12.1 行向村舍欲揣伊

Tē 12 Chiong

12.1 Kiâⁿ hiòng chhun-sià boeh chhōe i

Chia̍h-tàu liáu, Connie sûi tō ti̍t-chiap khì chhiū-nâ. He sī khó-ài ê chi̍t-kang, chá-khui ê thò͘-á-chháu ná ji̍t-thâu, chháu-kiok-á (daisy) pe̍h-pe̍h-pe̍h. Chin-chhiū-nâ, pòaⁿ-khui ê hio̍h-á kap-tio̍h chhun-lo̍h ê ti̍t-sûi ê hoa-sù (花絮) ná-chhiūⁿ lehsìr (lace). N̂g-sek ê pe̍h-khut-chhài (白屈菜, celandine) chi̍t-chhok chi̍t-chhok, khui pêⁿ-pêⁿ, sûi koh ah hiòng āu, hoe n̂g kah ná kim teh sih. Che sī ū-la̍t ê chho͘-hā ê n̂g-sek. Sakura-chháu khui kah khoah-khoah, phú-phú chi̍t phiàn, kāu-châng ê sakura-chháu bô koh sûi-thâu pháiⁿ-sè ah. Ba̍t koh le̍k ê hong-sìn-chú ná hái, hoe-m̂ puh kah ná phú-sek hoan-be̍h, chit tiong-kan, bo̍k-bōng chháu (forget-me-not) seⁿ kah phòng chhàng-chhàng, bāng-hoàn-chháu mā tián-khui in àm-kiô-sek ê hoe-lúi, chi̍t-châng chhiū ē mā ū chi̍t-kóa nâ-sek chiáu-á nn̄g-khak ê iù-sap-á. Sì-kè ū gê kap m̂, lóng sī sèⁿ-miā ê thiàu-tāng!

Khàn-siú bô tī liâu-á. Ta̍k-hāng lóng tiām-chēng, kan-ta chang-sek ê ke-á sì-kè chông. Connie kiâⁿ hiòng chhun-sià, in-ūi yi boeh chhōe tio̍h i.

Chhun-sià khiā tī chhiū-nâ piⁿ ji̍t-thâu tiong. Sió hoe-hn̂g nih, óa mn̂g ê só͘-chāi, siang-pān chúi-sian seⁿ kah chi̍t-chhok chi̍t-chhok, sió-lō͘ ê nn̄g-pêng lóng sī âng-sek ê siang-pān chháu kiok-á hoe. Thiaⁿ tio̍h káu pūi, sûi khòaⁿ tio̍h Flossie cháu óa-lâi.

Mn̂g khui-khui! án-ne i ū tī chhù. Ji̍t-thâu chiò tī âng-chng tē-pán! Yi sūn-lō͘ kiâⁿ-óa, ùi thang-á khòaⁿ tio̍h i tī lāi-bīn, chhēng siatchuh, teh chia̍h-pn̄g. Káu khin-siaⁿ pūi, koh bān-bān-á iô-bóe.

I khiā khí-lâi, kiâⁿ kàu mn̂g-piⁿ, iōng chi̍t tiâu âng chhiú-kin chhit he iáu teh pō͘ ê chhùi.

"Góa ē-sái ji̍p-lâi bô?" yi mn̄g.

"Ji̍p-lâi!"

Ji̍t-thâu chiò ji̍p he kán-tan ê pâng-keng, lāi-té iáu ū iōng chian-pôaⁿ hang ê iûⁿ-pâi khì-bī, in-ūi chian-pôaⁿ iáu khǹg tī jia-hóe-kè téng-koân, piⁿ-á, tī pe̍h-sek hóe-lô͘ téng, koh khǹg chi̍t-ê chú má-lêng-chî ê o͘-sek oe-á tī chi̍t-tiuⁿ chóa téng. Hóe âng-âng, sè-sè, lô͘-á mn̂g koaiⁿ-tio̍h, tê-kó͘ teh hiáng.

Toh-á téng ū i ê chhan-pôaⁿ, téng-koân ū má-lêng-chî kap bōe chia̍h oân ê iûⁿ-pâi; ū pháng tī nâ-á nih, iâm, kap té bihlù ê nâ-sek mug-poe. Toh-á pho͘ pe̍h-sek ê chhat-pò͘, i khiā tī im-iáⁿ ê só͘-chāi.

"Lí chin òaⁿ chia̍h," yi kóng. "Kè-sio̍k chia̍h!"

Yi chē lo̍h chi̍t-tè tī mn̂g piⁿ jit-kng nih ê chhâ-í-á.

"Góa tio̍h khì Uthwaite," i kóng, ná chē lo̍h tī toh piⁿ, bô koh chia̍h.

"Chhiáⁿ koh chia̍h," yi kóng. M̄-koh i bô chia̍h.

"Lír berh chia̍h sáⁿ bô?" i mn̄g yi. "Lír berh lim tê bô? Tê-kó͘ teh kún." -- i koh ùi í-á pòaⁿ khiā khí-lâi.

“Lí hō͘ góa ka-tī lâi," yi kóng, ná khiā khí-lâi. I ká-ná sim ut-būn, yi kám-kak sī yi chak-chō tio̍h i.

