the story of an african farm-第54部分

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champed　their　bright　bits；　till　the　brass　settings　in　their　harness

glittered　again。



It　was　eight　o'clock　when　they　neared　the　farmhouse：　　a　red…brick　building；

with　kraals　to　the　right　and　a　small　orchard　to　the　left。　　Already　there

were　signs　of　unusual　life　and　bustle：　　one　cart；　a　wagon；　and　a　couple　of

saddles　against　the　wall　betokened　the　arrival　of　a　few　early　guests；　whose

numbers　would　soon　be　largely　increased。　　To　a　Dutch　country　wedding　guests

start　up　in　numbers　astonishing　to　one　who　has　merely　ridden　through　the

plains　of　sparsely…inhabited　karoo。



As　the　morning　advances；　riders　on　many　shades　of　steeds　appear　from　all

directions；　and　add　their　saddles　to　the　long　rows　against　the　walls；　shake

hands；　drink　coffee；　and　stand　about　outside　in　groups　to　watch　the

arriving　carts　and　ox…wagons；　as　they　are　unburdened　of　their　heavy　freight

of　massive　Tantes　and　comely　daughters；　followed　by　swarms　of　children　of

all　sizes；　dressed　in　all　manner　of　print　and　moleskin；　who　are　taken　care

of　by　Hottentot；　Kaffer；　and　half…caste　nurses；　whose　many…shaded

complexions；　ranging　from　light　yellow　up　to　ebony　black；　add　variety　to

the　animated　scene。



Everywhere　is　excitement　and　bustle；　which　gradually　increases　as　the　time

for　the　return　of　the　wedding…party　approaches。　　Preparations　for　the　feast

are　actively　advancing　in　the　kitchen；　coffee　is　liberally　handed　round；

and　amid　a　profound　sensation；　and　the　firing　of　guns；　the　horse…wagon

draws　up；　and　the　wedding…party　alight。　　Bride　and　bridegroom；　with　their

attendants；　march　solemnly　to　the　marriage…chamber；　where　bed　and　box　are

decked　out　in　white；　with　ends　of　ribbon　and　artificial　flowers；　and　where

on　a　row　of　chairs　the　party　solemnly　seat　themselves。　　After　a　time

bridesmaid　and　best　man　rise；　and　conduct　in　with　ceremony　each　individual

guest；　to　wish　success　and　to　kiss　bride　and　bridegroom。



Then　the　feast　is　set　on　the　table；　and　it　is　almost　sunset　before　the

dishes　are　cleared　away；　and　the　pleasure　of　the　day　begins。　　Everything　is

removed　from　the　great　front　room；　and　the　mud　floor；　well　rubbed　with

bullock's　blood；　glistens　like　polished　mahogany。　　The　female　portion　of

the　assembly　flock　into　the　side…rooms　to　attire　themselves　for　the

evening；　and　re…issue　clad　in　white　muslin；　and　gay　with　bright　ribbons　and

brass　jewelry。　　The　dancing　begins　as　the　first　tallow　candles　are　stuck　up

about　the　walls；　the　music　coming　from　a　couple　of　fiddlers　in　a　corner　of

the　room。　　Bride　and　bridegroom　open　the　ball；　and　the　floor　is　soon

covered　with　whirling　couples；　and　every　one's　spirits　rise。　　The　bridal

pair　mingle　freely　in　the　throng；　and　here　and　there　a　musical　man　sings

vigorously　as　he　drags　his　partner　through　the　Blue　Water　or　John　Speriwig；

boys　shout　and　applaud；　and　the　enjoyment　and　confusion　are　intense；　till

eleven　o'clock　comes。　　By　this　time　the　children　who　swarm　in　the　side…

rooms　are　not　to　be　kept　quiet　longer；　even　by　hunches　of　bread　and　cake；

there　is　a　general　howl　and　wail；　that　rises　yet　higher　than　the　scraping

of　fiddles；　and　mothers　rush　from　their　partners　to　knock　small　heads

together；　and　cuff　little　nursemaids；　and　force　the　wailers　down　into

unoccupied　corners　of　beds；　under　tables　and　behind　boxes。　　In　half　an　hour

every　variety　of　childish　snore　is　heard　on　all　sides；　and　it　has　become

perilous　to　raise　or　set　down　a　foot　in　any　of　the　side…rooms　lest　a　small

