternally； but did not put a hand to it。 She
evidently considered this part of the business as child's play； and
not a fit exercise of her powers。
It was only by drowning that little oasis twice a day that the
grass was kept green and the flowers alive。
She found him other jobs in course of the day； and indeed he was
always helping somebody or other； and became quite ruddy； bronzed；
and plump of cheek； and wore a strange look of happiness； except at
times when he got apart； and tried to recall the distant past。
Then he would knit his brow； and looked perplexed and sad。
They were getting quite used to him； and he to them； when one day
he did not come in to dinner。 Phoebe sent out for him； but they
could not find him。
The sun set。 Phoebe became greatly alarmed； and even Dick was
anxious。
They all turned out； with guns and dogs； and hunted for him beneath
the stars。
Just before daybreak Dick Dale saw a fire sparkle by the side of a
distant thicket。 He went to it； and there was Ucatella seated；
calm and grand as antique statue； and Christopher lying by her
side； with a shawl thrown over him。 As Dale came hurriedly up； she
put her finger to her lips； and said； 〃My child sleeps。 Do not
wake him。 When he sleeps； he hunts the past； as Collie hunts the
springbok。〃
〃Here's a go；〃 said Dick。 Then； hearing a chuckle； he looked up；
and was aware of a comical appendage to the scene。 There hung；
head downwards； from a branch； a Kafir boy； who was； in fact； the
brother of the stately Ucatella； only went further into antiquity
for his models of deportment； for； as she imitated the antique
marbles； he reproduced the habits of that epoch when man roosted；
and was arboreal。 Wheel somersaults； and； above all； swinging head
downwards from a branch； were the sweeteners of his existence。
〃Oh！ YOU are there； are you？〃 said Dick。
〃Iss；〃 said Ucatella。 〃Tim good boy。 Tim found my child。〃
〃Well；〃 said Dick； 〃he has chosen a nice place。 This is the clump
the last lion came out of； at least they say so。 For my part； I
never saw an African lion； Falcon says they've all took ship； and
gone to England。 However； I shall stay here with my rifle till
daybreak。 'Tis tempting Providence to lie down on the skirt of a
wood for Lord knows what to jump out on ye unawares。〃
Tim was sent home for Hottentots； and Christopher was carried home；
still sleeping； and laid on his own bed。
He slept twenty…four hours more； and； when he was fairly awake； a
sort of mist seemed to clear away in places； and he remembered
things at random。 He remembered being at sea on the raft with the
dead body； that picture was quite vivid to him。 He remembered；
too； being in the hospital； and meeting Phoebe； and every
succeeding incident； but as respected the more distant past； he
could not recall it by any effort of his will。 His mind could only
go into that remoter past by material stepping…stones； and what
stepping…stones he had about him here led him back to general
knowledge； but not to his private history。
In this condition he puzzled them all strangely at the farm； his
mind was alternately so clear and so obscure。 He would chat with
Phoebe； and sometimes give her a good practical hint； but the next
moment； helpless for want of memory； that great faculty without
which judgment cannot act； having no material。
After some days of this； he had another great sleep。 It brought
him back the distant past in chapters。 His wedding…day。 His
wife's face and dress upon that day。 His parting with her： his
whole voyage out： but； strange to say； it swept away one…half of
that which he had recovered at his last sleep； and he no longer
remembered clearly how he came to be at Dale's Kloof。
Thus his mind might be compared to one climbing a slippery place；
who gains a foot or two； then slips back； but on the whole gains
more than he loses。
He took a great liking to Falcon。 That gentleman had the art of
pleasing； and the tact never to offend。
Falcon affected to treat the poor soul's want of memory as a common
infirmity； pretended he was himself very often troubled in the same
way； and advised him to read the newspapers。 〃My good wife；〃 said
he； 〃has brought me a whole file of the Cape Gazette。 I'd read
them if I was you。 The deuce is in it； if you don't rake up
something or other。〃
Christopher thanked him warmly for this： he got the papers to his
own little room； and had always one or two in his pocket for
reading。 At first he found a good many hard words that puzzled
him； and he borrowed a pencil of Phoebe； and noted them down。
Strange to say； the words that puzzled him were always common
words； that his unaccountable memory had forgotten： a hard word； he
was sure to remember that。
One day he had to ask Falcon the meaning of 〃spendthrift。〃 Falcon
told him briefly。 He could have illustrated the word by a striking
example； but he did not。 He added； in his polite way； 〃No fellow
can understand all the words in a newspaper。 Now； here's a word in
mine'Anemometer；' who the deuce can understand such a word？〃
〃Oh； THAT is a common word enough；〃 said poor Christopher。 〃It
means a machi
