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首页 » 经典英文小说 » The little Barefoot » CHAPTER XVIII. THE FIRST FIRE UPON THE HEARTH.
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CHAPTER XVIII. THE FIRST FIRE UPON THE HEARTH.
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AMRIE in the mean time went on, lost in dreamy thoughts. She looked inquiringly up at the trees that stood so calmly upon the place, and that will stand, she thought, and look down upon thee for years; many years, perhaps thy whole life, and be thy life’s companions! Meanwhile, what will be thy life’s experience?
 
Amrie was too old to look for support in the outward world, and it was long since she had asked the service-tree for advice. She now tried to turn her thoughts from all surrounding objects; and yet she must look at the fields that would soon be her own, and she could not help thinking of what was to come; of her entrance and reception, question and answer; the confusion of a thousand possibilities whirled around, and the Silver-trot waltz played itself in her head. She said at last, half aloud, “What is the use of all this thinking? When the music plays I must dance, be it hop1 or waltz. I know not how I shall move my feet;[249] they must go of themselves. I cannot think—I will not think, that perhaps in an hour I may be coming this way again, the heart broken in my body! And yet I must move on, step after step! Enough! Now let whatever will, come; I am prepared.”
 
There was more within than this out-spoken resolution; she had not, in vain, from her childhood, solved riddles3, and from day to day had to wrestle4 with life; the whole power of that, which through effort she had become, rested quiet and secure within her mind. Without further question, as one goes to meet a necessity, calm in her self-possession she went on with courageous5 and firm steps.
 
She had not gone far when she saw an old man sitting with a red-thorn stick between his feet, and his hands and chin resting upon it.
 
“God bless you,” said Amrie. “Do you enjoy your rest?”
 
“Yes. Where are you bound?”
 
“Up to the farm. Will you go with me? You can lean on me.”
 
“Ah! So it is,” laughed the old man. “Thirty years ago I should have been delighted. Then, if a pretty girl had said that, I had sprung like a colt.”
 
“But I should not have said it to one who could spring like a colt,” laughed Amrie.
 
“You are rich,” said the old man, to whom an[250] idle conversation, on a warm day, appeared agreeable; and he took with satisfaction a pinch from his box.
 
“Why do you say I am rich?”
 
“Your teeth are worth ten thousand gulden. I know many who would give ten thousand gulden to have them in their mouths.”
 
“Farewell, I have no time for joking.”
 
“Wait, I will go with you; but you must not run off so fast.”
 
Amrie helped the old man carefully to rise, when he said, “You are strong.” He had made himself heavier and more helpless than he really was. On the way he asked her, “To whom was her errand at the farm?”
 
“To the farmer and his wife.”
 
“And what would you have of them?”
 
“That I will tell themselves.”
 
“If you would ask a present, turn immediately back; the wife would willingly give, but she is mistress of nothing. The farmer is tough. He has a ramrod in his neck, and a stiff thumb to that.”
 
“I do not want any thing of them, but on the contrary, I take them something,” said Amrie.
 
They met an old man with a scythe6 on his shoulder, going to the field, and Amrie’s companion asked him, at the same time winking7 cunningly, “Whether the old miser8, Farmer Landfried, was at home?”
 
“I believe so, but I am not certain,” said the old man with the scythe; and as he went on, Amrie saw a certain twinkling in his eyes. She looked steadily9 in the face of her companion, and suddenly she recognized through the fallen features the man to whom she had once given water to drink upon the Holder10 Meadow. “Wait,” she said softly to herself, “I have caught you,” and aloud, “It is wrong of you to speak thus of the farmer to a stranger like myself, that you do not know, and that may perhaps be a relation of his. What you say of him may be only slander11; and should he appear close, he certainly has a good heart, and does not choose to ring the great bell to tell the good he does. Beside, one who has such good, honorable children, must be honorable himself. It may be also, that before the world he makes himself worse than he is, because it is not worth the trouble to try to please others; and I am of the same opinion.”
 
“You have a good tongue of your own. Where do you come from?”
 
“Not from this neighborhood. From about the Black Forest.”
 
