第8章
加入书架 A- A+
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  \"Whoisitthathascome?\"askedBonaparte,whenhestooddrinkinghiscoffeeinthefrontroom。

  \"Why,myniece,tobesure,\"saidTantSannie,theHottentotmaidtranslating。\"She’stheonlydaughterofmyonlybrotherPaul,andshe’scometovisitme。She’llbeanicemouthfultothemanthatcangether,\"

  addedTantSannie。\"Herfather’sgottwothousandpoundsinthegreenwagonboxunderhisbed,andafarm,andfivethousandsheep,andGodAlmightyknowshowmanygoatsandhorses。Theymilktencowsinmid—

  winter,andtheyoungmenareafterherlikefliesaboutabowlofmilk。

  Shesaysshemeanstogetmarriedinfourmonths,butshedoesn’tyetknowtowhom。ItwassowithmewhenIwasyoung,\"saidTantSannie。\"I’vesatupwiththeyoungmenfourandfivenightsaweek。Andtheywillcomeridingagain,assoonasevertheyknowthatthetime’supthattheEnglishmanmademeagreenottomarryin。\"

  TheBoer—womansmirkedcomplacently。

  \"Whereareyougoingto?\"askedTantSanniepresently,seeingthatBonaparterose。

  \"Ha!I’mjustgoingtothekraals;I’llbeintosupper,\"saidBonaparte。

  Nevertheless,whenhereachedhisowndoorhestoppedandturnedinthere。

  Soonafterhestoodbeforethelittleglass,arrayedinhisbestwhiteshirtwiththelittletucks,andshavinghimself。Hehadonhisverybesttrousers,andhadheavilyoiledthelittlefringeatthebackofhishead,which,however,refusedtobecomedarker。Butwhatdistressedhimmostwashisnose——itwasveryred。Herubbedhisfingerandthumbonthewall,andputalittlewhitewashonit;but,findingitrathermademattersworse,herubbeditoffagain。Thenhelookedcarefullyintohisowneyes。Theycertainlywerealittlepulleddownattheoutercorners,whichgavethemtheappearanceoflookingcrosswise;butthentheywereaniceblue。Soheputonhisbestcoat,tookuphisstick,andwentouttosupper,feelingonthewholewellsatisfied。

  \"Aunt,\"saidTranatoTantSanniewhenthatnighttheylaytogetherinthegreatwoodenbed,\"whydoestheEnglishmansighsowhenhelooksatme?\"

  \"Ha!\"saidTantSannie,whowashalfasleep,butsuddenlystarted,wideawake。\"It’sbecausehethinksyoulooklikeme。Itellyou,Trana,\"saidTantSannie,\"themanismadwithloveofme。ItoldhimtheothernightI

  couldn’tmarrytillEmwassixteen,orI’dloseallthesheepherfatherleftme。AndhetalkedaboutJacobworkingsevenyearsandsevenyearsagainforhiswife。Andofcoursehemeantme,\"saidTantSanniepompously。\"Buthewon’tgetmesoeasilyashethinks;he’llhavetoaskmorethanonce。\"

  \"Oh!\"saidTrana,whowasalumpishgirlandnotmuchgiventotalking;butpresentlysheadded,\"Aunt,whydoestheEnglishmanalwaysknockagainstapersonwhenhepassesthem?\"

  \"That’sbecauseyouarealwaysintheway,\"saidTantSannie。

  \"But,aunt,saidTrana,presently,\"Ithinkheisveryugly。\"

  \"Phugh!\"saidTantSannie。It’sonlybecausewe’renotaccustomedtosuchnosesinthiscountry。Inhiscountryhesaysallthepeoplehavesuchnoses,andtheredderyournoseisthehigheryouare。He’softhefamilyoftheQueenVictoria,youknow,\"saidTantSannie,wakeningupwithhersubject;\"andhedoesn’tthinkanythingofgovernorsandchurcheldersandsuchpeople;theyarenothingtohim。Whenhisauntwiththedropsydieshe’llhavemoneyenoughtobuyallthefarmsinthisdistrict。\"

