章节正文
there in the corner, she listened to the sound of the leaves being turned
and the loud ticking of the clock that hung over the gilt mirror. She
wanted to look at him again--there was a something about him, in his deep
voice, even in the way his clothes fitted. From the room above she heard
the heavy dragging sound of Frau Lehmann's footsteps, and again the old
thoughts worried Sabina. If she herself should one day look like
that--feel like that! Yet it would be very sweet to have a little baby to
dress and jump up and down.
"Fraulein--what's your name--what are you smiling at?" called the Young
Man.
She blushed and looked up, hands quiet in her lap, looked across the empty
tables and shook her head.
"Come here, and I'll show you a picture," he commanded.
She went and stood beside him. He opened the book, and Sabina saw a
coloured sketch of a naked girl sitting on the edge of a great, crumpled
bed, a man's opera hat on the back of her head.
He put his hand over the body, leaving only the face exposed, then
scrutinised Sabina closely.
"Well?"
"What do you mean?" she asked, knowingperfectly well.
"Why, it might be your own photograph--the face, I mean--that's as far as I
can judge."
"But the hair's done differently," said Sabina, laughing. She threw back
her head, and the laughter bubbled in her round white throat.
"It's rather a nice picture, don't you think?" he asked. But she was
looking at a curious ring he wore on the hand that covered the girl's body,
and only nodded.
"Ever seen anything like it before?"
"Oh, there's plenty of those funny ones in the illustrated papers."
"How would you like to have your picture taken that way?"
"Me? I'd never let anybody see it. Besides, I haven't got a hat like
that!"
"That's easily remedied."
Again a little silence, broken by Anna throwing up the slide.
Sabina ran into the kitchen.
"Here, take this milk and egg up to the Frau," said Anna. "Who've you got
in there?"
"Got such a funny man! I think he's a little gone here," tapping her
forehead.
Upstairs in the ugly room the Frau sat sewing, a black shawl round her
shoulders, her feet encased in red woollen slippers. The girl put the milk
on a table by her, then stood, polishing a spoon on her apron.
"Nothing else?"
"Na," said the Frau, heaving up in her chair. "Where's my man?"
"He's playing cards over at Snipold's. Do you want him?"
"Dear heaven, leave him alone. I'm nothing. I don't matter...And the
whole day waiting here."
Her hand shook as she wiped the rim of the glass with her fat finger.
"Shall I help you to bed?"
"You go downstairs, leave me alone. Tell Anna not to let Hans grub the
sugar--give him one on the ear."
"Ugly--ugly--ugly," muttered Sabina, returning to the cafe where the Young
Man stood coat-buttoned, ready for departure.
"I'll come again to-morrow," said he. "Don't twist your hair back so
tightly; it will lose all its curl."
"Well, you are a funny one," she said. "Good night."
By the time Sabina was ready for bed Anna was snoring. She brushed out her
long hair and gathered it in her hands...Perhaps it would be a pity if it
lost all its curl. Then she looked down at her straight chemise, and
drawing it off, sat down on the side of the bed.
"I wish," she whispered, smiling sleepily, "there was a great big
looking-glass in this room."
Lying down in the darkness, she hugged her little body.
"I wouldn't be the Frau for one hundred marks--not for a thousand marks.
To look like that."
And half-dreaming, she imagined herself heaving up in her chair with the
port wine bottle in her hand as the Young Man entered the cafe.
Cold and dark the next morning. Sabina woke, tired, feeling as though
something heavy had been pressing under her heart all night. There was a
sound of footsteps shuffling along the passage. Herr Lehmann! She must
have overslept herself. Yes, he was rattling the door-handle.
"One moment, one moment," she called, dragging on her stockings.
"Bina, tell Anna to go to the Frau--but quickly. I must ride for the
nurse."
"Yes, yes!" she cried. "Has it come?"
But he had gone, and she ran over to Anna and shook her by the shoulder.
"The Frau--the baby--Herr Lehmann for the nurse," she stuttered.
"Name of God!" said Anna, flinging herself out of bed.
No complaints to-day. Importance--enthusiasm in Anna's whole bearing.