“What is the place called?”
 
“Holdenbrunn.”
 
“Ah! and you came on foot?”
 
“No, part of the way with the son of your farmer. He took me up. He is a thoroughly12 brave, honest young man.”
 
[252]“At his age, I also would have brought you on.”
 
They had now entered the farm-yard, when the old man went with Amrie into the house, and called, “Mother, where are you?”
 
The mother came out of her chamber13. Amrie trembled, and would gladly have fallen on her neck; but she could not, she durst not, and the old man said, with a smothered14 laugh, “Only think, wife, here is a girl from Holdenbrunn, and she has something to say to Farmer Landfried and his wife, but she will not tell me a word of it. Now you tell her what my name is.”
 
“Why, that is the farmer himself,” said his wife; and, as a sign of welcome, she took his hat and hung it on the stove-handle.
 
“Do you see?” said the old man to Amrie.—“Now you may say all you please.”
 
“Sit down,” said the mother, and gave Amrie a chair. Breathing with difficulty she began:
 
“You may believe me, that no child could think more of you than I have, both in times past, and for the last few days. Do you remember Josenhans, at the fish-pond, where the road turns towards Endringen?”
 
“Certainly, certainly,” said both the old people.
 
“I am Josenhans’ daughter.”
 
“Well, if it did not seem to me as though I knew you,” said the farmer’s wife. “Bless you, my child.” She reached her her hand. “You have[253] grown up a strong, fine girl. But tell me what has brought you so far?”
 
“She came part of the way with our John,” said the old man. “He will soon follow.”
 
His wife was startled. She seemed to anticipate something, and reminded her husband that she had thought of the Josenhans children at the moment John rode away.
 
“I have a remembrance from both of you,” said Amrie, and took the necklace and a carefully folded gold piece from her pocket. “That necklace you gave me the last time you were in the place.”
 
“Ah, you told me you had lost it,” interrupted the farmer to his wife.
 
“And there,” continued Amrie, giving him the gilded15 groschen, “is the gold piece you presented me when I kept the geese upon Holder Common, and gave you water from the spring.”
 
“Yes, yes, that is all right,” said the old man. “But what is all this? What is given you, you may keep.”
 
Amrie stood up and said, “I have a request to make. Suffer me for two minutes to speak freely. May I?”
 
“Yes. Why not?”
 
“Look! Your son John would have brought me to you as a servant. Formerly16 I would rather have served you than another, rather here than elsewhere; but now, it would have been dishonorable[254] in me towards those to whom I wish to be open and honorable during my whole life long. I could not come with a lie in my mouth, when all should be as clear as sunlight. In one word, John and I have taken each other with our whole hearts’ choice, and he wishes me to be his wife!”
 
“Ah, ha!” cried the old man, and jumped from his chair, so that one could see his former helplessness was put on. “Ah, ha,” he cried again, as though a twinge of gout seized him. But his wife held him firmly by the hand and said, “Let her go on.”
 
And Amrie continued, “Believe me, I have sense enough to know that no one can accept a daughter-in-law from compassion17. You might make me a present; but to make one a daughter-in-law out of pity! that, no one could do. Neither would I have it so. I have no money. Yes, I have that groschen that you gave me on the Holder Common. I have it yet, because no one would take it for a groschen,” she said, turning to the farmer who smiled furtively18. “I have absolutely nothing! And yet more, I have a brother, for whom, though he is strong and healthy, I must provide. I have also kept the geese, and have been less considered than any girl in the village. That is all! No one can say the smallest thing against my character. That is again all! In what men receive from God alone, I would say to any princess, that I placed myself no hair’s-breadth behind her; ah, if she had[255] seven golden crowns upon her head—I should rather another spoke2 for me. I speak not willingly for myself; but my whole life long, I have had to be the only protector of my character, and I do it to-day for the last time, when the decision must be made between my life or death!
 
“Do not misunderstand me. If you reject me, I shall go calmly away. I shall do no harm to myself; neither spring into the water, nor hang myself on a tree. I shall seek another service, and thank God that a good man would have had me for his wife—and will believe that it is God’s will that it shall not be.” Amrie’s voice trembled, and her form seemed taller than before. But as she now sank down she cried, “Examine yourselves. Ask your deepest consciousness if it be God’s will, however you decide.”
 
