Oh dear, she wished she wasn't travelling at night. She would much rather have travelled by day, much rather. But the lady at the Governess Agency had said: 'Take an evening boat. Then you can get into a "Ladies Only" carriage on the train next day, and that will be much safer than sleeping in a foreign hotel. Don't leave your seat on the train except to go and wash your hands, and when you do that, make sure you lock the door. The train arrives at Munich at eight o'clock in the morning, and Frau Arnholdt says that the Hotel Grunewald is only one minute away. She will arrive at six the same evening, so you can have a nice quiet day to rest and practise your German. When you want something to eat, I advise you to go to the nearest baker's and get a cake and some coffee. You haven't been abroad before, have you?'
No.'
Well, I always tell my girls that it's better to believe that other people are all bad than all good. It sounds hard, but we've got to be women of the world, haven't we?'
It was nice on the boat. The attendant in the Ladies' Sitting Room was so kind, and changed her money for her and helped her to find a comfortable place to lie down. She lay there and watched the other passengers taking off their hats and arranging themselves for the night. The attendant put a green shade over the lamp and sat with her sewing on her knees. 'I like travelling very much,' thought the little governess. She smiled as she fell asleep.
But when the boat stopped and she moved sleepily forward with all the people who knew where to go and what to do—then she felt afraid. Just a little afraid, just enough to wish—oh, that it was day and that she had someone, another woman, to travel with her.
Tickets, please. Show your tickets. Have your tickets ready.'
She was off the boat. Immediately, a man in a leather hat came forward and touched her on the arm. 'Where for, Miss?' He spoke English—he must be a guard or an official of some kind with a hat like that. But then—without asking—he took her bag and started pushing past people, shouting: 'This way!' He had such a rude, determined voice.
But I don't want help with my bag.' What a horrible man! 'I don't want any help. I can carry it myself.' He walked so fast that she had to run, and she tried to pull the bag out of his hand. He took no notice, but continued down the long, dark platform and across the railway line. She was sure that he was a robber as she, too, crossed the railway line. On the other side—oh, thank goodness!—there was a train with 'Munich' written on it.
The man stopped. 'Here?' asked the rude voice.
Yes, a Ladies' carriage.' She opened her little purse to find something small enough to give to this horrible man, while he threw the bag into an empty carriage. There was a 'Ladies Only' notice stuck to the window. She got into the train and gave him a coin.
What's this?' shouted the man, looking at it angrily. 'What have you given me? It isn't enough!' Did he think that he could trick her like that just because she was a girl and travelling alone at night? Never, never! She kept her purse safe in her hand and refused, simply refused, to see or hear him.
Ah no. Ah no. This is not enough. You make a mistake.' He jumped onto the train and threw the money back at her.
Trembling with terror, she put out an icy hand and took the money. 'That's all you're going to get,' she said. For a minute he stood, staring at her with his sharp eyes. Then he said something she did not understand, and disappeared into the dark. Oh, how thankful she was! How simply terrible that had been. As she stood up to see if her bag was all right, she saw her face in the mirror—white, with big, round eyes. 'You're all right now,' she said to the mirror face, feeling that it was more frightened than she was.
People stood talking in groups on the platform; a strange light from the station lamps made their faces green. A boy was selling tea; a woman offered blankets for hire. White smoke floated in the dark air. 'How strange it all is,' thought the little governess, 'and the middle of the night, too.' She looked out from her safe corner of the carriage. She was not frightened any more, but proud that she had not given that man any money. 'I can take care of myself—of course I can. The great thing is not to—'
Suddenly there was a sound of men's voices and loud laughter. It came nearer. The little governess froze in her corner as four young men passed, staring in at her through the window. One of them, bursting with the joke, pointed at the 'Ladies Only' notice, and they all stopped to stare at the little girl in the corner. Oh dear, they were in the next carriage. She heard them talking and laughing, and then there was a sudden silence before one of them, a tall thin fellow with black hair, threw open her door.
We invite you to share our carriage, Mademoiselle,' he said in French. She could see the others, standing behind him. She sat very straight and very still. 'Please be so kind,' said the tall man, and behind him one of the others exploded into screams of laughter. 'The young lady is too serious,' said the man. Then they all went laughing back to their carriage and she was alone again.
Close the doors! Close the doors!' Someone ran up and down beside the train.
I wish it wasn't dark. I wish there was another woman in my carriage. I'm frightened of the men next door.' The little governess looked out of the window, and saw—the man in the leather hat coming back again. His arms were full of luggage. But—what was he doing? He tore the 'Ladies Only' notice off the window, while an old man climbed into the carriage. 'But this is for ladies only.'
Oh, no, Miss. You make a mistake.'
Close the doors!' A whistle blew and the train started.
Tears came to her eyes, but through them she saw the old man taking off his hat. He looked very old. Ninety, at least. But he had a nice face, pink, with little blue eyes. And he asked her, so politely, 'Would you like me to move to another carriage, Mademoiselle?'
What, make him carry all those heavy things? She couldn't do that! 'No, it's quite all right.'
Ah, a thousand thanks.'