  \"Oh!\"saidTrana。Thatcertainlymadeadifference。

  \"Yes,\"saidTantSannie;\"andhe’sonlyforty—one,thoughyou’dtakehimtobesixty。Andhetoldmelastnighttherealreasonofhisbaldness。\"

  TantSanniethenproceededtorelatehow,ateighteenyearsofage,Bonapartehadcourtedafairyounglady。Howadeadlyrival,jealousofhisverdantlocks,hisgoldenflowinghair,had,withadamnableandinsinuatingdeception,madehimapresentofapotofpomatum。How,applyingitintheevening,onrisinginthemorninghefoundhispillowstrewnwiththegoldenlocks,and,lookingintotheglass,beheldtheshiningandsmoothexpansewhichhenceforthhemustbear。Thefewremaininghairswereturnedtoasilverywhiteness,andtheyoungladymarriedhisrival。

  \"And,\"saidTantSanniesolemnly,\"ifithadnotbeenforthegraceofGod,andreadingofthepsalms,hesayshewouldhavekilledhimself。Hesayshecouldkillhimselfquiteeasilyifhewantstomarryawomanandshewon’t。\"

  \"Allewereld!\"saidTrana:andthentheywenttosleep。

  Everyonewaslostinsleepsoon;butfromthewindowofthecabinthelightstreamedforth。Itcamefromadungfire,overwhichWaldosatbrooding。Hourafterhourhesatthere,nowandagainthrowingafreshlumpoffuelontothefire,whichburntupbravely,andthensankintoagreatbedofredcoals,whichreflectedthemselvesintheboy’seyesashesattherebrooding,brooding,brooding。Atlast,whenthefirewasblazingatitsbrightest,herosesuddenlyandwalkedslowlytoabeamfromwhichanoxriemhung。Looseningit,herananooseinoneendandthendoubleditroundhisarm。

  \"Mine,mine!Ihavearight,\"hemuttered;andthensomethinglouder,\"ifIfallandamkilled,somuchthebetter!\"

  Heopenedthedoorandwentoutintothestarlight。

  Hewalkedwithhiseyesbentupontheground,butoverheaditwasoneofthosebrilliantsouthernnightswheneveryspacesosmallthatyourhandmightcoveritshowsfiftycoldwhitepoints,andtheMilky—Wayisabeltofsharpfrostedsilver。HepassedthedoorwhereBonapartelaydreamingofTranaandherwealth,andhemountedtheladdersteps。Fromthoseheclamberedwithsomedifficultyontotheroofofthehouse。Itwasofoldrottenthatchwitharidgeofwhiteplaster,anditcrumbledawayunderhisfeetateverystep。Hetrodasheavilyashecould。Somuchthebetterifhefell。

  Hekneltdownwhenhegottothefargable,andbegantofastenhisriemtothecrumblingbricks。Belowwasthelittlewindowoftheloft。Withoneendoftheriemtiedroundthegable,theotherendroundhiswaist,howeasytoslidedowntoit,andtoopenit,throughoneofthebrokenpanes,andtogoin,andtofillhisarmswithbooks,andtoclamberupagain!

  Theyhadburntonebook——hewouldhavetwenty。Everyman’shandwasagainsthis——hisshouldbeagainsteveryman’s。Noonewouldhelphim——hewouldhelphimself。

  Heliftedtheblackdamphairfromhisknitforehead,andlookedroundtocoolhishotface。Thenhesawwhataregalnightitwas。Hekneltsilentlyandlookedup。Athousandeyeswerelookingdownathim,brightandsocold。Therewasalaughingironyinthem。

  \"Sohot,sobitter,soangry?Poorlittlemortal?\"

  Hewasashamed。Hefoldedhisarms,andsatontheridgeoftherooflookingupatthem。

  \"Sohot,sobitter,soangry?\"