For a moment neither spoke. At length the old man said, “You can preach like any parson.” The mother dried her eyes with her apron19 and said, “Why not? Pastors20 have but one brain and one heart.”
 
“As for you,” said the old man contemptuously, “you are something of a parson yourself. With a couple of soft speeches they can do what they please with you.”
 
“And with you, they will never be able to do any thing till you die,” said his wife, with spirit.
 
“See!” stormed the old man. “Do you see, you saint from the Unterland, you bring fine peace[256] into our house. You have already made my wife take your part against myself; now, you may both wait till I am dead—then you may do as you please.”
 
“No!” cried Amrie, “that I will never do. John shall never have me for his wife without your blessing21; much less will I have the sin in both our hearts, of waiting for your death. I have scarcely known my parents; I cannot remember them, but I love them as we love God, whom we have never seen. And I know what death is. Last night I closed the eyes of Brown Mariann, for whom, during my whole life, I have done what I could; what she would have me do; but now that she is dead, I often think how reluctantly I sometimes did it, and how much more I might have done for her. It is all over now; she lies there in her dark bed; I can do nothing more for her, nor ask her forgiveness. Yes, I know what death is, and I will not”—
 
“But I will!” shrieked22 the old man, and clinched23 his fists and ground his teeth. “But I will!” he cried again. “You shall remain and belong to us! And now let what will come. Let them say what they will; you, and you alone, shall have my John.”
 
The wife threw her arms about his neck and embraced him. The old man, unaccustomed to such demonstration24, cried out, “What are you doing?”
 
[257]“Giving you a kiss, for you deserve one. You are better than you would make us believe.”
 
The old man, who, during the whole time, held a pinch of snuff between his fingers, which he would not waste, now took it hastily, and said, “Just as you like; but there is one younger, and from her it will taste better. Come here, you disguised parson.”
 
“I will come willingly, but call me first by my name.”
 
“Yes, but what is your name?”
 
“That you need not know. You can give me one of your own choosing; you know which.”
 
“You are deep! Well, then, my name; come here, my daughter.”
 
In answer, Amrie flew to his arms. “And I, am not I to be consulted?” said the mother in pure joy, almost beside herself.
 
The old man took Amrie by the hand, and said, in a gay sportive tone, “Worthy Catharina, now named Landfried, will you accept—what is your real name,” he whispered, “your baptismal name?”
 
“Amrie.”
 
“Will you accept,” he continued, addressing his wife, “Amrie Josenhans, of Holdenbrunn, for your daughter, and treat her as you do your husband; never let her say a word, feed her badly, scold and oppress her—and in short, treat her as one of the family.”
 
A total change had come over the old man; he[258] seemed to have lost his senses; and while Amrie remained in the arms of her mother, and could not tear herself away, he struck his thorn-staff upon the table, and cried, “Where is that good-for-nothing boy, John? He hangs his bride about our necks, while he is roving about the country.”
 
Amrie, then, loosing herself from her mother, said, “that the stable-boy should be sent to the mill, where John was waiting.”
 
The old man said, “He must at least be left three hours to gape25 away the time there as a punishment for sheltering himself like a coward behind her apron. When he did come, they would put a woman’s cap on his head; and, indeed, he was not wanted, for he felt much inclined to keep the bride for himself.”
 
The mother, however, had slipped out, and sent the swift-footed stable-boy to the mill.
 
They now thought that Amrie must be hungry. The mother proposed an omelet, and Amrie begged that she might be permitted to kindle26 the first fire in the house, that was to prepare any thing for herself, and also cook something for her parents.
 
They consented, and both the old people went into the kitchen with her, where she set about every thing so handily; saw with a glance where every thing was kept, and had indeed so few questions to ask, and did her work so quickly and gracefully27, that the old man nudged his wife and said, “She has it all by heart, and at her fingers’ ends, like the new schoolmaster.”
 