The train left the station and rushed into the dark. She looked out of the window but could see nothing—just the occasional light on a hill or the shape of a tree. In the carriage next door the young men were singing—the same song again and again. 'I wouldn't dare go to sleep if I were alone in here,' thought the little governess. She was glad that the old man was there. Really, he looked so nice, sitting there, so straight-backed and neat, reading his German newspaper. Some old men were horrible, but he... He put down his newspaper. 'Do you speak German, Mademoiselle?'
Yes, a little,' said the little governess, blushing a deep pink.
Ah, then, perhaps you would like to look at my papers. I have several here.'
First, she took off her hat, and put it safely with her bag. How kindly the old man watched her as her little hand turned over the big white pages. Her beautiful golden hair hung over her face. How sad to be a poor little governess and have such wonderful hair! Perhaps the kind old man was thinking that. Perhaps he thought, 'Poor little girl, travelling all alone at night. I wish I could be a grandfather to her and look after her!'
Thank you very much,' she smiled, giving back the papers.
But you speak German extremely well,' said the old man. 'You have been in Germany before, of course?'
Oh, no, this is the first time I have ever been abroad at all.'
Really! I am surprised. I had the feeling you had travelled a great deal before. Well, you will like Munich,' said the old man. 'Munich is a wonderful city. Museums, pictures, theatres, shops—you can find everything in Munich. I have travelled all over Europe, but I am always glad to get back to Munich.'
I am not going to stay in Munich,' said the little governess shyly. 'I am going to be governess to a doctor's family in Augsburg.'
Ah, he knew Augsburg. A fine city, too. 'But you should take a little holiday in Munich before you go.'
Oh, I am afraid I could not do that,' said the little governess seriously. 'Also, if one is alone...' He understood. He, too, looked serious, and they were both silent after that. The train flew on through the night. It was warm in the carriage. There were distant noises of doors opening and closing, rain on the windows. She fell asleep.
A sudden loud noise woke her. What had happened? The old man sat frowning. 'Ha! ha! ha!' came from the next carriage.
Such thoughtless young men,' said the old man. 'I am afraid that they have woken you up with their noisy behaviour.' No, not really. She wanted to wake up now. She looked at her watch. Half-past four. A cold blue light filled the window. She looked out on fields, white houses, trees. How pretty it was! How pretty and how different! Even those pink clouds in the sky looked foreign. She rubbed her cold hands together, and felt very happy.
The train began to go more slowly. It gave a long whistle. They were coming to a town. Tall pink and yellow houses went by. A woman threw open her window and stared out at the train. More women appeared. And then—Look! What lovely flowers—and at the railway station, too! Colours you would never see at home.
The train stopped. A fat woman walked along the platform, carrying baskets of strawberries. Oh, she was thirsty! She was very thirsty!
The old man got up, smiling, and put his coat on. She smiled back at him as he left the carriage. While he was gone, the little governess looked at herself in the mirror and arranged her hair like a girl who is quite old enough to travel by herself. But she was so thirsty! She opened the window, and the fat woman with the strawberries came to her immediately. 'How much?' asked the little governess. 'Oh, my goodness! Much too expensive!' And she sat down in her corner again.
A whistle blew. She hoped the old man would not be left behind. Oh, here he was! And she smiled at him like an old friend as he came back into the carriage, holding—a basket of strawberries! 'Mademoiselle, please accept these...'
What, are they for me?' She looked alarmed, uncertain.
Certainly, for you,' said the old man. 'I myself am no longer able to eat strawberries. Please. Try one.'
Oh, thank you!' she gasped. 'They look so delicious.'
Eat them all up,' said the old man, looking pleased and friendly. They were so big and juicy that she had to take two bites of each one. The juice ran all over her fingers. While she was eating them, she pretended to herself that the old man was her grandfather. What a perfect grandfather he would be!
When she had finished the strawberries, she felt that she had known him for years. She told him all about Frau Arnholdt and the arrangements for meeting her in Munich. Frau Arnholdt would not arrive until the evening. He listened, and then he said, 'I wonder if you would let me show you a little of Munich today. Just the English Garden, and perhaps a museum... It would be so much more pleasant for you than sitting in a hotel room, and it would give an old man a great deal of pleasure.'
She said 'yes' immediately, and only wondered later if that had been a sensible thing to do. After all, she really did not know him. But he was so old and so kind—not to mention the strawberries. And it was her last day, really, her last day to enjoy herself.
I will take you to your hotel,' he said, 'and call for you there at ten o'clock.' He gave her a card with his name on it. So then everything was arranged, everything was all right. And the little governess began to feel excited at being abroad, and enjoyed looking out of the window at all the new and foreign things, and talking about them all to the kind old grandfather until they reached Munich. He guided her carefully through the crowds at the station, and took her straight to her hotel. 'I will call for you at ten o'clock,' he said, and then he was gone.
This way, Miss,' said a waiter, who had been staring at the little governess and the old man.
She followed him up the stairs to a dark bedroom. Ugh! What an ugly, cold room! How horrible it would be to spend the whole day here! 'Is this the room Frau Arnholdt ordered for me?' asked the little governess.