  Itwasasthoughacoldhandhadbeenlaiduponhisthrobbingforehead,andslowlytheybegantofadeandgrowdim。TantSannieandtheburntbook,Bonaparteandthebrokenmachine,theboxintheloft,hehimselfsittingthere——howsmalltheyallbecame!Eventhegraveoveryonder。Thosestarsthatshoneonupabovesoquietly,theyhadseenathousandsuchlittleexistencesfightjustsofiercely,flareupjustsobrightlyandgoout;

  andthey,theold,oldstars,shoneonforever。

  \"Sohot,soangry,poorlittlesoul?\"theysaid。

  Theriemslippedfromhisfingers;hesatwithhisarmsfolded,lookingup。

  \"We,\"saidthestars,haveseentheearthwhenitwasyoung。Wehaveseensmallthingscreepoutuponitssurface——smallthingsthatprayedandlovedandcriedveryloudly,andthencreptunderitagain。Butwe,\"saidthestars,\"areasoldastheUnknown。\"

  Heleanedhischinagainstthepalmofhishandandlookedupatthem。Solonghesattherethatbrightstarssetandnewonesrose,andyethesaton。

  Thenatlasthestoodup,andbegantoloosentheriemfromthegable。

  Whatdiditmatteraboutthebooks?Thelustandthedesireforthemhaddiedout。Iftheypleasedtokeepthemfromhimtheymight。Whatmatter?

  itwasaverylittlething。Whyhate,andstruggle,andfight?Letitbeasitwould。

  Hetwistedtheriemroundhisarmandwalkedbackalongtheridgeofthehouse。

  BythistimeBonaparteBlenkinshadfinishedhisdreamofTrana,andasheturnedhimselfroundforafreshdozeheheardthestepsdescendingtheladder。Hisfirstimpulsewastodrawtheblanketoverhisheadandhislegsunderhim,andtoshout;butrecollectingthatthedoorwaslockedandthewindowcarefullybolted,heallowedhisheadslowlytocropoutamongtheblankets,andlistenedintently。Whosoeveritmightbe,therewasnodangeroftheirgettingathim;soheclamberedoutofbed,andgoingontiptoetothedoor,appliedhiseyetothekeyhole。Therewasnothingtobeseen;sowalkingtothewindow,hebroughthisfaceasclosetotheglassashisnosewouldallow。Therewasafigurejustdiscernible。Theladwasnottryingtowalksoftly,andtheheavyshufflingofthewell—

  knownvelschoenscouldbeclearlyheardthroughtheclosedwindowastheycrossedthestonesintheyard。Bonapartelistenedtilltheyhaddiedawayroundthecornerofthewagon—house;and,feelingthathisbarelegsweregettingcold,hejumpedbackintobedagain……

  \"Whatdoyoukeepupinyourloft?\"inquiredBonaparteoftheBoer—womanthenextevening,pointingupwardsandelucidatinghismeaningbytheadditionofsuchDutchwordsasheknew,fortheleanHottentotwasgonehome。

  \"Driedskins,\"saidtheBoer—woman,\"andemptybottles,andboxes,andsacks,andsoap。\"

  \"Youdon’tkeepanyofyourprovisionsthere——sugar,now?\"saidBonaparte,pointingtothesugar—basinandthenupattheloft。

  TantSannieshookherhead。

  \"Onlysalt,anddriedpeaches。\"

  \"Driedpeaches!Eh?\"saidBonaparte。\"Shutthedoor,mydearchild,shutittight,\"hecalledouttoEm,whostoodinthediningroom。ThenheleanedovertheelbowofthesofaandbroughthisfaceascloseaspossibletotheBoer—woman’s,andmadesignsofeating。Thenhesaidsomethingshedidnotcomprehend;thensaid,\"Waldo,Waldo,Waldo,\"pointeduptotheloft,andmadesignsofeatingagain。

  NowaninklingofhismeaningdawnedontheBoer—woman’smind。Tomakeitclearer,hemovedhislegsafterthemannerofonegoingupaladder,appearedtobeopeningadoor,masticatedvigorously,said,\"Peaches,peaches,peaches,\"andappearedtobecomingdowntheladder。

  ItwasnowevidenttoTantSanniethatWaldohadbeeninherloftandeatenherpeaches。

  Toexemplifyhisownshareintheproceedings,Bonapartelaydownonthesofa,andshuttinghiseyestightly,said,\"Night,night,night!\"Thenhesatupwildly,appearingtobeintentlylistening,mimickedwithhisfeetthecomingdownaladder,andlookedatTantSannie。Thisclearlyshowedhow,rousedinthenight,hehaddiscoveredthetheft。

