下载辰思小说免费APP
Hewasnearlyasleepwhenthelamasuddenlyquotedaproverb：`Thehusbandsofthetalkativehaveagreatrewardhereafter。’ThenKimheardhimsnuffthrice，anddozedoff，stilllaughing。
Thediamond-brightdawnwokemenandcrowsandbullockstogether。Kimsatupandyawned，shookhimself，andthrilledwithdelight。Thiswasseeingtheworldinrealtruth；thiswaslifeashewouldhaveit-bustlingandshouting，thebucklingofbelts，andbeatingofbullocksandcreakingofwheels，lightingoffiresandcookingoffood，andnewsightsateveryturnoftheapprovingeye。Themorningmistsweptoffinawhorlofsilver，theparrotsshotawaytosomedistantriverinshriekinggreenhosts：allthewell-wheelswithinear-shotwenttowork。Indiawasawake，andKimwasinthemiddleofit，moreawakeandmoreexcitedthananyone，chewingonatwigthathewouldpresentlyuseasatoothbrush；forheborrowedright-andleft-handedlyfromallthecustomsofthecountryheknewandloved。Therewasnoneedtoworryaboutfood-noneedtospendacowrieatthecrowdedstalls。Hewasthediscipleofaholymanannexedbyastrong-willedoldlady。Allthingswouldbepreparedforthem，andwhentheywererespectfullyinvitedsotodotheywouldsitandeat。Fortherest-Kimgiggledhereashecleanedhisteeth-hishostesswouldratherheightentheenjoymentoftheroad。Heinspectedherbullockscritically，astheycameupgruntingandblowingundertheyokes。Iftheywenttoofast-itwasnotlikely-therewouldbeapleasantseatforhimselfalongthepole；thelamawouldsitbesidethedriver。Theescort，ofcourse，wouldwalk。Theoldlady，equallyofcourse，wouldtalkagreatdeal，andbywhathehadheardthatconversationwouldnotlacksalt。Shewasalreadyordering，haranguing，rebuking，and，itmustbesaid，cursingherservantsfordelays。
`Getherherpipe。InthenameoftheGods，getherherpipeandstopherill-omenedmouth，’criedanOorya，tyinguphisshapelessbundlesofbedding。`Sheandtheparrotsarealike。Theyscreechinthedawn。’
`Thelead-bullocks！Hai！Looktothelead-bullocks！’Theywerebackingandwheelingasagrain-cart’saxlecaughtthembythehorns。`Sonofanowl，wheredostthougo？’Thistothegrinningcarter。
`Ai！Yai！Yai！ThatwithinthereistheQueenofDelhigoingtoprayforason，’themancalledbackoverhishighload。`RoomfortheQueenofDelhiandherPrimeMinisterthegreymonkeyclimbinguphisownsword！’Anothercartloadedwithbarkforadown-countrytanneryfollowedclosebehind，anditsdriveraddedafewcomplimentsastheruth-bullocksbackedandbackedagain。
Frombehindtheshakingcurtainscameonevolleyofinvective。Itdidnotlastlong，butinkindandquality，inblistering，bitingappropriateness，itwasbeyondanythingthatevenKimhadheard。Hecouldseethecarter’sbarechestcollapsewithamazement，asthemansalaamedreverentlytothevoice，leapedfromthepole，andhelpedtheescorthaultheirvolcanoontothemainroad。Herethevoicetoldhimtruthfullywhatsortofwifehehadwedded，andwhatshewasdoinginhisabsence。
`Oh，shabash！’murmuredKim，unabletocontainhimself，asthemanslunkaway。
`Welldone，indeed？ItisashameandascandalthatapoorwomanmaynotgotomakeprayertoherGodsexceptshebejostledandinsultedbyalltherefuseofHindustan-thatshemusteatgî；li[abuse]
asmeneatghi。ButIhaveyetawaglefttomytongue-awordortwowellspokenthatservestheoccasIon。AndstillamIwithoutmytobacco！Whoistheone-eyedandlucklesssonofshamethathasnotyetpreparedmypipe？’
Itwashastilythrustinbyahillman，andatrickleofthicksmokefromeachcornerofthecurtainsshowedthatpeacewasrestored。
IfKimhadwalkedproudlythedaybefore，discipleofaholyman，todayhepacedwithtenfoldprideinthetrainofasemi-royalprocession，witharecognizedplaceunderthepatronageofanoldladyofcharmingmannersandinfiniteresource。Theescort，theirheadstiedupnative-fashion，fellinoneithersidethecart，shufflingenormouscloudsofdust。