The waiter kept staring at her—he seemed to think there was something peculiar about her. He began to whistle, then changed his mind. 'Certainly,' he said.
Well, why didn't he go? Why did he stare at her like that? 'Go away,' said the little governess, in her cold English way. His little eyes widened in surprise. 'Go away at once,' she repeated icily.
He went to the door, but then he turned round. 'And your gentleman friend,' he said. 'Shall I send him upstairs to you when he comes?'
* * *
Big white clouds over the white streets—and sunshine everywhere.Tall trees on both sides of the streets, trams full of fat, smiling people, a sound of laughter from open windows.And beside her, looking neater and more beautifully brushed than ever, her grandfather, who was showing her Munich. She wanted to run, to hang on his arm, to cry, 'Oh, I am so very happy!'
He guided her across the roads, waiting while she looked at everything and watching her with his kind eyes. She ate bread and meat and drank beer out of a huge glass like a flower vase. It didn't make you drunk like English beer. And then they went to look at pictures in the museum.
When they came out of the museum, it was raining. The grandfather put up his umbrella, and held it over her as they walked to a restaurant to have lunch. 'It will be easier if you take my arm,' he said. 'And, you know, that is the custom here in Germany.' So she took his arm and walked beside him, and the walk was so interesting that he forgot to put the umbrella down even when the rain stopped.
After lunch they went to the English Garden. 'I wonder what the time is,' said the little governess. 'My watch has stopped. We've seen so many things that I feel it must be quite late.'
Late!' he laughed, 'late! But there is so much more to see, and you have not yet tried our delicious ice-cream!'
Oh,' cried the little governess, 'I have enjoyed myself more than I can say. It has been wonderful! But Frau Arnholdt is calling at the hotel for me at six, so I should be there by five.'
And you shall be there, but first we will sit down in this café and have a chocolate ice-cream.'
She was happy again. The ice-cream slipped down beautifully, and she sat with her back to the clock that pointed to twenty-five minutes to seven. 'Really and truly,' she said, 'this has been the happiest day of my life.' Her grateful baby heart was full of love for her dear old grandfather.
When they left the English Garden, the day was almost over. 'You see those big buildings there,' said the old man. 'That is where I live—I and my old housekeeper who looks after me.' She was very interested. 'Now, before I take you back to your hotel, will you come up for a few minutes and see my little home?' Of course, she would love to.
The passage was quite dark. 'Ah, I suppose my old woman has gone out to buy me a chicken.' He opened the door, and shy but curious, she went into a strange room. She did not know quite what to say. It wasn't pretty, but it was neat, and, she supposed, comfortable for such an old man. 'Well, what do you think of my little home?' He took a bottle and two pink glasses out of a cupboard. 'If ever you want to spend one or two days in Munich, there will always be a place for you here, and an old man ready to look after you.' He poured some wine into the pink glasses, and his hand shook a little as he poured. It was very quiet in the room.
She said, 'I think I ought to go now.'
But you will have a little glass of wine with me—just one tiny glass before you go?' said the old man.
No, really, no. I never drink wine, or anything like that.' And although she was afraid she was being awfully rude, she was quite determined. 'No, really, please.'
Well, will you sit here by me for five minutes while I drink your health?'
The little governess sat down on the edge of the sofa, and he sat beside her and drank. 'Have you really been happy today?' asked the old man, and he sat so close to her that she could feel his knee against hers. Before she could answer, he took her hands in his. 'And are you going to give me one little kiss before you go?' he asked, pulling her towards him.
It was a dream. It wasn't true! It wasn't the same old man at all. Ah, how horrible! The little governess stared at him in terror. 'No, no no!' she gasped, pulling away from him.
One little kiss. A kiss.Just a little kiss, my dear.' He pushed his face into hers, his lips smiling. How his little blue eyes shone!
Never—never. How can you!' She jumped up, but he was too quick for her, and he pushed her against the wall and pushed his hard old body against hers. Although she fought him, shaking her head desperately from side to side, he kissed her on the mouth. On the mouth! Where nobody had ever kissed her before...
She ran, ran down the street until she found a wide road with trams and a policeman standing in the middle. 'I want to get a tram to the station,' cried the little governess.
Excuse me?'
The station!'
There—there's a tram now,' and he watched, very much surprised, as the little girl with her hat on one side and tears pouring down her face, jumped on to the tram and sat there with her hands over her mouth.
* * *
When the little governess reached the Hotel Grunewald, the same waiter who had shown her to her room was there, putting glasses on the tables. He seemed oddly pleased to see her and to answer her questions. 'Oh, yes, the lady came. I told her you had arrived and then gone out again with a gentleman. She asked me when you were coming back again—but of course I could not say. And then she went to see the manager.' He picked up a glass and examined it closely. He smiled as he put it down again.
Where is the lady now?' asked the little governess, shaking so violently that she had to hold her handkerchief up to her mouth.