"You run downstairs and light the oven. Put on a pan of water"--speaking
to an imaginarysufferer as she fastened her blouse--"Yes, yes, I know--we
must be worse before we are better--I'm coming--patience."
It was dark all that day. Lights were turned on immediately the cafe
opened, and business was very brisk. Anna, turned out of the Frau's room
by the nurse, refused to work, and sat in a corner nursing herself,
listening to sounds overhead. Hans was more sympathetic than Sabina. He
also forsook work, and stood by the window, picking his nose.
"But why must I do everything?" said Sabina, washing glasses. "I can't
help the Frau; she oughtn't to take such a time about it."
"Listen," said Anna, "they've moved her into the back bedroom above here,
so as not to disturb the people. That was a groan--that one!"
"Two small beers," shouted Herr Lehmann through the slide.
"One moment, one moment."
At eight o'clock the cafe was deserted. Sabina sat down in the corner
without her sewing. Nothing seemed to have happened to the Frau. A doctor
had come--that was all.
"Ach," said Sabina. "I think no more of it. I listen no more. Ach, I
would like to go away--I hate this talk. I will not hear it. No, it is
too much." She leaned both elbows on the table--cupped her face in her
hands and pouted.
But the outer door suddenly opening, she sprang to her feet and laughed.
It was the Young Man again. He ordered more port, and brought no book this
time.
"Don't go and sit miles away," he grumbled. "I want to be amused. And
here, take my coat. Can't you dry it somewhere?--snowing again."
"There's a warm place--the ladies' cloak-room," she said. "I'll take it in
there--just by the kitchen."
She felt better, and quite happy again.
"I'll come with you," he said. "I'll see where you put it."
And that did not seem at all extraordinary. She laughed and beckoned to
him.
"In here," she cried. "Feel how warm. I'll put more wood on that oven.
It doesn't matter, they're all busy upstairs."
She knelt down on the floor, and thrust the wood into the oven, laughing at
her own wicked extravagance.
The Frau was forgotten, the stupid day was forgotten. Here was someone
beside her laughing, too. They were together in the little warm room
stealing Herr Lehmann's wood. It seemed the most exciting adventure in the
world. She wanted to go on laughing--or burst out crying--or--or--catch
hold of the Young Man.
"What a fire," she shrieked, stretching out her hands.
"Here's a hand; pull up," said the Young Man. "There, now, you'll catch it
to-morrow."
They stood opposite to each other, hands still clinging. And again that
strange tremor thrilled Sabina.
"Look here," he said roughly, "are you a child, or are you playing at being
one?"
"I--I--"
Laughter ceased. She looked up at him once, then down at the floor, and
began breathing like a frightened little animal.
He pulled her closer still and kissed her mouth.
"Na, what are you doing?" she whispered.
He let go her hands, he placed his on her breasts, and the room seemed to
swim round Sabina. Suddenly, from the room above, a frightful, tearing
shriek.
She wrenched herself away, tightened herself, drew herself up.
"Who did that--who made that noise?"
...
In the silence the thin wailing of a baby.
"Achk!" shrieked Sabina, rushing from the room.
8. THE LUFT BAD.
I think it must be the umbrellas which make us look ridiculous.
When I was admitted into the enclosure for the first time, and saw my
fellow-bathers walking about very nearly "in their nakeds," it struck me
that the umbrellas gave a distinctly "Little Black Sambo" touch.
Ridiculous dignity in holding over yourself a green cotton thing with a red
parroquet handle when you are dressed in nothing larger than a
handkerchief.
There are no trees in the "Luft Bad." It boasts a collection of plain,
wooden cells, a bath shelter, two swings and two odd clubs--one, presumably
the lost property of Hercules or the German army, and the other to be used
with safety in the cradle.
And there in all weathers we take the air--walking, or sitting in little
companies talking over each other's ailments and measurements and ills that
flesh is heir to.
A high wooden wall compasses us all about; above it the pine-trees look
down a little superciliously, nudging each other in a way that is
peculiarly trying to a debutante. Over the wall, on the right side, is the
men's section. We hear them chopping down trees and sawing through planks,
dashing heavy weights to the ground, and singing part songs. Yes, they
take it far more seriously.
