登陆注册
4617200000064

第64章

"He relished his supper well," said Dame Brinker, nodding sidewise toward the bed, "and fell asleep the next moment. Ah, the dear man will be feeble for many a day. He wanted sore to sit up again, but while I made show of humoring him and getting ready, he dropped off. Remember that, my girl, when you have a man of your own (and many a day may it be before that comes to pass), remember that you can never rule by differing; 'humble wife is husband's boss.' Tut! tut! Never swallow such a mouthful as that again, child. Why, I could make a meal off two such pieces. What's in thee, Hans? One would think there were cobwebs on the walls.""Oh, no, Mother, I was only thinking--""Thinking about what? Ah, no use asking," she added in a changed tone. "I was thinking of the same a while ago. Well, it's no blame if we DID look to hear something by this time about the thousand guilders but not a word--no--it's plain enough he knows naught about them."Hans looked up anxiously, dreading lest his mother should grow agitated, as usual, when speaking of the lost money, but she was silently nibbling her bread and looking with a doleful stare toward the window.

"Thousand guilders," echoed a faint voice from the bed. "Ah, Iam sure they have been of good use to you, vrouw, through the long years when your man was idle."The poor woman started up. These words quite destroyed the hope that of late had been glowing within her.

"Are you awake, Raff?" she faltered.

"Yes, Meitje, and I feel much better. Our money was well saved, vrouw, I was saying. Did it last through all those ten years?""I--I--have not got it, Raff, I--" She was going to tell him the whole truth when Hans lifted his finger warningly and whispered, "Remember what the meester told us. The father must not be worried.""Speak to him, child," she answered, trembling.

Hans hurried to the bedside.

"I am glad you are feeling better," he said, leaning over his father. "Another day will see you quite strong again.""Aye, like enough. How long did the money last, Hans? I could not hear your mother. What did she say?""I said, Raff," stammered Dame Brinker in great distress, "that it was all gone.""Well, well, wife, do not fret at that; one thousand guilders is not so very much for ten years and with children to bring up. .

.but it has helped to make you all comfortable. Have you had much sickness to bear?""No, no," sobbed Dame Brinker, lifting her apron to her eyes.

"Tut, tut, woman, why do you cry?" said Raff kindly. "We will soon fill another pouch when I am on my feet again. Lucky I told you all about it before I fell.""Told me what, man?""Why, that I buried the money. In my dream just now, it seemed that I had never said aught about it."Dame Brinker started forward. Hans caught her arm.

"Hist! Mother," he whispered, hastily leading her away, "we must be very careful." Then, while she stood with clasped hands waiting in breathless anxiety, he once more approached the cot.

Trembling with eagerness he said, "That was a troublesome dream.

Do you remember WHEN you buried the money, Father?""Yes, my boy. It was just before daylight on the same day I was hurt. Jan Kamphuisen said something, the sundown before, that made me distrust his honesty. He was the only one living besides Mother who knew that we had saved a thousand guilders, so I rose up that night and buried the money--blockhead that I was ever to suspect an old friend!""I'll be bound, Father," pursued Hans in a laughing voice, motioning to his mother and Gretel to remain quiet, "that you've forgotten where you buried it.""Ha! ha! Not I, indeed. But good night, my son, I can sleep again."Hans would have walked away, but his mother's gestures were not to be disobeyed. So he said gently, "Good night, Father. Where did you say you buried the money? I was only a little one then.""Close by the willow sapling behind the cottage," said Raff Brinker drowsily.

"Ah, yes. North side of the tree, wasn't it, Father?""No, the south side. Ah, you know the spot well enough, you rogue. Like enough you were there when your mother lifted it.

Now, son, easy. Shift this pillow so. Good night.""Good night, Father!" said Hans, ready to dance for joy.

The moon rose very late that night, shining in, full and clear, at the little window, but its beams did not disturb Raff Brinker.

He slept soundly; so did Gretel. As for Hans and his mother, they had something else to do.

