a simpleton-第45章

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Ucatella；　with　all　a　Kafir's　love　of　fire…arms；　clapped　her　hands
with　delight。　　〃My　child　shoots　loud　and　strong；〃　said　she。

〃Ay；　ay；〃　replied　Phoebe；　〃they　are　all　alike；　wherever　there's
men；　look　for　quarrelling　and　firing　off。　　We　had　only　to　sit　quiet
in　the　wagon。〃

〃Ay。〃　said　Dick；　〃the　cattle　especiallyfor　it　is　them　the　varmint
were　afterand　let　'em　eat　my　Hottentots。〃

At　this　picture　of　the　cattle　inside　the　wagon；　and　the　jackals
supping　on　cold　Hottentot　alongside；　Phoebe；　who　had　no　more　humor
than　a　cat；　but　a　heart　of　gold；　shut　up；　and　turned　red　with
confusion　at　her　false　estimate　of　the　recent　transaction　in　fur。

When　the　sun　rose　they　found　themselves　in　a　tract　somewhat　less
arid　and　inhuman；　and；　at　last；　at　the　rise　of　a　gentle　slope；　they
saw；　half　a　mile　before　them；　a　large　farmhouse　partly　clad　with
creepers；　and　a　little　plot　of　turf；　the　fruit　of　eternal　watering；
item；　a　flower…bed；　item；　snow…white　palings；　item；　an　air　of
cleanliness　and　neatness　scarcely　known　to　those　dirty　descendants
of　clean　ancestors；　the　Boers。　　At　some　distance　a　very　large　dam
glittered　in　the　sun；　and　a　troop　of　snow…white　sheep　were　watering
at　it。

〃ENGLAND！〃　cried　Christopher。

〃Ay；　sir；〃　said　Phoebe；　〃as　nigh　as　man　can　make　it。〃　　But　soon　she
began　to　fret：　〃Oh；　dear！　where　are　they　all？　　If　it　was　me；　I'd　be
at　the　door　looking　out。　　Ah；　there　goes　Yuke　to　rouse　them　up。〃

〃Come；　Pheeb；　don't　you　fidget；〃　said　Dick　kindly。　　〃Why；　the　lazy
lot　are　scarce　out　of　their　beds　by　this　time。〃

〃More　shame　for　'em。　　If　they　were　away　from　me；　and　coming　home；　I
should　be　at　the　door　day　AND　night；　I　know。　　Ah！〃

She　uttered　a　scream　of　delight；　for　just　then；　out　came　Ucatella；
with　little　Tommy　on　her　shoulder；　and　danced　along　to　meet　her。
As　she　came　close；　she　raised　the　chubby　child　high　in　the　air；　and
he　crowed；　and　then　she　lowered　him　to　his　mother；　who　rushed　at
him；　seized；　and　devoured　him　with　a　hundred　inarticulate　cries　of
joy　and　love　unspeakable。

〃NATURE！〃　said　Christopher　dogmatically；　recognizing　an　old
acquaintance；　and　booking　it　as　one　more　conquest　gained　over　the
past。　　But　there　was　too　much　excitement　over　the　cherub　to　attend
to　him。　　So　he　watched　the　woman　gravely；　and　began　to　moralize
with　all　his　might。　　〃This；〃　said　he；　〃is　what　we　used　to　call
maternal　love；　and　all　animals　had　it；　and　that　is　why　the　noble
savage　went　for　him。　　It　was　very　good　of　you；　Miss　Savage；〃　said
the　poor　soul　sententiously。

〃Good　of　her！〃　cried　Phoebe。　　〃She　is　all　goodness。　　Savage；　find
me　a　Dutchwoman　like　her！　　I'll　give　her　a　good　cuddle　for　it；〃　and
she　took　the　Kafir　round　the　neck；　and　gave　her　a　hearty　kiss；　and
made　the　little　boy　kiss　her　too。

At　this　moment　out　came　a　collie　dog；　hunting　Ucatella　by　scent
alone；　which　process　landed　him　headlong　in　the　group；　he　gave　loud
barks　of　recognition；　fawned　on　Phoebe　and　Dick；　smelt　poor
Christopher；　gave　a　growl　of　suspicion；　and　lurked　about　squinting；
dissatisfied；　and　lowering　his　tail。

〃Thou　art　wrong；　lad；　for　once；〃　said　Dick；　〃for　he's　an　old
friend；　and　a　good　one。〃

〃After　the　dog；　perhaps　some　Christian　will　come　to　welcome　us；〃
said　poor　Phoebe。

