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the story of an african farm-第71部分
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trotted about talking alwaystalking to the customers in the taproom; and
to the maids in the kitchen; and to the passers…by when she could hail them
from the windows; talking; as good…natured women with large mouths and
small noses always do; in season and out。
There was a little front parlour in the hotel; kept for strangers who
wanted to be alone。 Gregory sat there to eat his breakfast; and the
landlady dusted the room and talked of the great finds at the Diamond
Fields; and the badness of maid…servants; and the shameful conduct of the
Dutch parson in that town to the English inhabitants。 Gregory ate his
breakfast and listened to nothing。 He had asked his one question; and had
had his answer; now she might talk on。
Presently a door in the corner opened and a woman came outa Mozambiquer;
with a red handkerchief twisted round her head。 She carried in her hand a
tray; with a slice of toast crumbled fine; and a half…filled cup of coffee;
and an egg broken open; but not eaten。 Her ebony face grinned complacently
as she shut the door softly and said; 〃Good morning。〃
The landlady began to talk to her。
〃You are not going to leave her really; Ayah; are you?〃 she said。 〃The
maids say so; but I'm sure you wouldn't do such a thing。〃
The Mozambiquer grinned。
〃Husband says I must go home。〃
〃But she hasn't got any one else; and won't have any one else。 Come; now;〃
said the landlady; 〃I've no time to be sitting always in a sickroom; not if
I was paid anything for it。〃
The Mozambiquer only showed her white teeth good…naturedly for answer; and
went out; and the landlady followed her。
Gregory; glad to be alone; watched the sunshine as it came over the
fuchsias in the window; and ran up and down on the panelled door in the
corner。 The Mozambiquer had closed it loosely behind her; and presently
something touched it inside。 It moved a little; then it was still; then
moved again; then through the gap a small nose appeared; and a yellow ear
overlapping one eye; then the whole head obtruded; placed itself critically
on one side; wrinkled its nose disapprovingly at Gregory; and withdrew。
Through the half…open door came a faint scent of vinegar; and the room was
dark and still。
Presently the landlady came back。
〃Left the door open;〃 she said; bustling to shut it; 〃but a darky will be a
darky; and never carries a head on its shoulders like other folks。 Not
ill; I hope sir?〃 she said; looking at Gregory when she had shut the
bedroom door。
〃No;〃 said Gregory; 〃no。〃
The landlady began putting the things together。
〃Who;〃 asked Gregory; 〃is in that room?〃
Glad to have a little innocent piece of gossip to relate; and some one
willing to hear it; the landlady made the most of a little story as she
cleared the table。 Six months before a lady had come alone to the hotel in
a wagon; with only a coloured leader and driver。 Eight days after a little
baby had been born。
If Gregory stood up and looked out at the window he would see a bluegum…
tree in the graveyard; close by it was a little grave。 The baby was buried
there。 A tiny thingonly lived two hours; and the mother herself almost
went with it。 After a while she was better; but one day she got up out of
bed; dressed herself without saying a word to any one; and went out。 It
was a drizzly day; a little time after some one saw her sitting on the wet
ground under the bluegum…tree; with the rain dripping from her hat and
shawl。 They went to fetch her; but she would not come until she chose。
When she did; she had gone to bed and had not risen again from it; never
would; the doctor said。
She was very patient; poor thing。 When you went in to ask her how she was
she said always 〃Better;〃 or 〃Nearly well!〃 and lay still in the darkened
room; and never troubled any one。 The Mozambiquer took care of her; and
she would not allow any one else to touch her; would not so much as allow
any one else to see her foot uncovered。 She was strange in many ways; but
she paid well; poor thing; and now the Mozambiquer was going; and she would
have to take up with some one else。
The landlady prattled on pleasantly; and now carried away the tray with the
breakfast things。 When she was gone Gregory leaned his head on his hands;
but he did not think long。
Before dinner he had ridden out of the town to where on a rise a number of
transport…wagons were outspanned。 The Dutchman driver of one wondered at
the stranger's eagerness to free himself of his horses。 Stolen perhaps;
but it was worth his while to buy them at so low a price。 So the horses
changed masters; and Gregory walked off with his saddlebags slung across
his arm。 Once out of sight of the wagons he struck out of the road and
walked across the veld; the dry; flowering grasses waving everywhere about
him; half…way across the plain he came to a deep gully which the rain
torrents had washed out; but which was now dry。 Gregory sprung down into
its red bed。 It was a safe place; and quiet。 When he had looked about him
he sat down under the shade of an overhanging bank and fanned himself with
his hat; for the afternoon was hot; and he had walked fast。 At his feet
the dusty ants ran about; and the high red bank before him was covered by a
network of roots and fibres washed bare by the rains。 Above his head rose
the clear blue African sky; at his side were the saddlebags full of women's
clothing。 Gregory looked up half plaintively into the blue sky。
〃Am I; am I Gregory Nazianzen Rose?〃 he said。
It was also strange; he sitting there in that sloot in that up…country
plain!strange as the fantastic; changing shapes in a summer cloud。 At
last; tired out; he fell asleep; with his head against the bank。 When he
woke the shadow had stretched across the sloot; and the sun was on the edge
of the plain。 Now he must be up and doing。 He drew from his breast pocket
a little sixpenny looking…glass; and hung it on one of the roots that stuck
out from the bank。 Then he dressed himself in one of the old…fashioned
gowns and a great pinked…out collar。 Then he took out a razor。 Tuft by
tuft the soft brown beard fell down into the sand; and the little ants took
it to line their nests with。 Then the glass showed a face surrounded by a
frilled cap; white as a woman's; with a little mouth; a very short upper
lip; and a receding chin。
Presently a rather tall woman's figure was making its way across the veld。
As it passed a hollowed…out antheap it knelt down; and stuffed in the
saddlebags with the man's clothing; closing up the anthill with bits of
ground to look as natural as possible。 Like a sinner hiding his deed of
sin; the hider started once and looked round; but yet there was no one near
save a meerkat; who had lifted herself out of her hole and sat on her hind
legs watching。 He did not like that even she should see; and when he rose
she dived away into her hole。 Then he walked o
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