a hero of our time-第16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！
But the Commandant； alas！ could not give me any definite information。 The vessels lying in the harbour were all either guard…ships or merchant…vessels which had not yet even begun to take in lading。
〃Maybe in about three or four days' time a mail…boat will come in；〃 said the Commandant； 〃and then we shall see。〃
I returned home sulky and wrathful。 My Cossack met me at the door with a frightened countenance。
〃Things are looking bad； sir！〃 he said。
〃Yes； my friend； goodness only knows when we shall get away！〃
Hereupon he became still more uneasy； and； bending towards me； he said in a whisper：
〃It is uncanny here！ I met an under…officer from the Black Sea to…day he's an acquaintance of mine he was in my detachment last year。 When I told him where we were staying； he said； 'That place is uncanny； old fellow； they're wicked people there！' 。 。 。 And； indeed； what sort of a blind boy is that？ He goes everywhere alone； to fetch water and to buy bread at the bazaar。 It is evident they have become accus… tomed to that sort of thing here。〃
〃Well； what then？ Tell me； though； has the mistress of the place put in an appear… ance？〃
〃During your absence to…day； an old woman and her daughter arrived。〃
〃What daughter？ She has no daughter！〃
〃Goodness knows who it can be if it isn't her daughter； but the old woman is sitting over there in the hut now。〃
I entered the hovel。 A blazing fire was burning in the stove； and they were cooking a dinner which struck me as being a rather luxurious one for poor people。 To all my questions the old woman replied that she was deaf and could not hear me。 There was nothing to be got out of her。 I turned to the blind boy who was sitting in front of the stove； putting twigs into the fire。
〃Now； then； you little blind devil；〃 I said； taking him by the ear。 〃Tell me； where were you roaming with the bundle last night； eh？〃
The blind boy suddenly burst out weeping； shrieking and wailing。
〃Where did I go？ I did not go anywhere。 。 。 With the bundle？。 。 。 What bundle？〃
This time the old woman heard； and she began to mutter：
〃Hark at them plotting； and against a poor boy too！ What are you touching him for？ What has he done to you？〃
I had enough of it； and went out； firmly resolved to find the key to the riddle。
I wrapped myself up in my felt cloak and； sitting down on a rock by the fence； gazed into the distance。 Before me stretched the sea； agitated by the storm of the previous night； and its monotonous roar； like the murmur of a town over which slumber is beginning to creep； recalled bygone years to my mind； and trans… ported my thoughts northward to our cold Capital。 Agitated by my recollections； I became oblivious of my surroundings。
About an hour passed thus； perhaps even longer。 Suddenly something resembling a song struck upon my ear。 It was a song； and the voice was a woman's； young and fresh but； where was it coming from？。 。 。 I listened； it was a harmonious melody now long…drawn… out and plaintive； now swift and lively。 I looked around me there was nobody to be seen。 I listened again the sounds seemed to be falling from the sky。 I raised my eyes。 On the roof of my cabin was standing a young girl in a striped dress and with her hair hanging loose a regular water…nymph。 Shading her eyes from the sun's rays with the palm of her hand； she was gazing intently into the distance。 At one time； she would laugh and talk to herself； at another； she would strike up her song anew。
I have retained that song in my memory； word for word：
At their own free will
They seem to wander
O'er the green sea yonder；
Those ships； as still
They are onward going；
With white sails flowing。
And among those ships
My eye can mark
My own dear barque：
By two oars guided
（All unprovided
With sails） it slips。
The storm…wind raves：
And the old ships see！
With wings spread free；
Over the waves
They scatter and flee！
The sea I will hail
With obeisance deep：
〃Thou base one； hark！
Thou must not fail
My little barque
From harm to keep！〃
For lo！ 'tis bearing
Most precious gear；
And brave and daring
The arms that steer
Within the dark
My little barque。
Involuntarily the thought occurred to me that I had heard the same voice the night before。 I reflected for a moment； and when I looked up at the roof again there was no girl to be seen。 Suddenly she darted past me； with another song on her lips； and； snapping her fingers； she ran up to the old woman。 Thereupon a quarrel arose between them。 The old woman grew angry； and the girl laughed loudly。 And then I saw my Undine running and gambolling again。 She came up to where I was； stopped； and gazed fixedly into my face as if surprised at my presence。 Then she turned carelessly away and went quietly towards the harbour。 But this was not all。 The whole day she kept hovering around my lodging； singing and gambolling without a moment's interruption。 Strange creature！ There was not the slightest sign of insanity in her face； on the contrary； her eyes； which were continually resting upon me； were bright and piercing。 Moreover； they seemed to be endowed with a certain magnetic power； and each time they looked at me they appeared to be expecting a question。 But I had only to open my lips to speak； and away she would run； with a sly smile。
Certainly never before had I seen a woman like her。 She was by no means beautiful； but； as in other matters； I have my own prepossessions on the subject of beauty。 There was a good deal of breeding in her。 。 。 Breeding in women； as in horses； is a great thing： a discovery； the credit of which belongs to young France。 It that is to say； breeding； not young France is chiefly to be detected in the gait； in the hands and feet； the nose； in particular； is of the greatest significance。 In Russia a straight nose is rarer than a small foot。
My songstress appeared to be not more than eighteen years of age。 The unusual suppleness of her figure； the characteristic and original way she had of inclining her head； her long； light…brown hair； the golden sheen of her slightly sunburnt neck and shoulders； and especially her straight nose all these held me fascinated。 Although in her sidelong glances I could read a certain wildness and disdain； although in her smile there was a certain vagueness； yet such is the force of predilections that straight nose of hers drove me crazy。 I fancied that I had found Goethe's Mignon that queer creature of his German imagination。 And； indeed； there was a good deal of similarity between them； the same rapid transitions from the utmost restlessness to complete immobility； the same enigmatical speeches； the same gambols； the same strange songs。
Towards evening I stopped her at the door and entered into the following conversation with her。
〃Tell me； my beauty；〃 I asked； 〃what were you doing on the roof to…day？〃
〃I was looking to see from what direction the wind was blowing。〃
〃What did you want to know for？〃
〃Whence the wind blows comes happiness。〃
〃Well？ Were you invoking happiness with your song？〃
〃Where there is singing there is also happi… ness。〃
〃But what if your song were to bring you sorrow？〃
〃Well； what then？ Where things won't be better； they will be worse； and from bad to good again is not far。〃
〃And who taught you that song？〃
〃Nobody taught me； it comes into my head and I sing； whoever is to hear it； he will hear it； and whoever ought not to hear it； he will not understand it。〃
〃What is your name； my songstress？〃
〃He who baptized me knows。〃
〃And who baptized you？〃
〃How should I know？〃
〃What a secretive girl you are！ But look here； I have learned something about you〃 she neither changed countenance nor moved her lips； as though my discovery was of no concern to her 〃I have learned that you went to the shore last night。〃
And； thereupon； I very gravely retailed to her all that I had seen； thinking that I should embarrass her。 Not a bit of it！ She burst out laughing heartily。
〃You have seen much； but
