Camille Lemonnier

“ Strip off your clothes, Dolf."
Dolf looked at the water, the lanterns, the night above him, and the men who urged him on.
"Comrades," he cried, "before God, I cannot. Riekje is in labor and my life is not my own."
"Dolf! Help!" cried the old man again, as with trembling hands he pointed to his dripping clothes. "I have three children, Dolf, yet I have been in twice. I have no strength left."
Dolf turned to the pale faces which stood in a circle round him.
"Cowards," he cried. "Is there not one among you who will save a drowning man?" ”

“ Nelle, how happy we were in those days when we could clasp hands behind a hedge, and sometimes, too, I stole a kiss when your head was turned away."
"That 's true, Tobias, but afterwards, I did not turn my head away and you kissed me all the same."
"There is no greater happiness on earth, my Dolf," said Riekje, "than to grow old loving one another; the years don't then gloom as life lengthens, and when one dies, the other soon follows." ”

“ Nelle, they are always kissing days when there are two, and when there is some little spot on earth where they can make a peaceful home."
Tobias kissed his wife's cheeks; then, in her turn, Nelle gave him two big kisses which resounded like the snapping of dry firewood.
"Riekje," Dolf whispered, "I shall always love you."
"Dolf," replied Riekje, "I shall love you till death." ”

“ Nelle now came forward.
"Good-evening, Madame Puzzel, how are you? Here is a chair. Sit down and warm yourself."
"Good-evening to you all," replied the fat little old woman. "So we are going to have christening sugar on board the Guldenvisch this evening. It's your first, is it not, Riekje? Come, Nelle, make me some coffee and give me some supper."
"Riekje," said the young boatman, "I brought Madame Puzzel because Dolf was dragged off by his comrades. He must not see you suffer. It is better not, so the others have carried him off to have a drink to give him courage." ”

“ But now the gloomy lights which resembled the taper-bearers seemed to be chasing one another along the quays; their little flames ran in every direction, crossed one another, and looked like big fireflies. "I must see double," he said, "the fireflies can be in my brain only."
Suddenly he heard voices, calling, crying out, lamenting.
Torches moved to and fro on the river bank, their red tongues of flame blown by the wind amid clouds of smoke. In the uncertain light he could at last distinguish figures rushing about, others leaning over the river, black as well. ”

“ Dolf drew back, and made a grimace as if he really would have to go back to the shop. But, at the same time, he winked to Riekje to let her know that it was a joke. Nelle, who had not seen this, struck the palm of her left hand with her right fist, complaining bitterly.
"What are we to do without milk, Dolf? I must go to town myself. These big lads think of nothing but their love, Tobias." ”

“ Nelle replied, "but it is not to see the windows lighted up on the water that you stay near the window, but to see if that fine lad, Dolf, is not coming back to the boat.
Riekje laughed.
"Maman Nelle sees straight into my heart," said she, sitting down near the fire, and stitching away at a baby's cap, which she held in her hand.
"Who could not see straight into the heart of a woman who is in love with her husband, Riekje?" asked old Nelle. ”

“ When you went to church on Sunday with your fine winged cape and your big metal star, which all young girls wear, every man turned to look at you."
"But I did not look at them, for Tobias was my sweetheart; a fine lad he was, with black hair and a pointed beard, a green velvet jacket, bright eyes and big brown cheeks." ”

“ Gradually the contents began to boil, and a thin, brown smoke escaped from the lid which bubbled up and down. Dolf stretched his nose towards the stove and opened his nostrils wide enough for a nut to rest in each, but still he could not define the smell.
When maman Nelle went to lift the lid to see if the contents were cooking properly, he stood on tip-toe behind her back, making himself, for the fun of the thing, first quite short, and then quite tall. ”

“ IV.
"There 's Dolf bringing Madame Puzzel back with him," said Nelle, after about an hour.
The gangway swung under the weight of two people and sabots sounded on the bridge, while a voice cried:
"Tobias! Tobias! get the lantern and light Madame Puzzel."
Tobias took one of the candles and carefully sheltered it with his hand as he opened the door.
"This way," he cried, holding it ajar. "This way!"
The midwife stepped down the ladder, and a man followed her.
"Ah! Madame Puzzel, Riekje will be pleased to see you. Come in," said Tobias. "Good-evening, lad. Oh! it 's Lucas." ”

“ More batter was quickly poured into the frying-pan, the butter bubbled, the fire roared, and round pancakes fell on the table as plentiful as tench.
"Now it 's my turn, mother," cried Dolf, when the bowl was almost empty.
Nelle sat down near Tobias and ate the two pancakes which she had kept for herself, because they were not quite so perfect as the others. Dolf poured the batter into the frying-pan, but not in a ring, as Nelle did, for his idea was to make a mannikin such as are to be seen in the bakers' shop windows on the eve of St. Nicholas. The body and head were soon visible ”

“ It was now he remembered that it is customary in Flanders on that night to replace the hay, carrots, and turnips which the little ones put on the hearth to feed Saint Nicholas' ass, by big dolls, wooden horses, musical instruments, violins, or simply by mannikins in spikelaus, according as each can afford.
"Ah," he said to himself, comforted, "they are fathers and mothers going to the shops." ”