How should I know?' cried the waiter, and he pushed past her to greet some new guests coming through the door of the hotel. 'That's it! That's it!' he thought. 'That will teach her.' And as he picked up the new guests' luggage, he repeated again the little governess's words, 'Go away. Go away at once. Shall I! Shall I!' he shouted to himself.
governess n. woman employed to teach young children in their home (usu. living as a member of the household). 家庭女教師(通常似家庭成員般一起生活)。
Frau the German word for 'Mrs' (a married woman). (德語(yǔ))夫人,太太(指已婚婦女)。
shade n. thing that shuts out light or makes it less bright. 遮光物。
determined adj. with one's mind firmly made up; resolute. 有決心的;意志堅(jiān)定的;堅(jiān)決的。
trick v. deceive (sb.). 欺騙,欺詐(某人)。
offer v. give opportunity for (sth.); provide. 為(某事物)提供機(jī)會(huì);給予。
freeze v. (cause a person or an animal to) stop suddenly; make or become unable to move, speak, or act, because of fear, shock, etc. (使人或動(dòng)物)突然停??;驚呆;嚇呆。
explode v. (of feelings) burst out suddenly. (指感情)迸發(fā)。
occasional adj. happening, coming, done, etc. from time to time; not regular. 偶然的;偶爾的;非定時(shí)的。
thoughtless adj. inconsiderate of others; selfish. 不顧及他人的;自私的。
rub v. act or process of rubbing. 擦;磨;摩擦。
at home 在本國(guó);在國(guó)內(nèi)。
leave sb./sth. behind fail or forget to bring or take sb./sth. 未能或忘記帶某人或某物。
gasp v. utter sth. in a breathless way. 氣喘吁吁地說(shuō)。
call for collect (sb./sth.). 接(人或物)。
tram n. public passenger vehicle, usu. driven by electricity, running on rails laid along the streets of a town. (有軌的)電車。
custom n. usual, generally accepted and long established way of behaving or doing things. 習(xí)俗;風(fēng)俗。
call at make a short visit. 拜訪。
slip down beautifully pleasant to drink, eat, etc. 很好喝(吃等)。
pour v. cause (a liquid or substance that flows like liquid) to flow in a continuous stream. 灌注,傾瀉。
drink your health express good wishes to your health by drinking (toast). 為你的健康干杯。
噢,天啊,她多么希望不在夜間旅行啊。她寧肯在白天旅行,寧肯在白天。可是家庭女教師辦事處的那位女士說(shuō):“搭乘夜間的船只,第二天再換乘火車,乘坐‘女士專用’車廂,這樣要比在外國(guó)旅館里過夜安全得多。在火車上,除了去洗手間,否則不要離開你的座位,去洗手間時(shí)一定要鎖好房門?;疖囋缟?點(diǎn)鐘到達(dá)慕尼黑,阿恩霍爾德夫人說(shuō)車站離格羅尼沃爾德旅館只有一分鐘的路程。她會(huì)在當(dāng)天晚上6點(diǎn)鐘到那兒,你可以安靜地好好休息一天,練練德語(yǔ)。你要是想吃東西,我建議你去最近的面包店要一塊蛋糕,喝點(diǎn)兒咖啡。你以前沒出過國(guó)吧?”
“沒有?!?/p>
“嗯,我總是告訴到這兒來(lái)的女孩子們,最好相信別人都是壞人,而不要相信他們都是好人。這聽起來(lái)很冷酷,但是在這個(gè)世界上,我們身為女人不得不這樣,你說(shuō)對(duì)嗎?”