On the first day I was conscious of my legs, and went back into my cell
three times to look at my watch, but when a woman with whom I had played
chess for three weeks cut me dead, I took heart and joined a circle.
We lay curled on the ground while a Hungarian lady of immense proportions
told us what a beautiful tomb she had bought for her second husband.
"A vault it is," she said, "with nice black railings. And so large that I
can go down there and walk about. Both their photographs are there, with
two very handsome wreaths sent me by my first husband's brother. There is
an enlargement of a family group photograph, too, and an illuminated
address presented to my first husband on his marriage. I am often there;
it makes such a pleasant excursion for a fine Saturday afternoon."
She suddenly lay down flat on her back, took in six long breaths, and sat
up again.
"The death agony was dreadful," she said brightly; "of the second, I mean.
The 'first' was run into by a furniture wagon, and had fifty marks stolen
out of a new waistcoat pocket, but the 'second' was dying for sixty-seven
hours. I never ceased crying once--not even to put the children to bed."
A young Russian, with a "bang" curl on her forehead, turned to me.
"Can you do the 'Salome' dance?" she asked. "I can."
"How delightful," I said.
"Shall I do it now? Would you like to see me?"
She sprang to her feet, executed a series of amazing contortions for the
next ten minutes, and then paused, panting, twisting her long hair.
"Isn't that nice?" she said. "And now I am perspiring so splendidly. I
shall go and take a bath."
Opposite to me was the brownest woman I have ever seen, lying on her back,
her arms clasped over her head.
"How long have you been here to-day?" she was asked.
"Oh, I spend the day here now," she answered. "I am making my own 'cure,'
and living entirely on raw vegetables and nuts, and each day I feel my
spirit is stronger and purer. After all, what can you expect? The
majority of us are walking about with pig corpuscles and oxen fragments in
our brain. The wonder is the world is as good as it is. Now I live on the
simple, provided food"--she pointed to a little bag beside her--"a lettuce,
a carrot, a potato, and some nuts are ample, rationalnourishment. I wash
them under the tap and eat them raw, just as they come from the harmless
earth--fresh and uncontaminated."
"Do you take nothing else all day?" I cried.
"Water. And perhaps a banana if I wake in the night." She turned round
and leaned on one elbow. "You over-eat yourself dreadfully," she said;
and the loud ticking of the clock that hung over the gilt mirror. She
wanted to look at him again--there was a something about him, in his deep
voice, even in the way his clothes fitted. From the room above she heard
the heavy dragging sound of Frau Lehmann's footsteps, and again the old
thoughts worried Sabina. If she herself should one day look like
that--feel like that! Yet it would be very sweet to have a little baby to
dress and jump up and down.
"Fraulein--what's your name--what are you smiling at?" called the Young
Man.
She blushed and looked up, hands quiet in her lap, looked across the empty
tables and shook her head.
"Come here, and I'll show you a picture," he commanded.
She went and stood beside him. He opened the book, and Sabina saw a
coloured sketch of a naked girl sitting on the edge of a great, crumpled
bed, a man's opera hat on the back of her head.
He put his hand over the body, leaving only the face exposed, then
scrutinised Sabina closely.
"Well?"
"What do you mean?" she asked, knowingperfectly well.
"Why, it might be your own photograph--the face, I mean--that's as far as I
can judge."
"But the hair's done differently," said Sabina, laughing. She threw back
her head, and the laughter bubbled in her round white throat.
"It's rather a nice picture, don't you think?" he asked. But she was
looking at a curious ring he wore on the hand that covered the girl's body,
and only nodded.
"Ever seen anything like it before?"
"Oh, there's plenty of those funny ones in the illustrated papers."
"How would you like to have your picture taken that way?"
"Me? I'd never let anybody see it. Besides, I haven't got a hat like
that!"
"That's easily remedied."
Again a little silence, broken by Anna throwing up the slide.
Sabina ran into the kitchen.
"Here, take this milk and egg up to the Frau," said Anna. "Who've you got
in there?"
"Got such a funny man! I think he's a little gone here," tapping her
forehead.
Upstairs in the ugly room the Frau sat sewing, a black shawl round her
shoulders, her feet encased in red woollen slippers. The girl put the milk
on a table by her, then stood, polishing a spoon on her apron.