Obedient　to　the　wish；　out　walked　Sophy；　the　English　nurse；　a
scraggy　woman；　with　a　very　cocked　nose　and　thin；　pinched　lips；　and
an　air　of　respectability　and　pertness　mingled。　　She　dropped　a　short
courtesy；　shot　the　glance　of　a　basilisk　at　Ucatella；　and　said
stiffly；　〃You　are　welcome　home；　ma'am。〃　　Then　she　took　the　little
boy　as　one　having　authority。　　Not　that　Phoebe　would　have
surrendered　him；　but　just　then　Mr。　Falcon　strolled　out；　with　a
cigar　in　his　mouth；　and　Phoebe；　with　her　heart　in　HER　mouth；　flew
to　meet　him。　　There　was　a　rapturous　conjugal　embrace；　followed　by
mutual　inquiries；　and　the　wagon　drew　up　at　the　door。　　Then；　for　the
first　time；　Falcon　observed　Staines；　saw　at　once　he　was　a
gentleman；　and　touched　his　hat　to　him；　to　which　Christopher
responded　in　kind；　and　remembered　he　had　done　so　in　the　locked…up
past。

Phoebe　instantly　drew　her　husband　apart　by　the　sleeve。　　〃Who　do　you
think　that　is？　　You'll　never　guess。　　'Tis　the　great　doctor　that
saved　Dick's　life　in　England　with　cutting　of　his　throat。　　But；　oh；
my　dear；　he　is　not　the　man　he　was。　　He　is　afflicted。　　Out　of　his
mind　partly。　　Well；　we　must　cure　him；　and　square　the　account　for
Dick。　　I'm　a　proud　woman　at　finding　him；　and　bringing　him　here　to
make　him　all　right　again；　I　can　tell　you。　　Oh；　I　am　happy；　I　am
happy。　　Little　did　I　think　to　be　so　happy　as　I　am。　　And；　my　dear；　I
have　brought　you　a　whole　sackful　of　newspapers；　old　and　new。〃

〃That　is　a　good　girl。　　But　tell　me　a　little　more　about　him。　　What
is　his　name？〃

〃Christie。〃

〃Dr。　Christie？〃

〃No　doubt。　　He　wasn't　an　apothecary；　or　a　chemist；　you　may　be　sure；
but　a　high　doctor；　and　the　cleverest　ever　was　or　ever　will　be：　and
isn't　it　sad；　love；　to　see　him　brought　down　so？　　My　heart　yearns
for　the　poor　man：　and　then　his　wifethe　sweetest；　loveliest
creature　you　everoh！〃　　Phoebe　stopped　very　short；　for　she
remembered　something　all　of　a　sudden；　nor　did　she　ever　again　give
Falcon　a　chance　of　knowing　that　the　woman；　whose　presence　had　so
disturbed　him；　was　this　very　Dr。　Christie's　wife。　　〃Curious！〃
thought　she　to　herself；　〃the　world　to　be　so　large；　and　yet　so
small：〃　then　aloud；　〃They　are　unpacking　the　wagon；　come；　dear。　　I
don't　think　I　have　forgotten　anything　of　yours。　　There's　cigars；
and　tobacco；　and　powder；　and　shot；　and　bullets；　and　everything　to
make　you　comfortable；　as　my　duty　'tis；　andoh；　but　I'm　a　happy
woman。〃

Hottentots；　big　and　little；　clustered　about　the　wagon。　　Treasure
after　treasure　was　delivered　with　cries　of　delight；　the　dogs　found
out　it　was　a　joyful　time；　and　barked　about　the　wheeled　treasury；
and　the　place　did　not　quiet　down　till　sunset。

A　plain　but　tidy　little　room　was　given　to　Christopher；　and　he　slept
there　like　a　top。　　Next　morning　his　nurse　called　him　up　to　help　her
water　the　grass。　　She　led　the　way　with　a　tub　on　her　head　and　two
buckets　in　it。　　She　took　him　to　the　dam；　when　she　got　there　she
took　out　the　buckets；　left　one　on　the　bank；　and　gave　the　other　to
Christie。　　She　then　went　down　the　steps　till　the　water　was　up　to
her　neck；　and　bade　Christie　fill　the　tub。　　He　poured　eight
bucketsful　in。　　Then　she　came　slowly　out；　straight　as　an　arrow；
balancing　this　tub　full　on　her　head。　　Then　she　held　out　her　hands
for　the　two　buckets。　　Christie　filled　them；　wondering；　and　gave
them　to　her。　　She　took　them　like　toy　buckets；　and　glided　slowly
home　with　this　enormous　weight；　and　never　spilled　a　drop。　　Indeed；
the　walk　was　more　smooth　and　noble　than　ever；　if　possible。

When　she　reached　the　house；　she　hailed　a　Hottentot；　and　it　cost　the
man　and　Christopher　a　great　effort　of　strength　to　lower　her　tub
between　them。

〃What　a　vertebral　column　you　must　have！〃　said　Christopher。

〃You　must　not　speak　bad　words；　my　child；〃　said　she。　　〃Now；　you
water　the　grass　and　the　flowers。〃　　She　gave　him　a　watering…pot；　and
watched　him　maternally；　but　did　not　put　a　hand　to　it。　　She
evidently　considered　this　part　of　the　business　as　child's　play；　and
not　a　fit　exercise　of　her　powers。

It　was　only　by　drowning　that　little　oasis　twice　a　day　that　the
grass　was　kept　green　and　the　flowers　alive。