乘船挺不錯(cuò)的。女士艙的服務(wù)員很和氣,為她兌換錢幣,還幫她找了個(gè)舒服的地方讓她躺下。她躺在那兒,望著其他乘客把帽子摘下來(lái),準(zhǔn)備睡覺。服務(wù)員用綠色的罩子把燈罩住,在她身邊坐下來(lái),把針線活放在膝蓋上做了起來(lái)?!拔艺嫦矚g旅行呀?!毙〗處熜南?。她微笑著睡著了。
但是當(dāng)船停下來(lái),她困倦地隨著那些知道自己要往哪兒去以及去干什么的人群往前走時(shí)——她害怕起來(lái)。但只是有點(diǎn)兒害怕,這使她不禁期盼起來(lái)——噢,現(xiàn)在要是白天,并且有位女旅伴就好了。
“檢票,請(qǐng)出示您的票,把票準(zhǔn)備好?!?/p>
她下了船。馬上就有個(gè)戴皮帽子的男人走過來(lái),碰了碰她的胳膊?!叭ツ膬海〗??”他用英語(yǔ)說(shuō)——戴這種帽子的人很可能是個(gè)警衛(wèi)或是某類職員。可緊接著——問都沒問她一聲——他就拎起她的包,開始推開行人往前走,他大叫著:“這邊兒走!”他的聲音很粗魯,不容置疑。
“我不需要人幫我拎包?!倍嗫膳碌囊粋€(gè)人!“我不需要人幫忙,我自己拎得動(dòng)?!彼叩煤芸欤门苤拍茏飞?。她試圖從他手里把包奪回來(lái)。但他毫不理會(huì),繼續(xù)沿著又長(zhǎng)又黑的站臺(tái)往前走,穿過了鐵路線。當(dāng)她也跟著穿過那條鐵路線時(shí),她深信這人是個(gè)強(qiáng)盜。對(duì)面——噢,謝天謝地!——有輛火車,上面寫著“慕尼黑”。
那人停了下來(lái)?!笆沁@兒?jiǎn)??”他粗魯?shù)貑枴?/p>
“對(duì),女士車廂。”就在她打開小錢包,想找點(diǎn)兒小錢給這個(gè)令人討厭的男人的時(shí)候,那人把她的包扔進(jìn)了一節(jié)空車廂。車廂的窗戶上貼著一張“女士專用”的條子。她上了火車,給了那人一枚硬幣。
“這是什么?”那個(gè)男人吼道,生氣地看著給他的錢,“你給了我些什么?不夠!”他以為她是個(gè)晚上獨(dú)自出門的女孩子就可以這樣騙她嗎?沒門兒,絕對(duì)沒門兒!她把錢包牢牢地攥在手里,不肯理他,她根本就不想理睬他。
“噢,不。噢,不。這不夠,你搞錯(cuò)了?!彼匣疖?,把錢朝她扔過來(lái)。
她害怕得渾身發(fā)抖,伸出冰冷的手把錢撿起來(lái)?!爸荒芙o你這么多?!彼f(shuō)。他在那兒站了片刻,那雙尖利的眼睛盯著她。然后,他說(shuō)了句什么,她也沒聽懂,他就消失在黑暗中了。噢,她真覺得慶幸!剛才的事真是太可怕了。當(dāng)她起身查看自己的包是否放好了的時(shí)候,她在鏡子里看到了自己的臉——面色蒼白,雙眼圓睜?!澳悻F(xiàn)在沒事了?!彼龑?duì)著鏡中的那張臉說(shuō),感覺那張臉比她自己還要害怕。
人們成群地站在站臺(tái)上聊天;車站上那古怪的燈光把人們的臉映成了綠色。一個(gè)男孩兒在賣茶葉;一個(gè)女人在出租毯子。黑暗的天空中飄著白煙?!岸嗝床豢伤甲h呀,”小教師心想,“這可是在半夜啊?!彼龔能噹约耗前踩慕锹淅锿馔K辉儆X得害怕了,相反,她覺得很自豪,她沒有給那個(gè)男人一分錢?!拔夷茏约赫疹欁约毫恕耶?dāng)然能。重要的是不去——”
突然傳來(lái)了男人的說(shuō)話聲和大笑聲。聲音越來(lái)越近了。四個(gè)年輕小伙子經(jīng)過她這兒的時(shí)候,透過窗戶盯著她瞧,小教師待在角落里一動(dòng)也不敢動(dòng)。其中一人指著“女士專用”的條子,跟他們開了個(gè)玩笑,他們都停下來(lái)盯著角落里的這個(gè)小女孩兒看。噢,天啊,他們就在隔壁車廂。她聽到他們又說(shuō)又笑,忽然靜了下來(lái),其中一個(gè)黑頭發(fā)、身材瘦高的小伙子推開了她車廂的門。
“我們邀請(qǐng)您來(lái)我們車廂,小姐?!彼梅ㄕZ(yǔ)說(shuō)道。她看到另外幾個(gè)人在他身后站著。她筆直地坐在那兒,一動(dòng)不動(dòng)?!罢?qǐng)您賞光。”高個(gè)子說(shuō)。他身后有個(gè)人哄然大笑起來(lái)?!斑@位小姐太嚴(yán)肅了?!边@人又說(shuō)道。然后他們笑著回到了自己的車廂,這里又剩下她一個(gè)人了。
“關(guān)上車門!關(guān)上車門!”有人在火車邊跑來(lái)跑去。
“要不是在夜里該多好,但愿我這節(jié)車廂再來(lái)一位女士。隔壁那些人真令我害怕?!毙〗處煶巴馔?,她看見——那個(gè)戴皮帽子的男人又回來(lái)了。他懷里抱了滿滿一大堆行李??伞麃?lái)干什么呀?他把“女士專用”的條子從窗戶上撕了下來(lái),這時(shí)一個(gè)老頭兒爬進(jìn)了車廂。“可這節(jié)車廂是女士專用的呀?!?/p>
“哦,不,小姐,你弄錯(cuò)了?!?/p>
“關(guān)門了!”汽笛鳴響,火車開動(dòng)了。
淚水涌出了她的眼睛。透過淚眼,她看到那個(gè)老頭兒摘下了帽子。他看上去很老,至少有90歲。但他的臉紅紅的,長(zhǎng)著一雙藍(lán)色的小眼睛,看上去很和善。他非??蜌獾貑査骸耙灰覔Q個(gè)車廂,小姐?”