  \"Hemusthavebeenagreatfooltoeatmypeaches,\"saidTantSannie。

  \"Theyarefullofmitesasasheepskin,andashardasstones。\"

  Bonaparte,fumblinginhispocket,didnotevenhearherremark,andtookoutfromhiscoat—tailalittlehorsewhip,nicelyrolledup。Bonapartewinkedatthelittlerhinoceroshorsewhip,attheBoer—woman,andthenatthedoor。

  \"Shallwecallhim——Waldo,Waldo?\"hesaid。

  TantSannienodded,andgiggled。Therewassomethingsoexceedinglyhumorousintheideathathewasgoingtobeattheboy,thoughforherownpartshedidnotseethatthepeacheswereworthit。WhentheKaffermaidcamewiththewash—tubshewassenttosummonWaldo;andBonapartedoubledupthelittlewhipandputitinhispocket。Thenhedrewhimselfup,andpreparedtoacthisimportantpartwithbecominggravity。SoonWaldostoodinthedoor,andtookoffhishat。

  \"Comein,comein,mylad,\"saidBonaparte,\"andshutthedoorbehind。\"

  Theboycameinandstoodbeforethem。

  \"Youneednotbesoafraid,child,\"saidTantSannie。\"Iwasachildmyselfonce。It’snogreatharmifyouhavetakenafew。\"

  Bonaparteperceivedthatherremarkwasnotinkeepingwiththenatureoftheproceedings,andofthelittledramaheintendedtoact。Pursingouthislips,andwavinghishand,hesolemnlyaddressedtheboy。

  \"Waldo,itgrievesmebeyondexpressiontohavetosummonyouforsopainfulapurpose;butitisattheimperativecallofduty,whichIdarenotevade。Idonotstatethatfrankandunreservedconfessionwillobviatethenecessityofchastisement,whichifrequisiteshallbefullyadministered;butthenatureofthatchastisementmaybemitigatedbyfreeandhumbleconfession。Waldo,answermeasyouwouldyourownfather,inwhoseplaceInowstandtoyou;haveyou,orhaveyounot,didyou,ordidyounot,eatofthepeachesintheloft?\"

  \"Sayyoutookthem,boy,sayyoutookthem,thenhewon’tbeatyoumuch,\"

  saidtheDutchwoman,good—naturedly,gettingalittlesorryforhim。

  Theboyraisedhiseyesslowlyandfixedthemvacantlyuponher,thensuddenlyhisfacegrewdarkwithblood。

  \"So,youhaven’tgotanythingtosaytous,mylad?\"saidBonaparte,momentarilyforgettinghisdignity,andbendingforwardwithalittlesnarl。\"ButwhatImeanisjustthis,mylad——whenittakesaboythree—

  quartersofanhourtofillasalt—pot,andwhenatthreeo’clockinthemorninghegoesknockingaboutthedoorsofaloft,it’snaturaltosupposethere’smischiefinit。It’scertainthereismischiefinit;andwherethere’smischiefin,itmustbetakenout,\"saidBonaparte,grinningintotheboy’sface。Then,feelingthathehadfallenfromthathighgravitywhichwasasspicetothepudding,andtheflavourofthewholelittletragedy,hedrewhimselfup。\"Waldo,\"hesaid,\"confesstomeinstantly,andwithoutreserve,thatyouatethepeaches。\"

  Theboy’sfacewaswhitenow。Hiseyeswereontheground,hishandsdoggedlyclaspedbeforehim。

  \"What,doyounotintendtoanswer?\"

  Theboylookedupatthemoncefromunderhisbenteyebrows,andthenlookeddownagain。

  \"Thecreaturelooksasifallthedevilsinhellwereinit,\"criedTantSannie。\"Sayyoutookthem,boy。Youngthingswillbeyoungthings;IwasolderthanyouwhenIusedtoeatbultonginmymother’sloft,andgetthelittleniggerswhippedforit。Sayyoutookthem。\"

