按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
faster； till the drops stood on her forehead。 After a time she went up to
18
… Page 19…
Dream Life and Real Life A Little African Story
the table； there was written illegibly in a man's hand on a fragment of
manuscript paper： 〃Can I come to see you this afternoon？〃 Near it was
a closed and addressed envelope。 She opened it。 In it were written the
words： 〃Yes； please； come。〃
She tore it across and wrote the words： 〃No； I shall not be at liberty。〃
She closed them in an envelope and addressed them。 Then she rolled
up the manuscript on the table and rang the bell。 She gave it to the
servant。 〃Tell the boy to give this to his master； and say the article ends
rather abruptly； they must state it is to be continued； I will finish it
tomorrow。 As he passes No。 20 let him leave this note there。〃 The
servant went out。 She walked up and down with her hands folded above
her head。
。。。
Two months after； the older woman stood before the fire。 The door
opened suddenly； and the younger woman came in。
〃I had to comeI couldn't wait。 You have heard； he was married this
morning？ Oh； do you think it is true？ Do help me！〃 She put out her
hands。
〃Sit down。 Yes； it is quite true。〃
〃Oh； it is so terrible； and I didn't know anything！ Did you ever say
anything to him？〃 She caught the woman's hands。
〃I never saw him again after the day you were here；so I could not
speak to him；but I did what I could。〃 She stood looking passively into
the fire。
〃And they say she is quite a child； only eighteen。 They say he only
saw her three times before he proposed to her。 Do you think it is true？〃
〃Yes； it is quite true。〃
〃He can't love her。 They say he's only marrying her for her rank and
her money。〃
The woman turned quickly。
〃What right have you to say that？ No one but I know him。 What
need has he of any one's rank or wealth？ He is greater than them all！
Older women may have failed him； he has needed to turn to her beautiful；
fresh； young life to compensate him。 She is a woman whom any man
19
… Page 20…
Dream Life and Real Life A Little African Story
might have loved； so young and beautiful； her family are famed for their
intellect。 If he trains her； she may make him a better wife than any other
woman would have done。〃
〃Oh； but I can't bear itI can't bear it！〃 The younger woman sat
down in the chair。 〃She will be his wife； and have his children。〃
〃Yes。〃 The elder woman moved quickly。 〃One wants to have the
child； and lay its head on one's breast and feed it。〃 She moved quickly。
〃It would not matter if another woman bore it； if one had it to take care
of。〃 She moved restlessly。
〃Oh； no； I couldn't bear it to be hers。 When I think of her I feel as if I
were dying； all my fingers turn cold； I feel dead。 Oh； you were only his
friend； you don't know！〃
The older spoke softly and quickly； 〃Don't you feel a little gentle to her
when you think she's going to be his wife and the mother of his child？ I
would like to put my arms round her and touch her once； if she would let
me。 She is so beautiful； they say。〃
〃Oh； I could never bear to see her； it would kill me。 And they are so
happy together today！ He is loving her so！〃
〃Don't you want him to be happy？〃 The older woman looked down
at her。 〃Have you never loved him； at all？〃
The younger woman's face was covered with her hands。 〃Oh； it's so
terrible； so dark！ and I shall go on living year after year； always in this
awful pain！ Oh； if I could only die！〃
The older woman stood looking into the fire； then slowly and
measuredly she said； 〃There are times； in life； when everything seems dark；
when the brain reels； and we cannot see that there is anything but death。
But； if we wait long enough； after long； long years； calm comes。 It may
be we cannot say it was well； but we are contented； we accept the past。
The struggle is ended。 That day may come for you； perhaps sooner than
you think。〃 She spoke slowly and with difficulty。
〃No； it can never come for me。 If once I have loved a thing； I love it
for ever。 I can never forget。〃
〃Love is not the only end in life。 There are other things to live for。〃
〃Oh； yes； for you！ To me love is everything！〃
20
… Page 21…
Dream Life and Real Life A Little African Story
〃Now； you must go； dear。〃
The younger woman stood up。 〃It has been such a comfort to talk to
you。 I think I should have killed myself if I had not come。 You help me
so。 I shall always be grateful to you。〃
The older woman took her hand。
〃I want to ask something of you。〃
〃What is it？〃
〃I cannot quite explain to you。 You will not understand。 But there
are times when something more terrible can come into a life than it should
lose what it loves。 If you have had a dream of what life ought to be； and
you try to make it real； and you fail； and something you have killed out in
your heart for long years wakes up and cries； 'Let each man play his own
game； and care nothing for the hand of his fellow！ Each man for himself。
So the game must be played！' and you doubt all you have lived for； and the
ground seems washing out under your feet。〃 She paused。 〃Such a
time has come to me now。 If you would promise me that if ever another
woman comes to seek your help； you will give it to her； and try to love her
for my sake； I think it will help me。 I think I should be able to keep my
faith。〃
〃Oh； I will do anything you ask me to。 You are so good and great。〃
〃Oh； good and great！if you knew！ Now go； dear。〃
〃I have not kept you from your work； have I？〃
〃No； I have not been working lately。 Good…by； dear。〃
The younger woman went； and the elder knelt down by the chair； and
wailed like a little child when you have struck it and i