什么,讓他一個(gè)人把那些沉重的東西都搬走嗎?她不能這樣做!“不用了,這樣可以?!?/p>
“啊,萬(wàn)分感謝?!?/p>
火車出了站,在黑暗中向前疾駛。她往窗外望去,但什么也看不見——只能偶爾看見山上的燈光或者樹的輪廓。隔壁車廂里的年輕人在唱歌——同一首歌唱了一遍又一遍?!耙且粋€(gè)人在這兒的話,我可不敢睡覺。”小教師想。她很高興有位老人在這兒。他筆直端正地坐在那兒看德文報(bào)紙,看上去真是非常和善。有些老頭兒很讓人討厭,但是他……老人放下報(bào)紙問她:“你會(huì)說(shuō)德語(yǔ)嗎,小姐?”
“是的,會(huì)一點(diǎn)兒。”小教師回答道,她的臉變得通紅。
“啊,那么,也許你想看看我的報(bào)紙吧,我這兒有好幾份呢。”
她先把帽子摘掉,把它好好地和包放在一起。當(dāng)她的小手翻著大張的白色報(bào)紙時(shí),老人在多么慈祥地望著她呀!她那美麗的金發(fā)垂在臉旁。也許這位和藹的老人在想,作為一個(gè)貧窮的小家庭教師,擁有這樣一頭秀發(fā)是多么令人悲哀??!他可能還會(huì)想:“可憐的小姑娘,竟然獨(dú)自在夜間旅行。我真希望作她的祖父去照顧她!”
“太謝謝您了?!彼⑿χ褕?bào)紙還回去。
“你的德語(yǔ)講得很好,”老人說(shuō),“你以前一定去過德國(guó)吧?”
“哦,沒有,這是我第一次出國(guó)?!?/p>
“真的嗎?我很吃驚。我感覺你以前好像經(jīng)常旅行。嗯,你會(huì)喜歡慕尼黑的。”老人說(shuō),“慕尼黑是座很棒的城市,博物館、繪畫、劇院、商店——應(yīng)有盡有。我去過歐洲的各個(gè)地方,但我總是很高興能回到慕尼黑來(lái)?!?/p>
“我不會(huì)在慕尼黑久住,”小教師不好意思地說(shuō),“我要去奧格斯堡一個(gè)醫(yī)生家當(dāng)家庭教師?!?/p>
啊,他知道奧格斯堡,那也是座不錯(cuò)的城市?!安贿^你去奧格斯堡之前,還是應(yīng)該在慕尼黑度個(gè)短假?!?/p>
“哦,恐怕我不能那樣做,”小教師嚴(yán)肅地說(shuō),“而且,如果是獨(dú)自一人……”他明白她的意思。他也嚴(yán)肅起來(lái),接下去他們就都不出聲了?;疖?yán)^續(xù)在夜色中飛馳。車廂里很暖和。遠(yuǎn)處傳來(lái)開門關(guān)門以及雨點(diǎn)打在窗戶上的聲音。她就這樣睡著了。
突然一聲巨響把她吵醒了。出了什么事?老人皺著眉頭坐在那兒。隔壁傳來(lái)“哈!哈!哈!”的聲音。
“這些自私的年輕人,”老人說(shuō),“恐怕他們吵吵鬧鬧的,把你給弄醒了吧?”不,真的沒有。她本來(lái)就要醒了。她看看手表,4點(diǎn)半了。一束冰冷的藍(lán)光照在窗戶上。她望著外面的田野、白房子、還有樹木。多漂亮?。《嗥炼嗵貏e?。∵B那天空中的粉色云彩都顯得充滿了異國(guó)情調(diào)。她搓著冰冷的雙手,感覺真是快樂極了。
火車開始減速了,發(fā)出長(zhǎng)長(zhǎng)的鳴笛聲。他們駛?cè)肓艘粋€(gè)小鎮(zhèn)。高高的粉色和黃色的房屋從車邊掠過。有個(gè)女人打開窗戶,盯著火車看。更多的女人出現(xiàn)了。接著——快看呀!多可愛的花兒呀——就在車站旁邊!這些顏色你在國(guó)內(nèi)是根本看不到的。
火車停下來(lái)了。一個(gè)胖女人沿著站臺(tái)走來(lái),手里提著裝滿草莓的籃子。噢,她覺得口渴了!真是渴得要命!
老人微笑著站起身,把外衣穿上。他離開車廂時(shí),她也朝老人笑了笑。他走后,小教師照了照鏡子,理了理頭發(fā),就像個(gè)可以獨(dú)自出門旅行的大姑娘那樣??伤_實(shí)太渴了!她打開車窗,那個(gè)賣草莓的胖女人馬上就走了過來(lái)?!岸嗌馘X?”小教師問。“噢,我的天!太貴了!”她又在角落里坐下。
汽笛響了。她希望老人不要被落下。哦,他來(lái)了!當(dāng)他回到車廂時(shí),她像老朋友似的沖他微笑,他手里拿著——一籃子草莓!“小姐,請(qǐng)收下……”
“什么,給我的嗎?”她看起來(lái)很驚慌,不太確信的樣子。
“當(dāng)然是給你的,”老人說(shuō),“我自己已經(jīng)不能吃草莓了。請(qǐng)嘗一嘗吧?!?/p>
“哦,謝謝您!”她高興得倒吸了口氣,“這些草莓看起來(lái)真是太鮮美了?!?/p>
“把它們都吃了吧?!崩先苏f(shuō)。他看起來(lái)很高興,也很親切。草莓又大,汁水又多,她得咬上兩口才能吃完一個(gè)。她的手指上沾滿了草莓汁。她在吃草莓的時(shí)候,把老人假想成自己的祖父。他會(huì)是個(gè)多么完美的祖父啊!
