stories by english authors-orient (英国作家故事集)-第21章
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which he climbed native fashion； first discarding his clothes。 When near
the first big branches he came to a hole； and； putting in his hand； he
extracted a lively young possum by the tail。
Next morning he was sitting on the Colborns' fence as usual。 At his
feet was a little box with two or three slats nailed roughly across it。 Inside
was the possum。 King Billy wondered what kind of a coat he could get。 He
liked a frock…coat； there was something majestic about it； something fine
and ample。 Common morning coats would not do； no one would insult a
king by offering him tweed； even little Annie knew better than that；
especially if he gave her a live possum he had caught himself。 And when
Annie did come out； she was in the seventh heaven of delight with the
possum； and ready to bestow anything in the world on King Billy。
〃You give poor Billy one fellow coat； missy； and he go down along
street like a king。〃
Annie flew into the house and seized the first garment she laid her
little hands on。 It was her father's dress…coat。 She rolled it up； and； running
out； thrust it excitedly into the king's black paw。 As he went off； she
carried the possum indoors； and was deliriously happy for hours。
King Billy hurried into the bush till he came to a water…hole； and；
stripping off his rags； he held up the coat。 His jaw fell； there was a
remarkable exiguity about the coat which was inexplicable。 He had never
observed such in his life。 He put it on； and； bending over the surface of the
still pool； took a good look at the general effect。 It was not bad from some
points of view； but Billy had his doubts as to whether he would be
received with the respect due to his title if he went into Ballarat clothed
thus。 He tried to button it； but discovered that； if it had ever been intended
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for buttoning； he could not get it to meet across his chest。 He picked up his
discarded frock…coat； which was held together by the collar； then he felt
the stuff of which the dress…coat was made； and the material pleased him。
〃Oh； why；〃 asked Billy； 〃had it not been made with front tails？〃 He saw at
last that this coat and his high hat alone were insufficient for civilisation。
For full dress in a corroboree it might do。 Unconsciously； he was so
wrought upon by the purpose for which the coat had been built that he
determined to reserve it for parties in the seclusion of the bush； where any
merriment could be rightly checked by a crack from his waddy。 He planted
it carefully in a hollow log； and； having inserted himself with as much care
into his discarded rags； he wondered off into the town。 He got very
intoxicated that night； and determined to have a party all by himself。
Now it may seem very annoying； and I confess I find it so myself； but；
having got so far； I don't see my way to tell the rest； even if Annie Colborn
told me the story herself。 For after her father's death she married a man
who had a small sheep…station and a hotel not forty miles from Carabobla；
in New South Wales。 I stayed there a couple of days when I was going
north to the Murrumbidgee。 But though she told me； I cannot tell it again；
at least not in bold； bad print。 Still； it will occur to most that a man of King
Billy's sweet and innocent disposition might very likely create a sensation；
when his natural discretion was drowned in bad whisky； if he ended his
solitary corroboree in the moonlight by going up to Colborn's house in
order to deliver a speech of gratitude through the French windows。
So Colborn and the king had a corroboree all to themselves in the open
space before the house； while the gold commissioner's guests roared with
laughter to find out where the missing dress…coat was。 Next day King Billy
resumed the split frock…coat。
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THY HEART'S DESIRE
BY NETTA SYRETT
The tents were pitched in the little plain surrounded by hills。 Right and
left there were stretches of tender； vivid green where the young corn was
springing； farther still； on either hand； the plain was yellow with mustard…
flower； but in the immediate foreground it was bare and stony。 A few
thorny bushes pushed their straggling way through the dry soil；
ineffectively as far as the grace of the landscape was concerned； for they
merely served to emphasise the barren aridness of the land that stretched
before the tents； sloping gradually to the distant hills。
The hills were uninteresting enough in themselves； they had no
grandeur of outline； no picturesqueness even； though at morning and
evening the sun； like a great magician； clothed them with beauty at a
touch。
They had begun to change； to soften； to blush rose red in the evening
light； when a woman came to the entrance of the largest of the tents and
looked toward them。 She leaned against the support on one side of the
canvas flap； and； putting back her head； rested that； too； against it； while
her eyes wandered over the plain and over the distant hills。
She was bareheaded； for the covering of the tent projected a few feet
to form an awning overhead。 The gentle breeze which had risen with
sundown stirred the soft brown tendrils of hair on her temples； and
fluttered her pink cotton gown a little。 She stood very still； with her arms
hanging and her hands clasped loosely in front of her。 There was about her
whole attitude an air of studied quiet which in some vague fashion the
slight clasp of her hands accentuated。 Her face； with its tightly； almost
rigidly closed lips； would have been quite in keeping with the impression
of conscious calm which her entire presence suggested； had it not been
that when she raised her eyes a strange contradiction to this idea was
afforded。 They were large gray eyes； unusually bright and rather startling
in effect； for they seemed the only live thing about her。 Gleaming from her
still； set face； there was something almost alarming in their brilliancy。
They softened with a sudden glow of pleasure as they rested on the
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translucent green of the wheat…fields under the broad generous sunlight；
and then wandered to where the pure vivid yellow of the mustard…flower
spread in waves to the base of the hills； now mystically veiled in radiance。
She stood motionless； watching their melting； elusive changes from
palpitating rose to the transparent purple of amethyst。 The stillness of
evening was broken by the monotonous； not unmusical creaking of a
Persian wheel at some little distance to the left of the tent。 The well stood
in a little grove of trees； between their branches she could see； when she
turned her head； the coloured saris of the village women； where they stood
in groups chattering as they drew the water； and the little naked brown
babies that toddled beside them or sprawled on the hard ground beneath
the trees。 From the village of flat…roofed mud houses under the low hill at
the back of the tents； other women were crossing the plain toward the well；
their terra…cotta water…jars poised easily on their heads； casting long
shadows on the sun…baked ground as they came。
Presently； in the distance； from the direction of the sunlit hills opposite
a little group of men came into sight。 Far off； the mustard… coloured
jackets and the red turbans of the orderlies made vivid splashes of colour
on the dull plain。 As they came nearer； the guns slung across their
shoulders； the cases of mathematical instruments； the hammers； and other
heavy baggage they carried for the sahib； became visible。 A little in front；
at walking pace rode the sahib himself； making notes as he came in a book
he held before him。 The girl at the tent entrance watched the advance of
the little company indifferently； it seemed； except for a slight tightening of
the muscles about her mouth； her face remained unchanged。 While he was
still some little distance away； the man with the notebook raised his head
and smiled awkwardly as he saw her standing there。 Awkwardness；
perhaps； best describes the whole man。 He was badly put together； loose…
jointed； ungainly。 The fact that he was tall profited him nothing； for it
merely emphasised the extreme ungracefulness of his figure。 His long pale
face was made paler by the shock of coarse； tow… coloured hair； his eyes；
even； looked colourless； though they were certainly the least uninteresting
feature of his face； for they were not devoid of expression。 He had a way
of slouching when he moved that singularly intensified the general
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uncouthness of his appearance。 〃Are you very tired？〃 asked his wife；
gently； when he had dismounted close to the tent。 The question would
have been an unnecessary one had it been put to her instead of to her
husband； for her voice had that peculiar flat toneless sound for which
extreme weariness is answerable。
〃Well； no； my dear； not very；〃 he replied； drawling out the words with
an exasperating air of delivering a final verdict； after deep reflection on
the subject。
The girl glanced once more at the fading colours on the hills。 〃Come in
and rest；〃 she said； moving aside a little to let him pass。
She stood lingering a moment after he had entered the tent； as though
unwilling to leave the outer air；