[259]All three stood before the clear blazing fire, when John came in. Brighter than the flame upon the hearth28, shone their heart-felt happiness from the eyes of all. The hearth with its bright flame was a sacred altar, around which stood four grateful and happy people.

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 hop vdJzL     
n.单脚跳,跳跃;vi.单脚跳,跳跃;着手做某事;vt.跳跃,跃过
参考例句:
  • The children had a competition to see who could hop the fastest.孩子们举行比赛,看谁单足跳跃最快。
  • How long can you hop on your right foot?你用右脚能跳多远?
2 spoke XryyC     
n.(车轮的)辐条;轮辐;破坏某人的计划;阻挠某人的行动 v.讲,谈(speak的过去式);说;演说;从某种观点来说
参考例句:
  • They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
  • The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。
3 riddles 77f3ceed32609b0d80430e545f553e31     
n.谜(语)( riddle的名词复数 );猜不透的难题,难解之谜
参考例句:
  • Few riddles collected from oral tradition, however, have all six parts. 但是据收集的情况看,口头流传的谜语很少具有这完整的六部分。 来自英汉非文学 - 民俗
  • But first, you'd better see if you can answer riddles. 但是你首先最好想想你会不会猜谜语。 来自辞典例句
4 wrestle XfLwD     
vi.摔跤,角力;搏斗;全力对付
参考例句:
  • He taught his little brother how to wrestle.他教他小弟弟如何摔跤。
  • We have to wrestle with difficulties.我们必须同困难作斗争。
5 courageous HzSx7     
adj.勇敢的,有胆量的
参考例句:
  • We all honour courageous people.我们都尊重勇敢的人。
  • He was roused to action by courageous words.豪言壮语促使他奋起行动。
6 scythe GDez1     
n. 长柄的大镰刀,战车镰; v. 以大镰刀割
参考例句:
  • He's cutting grass with a scythe.他正在用一把大镰刀割草。
  • Two men were attempting to scythe the long grass.两个人正试图割掉疯长的草。
7 winking b599b2f7a74d5974507152324c7b8979     
n.瞬眼,目语v.使眼色( wink的现在分词 );递眼色(表示友好或高兴等);(指光)闪烁;闪亮
参考例句:
  • Anyone can do it; it's as easy as winking. 这谁都办得到,简直易如反掌。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • The stars were winking in the clear sky. 星星在明亮的天空中闪烁。 来自《简明英汉词典》
8 miser p19yi     
n.守财奴,吝啬鬼 (adj.miserly)
参考例句:
  • The miser doesn't like to part with his money.守财奴舍不得花他的钱。
  • The demon of greed ruined the miser's happiness.贪得无厌的恶习毁掉了那个守财奴的幸福。
9 steadily Qukw6     
adv.稳定地;不变地;持续地
参考例句:
  • The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
  • Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。
10 holder wc4xq     
n.持有者,占有者;(台,架等)支持物
参考例句:
  • The holder of the office of chairman is reponsible for arranging meetings.担任主席职位的人负责安排会议。
  • That runner is the holder of the world record for the hundred-yard dash.那位运动员是一百码赛跑世界纪录的保持者。
11 slander 7ESzF     
n./v.诽谤,污蔑
参考例句:
  • The article is a slander on ordinary working people.那篇文章是对普通劳动大众的诋毁。
  • He threatened to go public with the slander.他威胁要把丑闻宣扬出去。
12 thoroughly sgmz0J     
adv.完全地,彻底地,十足地
参考例句:
  • The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
  • The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。
13 chamber wnky9     
n.房间,寝室;会议厅;议院;会所
参考例句:
  • For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说,牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
  • The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。
14 smothered b9bebf478c8f7045d977e80734a8ed1d     
(使)窒息, (使)透不过气( smother的过去式和过去分词 ); 覆盖; 忍住; 抑制
参考例句:
  • He smothered the baby with a pillow. 他用枕头把婴儿闷死了。
  • The fire is smothered by ashes. 火被灰闷熄了。
15 gilded UgxxG     
a.镀金的,富有的
参考例句:
  • The golden light gilded the sea. 金色的阳光使大海如金子般闪闪发光。
  • "Friends, they are only gilded disks of lead!" "朋友们,这只不过是些镀金的铅饼! 来自英汉文学 - 败坏赫德莱堡
16 formerly ni3x9     
adv.从前,以前
参考例句:
  • We now enjoy these comforts of which formerly we had only heard.我们现在享受到了过去只是听说过的那些舒适条件。
  • This boat was formerly used on the rivers of China.这船从前航行在中国内河里。
17 compassion 3q2zZ     
n.同情,怜悯
参考例句:
  • He could not help having compassion for the poor creature.他情不自禁地怜悯起那个可怜的人来。
  • Her heart was filled with compassion for the motherless children.她对于没有母亲的孩子们充满了怜悯心。
18 furtively furtively     
adv. 偷偷地, 暗中地
参考例句:
  • At this some of the others furtively exchanged significant glances. 听他这样说,有几个人心照不宣地彼此对望了一眼。
  • Remembering my presence, he furtively dropped it under his chair. 后来想起我在,他便偷偷地把书丢在椅子下。
19 apron Lvzzo     
n.围裙;工作裙
参考例句:
  • We were waited on by a pretty girl in a pink apron.招待我们的是一位穿粉红色围裙的漂亮姑娘。
  • She stitched a pocket on the new apron.她在新围裙上缝上一只口袋。
20 pastors 6db8c8e6c0bccc7f451e40146499f43f     
n.(基督教的)牧师( pastor的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Do we show respect to our pastors, missionaries, Sunday school teachers? 我们有没有尊敬牧师、宣教士,以及主日学的老师? 来自互联网
  • Should pastors or elders be paid, or serve as a volunteer? 牧师或长老需要付给酬劳,还是志愿的事奉呢? 来自互联网
21 blessing UxDztJ     
n.祈神赐福;祷告;祝福,祝愿
参考例句:
  • The blessing was said in Hebrew.祷告用了希伯来语。
  • A double blessing has descended upon the house.双喜临门。
22 shrieked dc12d0d25b0f5d980f524cd70c1de8fe     
v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • She shrieked in fright. 她吓得尖叫起来。
  • Li Mei-t'ing gave a shout, and Lu Tzu-hsiao shrieked, "Tell what? 李梅亭大声叫,陆子潇尖声叫:“告诉什么? 来自汉英文学 - 围城
23 clinched 66a50317a365cdb056bd9f4f25865646     
v.(尤指两人)互相紧紧抱[扭]住( clinch的过去式和过去分词 );解决(争端、交易),达成(协议)
参考例句:
  • The two businessmen clinched the deal quickly. 两位生意人很快达成了协议。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Evidently this information clinched the matter. 显然,这一消息使问题得以最终解决。 来自辞典例句
24 demonstration 9waxo     
n.表明,示范,论证,示威
参考例句:
  • His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
  • He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。
25 gape ZhBxL     
v.张口,打呵欠,目瞪口呆地凝视
参考例句:
  • His secretary stopped taking notes to gape at me.他的秘书停止了记录,目瞪口呆地望着我。
  • He was not the type to wander round gaping at everything like a tourist.他不是那种像个游客似的四处闲逛、对什么都好奇张望的人。
26 kindle n2Gxu     
v.点燃,着火
参考例句:
  • This wood is too wet to kindle.这木柴太湿点不着。
  • A small spark was enough to kindle Lily's imagination.一星光花足以点燃莉丽的全部想象力。
27 gracefully KfYxd     
ad.大大方方地;优美地
参考例句:
  • She sank gracefully down onto a cushion at his feet. 她优雅地坐到他脚旁的垫子上。
  • The new coats blouse gracefully above the hip line. 新外套在臀围线上优美地打着褶皱。
28 hearth n5by9     
n.壁炉炉床,壁炉地面
参考例句:
  • She came and sat in a chair before the hearth.她走过来,在炉子前面的椅子上坐下。
  • She comes to the hearth,and switches on the electric light there.她走到壁炉那里,打开电灯。


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