她吃完草莓,感覺自己好像已經(jīng)認(rèn)識(shí)他好多年了似的。她把阿恩霍爾德夫人以及在慕尼黑如何與她會(huì)面的安排都告訴了這位老人。阿恩霍爾德夫人晚上才能到。他聽她講完,然后說(shuō):“不知道你今天想不想讓我?guī)阍谀侥岷谵D(zhuǎn)轉(zhuǎn),就看看英國(guó)花園,也可能再去看看博物館……這要比你在旅館房間里坐著開心多了,也會(huì)給我這個(gè)老人帶來(lái)很多樂趣。”
她馬上就回答說(shuō)“行”,過后她才去想這樣做是否明智。畢竟她并不真正了解他。但是他年紀(jì)這么大了,人又那么好——更不用說(shuō)還送草莓給她吃了。這是她的最后一天,真的,最后一個(gè)可以痛痛快快玩的日子。
“我先帶你去旅館,”他說(shuō),“然后10點(diǎn)鐘我去那兒接你?!彼o了她一張名片。于是一切都安排妥當(dāng)了,一切都那么盡如人意。小教師開始為自己身處異國(guó)他鄉(xiāng)而感到興奮,她欣賞著窗外所有那些新奇陌生的事物,跟這位好心的老祖父談?wù)撝@一切,就這樣一直到他們抵達(dá)慕尼黑車站。他小心地領(lǐng)著她穿過車站上的人群,把她直接送到旅館?!拔?0點(diǎn)鐘來(lái)接你?!彼f(shuō)完就走了。
“這邊請(qǐng),小姐?!蹦莻€(gè)一直在盯著小教師和老人的服務(wù)員說(shuō)道。
她跟著他上了樓,來(lái)到一間黑暗的臥室。啊?。《嚯y看、多冰冷的房間??!要是在這里待上一整天,那簡(jiǎn)直是糟糕透了!“這就是阿恩霍爾德夫人給我訂的房間嗎?”小教師問道。
服務(wù)員還在打量著她——他好像覺得她有什么異樣似的。他開始吹口哨,隨后又改變了主意?!爱?dāng)然?!彼f(shuō)。
嗯,他為什么還不走?為什么這樣看著她?“走開。”小教師用冷漠的英國(guó)人的方式說(shuō)道。服務(wù)員吃驚地睜大了他的小眼睛?!榜R上給我走開?!彼淅涞刂貜?fù)道。
他向門口走去,接著又轉(zhuǎn)過身來(lái)?!澳俏患澥颗笥?,”他問,“他來(lái)的時(shí)候,我該帶他上樓來(lái)嗎?”
* * *
干凈的街道上空飄著大朵白云——陽(yáng)光照耀著萬(wàn)物。街道兩旁長(zhǎng)著高高的樹木,電車上坐滿了胖胖的、微笑著的乘客,開著的窗口傳來(lái)陣陣笑聲。她那位看起來(lái)比剛才更整潔、更漂亮的祖父就在她身旁,在帶她游覽慕尼黑。她想跑起來(lái),想挽著他的胳膊,想大聲喊叫:“噢,我太幸福了!”
他領(lǐng)著她過馬路,不管她看什么東西,他都等著她,和藹地看著她。她吃了些面包和肉,還喝了點(diǎn)兒啤酒。啤酒是用大玻璃杯盛著的,那玻璃杯的樣子像花瓶一樣。跟英國(guó)啤酒不一樣,這種啤酒不會(huì)醉人。然后他們又去博物館看繪畫作品。
他們從博物館出來(lái)的時(shí)候,天下雨了。祖父為她撐起了傘,他們步行去一家餐館吃午飯?!澳阋峭熘业母觳?,我打起傘來(lái)會(huì)輕松些?!彼f(shuō),“而且你要知道,這也是德國(guó)的風(fēng)俗?!庇谑撬龜v著他的胳膊,走在他旁邊。這樣走著很有意思,雨都停了,可他卻忘記把傘收起來(lái)。
吃完午飯,他們又去了英國(guó)花園?!安恢垃F(xiàn)在幾點(diǎn)了,”小教師說(shuō),“我的表停了。我們看了那么多東西,我覺得時(shí)間一定很晚了?!?/p>
“晚了!”他笑著說(shuō),“晚了!可我們還有那么多東西要看,你還沒能嘗嘗我們美味的冰淇淋呢!”