After making a few hurried preparations, they stole forth with bright, expectant faces, bearing a broken spade and a rusty implement that had done many a day's service when Raff was a hale worker on the dikes.

It was so light out of doors that they could see the willow tree distinctly. The frozen ground was hard as stone, but Hans and his mother were resolute. Their only dread was that they might disturb the sleepers in the cottage.

"This ysbreeker is just the thing, Mother," said Hans, striking many a vigorous blow, "but the ground has set so firm it'll be a fair match for it.""Never fear, Hans," she answered, watching him eagerly. "Here, let me try awhile."They soon succeeded in making an impression. One opening and the rest was not so difficult.

Still they worked on, taking turns and whispering cheerily to one another. Now and then Dame Brinker stepped noiselessly over the threshold and listened, to be certain that her husband slept.

"What grand news it will be for him," she said, laughing, "when he is strong enough to bear it. How I should like to put the pouch and the stocking, just as we find them, all full of money, near him this blessed night, for the dear man to see when he wakens.""We must get them first, Mother," panted Hans, still tugging away at his work.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 重生之商女豪门

    重生之商女豪门

    杨曦前世为了跟顾时在一起,不惜跟母亲断绝来往,却换来一场不幸福的婚姻。重生回到小时候,她要改变命运,努力赚钱,发家致富,爱情什么的靠边站,钱才是王道。这一世幸运之神降临,意外获得异能,鉴别古董,赌得了石,开得了公司……一步步走向人生的巅峰!
  • 嗜夜妖妃

    嗜夜妖妃

    穿越异世,她只求平凡自由地活着,他却用世间最温暖的爱来宠她,换她的舍命相助。然而就在她倾心相许之时,他却迎娶别人,赐她一纸绝杀令。跳下悬崖的那一刻,她涅槃重生。再次相见,在萧杀的战场上,挥剑厮杀的凶狠,不再有昔日一丝一毫的温情。浴火重生的她如地狱战神“南宫奕,终有一天,我让你后悔今天所做的一切!”--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 银河帝国:基地

    银河帝国:基地

    在机器人的帮助下,人类迅速掌握了改造外星球的技术,开启了恢弘的星际殖民运动;人类在银河系如蝗虫般繁衍扩张,带着他们永不磨灭的愚昧与智慧、贪婪与良知,登上了一个个荒凉的星球,并将银河系卷入漫长的星际战国时代,直至整个银河被统一,一个统治超过2500万个住人行星、疆域横跨十万光年、总计数兆亿人口的庞大帝国崛起——银河帝国。
  • 一念情深,萧先生爱太浓

    一念情深,萧先生爱太浓

    苏槿在酒吧邂逅了,全南城最金贵的萧先生。第一次见面他将她抵在了洗手台上,“别说话……”吻我,一个重重的吻。第二次在实习单位他是她上司,滥用权利,层层引诱,遭人非议,“他们都说我们有一腿,你要不要出面澄清下?”男人欺身而上,身体力行的让她知道他们的确不止一腿……情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 皇冠之只有守护

    皇冠之只有守护

    这本书没有大纲!没有大纲!没有大纲!(作者想到哪,写到哪!)
  • 一千零一夜(语文新课标课外读物)

    一千零一夜(语文新课标课外读物)

    现代中、小学生不能只局限于校园和课本,应该广开视野,广长见识,广泛了解博大的世界和社会,不断增加丰富的现代社会知识和世界信息,才有所精神准备,才能迅速地长大,将来才能够自由地翱翔于世界蓝天。否则,我们将永远是妈妈怀抱中的乖宝宝,将永远是温室里面的豆芽菜,那么,我们将怎样走向社会、走向世界呢?
  • 默多克管理日志