  Buttheboysaidnothing。

  \"Ithinkalittlesolitaryconfinementmightperhapsbebeneficial,\"saidBonaparte。\"Itwillenableyou,Waldo,toreflectontheenormityofthesinyouhavecommittedagainstourFatherinheaven。Andyoumayalsothinkofthesubmissionyouowetothosewhoareolderandwiserthanyouare,andwhosedutyitistocheckandcorrectyou。\"

  Sayingthis,Bonapartestoodupandtookdownthekeyofthefuel—house,whichhungonanailagainstthewall。

  \"Walkon,myboy,\"saidBonaparte,pointingtothedoor;andashefollowedhimouthedrewhismouthexpressivelyononeside,andmadethelashofthelittlehorsewhipstickoutofhispocketandshakeupanddown。

  TantSanniefelthalfsorryforthelad;butshecouldnothelplaughing,itwasalwayssofunnywhenonewasgoingtohaveawhipping,anditwoulddohimgood。Anyhow,hewouldforgetallaboutitwhentheplaceswerehealed。Hadnotshebeenbeatenmanytimesandbeenallthebetterforit?

  Bonapartetookupalightedcandlethathadbeenleftburningonthekitchentable,andtoldtheboytowalkbeforehim。Theywenttothefuel—

  house。Itwasalittlestoneerectionthatjuttedoutfromthesideofthewagon—house。Itwaslowandwithoutawindow,andthedrieddungwaspiledinonecorner,andthecoffee—millstoodinanother,fastenedonthetopofashortpostaboutthreefeethigh。Bonapartetookthepadlockofftheroughdoor。

  \"Walkin,mylad,\"hesaid。

  Waldoobeyedsullenly;oneplacetohimwasmuchthesameasanother。Hehadnoobjectiontobeinglockedup。

  Bonapartefollowedhimin,andclosedthedoorcarefully。Heputthelightdownontheheapofdunginthecorner,andquietlyintroducedhishandunderhiscoat—tails,anddrewslowlyfromhispockettheendofarope,whichheconcealedbehindhim。

  \"I’mverysorry,exceedinglysorry,Waldo,mylad,thatyoushouldhaveactedinthismanner。Itgrievesme,\"saidBonaparte。

  Hemovedroundtowardtheboy’sback。Hehardlylikedthelookinthefellow’seyes,thoughhestoodtheremotionless。Ifheshouldspringonhim!

  Sohedrewtheropeoutverycarefully,andshiftedroundtothewoodenpost。Therewasaslipknotinoneendoftherope,andasuddenmovementdrewtheboy’shandstohisbackandpasseditroundthem。Itwasaninstant’sworktodragittwiceroundthewoodenpost:thenBonapartewassafe。

  Foramomenttheboystruggledtofreehimself;thenheknewthathewaspowerless,andstoodstill。

  \"Horsesthatkickmusthavetheirlegstied,\"saidBonaparte,ashepassedtheotherendoftheroperoundtheboy’sknees。\"Andnow,mydearWaldo,\"

  takingthewhipoutofhispocket,\"Iamgoingtobeatyou。\"

  Hepausedforamoment。Itwasperfectlyquiet;theycouldheareachother’sbreath。

  \"’Chastenthysonwhilethereishope,’\"saidBonaparte,\"’andletnotthysoulspareforhiscrying。’ThoseareGod’swords。Ishallactasafathertoyou,Waldo。Ithinkwehadbetterhaveyournakedback。\"

  Hetookouthispenknife,andslittheshirtdownfromtheshouldertothewaist。

  \"Now,\"saidBonaparte,\"IhopetheLordwillblessandsanctifytoyouwhatIamgoingtodotoyou。\"

  Thefirstcutranfromtheshoulderacrossthemiddleoftheback;thesecondfellexactlyinthesameplace。Ashudderpassedthroughtheboy’sframe。

  \"Nice,eh?\"saidBonaparte,peepingroundintohisface,speakingwithalisp,asthoughtoaverylittlechild。\"Nith,eh?\"