"Nothing else?"
"Na," said the Frau, heaving up in her chair. "Where's my man?"
"He's playing cards over at Snipold's. Do you want him?"
"Dear heaven, leave him alone. I'm nothing. I don't matter...And the
whole day waiting here."
Her hand shook as she wiped the rim of the glass with her fat finger.
"Shall I help you to bed?"
"You go downstairs, leave me alone. Tell Anna not to let Hans grub the
sugar--give him one on the ear."
"Ugly--ugly--ugly," muttered Sabina, returning to the cafe where the Young
Man stood coat-buttoned, ready for departure.
"I'll come again to-morrow," said he. "Don't twist your hair back so
tightly; it will lose all its curl."
"Well, you are a funny one," she said. "Good night."
By the time Sabina was ready for bed Anna was snoring. She brushed out her
long hair and gathered it in her hands...Perhaps it would be a pity if it
lost all its curl. Then she looked down at her straight chemise, and
drawing it off, sat down on the side of the bed.
"I wish," she whispered, smiling sleepily, "there was a great big
looking-glass in this room."
Lying down in the darkness, she hugged her little body.
"I wouldn't be the Frau for one hundred marks--not for a thousand marks.
To look like that."
And half-dreaming, she imagined herself heaving up in her chair with the
port wine bottle in her hand as the Young Man entered the cafe.
Cold and dark the next morning. Sabina woke, tired, feeling as though
something heavy had been pressing under her heart all night. There was a
sound of footsteps shuffling along the passage. Herr Lehmann! She must
have overslept herself. Yes, he was rattling the door-handle.
"One moment, one moment," she called, dragging on her stockings.
"Bina, tell Anna to go to the Frau--but quickly. I must ride for the
nurse."
"Yes, yes!" she cried. "Has it come?"
But he had gone, and she ran over to Anna and shook her by the shoulder.
"The Frau--the baby--Herr Lehmann for the nurse," she stuttered.
"Name of God!" said Anna, flinging herself out of bed.
No complaints to-day. Importance--enthusiasm in Anna's whole bearing.
"You run downstairs and light the oven. Put on a pan of water"--speaking
to an imaginarysufferer as she fastened her blouse--"Yes, yes, I know--we
must be worse before we are better--I'm coming--patience."
It was dark all that day. Lights were turned on immediately the cafe
opened, and business was very brisk. Anna, turned out of the Frau's room
by the nurse, refused to work, and sat in a corner nursing herself,
listening to sounds overhead. Hans was more sympathetic than Sabina. He
also forsook work, and stood by the window, picking his nose.
"But why must I do everything?" said Sabina, washing glasses. "I can't
help the Frau; she oughtn't to take such a time about it."
"Listen," said Anna, "they've moved her into the back bedroom above here,
so as not to disturb the people. That was a groan--that one!"
"Two small beers," shouted Herr Lehmann through the slide.
"One moment, one moment."
At eight o'clock the cafe was deserted. Sabina sat down in the corner
without her sewing. Nothing seemed to have happened to the Frau. A doctor
had come--that was all.
"Ach," said Sabina. "I think no more of it. I listen no more. Ach, I
would like to go away--I hate this talk. I will not hear it. No, it is
too much." She leaned both elbows on the table--cupped her face in her
hands and pouted.
But the outer door suddenly opening, she sprang to her feet and laughed.
It was the Young Man again. He ordered more port, and brought no book this
time.
"Don't go and sit miles away," he grumbled. "I want to be amused. And
here, take my coat. Can't you dry it somewhere?--snowing again."
"There's a warm place--the ladies' cloak-room," she said. "I'll take it in
there--just by the kitchen."
She felt better, and quite happy again.
"I'll come with you," he said. "I'll see where you put it."
And that did not seem at all extraordinary. She laughed and beckoned to
him.
"In here," she cried. "Feel how warm. I'll put more wood on that oven.
It doesn't matter, they're all busy upstairs."
She knelt down on the floor, and thrust the wood into the oven, laughing at
her own wicked extravagance.