ThelamaandKimwalkedalittletooneside；Kimchewinghisstickofsugar-cane，andmakingwayfornooneunderthestatusofapriest。
Theycouldheartheoldlady’stongueclackassteadilyasarice-husker。
Shebadetheescorttellherwhatwasgoingonontheroad；andsosoonastheywereclearoftheparaosheflungbackthecurtainsandpeeredout，herveilathirdacrossherface。Hermendidnoteyeherdirectlywhensheaddressedthem，andthustheproprietiesweremoreorlessobserved。
Adark，sallowishDistrictSuperintendentofPolice，faultlesslyuniformed，anEnglishman，trottedbyonatiredhorse，and，seeingfromherretinuewhatmannerofpersonshewas，chaffedher。
`Omother，’hecried，`dotheydothisinthezenanas？SupposeanEnglishmancamebyandsawthatthouhadstnonose？’
`What？’sheshrilledback。`Thineownmotherhasnonose？Whysayso，then，ontheopenroad？’
Itwasafaircounter。TheEnglishmanthrewuphishandwiththegestureofamanhitatsword-play。Shelaughedandnodded。
`Isthisafacetotemptvirtueaside？’Shewithdrewallherveilandstaredathim。
Itwasbynomeanslovely，butasthemangathereduphisreinshecalleditaMoonofParadise，aDisturberofIntegrity，andafewotherfantasticepithetswhichdoubledherupwithmirth。
`Thatisanut-cut[rogue]，’shesaid。`Allpolice-constablesarenut-cuts；butthepolice-wallahsaretheworst。Hai，myson，thouhastneverlearnedallthatsincethoucamestfromBelait[Europe]。Whosuckledthee？’
`Apahareen-ahillwomanofDalhousie，mymother。Keepthybeautyunderashade-ODispenserofDelights，’andhewasgone。
`Thesebethesort’-shetookafinejudicialtone，andstuffedhermouthwithpan-`Thesebethesorttooverseejustice。Theyknowthelandandthecustomsoftheland。Theothers，allnewfromEurope，suckledbywhitewomenandlearningourtonguesfrombooks，areworsethanthepestilence。TheydoharmtoKings。’Thenshetoldalong，longtaletotheworldatlarge，ofanignorantyoungpolicemanwhohaddisturbedsomesmallHillRajah，aninthcousinofherown，inthematterofatrivialland-case，windingupwithaquotationfromaworkbynomeansdevotional。
Thenhermoodchanged，andshebadeoneoftheescortaskwhetherthelamawouldwalkalongsideanddiscussmattersofreligion。SoKimdroppedbackintothedustandreturnedtohissugar-cane。Foranhourormorethelama’stam-o’-shantershowedlikeamoonthroughthehaze；and，fromallheheard，Kimgatheredthattheoldwomanwept。OneoftheOoryashalfapologizedforhisrudenessovernight，sayingthathehadneverknownhismistressofsoblandatemper，andheascribedittothepresenceofthestrangepriest。Personally，hebelievedinBrahmins，though，likeallnatives，hewasacutelyawareoftheircunningandtheirgreed。Still，whenBrahminsbutirritatedwithbeggingdemandsthemotherofhismaster’swife，andwhenshesentthemawaysoangrythattheycursedthewholeretinue(whichwastherealreasonofthesecondoff-sidebullockgoinglame，andofthepolebreakingthenightbefore)，hewaspreparedtoacceptanypriestofanyotherdenominationinoroutofIndia。TothisKimassentedwithwisenods，andbadetheOoryaobservethatthelamatooknomoney，andthatthecostofhisandKim’sfoodwouldberepaidahundredtimesinthegoodluckthatwouldattendthecaravanhenceforward。HealsotoldstoriesofLahorecity，andsangasongortwowhichmadetheescortlaugh。Asatown-mousewellacquaintedwiththelatestsongsbythemostfashionablecomposers-theyarewomenforthemostpart-Kimhadadistinctadvantageovermenfromalittlefruit-villagebehindSaharunpore，butheletthatadvantagebeinferred。
