Part 28 (2/2)
”You know, Femke, that we live here in Europe. Now, down there in the south, far away--I will draw it for you. We can sit down here and I will show you exactly what I mean.”
He selected some small sticks suitable for making outlines on the ground, then he and Femke sat down on a low pile of boards. He proceeded to scratch up the sand for some distance around.
”That is Europe. The earth is round; that is, it consists of two halves, like a doughnut. You see, it looks like a pair of spectacles. With that half we are not concerned. That's America. You can put your feet on it if you want to. Here is where we live; there is England; and here is Africa. The people there are uncivilized. They can't read, and they don't wear many clothes. But when a traveler comes along they are very nice to him--the book says so. I'm going down there and teach all the people to read and give them clothes and see to it that there is no injustice done in the whole land. And then we will----”
”I, too?” asked Femke in amazement.
”Why, certainly! I wanted to ask you if you were willing to go with me. We will be man and wife, you understand; so when I get to be king you will be----”
”I? Queen?”
She laughed. Involuntarily she rose and trampled to pieces all the kingdoms that Walter had just laid at her feet.
”But--won't you be my wife?”
”Oh, you boy! How did you get such nonsense into your head? You are still a child!”
”Will you wait then till I'm grown up? Will you let me be your friend?”
”Certainly! Only you mustn't think of that nonsense--not that you may not go to Africa later. Why not? Many people go on journeys. Formerly there lived a carpenter near us, and he went to the Haarlem with his whole family. But--marrying!”
She laughed again. It pained Walter. The poor boy's first proposal was turning out badly.
Suddenly Femke became serious.
”I know that you are a good boy; and I think a great deal of you.”
”And I!” cried Walter. ”Femke, I have thought of you all the time--when I was sick--in my fever--I don't know what I thought of in my fever, but I think it must have been you. And I talked to the picture I painted for you as if it were you; and that picture answered like you and looked like you. I was Kusco and Telasco, and you were Aztalpa, the daughter of the sun. Tell me, Femke, may I be your friend?”
The girl reflected a moment; and in her pure, innocent heart she felt the desire to do good. Was that seventeen-year-old girl conscious of the influence that Walter's childish soul exerted upon her? Scarcely. But she wanted to give him a less cruel answer.
”Certainly, certainly you shall be my friend. But--but----”
She was hunting for some excuse that would not hurt him, and still let him see the difference in their ages. He had grown during his illness, to be sure, but still--she could have carried him on her arm. And he had dreamed of rescuing her from a fire!
”My friend, yes. But then you must do everything that I require.”
”Everything, everything! Tell me quick what I can do for you.”
It was painful for the girl. She didn't know what she should require; but she was under the necessity of naming something. She had always heard that it was good for children to study hard. What if she should spur him on to do that?
”Listen, Walter. Just for fun I told my mother that you were the best in school.”
”I?” cried Walter abashed.
”Study hard and be the first in school inside the next three months,”
said Femke to the conqueror of continents, unaware of the sarcasm that lay in her words. ”Otherwise, you see, my mother might think I had made fun of you; and I don't want that to happen. If you will only do that----”
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