marie-第21章
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〃Talking of blankets；〃 I said in order to change the subject； 〃from whom
did you get these karosses？〃
〃From whom？ Why； from the Missie； of course； baas。 When I heard that
you were to sleep in the cart I went to her and borrowed them to cover
you。 Also； I had forgotten； she gave me a writing for you；〃 and he felt
about； first in his dirty shirt； then under his arm； and finally in his
fuzzy hair； from which last hiding place he produced a little bit of
paper folded into a pellet。 I undid it and read these words； written
with a pencil and in French：
〃I shall be in the peach orchard half an hour before sunrise。 Be there
if you would bid me farewell。M。〃
〃Is there any answer； baas？〃 asked Hans when I had thrust the note into
my pocket。 〃If so I can take it without being found out。〃 Then an
inspiration seemed to strike him； and he added： 〃Why do you not take it
yourself？ The Missie's window is easy to open； also I am sure she would
be pleased to see you。〃
〃Be silent；〃 I said。 〃I am going to sleep。 Wake me an hour before the
cock…crowand； staysee that the horses have got out of the kraal so
that you cannot find them too easily in case the Reverend wishes to
start very early。 But do not let them wander far； for here we are no
welcome guests。〃
〃Yes； baas。 By the way； baas； the Heer Pereira； who tried to cheat you
over those geese； is sleeping in an empty house not more than two miles
away。 He drinks coffee when he wakes up in the morning； and his
servant； who makes it； is my good friend。 Now would you like me to put
a little something into it？ Not to kill him； for that is against the
law in the Book； but just to make him quite mad； for the Book says
nothing about that。 If so； I have a very good medicine； one that you
white people do not know； which improves the taste of the coffee； and it
might save much trouble。 You see； if he came dancing about the place
without any clothes on； like a common Kaffir； the Heer Marais； although
_he_ is really mad also； might not wish for him as a son…in…law。〃
〃Oh！ go to the devil if you are not there already；〃 I replied； and
turned over as though to sleep。
There was no need for me to have instructed that faithful creature； the
astute but immoral Hans； to call me early； as the lady did her mother in
the poem； for I do not think that I closed an eye that night。 I spare
my reflections； for they can easily be imagined in the case of an
earnest…natured lad who was about to be bereft of his first love。
Long before the dawn I stood in the peach orchard； that orchard where we
had first met； and waited。 At length Marie came stealing between the
tree trunks like a grey ghost； for she was wrapped in some
light…coloured garment。 Oh！ once more we were alone together。 Alone in
the utter solitude and silence which precede the African dawn； when all
creatures that love the night have withdrawn to their lairs and hiding
places； and those that love the day still sleep their soundest。
She saw me and stood still； then opened her arms and clasped me to her
breast； uttering no word。 A while later she spoke almost in a whisper；
saying：
〃Allan； I must not stay long； for I think that if my father found us
together； he would shoot you in his madness。〃
Now as always it was of me she thought； not of herself。
〃And you； my sweet？〃 I asked。
〃Oh！〃 she answered； 〃that matters nothing。 Except for the sin of it I
wish he would shoot me； for then I should have done with all this pain。
I told you； Allan； when the Kaffirs were on us yonder； that it might be
better to die； and see； my heart spoke truly。〃
〃Is there no hope？〃 I gasped。 〃Will he really separate us and take you
away into the wilderness？〃
〃Certainly； nothing can turn him。 Yet； Allan； there is this hope。 In
two years； if I live； I shall be of full age； and can marry whom I will；
and this I swear； that I will marry none but you； no； not even if you
were to die to…morrow。〃
〃I bless you for those words；〃 I said。
〃Why？〃 she asked simply。 〃What others could I speak？ Would you have me
do outrage to my own heart and go through life faithless and ashamed？〃
〃And I； I swear also；〃 I broke in。
〃Nay； swear nothing。 While I live I know that you will love me； and if
I should be taken； it is my wish that you should marry some other good
woman； since it is not well or right that man should live alone。 With
us maids it is different。 Listen； Allan； for the cocks are beginning to
crow； and soon there will be light。 You must bide here with your
father。 If possible； I will write to you from time to time； telling you
where we are and how we fare。 But if I do not write； know that it is
because I cannot； or because I can find no messenger； or because the
letters have miscarried； for we go into wild countries； amongst
savages。〃
〃Whither do you go？〃 I asked。
〃I believe up towards the great harbour called Delagoa Bay； where the
Portuguese rule。 My cousin Hernan； who accompanies us〃and she
shivered a little in my arms〃is half Portuguese。 He tells the Boers
that he has relations there who have written him many fine promises；
saying they will give us good country to dwell in where we cannot be
followed by the English； whom he and my father hate so much。〃
〃I have heard that is all fever veld； and that the country between is
full of fierce Kaffirs；〃 I said with a groan。
〃Perhaps。 I do not know； and I do not care。 At least； that is the
notion in my father's head； though； of course； circumstances may change
it。 I will try to let you know； Allan； or if I do not； perhaps you will
be able to find out for yourself。 Then； then； if we both live and you
still care for me； who will always care for you； when I am of age； you
will join us and； say and do what they may； I will marry no other man。
And if I die； as may well happen； oh！ then my spirit shall watch over
you and wait for you till you join me beneath the wings of God。 Look；
it grows light。 I must go。 Farewell； my love； my first and only love；
till in life or death we meet again； as meet we shall。〃
Once more we clung together and kissed； muttering broken words； and then
she tore herself from my embrace and was gone。 But oh！ as I heard her
feet steal through the dew…laden grass； I felt as though my heart were
being rent from my breast。 I have suffered much in life； but I do not
think that ever I underwent a bitterer anguish than in this hour of my
parting from Marie。 For when all is said and done； what joy is there
like the joy of pure； first love； and what bitterness like the
bitterness of its loss？
Half an hour later the flowering trees of Maraisfontein were behind us；
while in front rolled the fire…swept veld； black as life had become for
me。
CHAPTER VII
ALLAN'S CALL
A fortnight later Marais； Pereira and their companions； a little band in
all of about twenty men； thirty women and children； and say fifty
half…breeds and Hottentot after…riders； trekked from their homes into
the wilderness。 I rode to the crest of a table…topped hill and watched
the long line of wagons； one of them containing Marie； crawl away
northward across the veld a mile or more beneath。
Sorely was I tempted to gallop after them and seek a last interview with
her and her father。 But my pride forbade me。 Henri Marais had given
out that if I came near his daughter he would have me beaten back with
〃sjambocks〃 or hide whips。 Perhaps he had gained some inkling of our
last farewell in the peach orchard。 I do not know。 But I do know that
if anyone had lifted a sjambock on me I should have answered with a
bullet。 Then there would have been blood between us； which is worse to
cross than whole rivers of wrath and jealousy。 So I just watched the
wagons until they vanished； and galloped home down the rock…strewn
slope； wishing