"Hm̄, tê-koàn-á tī hia" -- i kí chi̍t-ê piah-kak ê chang-sek sió tû-á; "mā ū poe-á. Iah tê-bí khǹg tī lír thâu-chêng ê lô͘-kè téng-koân."

Yi the̍h o͘-sek ê tê-koàn, koh ùi lô͘-kè the̍h tê-bí koàn. Yi iōng sio-chúi tn̄g tê-koàn liáu, khiā hia, m̄-chai boeh tī tó-ūi kā chúi tò tiāu.

"Tò gōa-kháu," i kóng, chai yi ì-sù. "He chúi chheng-khì ê."

Yi kiâⁿ-khì mn̂g-kháu, kā chúi tò lo̍h mn̂g chêng ê lō͘. Chit só͘-chāi chiâⁿ khó-ài, chiah chheng-chēng, sī chin-chiàⁿ ê chhiū-nâ só͘-chāi. Chhiūⁿ-chhiū hoat-chhut thô͘-n̂g-sek ê sin-hio̍h: hoe-hn̂g nih ê âng-sek chháu-kiok-á ná-chhiūⁿ âng-sek pò͘-liú-á. Yi khòaⁿ hit tè ū-khang-phāng ê tōa-tè chio̍h-thâu hō͘-tēng, taⁿ chin chió lâng hoa̍h-kha ah.

"Chia sī chi̍t-ê súi só͘-chāi," yi kóng. "Chiah-nī an-chēng, ta̍k-hāng tiām-chēng koh ū oa̍h-miā."

I koh teh chia̍h ah, bān-bān, boeh ná m̄, yi kám-kak ē-tio̍h, i teh sit-chì. Yi chēng-chēng phàu-tê, kā tê-koàn khǹg tī thih-kè téng, chhiūⁿ ta̍k-ê án-ne chò. I kā chhan-pôaⁿ sak-khui, kiâⁿ khì āu-bīn; yi thiaⁿ tio̍h mn̂g-chhòaⁿ ê siaⁿ, koh-lâi i iōng pôaⁿ-á the̍h chhiz kap leng-iû chhut-lâi.

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第 12 章

12.1 行向村舍欲揣伊

食晝了, Connie 隨 tō 直接去樹林. 彼是可愛 ê 一工, 早開 ê 兔仔草 ná 日頭, 草菊仔 (daisy) 白白白. 榛樹林, 半開 ê 葉仔敆著賰落 ê 直垂 ê hoa-sù (花絮) ná 像 lehsìr (lace). 黃色 ê pe̍h-khut-chhài (白屈菜, celandine) 一簇一簇, 開平平, 隨 koh 押向後, 花黃 kah ná 金 teh 爍. 這是有力 ê 初夏 ê 黃色. Sakura 草開 kah 闊闊, 殕殕一遍, 厚叢 ê sakura 草無 koh 垂頭歹勢 ah. 密 koh 綠 ê 風信子 ná 海, 花莓 puh kah ná 殕色番麥, 這中間, 莫忘草 (forget-me-not) 生 kah 膨聳聳, 夢幻草 mā 展開 in 暗茄色 ê 花蕊, 一叢樹下 mā 有一寡藍色鳥仔卵殼 ê 幼屑仔. 四界有芽 kap 莓, 攏是性命 ê 跳動!

看守無 tī 寮仔. 逐項攏恬靜, 干焦棕色 ê 雞仔四界傱. Connie 行向村舍, 因為她欲揣著伊.

村舍徛 tī 樹林邊日頭中. 小花園 nih, 倚門 ê 所在, 雙瓣水仙生 kah 一簇一簇, 小路 ê 兩爿攏是紅色 ê 雙瓣草菊仔花. 聽著狗吠, 隨看著 Flossie 走倚來.

門開開! án-ne 伊有 tī 厝. 日頭照 tī 紅磚地板! 她順路行倚, ùi 窗仔看著伊 tī 內面, 穿 siatchuh, teh 食飯. 狗輕聲吠, koh 慢慢仔搖尾.

伊徛起來, 行到門邊, 用一條紅手巾拭彼猶 teh 哺 ê 喙.

"我會使入來無?" 她問.

"入來!"

日頭照入彼簡單 ê 房間, 內底猶有用煎盤烘 ê 羊排氣味, 因為煎盤猶囥 tī jia 火架頂懸, 邊仔, tī 白色火爐頂, koh 囥一个煮馬鈴薯 ê 烏色鍋仔 tī 一張紙頂. 火紅紅, 細細, 爐仔門關著, 茶鈷 teh 響.

桌仔頂有伊 ê 餐盤, 頂懸有馬鈴薯 kap 未食完 ê 羊排; 有 pháng tī 籃仔 nih, 鹽, kap 貯 bihlù ê 藍色 mug 杯. 桌仔鋪白色 ê 漆布, 伊徛 tī 陰影 ê 所在.

"你真晏食," 她講. "繼續食!"

她坐落一塊 tī 門邊日光 nih ê 柴椅仔.

"我著去 Uthwaite," 伊講, ná 坐落 tī 桌邊, 無 koh 食.