head　or　hand　should　be　crushed。



Now　too　the　busy　feet　have　broken　the　solid　coating　of　the　floor；　and　a

cloud　of　fine　dust　arises；　that　makes　a　yellow　halo　round　the　candles；　and

sets　asthmatic　people　coughing；　and　grows　denser；　till　to　recognise　any　one

on　the　opposite　side　of　the　room　becomes　impossible；　and　a　partner's　face

is　seen　through　a　yellow　mist。



At　twelve　o'clock　the　bride　is　led　to　the　marriage…chamber　and　undressed；

the　lights　are　blown　out；　and　the　bridegroom　is　brought　to　the　door　by　the

best　man；　who　gives　him　the　key；　then　the　door　is　shut　and　locked；　and　the

revels　rise　higher　than　ever。　　There　is　no　thought　of　sleep　till　morning；

and　no　unoccupied　spot　where　sleep　may　be　found。



It　was　at　this　stage　of　the　proceedings　on　the　night　of　Tant　Sannie's

wedding　that　Lyndall　sat　near　the　doorway　in　one　of　the　side…rooms；　to

watch　the　dancers　as　they　appeared　and　disappeared　in　the　yellow　cloud　of

dust。　　Gregory　sat　moodily　in　a　corner　of　the　large　dancing…room。　　His

little　betrothed　touched　his　arm。



〃I　wish　you　would　go　and　ask　Lyndall　to　dance　with　you；〃　she　said；　〃she

must　be　so　tired；　she　has　sat　still　the　whole　evening。〃



〃I　have　asked　her　three　times；〃　replied　her　lover　shortly。　　〃I'm　not　going

to　be　her　dog；　and　creep　to　her　feet；　just　to　give　her　the　pleasure　of

kicking　menot　for　you；　Em；　nor　for　anybody　else。〃



〃Oh；　I　didn't　know　you　had　asked　her；　Greg；〃　said　his　little　betrothed；

humbly；　and　she　went　away　to　pour　out　coffee。



Nevertheless；　some　time　after　Gregory　found　he　had　shifted　so　far　round　the

room　as　to　be　close　to　the　door　where　Lyndall　sat。　　After　standing　for　some

time　he　inquired　whether　he　might　not　bring　her　a　cup　of　coffee。



She　declined；　but　still　he　stood　on　（why　should　he　not　stand　there　as　well

as　anywhere　else？）；　and　then　he　stepped　into　the　bedroom。



〃May　I　not　bring　you　a　stove；　Miss　Lyndall；　to　put　your　feet　on？〃



〃Thank　you。〃



He　sought　for　one；　and　put　it　under　her　feet。



〃There　is　a　draught　from　that　broken　window：　　shall　I　stuff　something　in

the　pane？〃



〃No；　we　want　air。〃



Gregory　looked　round；　but　nothing　else　suggesting　itself；　he　sat　down　on　a

box　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　door。　　Lyndall　sat　before　him；　her　chin

resting　in　her　hand；　her　eyes；　steel…grey　by　day；　but　black　by　night；

looked　through　the　doorway　into　the　next　room。　　After　a　time　he　thought　she

had　entirely　forgotten　his　proximity；　and　he　dared　to　inspect　the　little

hands　and　neck　as　he　never　dared　when　he　was　in　momentary　dread　of　the　eyes

being　turned　upon　him。



She　was　dressed　in　black；　which　seemed　to　take　her　yet　further　from　the

white…clad；　gewgawed　women　about　her；　and　the　little　hands　were　white；　and

the　diamond　ring　glittered。　　Where　had　she　got　that　ring？　　He　bent　forward

a　little　and　tried　to　decipher　the　letters；　but　the　candle…light　was　too

faint。　　When　he　looked　up　her　eyes　were　fixed　on　him。　　She　was　looking　at

himnot；　Gregory　felt；　as　she　had　ever　looked　at　him　before；　not　as　though

he　were　a　stump　or　a　stone　that　chance　had　thrown　in　her　way。　　Tonight；

whether　it　were　critically；　or　kindly；　or　unkindly；　he　could　not　tell；　but

she　looked　at　him；　at　the　man；　Gregory　Rose；　with　attention。　　A　vague

elation　filled　him。　　He　clinched　his　fist　tight　to　think　of　some　good　idea

he　might　express　to　her；　but　of　all　those　profound　things　he　had　pictured

himself　as　saying　to　her；　when　he　sat　alone　in　the　daub…and…wattle　house；

not　one　came。　　He　said；　at　last：



〃These　Boer　dances　are　v