第 26 节
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生在秋天 更新:2023-05-17 13:24 字数:9322
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rejoined us he was empty handed; and looked worried。 We asked him
where his cushion was。 He said he hadn't got a cushion; said he had
changed his mind; said he didn't think his aunt would care for a cushion。
Evidently something was amiss。 We tried to get at the bottom of it; but
he was not communicative。 Indeed; his answers after our twentieth
question or thereabouts became quite short。
In the evening; however; when he and I happened to be alone; he
broached the subject himself。 He said:
〃They are somewhat peculiar in some things; these Germans。〃
I said: 〃What has happened?〃
〃Well;〃 he answered; 〃there was that cushion I wanted。〃
〃For your aunt;〃 I remarked。
〃Why not?〃 he returned。 He was huffy in a moment; I never knew a
man so touchy about an aunt。 〃Why shouldn't I send a cushion to my
aunt?〃
〃Don't get excited;〃 I replied。 〃I am not objecting; I respect you for
it。〃
He recovered his temper; and went on:
〃There were four in the window; if you remember; all very much alike;
and each one labelled in plain figures twenty marks。 I don't pretend to
speak German fluently; but I can generally make myself understood with a
little effort; and gather the sense of what is said to me; provided they don't
gabble。 I went into the shop。 A young girl came up to me; she was a
pretty; quiet little soul; one might almost say; demure; not at all the sort of
girl from whom you would have expected such a thing。 I was never
more surprised in all my life。〃
〃Surprised about what?〃 I said。
George always assumes you know the end of the story while he is
telling you the beginning; it is an annoying method。
〃At what happened;〃 replied George; 〃at what I am telling you。 She
smiled and asked me what I wanted。 I understood that all right; there
could have been no mistake about that。 I put down a twenty mark piece
on the counter and said:
〃Please give me a cushion。〃
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〃She stared at me as if I had asked for a feather bed。 I thought;
maybe; she had not heard; so I repeated it louder。 If I had chucked her
under the chin she could not have looked more surprised or indignant。
〃She said she thought I must be making a mistake。
〃I did not want to begin a long conversation and find myself stranded。
I said there was no mistake。 I pointed to my twenty mark piece; and
repeated for the third time that I wanted a cushion; 'a twenty mark
cushion。'
〃Another girl came up; an elder girl; and the first girl repeated to her
what I had just said: she seemed quite excited about it。 The second girl
did not believe herdid not think I looked the sort of man who would want
a cushion。 To make sure; she put the question to me herself。
〃'Did you say you wanted a cushion?' she asked。
〃'I have said it three times;' I answered。 'I will say it againI want a
cushion。'
〃She said: 'Then you can't have one。'
〃I was getting angry by this time。 If I hadn't really wanted the thing I
should have walked out of the shop; but there the cushions were in the
window; evidently for sale。 I didn't see WHY I couldn't have one。
〃I said: 'I will have one!' It is a simple sentence。 I said it with
determination。
〃A third girl came up at this point; the three representing; I fancy; the
whole force of the shop。 She was a bright…eyed; saucy… looking little
wench; this last one。 On any other occasion I might have been pleased to
see her; now; her coming only irritated me。 I didn't see the need of three
girls for this business。
〃The first two girls started explaining the thing to the third girl; and
before they were half…way through the third girl began to giggleshe was
the sort of girl who would giggle at anything。 That done; they fell to
chattering like Jenny Wrens; all three together; and between every half…
dozen words they looked across at me; and the more they looked at me the
more the third girl giggled; and before they had finished they were all
three giggling; the little idiots; you might have thought I was a clown;
giving a private performance。
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〃When she was steady enough to move; the third girl came up to me;
she was still giggling。 She said:
〃'If you get it; will you go?'
〃I did not quite understand her at first; and she repeated it。
〃'This cushion。 When you've got it; will you goawayat once?'
〃I was only too anxious to go。 I told her so。 But; I added I was not
going without it。 I had made up my mind to have that cushion now if I
stopped in the shop all night for it。
〃She rejoined the other two girls。 I thought they were going to get
me the cushion and have done with the business。 Instead of that; the
strangest thing possible happened。 The two other girls got behind the
first girl; all three still giggling; Heaven knows what about; and pushed her
towards me。 They pushed her close up to me; and then; before I knew
what was happening; she put her hands on my shoulders; stood up on
tiptoe; and kissed me。 After which; burying her face in her apron; she ran
off; followed by the second girl。 The third girl opened the door for me;
and so evidently expected me to go; that in my confusion I went; leaving
my twenty marks behind me。 I don't say I minded the kiss; though I did
not particularly want it; while I did want the cushion。 I don't like to go
back to the shop。 I cannot understand the thing at all。〃
I said: 〃What did you ask for?〃
He said: 〃A cushion〃
I said: 〃That is what you wanted; I know。 What I mean is; what
was the actual German word you said。〃
He replied: 〃A kuss。〃
I said: 〃You have nothing to complain of。 It is somewhat confusing。
A 'kuss' sounds as if it ought to be a cushion; but it is not; it is a kiss; while
a 'kissen' is a cushion。 You muddled up the two wordspeople have done
it before。 I don't know much about this sort of thing myself; but you
asked for a twenty mark kiss; and from your description of the girl some
people might consider the price reasonable。 Anyhow; I should not tell
Harris。 If I remember rightly; he also has an aunt。〃
George agreed with me it would be better not。
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CHAPTER VIII
Mr。 and Miss Jones; of ManchesterThe benefits of cocoaA hint to
the Peace SocietyThe window as a mediaeval argumentThe favourite
Christian recreationThe language of the guideHow to repair the
ravages of timeGeorge tries a bottleThe fate of the German beer
drinkerHarris and I resolve to do a good actionThe usual sort of statue…
…Harris and his friendsA pepperless ParadiseWomen and towns。
We were on our way to Prague; and were waiting in the great hall of
the Dresden Station until such time as the powers…that…be should permit us
on to the platform。 George; who had wandered to the bookstall; returned
to us with a wild look in his eyes。 He said:
〃I've seen it。〃
I said; 〃Seen what?〃
He was too excited to answer intelligently。 He said
〃It's here。 It's coming this way; both of them。 If you wait; you'll see
it for yourselves。 I'm not joking; it's the real thing。〃
As is usual about this period; some paragraphs; more or less serious;
had been appearing in the papers concerning the sea… serpent; and I
thought for the moment he must be referr