"請 koh 食," 她講. M̄-koh 伊無食.

"Lír berh 食 sáⁿ 無?" 伊問她. "Lír berh 啉茶無? 茶鈷 teh 滾." -- 伊 koh ùi 椅仔半徛起來.

“你予我家己來," 她講, ná 徛起來. 伊 ká-ná 心鬱悶, 她感覺是她 chak-chō 著伊.

"Hm̄, 茶罐仔 tī 遐" -- 伊 kí 一个壁角 ê 棕色小櫥仔; "mā 有杯仔. Iah 茶米囥 tī lír 頭前 ê 爐架頂懸."

她提烏色 ê 茶罐, koh ùi 爐架提茶米罐. 她用燒水盪茶罐了, 徛遐, 毋知欲 tī 佗位 kā 水倒掉.

"倒外口," 伊講, 知她意思. "彼水清氣 ê."

她行去門口, kā 水倒落門前 ê 路. 這所在誠可愛, chiah 清靜, 是真正 ê 樹林所在. 橡樹發出塗黃色 ê 新葉: 花園 nih ê 紅色草菊仔 ná 像紅色布鈕仔. 她看彼塊有空縫 ê 大塊石頭戶橂, 今真少人伐跤 ah.

"遮是一个媠所在," 她講. "Chiah-nī 安靜, 逐項恬靜 koh 有活命."

伊 koh teh 食 ah, 慢慢, 欲 ná 毋, 她感覺會著, 伊 teh 失志. 她靜靜泡茶, kā 茶罐囥 tī 鐵架頂, 像逐个 án-ne 做. 伊 kā 餐盤捒開, 行去後面; 她聽著門閂 ê 聲, koh 來伊用盤仔提 chhiz kap 奶油出來.

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Chapter 12

12.1

Connie went to the wood directly after lunch. It was really a lovely day, the first dandelions making suns, the first daisies so white. The hazel thicket was a lace-work, of half-open leaves, and the last dusty perpendicular of the catkins. Yellow celandines now were in crowds, flat open, pressed back in urgency, and the yellow glitter of themselves. It was the yellow, the powerful yellow of early summer. And primroses were broad, and full of pale abandon, thick-clustered primroses no longer shy. The lush, dark green of hyacinths was a sea, with buds rising like pale corn, while in the riding the forget-me-nots were fluffing up, and columbines were unfolding their ink-purple riches, and there were bits of blue bird’s eggshell under a bush. Everywhere the bud-knots and the leap of life!

The keeper was not at the hut. Everything was serene, brown chickens running lustily. Connie walked on towards the cottage, because she wanted to find him.

The cottage stood in the sun, off the wood’s edge. In the little garden the double daffodils rose in tufts, near the wide-open door, and red double daisies made a border to the path. There was the bark of a dog, and Flossie came running.

The wide-open door! so he was at home. And the sunlight falling on the red-brick floor! As she went up the path, she saw him through the window, sitting at the table in his shirt-sleeves, eating. The dog wuffed softly, slowly wagging her tail.

He rose, and came to the door, wiping his mouth with a red handkerchief still chewing.

‘May I come in?’ she said.

‘Come in!’

The sun shone into the bare room, which still smelled of a mutton chop, done in a dutch oven before the fire, because the dutch oven still stood on the fender, with the black potato-saucepan on a piece of paper, beside it on the white hearth. The fire was red, rather low, the bar dropped, the kettle singing.

On the table was his plate, with potatoes and the remains of the chop; also bread in a basket, salt, and a blue mug with beer. The table-cloth was white oil-cloth, he stood in the shade.

‘You are very late,’ she said. ‘Do go on eating!’

She sat down on a wooden chair, in the sunlight by the door.

‘I had to go to Uthwaite,’ he said, sitting down at the table but not eating.

‘Do eat,’ she said. But he did not touch the food.

‘Shall y’ave something?’ he asked her. ‘Shall y’ave a cup of tea? t’ kettle’s on t’ boil’ — he half rose again from his chair.

‘If you’ll let me make it myself,’ she said, rising. He seemed sad, and she felt she was bothering him.

‘Well, tea-pot’s in there’ — he pointed to a little, drab corner cupboard; ‘an’ cups. An’ tea’s on t’ mantel over yer ’ead,’

She got the black tea-pot, and the tin of tea from the mantel-shelf. She rinsed the tea-pot with hot water, and stood a moment wondering where to empty it.

‘Throw it out,’ he said, aware of her. ‘It’s clean.’

She went to the door and threw the drop of water down the path. How lovely it was here, so still, so really woodland. The oaks were putting out ochre yellow leaves: in the garden the red daisies were like red plush buttons. She glanced at the big, hollow sandstone slab of the threshold, now crossed by so few feet.

‘But it’s lovely here,’ she said. ‘Such a beautiful stillness, everything alive and still.’

He was eating again, rather slowly and unwillingly, and she could feel he was discouraged. She made the tea in silence, and set the tea-pot on the hob, as she knew the people did. He pushed his plate aside and went to the back place; she heard a latch click, then he came back with cheese on a plate, and butter.

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