The Frau was forgotten, the stupid day was forgotten. Here was someone
beside her laughing, too. They were together in the little warm room
stealing Herr Lehmann's wood. It seemed the most exciting adventure in the
world. She wanted to go on laughing--or burst out crying--or--or--catch
hold of the Young Man.
"What a fire," she shrieked, stretching out her hands.
"Here's a hand; pull up," said the Young Man. "There, now, you'll catch it
to-morrow."
They stood opposite to each other, hands still clinging. And again that
strange tremor thrilled Sabina.
"Look here," he said roughly, "are you a child, or are you playing at being
one?"
"I--I--"
Laughter ceased. She looked up at him once, then down at the floor, and
began breathing like a frightened little animal.
He pulled her closer still and kissed her mouth.
"Na, what are you doing?" she whispered.
He let go her hands, he placed his on her breasts, and the room seemed to
swim round Sabina. Suddenly, from the room above, a frightful, tearing
shriek.
She wrenched herself away, tightened herself, drew herself up.
"Who did that--who made that noise?"
...
In the silence the thin wailing of a baby.
"Achk!" shrieked Sabina, rushing from the room.
8. THE LUFT BAD.
I think it must be the umbrellas which make us look ridiculous.
When I was admitted into the enclosure for the first time, and saw my
fellow-bathers walking about very nearly "in their nakeds," it struck me
that the umbrellas gave a distinctly "Little Black Sambo" touch.
Ridiculous dignity in holding over yourself a green cotton thing with a red
parroquet handle when you are dressed in nothing larger than a
handkerchief.
There are no trees in the "Luft Bad." It boasts a collection of plain,
wooden cells, a bath shelter, two swings and two odd clubs--one, presumably
the lost property of Hercules or the German army, and the other to be used
with safety in the cradle.
And there in all weathers we take the air--walking, or sitting in little
companies talking over each other's ailments and measurements and ills that
flesh is heir to.
A high wooden wall compasses us all about; above it the pine-trees look
down a little superciliously, nudging each other in a way that is
peculiarly trying to a debutante. Over the wall, on the right side, is the
men's section. We hear them chopping down trees and sawing through planks,
dashing heavy weights to the ground, and singing part songs. Yes, they
take it far more seriously.
On the first day I was conscious of my legs, and went back into my cell
three times to look at my watch, but when a woman with whom I had played
chess for three weeks cut me dead, I took heart and joined a circle.
We lay curled on the ground while a Hungarian lady of immense proportions
told us what a beautiful tomb she had bought for her second husband.
"A vault it is," she said, "with nice black railings. And so large that I
can go down there and walk about. Both their photographs are there, with
two very handsome wreaths sent me by my first husband's brother. There is
an enlargement of a family group photograph, too, and an illuminated
address presented to my first husband on his marriage. I am often there;
it makes such a pleasant excursion for a fine Saturday afternoon."
She suddenly lay down flat on her back, took in six long breaths, and sat
up again.
"The death agony was dreadful," she said brightly; "of the second, I mean.
The 'first' was run into by a furniture wagon, and had fifty marks stolen
out of a new waistcoat pocket, but the 'second' was dying for sixty-seven
hours. I never ceased crying once--not even to put the children to bed."
A young Russian, with a "bang" curl on her forehead, turned to me.
"Can you do the 'Salome' dance?" she asked. "I can."
"How delightful," I said.
"Shall I do it now? Would you like to see me?"
She sprang to her feet, executed a series of amazing contortions for the
next ten minutes, and then paused, panting, twisting her long hair.
"Isn't that nice?" she said. "And now I am perspiring so splendidly. I
shall go and take a bath."
Opposite to me was the brownest woman I have ever seen, lying on her back,
her arms clasped over her head.
"How long have you been here to-day?" she was asked.
"Oh, I spend the day here now," she answered. "I am making my own 'cure,'
and living entirely on raw vegetables and nuts, and each day I feel my
spirit is stronger and purer. After all, what can you expect? The
majority of us are walking about with pig corpuscles and oxen fragments in
our brain. The wonder is the world is as good as it is. Now I live on the
simple, provided food"--she pointed to a little bag beside her--"a lettuce,
a carrot, a potato, and some nuts are ample, rationalnourishment. I wash
them under the tap and eat them raw, just as they come from the harmless
earth--fresh and uncontaminated."