Atnoontheyturnedasidetoeat，andthemealwasgood，plentiful，andwell-servedonplatesofcleanleaves，indecency，outofdriftofthedust。Theygavethescrapstocertainbeggars，thatallrequirementsmightbefulfilled，andsatdowntoalong，luxurioussmoke。Theoldladyhadretreatedbehindhercurtains，butmixedmostfreelyinthetalk，herservantsarguingwithandcontradictingherasservantsdothroughouttheEast。ShecomparedthecoolandthepinesoftheKangraandKuluhillswiththedustandthemangoesoftheSouth；shetoldataleofsomeoldlocalGodsattheedgeofherhusband’sterritory；sheroundlyabusedthetobaccowhichshewasthensmoking，reviledallBrahmins，andspeculatedwithoutreserveonthecomingofmanygrandsons。
Kipling：Kim，Chapter5Chapter5
HerecomeItomyownagainFed，forgiven，andknownagain——
Claimedbyboneofmyboneagain，Andsibtofleshofmyflesh！
Thefattedcalfisdressedforme，Butthehuskshavegreaterzestforme……
Ithinkmypigswillbebestforme，SoI’mofftothestyesafresh。
TheProdigalSon。Oncemorethelazy，string-tied，shufflingprocessiongotunderway，andsheslepttilltheyreachedthenexthalting-stage。Itwasaveryshortmarch，andtimelackedanhourtosundown，soKimcastaboutformeansofamusement。
`Butwhynotsitandrest？’saidoneoftheescort。`OnlythedevilsandtheEnglishwalktoandfrowithoutreason。’
`NevermakefriendswiththeDevil，aMonkey，oraBoy。Nomanknowswhattheywilldonext，’saidhisfellow。
Kimturnedascornfulback-hedidnotwanttoheartheoldstoryhowtheDevilplayedwiththeboysandrepentedofit-andwalkedidlyacrosscountry。
Thelamastrodeafterhim。Allthatday，whenevertheypassedastream，hehadturnedasidetolookatit，butinnocasehadhereceivedanywarningthathehadfoundhisRiver。Insensibly，too，thecomfortofspeakingtosomeoneinareasonabletongue，andofbeingproperlyconsideredandrespectedasherspiritualadviserbyawell-bornwoman，hadweanedhisthoughtsalittlefromtheSearch。Andfurther，hewaspreparedtospendsereneyearsinhisquest；havingnothingofthewhiteman’simpatience，butagreatfaith。
`Wheregoestthou？’hecalledafterKim。
`Nowhither-itwasasmallmarch，andallthis’-Kimwavedhishandsabroad-`isnewtome。’
`Sheisbeyondquestionawiseandadiscerningwoman。Butitishardtomeditatewhen-’
`Allwomenarethus。’KimspokeasmighthaveSolomon。
`Beforethelamasserywasabroadplatform，’thelamamuttered，loopingupthewell-wornrosary，`ofstone。OnthatIhaveleftthemarksofmyfeet-pacingtoandfrowiththese。’
Heclickedthebeads，andbeganthe`Ommanepudmehum’sofhisdevotion；gratefulforthecool，thequiet，andtheabsenceofdust。
OnethingafteranotherdrewKim’sidleeyeacrosstheplain。Therewasnopurposeinhiswanderings，exceptthatthebuildofthehutsnearbyseemednew，andhewishedtoinvestigate。
Theycameoutonabroadtractofgrazing-ground，brownandpurpleintheafternoonlight，withaheavyclumpofmangoesinthecentre。ItstruckKimascuriousthatnoshrinestoodinsoeligibleaspot：theboywasobservingasanypriestforthesethings。Faracrosstheplainwalkedsidebysidefourmen，madesmallbythedistance。Helookedintentlyunderhiscurvedpalmsandcaughtthesheenofbrass。
`Soldiers。Whitesoldiers！’saidhe。`Letussee。’
`ItisalwayssoldierswhenthouandIgooutalonetogether。ButI
haveneverseenthewhitesoldiers。’
`Theydonoharmexceptwhentheyaredrunk。Keepbehindthistree。’
Theysteppedbehindthethicktrunksinthecooldarkofthemango-tope。
Twolittlefigureshalted；theothertwocameforwarduncertainly。Theyweretheadvance-partyofaregimentonthemarch，sentout，asusual，tomarkthecamp。Theyborefive-footstickswithflutteringflags，andcalledtoeachotherastheyspreadovertheflatearth。
Atlasttheyenteredthemango-grove，walkingheavily。