    默多克管理日志

    鲁珀特·默多克被人称作“报业怪杰”,他在二十年内从一个小报老板变身为国际报业大王。他涉足出版业、媒体、石油钻探、牧羊业等等,他的麾下,既有久负盛名的英国《泰晤士报》,也有大腕级的电影公司——20世纪福克斯公司。拥有如此庞大的帝国,默多克在管理方面必有过人之处。在内部管理方面,他强硬、高效、事无巨细的管理风格,使得新闻集团像个永动机一样不停运转。在对外战略上,他就像一个富有冒险精神的赌徒,不断下注,赌注越高,赢的也越多;最重要的是,在重要的扩张战略方面,他罕有失手,这正是因为他在下注的同时时刻警惕可能到来的风险。
  • 纨绔嫡女

    纨绔嫡女

    【穿越前】她是秦家最不得宠的嫡女丫鬟仆人不把她放在眼里姨娘、姐姐欺负她奶奶视她为不吉利的“天煞孤星”父亲觉得她是秦家的耻辱没有人疼爱的她受尽委屈她是豪华夜总会里最年轻的“妈咪”不幸的遭遇让她寸步难行每日周旋在男人中间卖笑言欢【重生后】星眸璀璨,闪烁坚毅、狠辣的光芒嘴角张扬自信的笑让人望而生畏洗刷清白、翻身作主区区一个秦府算什么,既然老天让她重生那她就不能辜负这番美意只要她愿意,天下都可以成为囊中之物你会玩心计,我自有我的谋略,就看谁笑到最后了!身为庶女的姐姐还真是不安分,忘记自己的身份了么?想抢走我的未婚夫,好啊,那我便成全你,只是你永远不会幸福!贵妃要斗狠,那我就奉陪到底;皇帝你敢杀我哥哥,我就让你死无葬身之地。且看一个小小的嫡女如何工于心计、谋略天下!不良嫡女?我从来都不是什么善男信女,不是吗?★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★推荐偶自己的新文:《黑道尤物》一杯加了料的酒水,一夜噬骨销魂的缠绵;一场精心策划的出卖让她从此成了他的奴.那一晚,他傲慢的如一个帝王,居高临下的看着她承欢在他霸道的温柔下。他眷恋她的身体,她需要他的钱。她明知道他们之间永远只是这般互利的关系却还是控制不住自己沉沦的心当一切真相大白的时候,猛然清醒,原来他从一开始就是在报复,为的就是让她为七年前的逃离付出代价。一场哗然过后,最终谁又刺痛了谁?…………………………“别对我说爱,你不配!”那一夜,他疯狂的在她身上发泄着他愤怒。无言的承受着他的怒气,手指覆上自己的小腹,这里有了他们的孩子……★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★推荐好友文《盗种妈咪》结婚五周年纪念日,他怀抱美女大大咧咧的走进家门两人手牵手,中间带着一个粉妆玉琢的小男孩“这是我儿子,三岁了。”他面无表情的宣布穿的珠光宝气的婆婆一把抱起了小男孩,尖酸刻薄的脸上一脸的慈爱“奶奶,那个阿姨是谁?”“一个外人。”她冷笑,一个外人!结婚五年,她反而成了这个家里的外人!五年来,她为了生孩子吃尽苦头,到头来,他却带着小三光明正大的登堂入室!三年后,她完美蜕变,光芒万丈的归来复仇的火焰已经点燃,她失去的,誓要他们千百倍的还来…推荐好友的文:《第一谋妃》《三个王爷一个妃》《头牌王妃》《二品嫡女》《嫡亲风流》
  • 我的老公不是人

    我的老公不是人

    上班被猥琐上司骚扰回家又被怨灵缠身险些丧命明明只是个平凡的妹子,只想过简简单单的生活却被一个三百多岁的“死人”缠着不放“你是我的未婚妻,生生世世都只能和我在一起。”“如果我说不呢?”“除非我死了。”男人邪魅一笑,“不过可惜的是,我是永生不灭的!”
  • 二十四澜红泪

    二十四澜红泪

    本故事围绕上世纪20年代末到30年代初的上海法租界和公共租界展开。以楚香寻与凌仙慈的爱情故事为主线,揭示底层女性的悲欢离合,还有贩夫走卒辛酸的讨生之路的故事。