"Do you take nothing else all day?" I cried.
"Water. And perhaps a banana if I wake in the night." She turned round
and leaned on one elbow. "You over-eat yourself dreadfully," she said;
- sketch [sketʃ]
n.素描；短剧 v.草拟 (初中英语单词) - knowing [´nəuiŋ] a.会意的，心照不宣的 (初中英语单词)
- laughter [´lɑ:ftə] n.笑，笑声 (初中英语单词)
- waiting [´weitiŋ] n.等候；伺候 (初中英语单词)
- downstairs [,daun´steəz] ad.在楼下 a.楼下的 (初中英语单词)
- overhead [´əuvə,hed] ad.当头 a.在头上的 (初中英语单词)
- sympathetic [,simpə´θetik] a.同情的，有同情心的 (初中英语单词)
- disturb [di´stə:b] vt.扰乱；使不安；打乱 (初中英语单词)
- opening [´əupəniŋ] n.开放；开端 a.开始的 (初中英语单词)
- sprang [spræŋ] spring 的过去式 (初中英语单词)
- extraordinary [ik´strɔ:dinəri] a.非常的；额外的 (初中英语单词)
- thrust [θrʌst] v.&n.猛推；冲；刺；挤进 (初中英语单词)
- wicked [´wikid] a.邪恶的；不道德的 (初中英语单词)
- stupid [´stju:pid] a.愚蠢的；糊涂的 (初中英语单词)
- distinctly [di´stiŋktli] ad.清楚地，明晰地 (初中英语单词)
- dignity [´digniti] n.尊严，尊贵；高官显贵 (初中英语单词)
- collection [kə´lekʃən] n.收集；征收；募捐 (初中英语单词)
- wooden [´wudn] a.木制的；呆板的 (初中英语单词)
- conscious [´kɔnʃəs] a.意识的；自觉的 (初中英语单词)
- immense [i´mens] a.广大的，无限的 (初中英语单词)
- forehead [´fɔrid] n.额，前部 (初中英语单词)
- series [´siəri:z] n.连续；系列；丛书 (初中英语单词)
- amazing [ə´meiziŋ] a.惊人的；惊奇的 (初中英语单词)
- pointed [´pɔintid] a.尖(锐)的；中肯的 (初中英语单词)
- carrot [´kærət] n.胡萝卜 (初中英语单词)
- banana [bə´nɑ:nə] n.香蕉 (初中英语单词)
- perfectly [´pə:fiktli] ad.理想地；完美地 (高中英语单词)
- sewing [´səuiŋ] n.缝纫；(书的)装订 (高中英语单词)
- imaginary [i´mædʒinəri] a.想象的；虚构的 (高中英语单词)
- roughly [´rʌfli] ad.粗糙地；毛糙地 (高中英语单词)
- frightful [´fraitfəl] a.可怕的；不愉快的 (高中英语单词)
- hercules [´hə:kjuli:z] n.大力神 (高中英语单词)
- brightly [´braitli] ad.明亮地；聪明地 (高中英语单词)
- sufferer [´sʌfərə] n.受苦的人；患者 (英语四级单词)
- trying [´traiiŋ] a.难堪的；费劲的 (英语四级单词)
- excursion [ik´skə:ʃən] n.短途旅行，游览；离题 (英语四级单词)
- rational [´ræʃənəl] a.(有)理性的；合理的 (英语四级单词)
- nourishment [´nʌriʃmənt] n.食物；营养品(情况) (英语四级单词)
- sleepily [´sli:pili] ad.瞌睡地；懒散地 (英语六级单词)
- forsook [fə´suk] forsake的过去式 (英语六级单词)
- enclosure [in´kləuʒə] n.包围；围墙；封入物 (英语六级单词)
- holding [´həuldiŋ] n.保持，固定，存储 (英语六级单词)
- waistcoat [´weskət, ´weiskəut] n.背心，马甲 (英语六级单词)
- splendidly [´splendidli] ad.光彩夺目地；辉煌地 (英语六级单词)
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章节正文
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