  Buttheeyeswereblackandlustreless,andseemednottoseehim。WhenhehadgivensixteenBonapartepausedinhisworktowipealittledropofbloodfromhiswhip。

  \"Cold,eh?Whatmakesyoushiverso?Perhapsyouwouldliketopullupyourshirt?ButI’venotquitedoneyet。\"

  Whenhehadfinishedhewipedthewhipagain,andputitbackinhispocket。Hecuttheropethroughwithhispenknife,andthentookupthelight。

  \"Youdon’tseemtohavefoundyourtongueyet。Forgottenhowtocry?\"saidBonaparte,pattinghimonthecheek。

  Theboylookedupathim——notsullenly,notangrily。Therewasawild,fitfulterrorintheeyes。Bonapartemadehastetogooutandshutthedoor,andleavehimaloneinthedarkness。Hehimselfwasafraidofthatlook……

  Itwasalmostmorning。Waldolaywithhisfaceuponthegroundatthefootofthefuel—heap。Therewasaroundholenearthetopofthedoor,whereaknotofwoodhadfallenout,andastreamofgreylightcameinthroughit。

  Ah,itwasgoingtoendatlast。Nothinglastsforever,noteventhenight。Howwasithehadneverthoughtofthatbefore?Forinallthatlongdarknighthehadbeenverystrong,hadneverbeentired,neverfeltpain,hadrunonandon,upanddown,upanddown;hehadnotdaredtostandstill,andhehadnotknownitwouldend。Hehadbeensostrong,thatwhenhestruckhisheadwithallhisforceuponthestonewallitdidnotstunhimnorpainhim——onlymadehimlaugh。Thatwasadreadfulnight。

  Whenheclaspedhishandsfranticallyandprayed——\"OGod,mybeautifulGod,mysweetGod,once,onlyonce,letmefeelyounearmetonight!\"hecouldnotfeelhim。Heprayedaloud,veryloud,andhegotnoanswer;whenhelisteneditwasallquitequiet——likewhenthepriestsofBaalcriedaloudtotheirgod——\"Oh,Baal,hearus!Oh,Baal,hearus!ButBaalwasgonea—

  hunting。

  Thatwasalongwildnight,andwildthoughtscameandwentinit;buttheylefttheirmarksbehindthemforever:for,asyearscannotpasswithoutleavingtheirtracesbehindthem,neithercannightsintowhichareforcedthethoughtsandsufferingsofyears。Andnowthedawnwascoming,andatlasthewasverytired。Heshiveredandtriedtodrawtheshirtupoverhisshoulders。Theyweregettingstiff。Hehadneverknowntheywerecutinthenight。Helookedupatthewhitelightthatcameinthroughtheholeatthetopofthedoorandshuddered。Thenheturnedhisfacebacktothegroundandsleptagain。

  SomehourslaterBonapartecametowardthefuel—housewithalumpofbreadinhishand。Heopenedthedoorandpeeredin;thenentered,andtouchedthefellowwithhisboot。Seeingthathebreathedheavily,thoughhedidnotrouse,Bonapartethrewthebreaddownontheground。Hewasalive,thatwasonething。Hebentoverhim,andcarefullyscratchedopenoneofthecutswiththenailofhisforefinger,examiningwithmuchinteresthislastnight’swork。Hewouldhavetocounthissheephimselfthatday;theboywasliterallycutup。Helockedthedoorandwentawayagain。

  \"Oh,Lyndall,\"saidEm,enteringthediningroom,andbathedintears,thatafternoon,\"IhavebeenbeggingBonapartetolethimout,andhewon’t。\"

  \"Themoreyoubegthemorehewillnot,\"saidLyndall。

  Shewascuttingoutapronsonthetable。

  \"Oh,butit’slate,andIthinktheywanttokillhim,\"saidEm,weepingbitterly;andfindingthatnomoreconsolationwastobegainedfromhercousin,shewentoffblubbering——\"IwonderyoucancutoutapronswhenWaldoisshutuplikethat。\"