She　found　him　other　jobs　in　course　of　the　day；　and　indeed　he　was
always　helping　somebody　or　other；　and　became　quite　ruddy；　bronzed；
and　plump　of　cheek；　and　wore　a　strange　look　of　happiness；　except　at
times　when　he　got　apart；　and　tried　to　recall　the　distant　past。
Then　he　would　knit　his　brow；　and　looked　perplexed　and　sad。

They　were　getting　quite　used　to　him；　and　he　to　them；　when　one　day
he　did　not　come　in　to　dinner。　　Phoebe　sent　out　for　him；　but　they
could　not　find　him。

The　sun　set。　　Phoebe　became　greatly　alarmed；　and　even　Dick　was
anxious。

They　all　turned　out；　with　guns　and　dogs；　and　hunted　for　him　beneath
the　stars。

Just　before　daybreak　Dick　Dale　saw　a　fire　sparkle　by　the　side　of　a
distant　thicket。　　He　went　to　it；　and　there　was　Ucatella　seated；
calm　and　grand　as　antique　statue；　and　Christopher　lying　by　her
side；　with　a　shawl　thrown　over　him。　　As　Dale　came　hurriedly　up；　she
put　her　finger　to　her　lips；　and　said；　〃My　child　sleeps。　　Do　not
wake　him。　　When　he　sleeps；　he　hunts　the　past；　as　Collie　hunts　the
springbok。〃

〃Here's　a　go；〃　said　Dick。　　Then；　hearing　a　chuckle；　he　looked　up；
and　was　aware　of　a　comical　appendage　to　the　scene。　　There　hung；
head　downwards；　from　a　branch；　a　Kafir　boy；　who　was；　in　fact；　the
brother　of　the　stately　Ucatella；　only　went　further　into　antiquity
for　his　models　of　deportment；　for；　as　she　imitated　the　antique
marbles；　he　reproduced　the　habits　of　that　epoch　when　man　roosted；
and　was　arboreal。　　Wheel　somersaults；　and；　above　all；　swinging　head
downwards　from　a　branch；　were　the　sweeteners　of　his　existence。

〃Oh！　YOU　are　there；　are　you？〃　said　Dick。

〃Iss；〃　said　Ucatella。　　〃Tim　good　boy。　　Tim　found　my　child。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Dick；　〃he　has　chosen　a　nice　place。　　This　is　the　clump
the　last　lion　came　out　of；　at　least　they　say　so。　　For　my　part；　I
never　saw　an　African　lion；　Falcon　says　they've　all　took　ship；　and
gone　to　England。　　However；　I　shall　stay　here　with　my　rifle　till
daybreak。　　'Tis　tempting　Providence　to　lie　down　on　the　skirt　of　a
wood　for　Lord　knows　what　to　jump　out　on　ye　unawares。〃

Tim　was　sent　home　for　Hottentots；　and　Christopher　was　carried　home；
still　sleeping；　and　laid　on　his　own　bed。

He　slept　twenty…four　hours　more；　and；　when　he　was　fairly　awake；　a
sort　of　mist　seemed　to　clear　away　in　places；　and　he　remembered
things　at　random。　　He　remembered　being　at　sea　on　the　raft　with　the
dead　body；　that　picture　was　quite　vivid　to　him。　　He　remembered；
too；　being　in　the　hospital；　and　meeting　Phoebe；　and　every
succeeding　incident；　but　as　respected　the　more　distant　past；　he
could　not　recall　it　by　any　effort　of　his　will。　　His　mind　could　only
go　into　that　remoter　past　by　material　stepping…stones；　and　what
stepping…stones　he　had　about　him　here　led　him　back　to　general
knowledge；　but　not　to　his　private　history。

In　this　condition　he　puzzled　them　all　strangely　at　the　farm；　his
mind　was　alternately　so　clear　and　so　obscure。　　He　would　chat　with
Phoebe；　and　sometimes　give　her　a　good　practical　hint；　but　the　next
moment；　helpless　for　want　of　memory；　that　great　faculty　without
which　judgment　cannot　act；　having　no　material。

After　some　days　of　this；　he　had　another　great　sleep。　　It　brought
him　back　the　distant　past　in　chapters。　　His　wedding…day。　　His
wife's　face　and　dress　upon　that　day。　　His　parting　with　her：　his
whole　voyage　out：　but；　strange　to　say；　it　swept　away　one…half　of
that　which　he　had　recovered　at　his　last　sleep；　and　he　no　longer
remembered　clearly　how　he　came　to　be　at　Dale's　Kloof。

Thus　his　mind　might　be　compared　to　one　climbing　a　slippery　place；
who　gains　a　foot　or　two；　then　slips　back；　but　on　the　whole　gains
more　than　he　loses。

He　took　a　great　liking　to　Falcon。　　That　gentleman　had　the　art　of
pleasing；　and　the　tact　never　to　offend。

Falcon　affected　to　treat　the　poor　soul's　want　of　memory　as　a　common
infirmity；　pretended　he　was　himself　very　often　troubled　in　the　same
way；　and　advised