“哦,”小教師大聲說(shuō),“我今天玩得太開心了,簡(jiǎn)直無(wú)法用語(yǔ)言表達(dá)。真是開心極了!但是阿恩霍爾德夫人6點(diǎn)鐘要去旅館找我,所以我應(yīng)該在5點(diǎn)之前就回去?!?/p>
“你能趕回去的,不過我們還是先去咖啡館坐坐,吃一份巧克力冰淇淋吧?!?/p>
她又高興起來(lái)。冰淇淋很好吃。她背對(duì)著鐘表坐在那兒,時(shí)針指在了6點(diǎn)35分?!罢f(shuō)真的,”她說(shuō),“這是我一生中最快樂的一天。”她那孩子般滿懷感激的心充滿了對(duì)她這位老祖父的愛。
他們離開英國(guó)花園的時(shí)候,幾乎已經(jīng)是晚上了。“你瞧那邊那些高大的樓房,”老人說(shuō),“我就住在那兒——就我和一個(gè)照顧我的老管家。”她很感興趣?!澳敲矗谖宜湍慊芈灭^前,你想不想上來(lái)待幾分鐘看看我的小家?”她當(dāng)然想去了。
過道里很黑?!鞍?,我想老太婆出去給我買雞去了?!彼验T打開。帶著點(diǎn)兒羞澀和好奇,她走進(jìn)了一間陌生的屋子。她真不知道該說(shuō)些什么。房間并不漂亮,但很整潔。她想,像他這樣的老頭兒住在這里還算舒服?!班?,覺得我的小家怎么樣?”他從壁櫥里拿出一瓶酒和兩個(gè)粉色的玻璃杯?!澳阋鞘裁磿r(shí)候想在慕尼黑住上一兩天的話,隨時(shí)歡迎你來(lái)這兒住,我這個(gè)老頭兒樂意照顧你?!彼凵谋永锏沽诵┚啤K咕频臅r(shí)候,手有些發(fā)抖。房間里靜悄悄的。
她說(shuō):“我想我得走了?!?/p>
“你難道不想和我喝上一小杯嗎——在你走之前就喝很小一杯好嗎?”老頭兒說(shuō)。
“不喝了,真的,不喝了。我從來(lái)不喝酒這類的東西。”雖然她擔(dān)心這樣做極為不禮貌,但是她很堅(jiān)決?!扒竽?,真的不喝?!?/p>
“嗯,你在我身邊坐五分鐘,讓我為你的健康干一杯好嗎?”
小教師坐在沙發(fā)邊上,他挨著她坐下來(lái)把酒喝了?!澳憬裉煺娴暮荛_心嗎?”老人問道。他坐得離她很近,她都能感覺到他的膝蓋抵著她的膝蓋了。沒等她回答,他就抓住了她的手?!澳隳茌p輕地吻我一下再走嗎?”他說(shuō)著就把她往懷里拉。
這簡(jiǎn)直是一場(chǎng)夢(mèng)。這不可能是真的!這根本不是原來(lái)的那個(gè)老頭兒。啊,太可怕了!小教師驚恐地盯著他?!安灰?,不要,不要!”她喘著氣,想掙脫出來(lái)。
“就吻一下,一下,只吻一下,親愛的?!彼涯樖箘诺販愡^來(lái),他的嘴在笑。他那藍(lán)色的小眼睛閃著光!
“千萬(wàn)不要——千萬(wàn)不要。你怎么能這樣!”她跳了起來(lái),可是他比她要快得多,他一下子把她按到了墻上,硬梆梆的老身子骨緊緊地壓住她。盡管她也反抗,頭拼命地?cái)[來(lái)擺去,但他還是吻了她的嘴。竟然是在嘴上!以前還從來(lái)沒人吻過她的嘴唇……
她順著大街跑啊跑,一直跑到有電車的寬?cǎi)R路上,一個(gè)警察正站在路中央?!拔乙娷嚾セ疖囌?。”小教師哭著說(shuō)。
“你說(shuō)什么?”
“火車站!”
“那邊——現(xiàn)在就有輛車。”他很吃驚地看著這個(gè)帽子歪在一邊,淚流滿面的小女孩兒跳上電車,雙手捂著嘴巴坐在那兒。
* * *
當(dāng)小教師回到格羅尼沃爾德旅館的時(shí)候,曾帶她去房間的那位服務(wù)員正在往桌子上放玻璃杯。他好像很高興見到她并回答她的問題,但是這種高興有點(diǎn)兒怪?!芭?,是的,那位女士來(lái)了。我告訴她你已經(jīng)到了,又和一位先生出去了。她問我你什么時(shí)候再回來(lái)——我當(dāng)然說(shuō)不出了。然后她就去見經(jīng)理了?!彼闷鹨粋€(gè)杯子仔細(xì)查看著。等再把杯子放下的時(shí)候,他笑了起來(lái)。
“那位女士現(xiàn)在在哪兒?”小教師問道。她抖得太厲害了,不得不拿手帕捂住嘴。
“我怎么會(huì)知道?”服務(wù)員大聲說(shuō)著,從她身旁擠過去迎接那些正要進(jìn)門的新客人。“活該!活該!”他心想,“那會(huì)給她個(gè)教訓(xùn)?!碑?dāng)他扛起新來(lái)的客人的行李時(shí),他重復(fù)著小教師的話:“走開,馬上給我走開。該我嗎?該我嗎?”他沖自己大聲叫道。
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