  FortenminutesaftershewasgoneLyndallworkedonquietly;thenshefoldedupherstuff,rolledittightlytogether,andstoodbeforethecloseddoorofthesittingroomwithherhandscloselyclasped。Aflushrosetoherface:sheopenedthedoorquickly,andwalkedin,wenttothenailonwhichthekeyofthefuel—roomhung。BonaparteandTantSanniesatthereandsawher。

  \"Whatdoyouwant?\"theyaskedtogether。

  \"Thiskey,\"shesaid,holdingitup,andlookingatthem。

  \"Doyoumeanhertohaveit?\"saidTantSannieinDutch。

  \"Whydon’tyoustopher?\"askedBonaparteinEnglish。

  \"Whydon’tyoutakeitfromher?\"saidTantSannie。

  Sotheylookedateachother,talking,whileLyndallwalkedtothefuel—

  housewiththekey,herunderlipbittenin。

  \"Waldo,\"shesaid,asshehelpedhimtostandup,andtwistedhisarmaboutherwaisttosupporthim,\"wewillnotbechildrenalways;weshallhavethepower,too,someday。\"Shekissedhisnakedshoulderwithhersoftlittlemouth。Itwasallthecomfortheryoungsoulcouldgivehim。

  Chapter1。XIII。HeMakesLove。

  \"Here,\"saidTantSannietoherHottentotmaid,\"Ihavebeeninthishousefouryears,andneverbeenupintheloft。FatterwomenthanIgoupladders;Iwillgouptodayandseewhatitislike,andputittorightsupthere。Youbringthelittleladderandstandatthebottom。\"

  \"There’sonewouldbesorryifyouweretofall,\"saidtheHottentotmaid,leeringatBonaparte’spipe,thatlayonthetable。

  \"Holdyourtongue,jade,\"saidhermistress,tryingtoconcealapleasedsmile,\"andgoandfetchtheladder。\"

  Therewasanever—usedtrap—dooratoneendofthesittingroom:thistheHottentotmaidpushedopen,andsettingtheladderagainstit,theBoer—

  womanwithsomedangeranddifficultyclimbedintotheloft。ThentheHottentotmaidtooktheladderaway,asherhusbandwasmendingthewagon—

  house,andneededit;butthetrap—doorwasleftopen。

  ForalittlewhileTantSanniepokedaboutamongtheemptybottlesandskins,andlookedatthebagofpeachesthatWaldowassupposedtohavelikedso;thenshesatdownnearthetrap—doorbesideabarrelofsaltmutton。Shefoundthatthepiecesofmeatweremuchtoolarge,andtookoutherclasp—knifetodividethem。

  Thatwasalwaysthewaywhenoneleftthingstoservants,shegrumbledtoherself:butwhenonceshewasmarriedtoherhusbandBonaparteitwouldnotmatterwhetherasheepspoiledorno——whenoncehisrichauntwiththedropsywasdead。Shesmiledasshedivedherhandintothepickle—water。

  Atthatinstanthernieceenteredtheroombelow,closelyfollowedbyBonaparte,withhisheadononeside,smilingmawkishly。HadTantSanniespokenatthatmomentthelifeofBonaparteBlenkinswouldhaverunawhollydifferentcourse;asitwas,sheremainedsilent,andneithernoticedtheopentrap—doorabovetheirheads。

  \"Sitthere,mylove,\"saidBonaparte,motioningTranaintoheraunt’selbow—chair,anddrawinganothercloseupinfrontofit,inwhichheseatedhimself。\"There,putyourfeetuponthestovetoo。Youraunthasgoneoutsomewhere。LonghaveIwaitedforthisauspiciousevent!\"

  Trana,whounderstoodnotonewordofEnglish,satdowninthechairandwonderedifthiswasoneofthestrangecustomsofotherlands,thatanoldgentlemanmaybringhischairuptoyours,andsitwithhiskneestouchingyou。ShehadbeenfivedaysinBonaparte’scompany,andfearedtheoldman,anddislikedhisnose。

  \"HowlonghaveIdesiredthismoment!\"saidBonaparte。\"Butthatagedrelativeofthineisalwayscastingherunhallowedshadowuponus。Lookintomyeyes,Trana。\"

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