Chapter 9 Monday, December 26 Emile feasts at Carterholt and traps the bad steward alive in a wolf pit

Before Christmas comes a cold and rainy autumn, and there's not much to do in this season.So did Carter Holt.Alfred was driving the oxen in the never-ending drizzle to plow, plowing the little fields strewn with gravel.In the furrow behind him walked Emil.He was helping Alfred yell the cattle, because these old cattle are always slow, and don't seem to understand the benefits of plowing the land at all.It got dark quickly and early.Alfred unloaded the plow, and they all walked slowly home, Alfred, Emil, and the bulls. Alfred and Emil walked into the kitchen together, their boots covered in mud.Li Na was so angry that she went crazy. She really felt sorry for the floors she had just scrubbed.

"She is so narrow-minded." Alfred said, "Whoever wants to marry her will never have a moment of peace in his life." "Well, you will probably encounter this situation." Amir took over and said. Alfred was silent.After thinking for a while, he said: "No, you see, it probably won't work." Finally he said, "I dare not want her, but I dare not tell her." "You want me to talk?" Amir asked.He was brave and decisive, but Alfred still didn't want him to talk. "That has to be said softly," said Alfred. "Don't make her feel bad."

He walked up and down, trying to figure out how to tell Li Na that he didn't want to marry her, but he just couldn't find the right words. It was only three o'clock in the afternoon, now that late autumn night had blanketed Katterholt.The kerosene lamps have been lit in the kitchen, and everyone is sitting there, busy with their own affairs.Amir's mother is spinning the spinning wheel, and the white thread she spins is thin and even to knit socks for Amir and little Ida.Li Na was combing the wool, and Karosa was also combing.Emil's father repairs shoes and saves a lot of money due to the village shoe repairer.Alfred was not far behind, mending his socks.His socks were always torn at the toe and heel, but Alfred always had them patched up in time.Li Na really wanted to do it for him, but Alfred never let her make love.

"No! You know, I'm hooked for doing that." Afterwards.He explained to Emil, "It was useless to put it mildly then." Emil and little Ida often like to sit under the table and play with cats.Emil wants Ida to believe that the cat is actually a wolf, but she doesn't believe it anyway.So Emil howled like a wolf, startling everyone in the kitchen.His mother asked what his name was, and Emil replied: "Because there's a wolf under the table." Karosa Maya immediately took up the conversation and told the story of the wolf.Both Emil and little Ida happily crawled over to listen.This time it's time to hear scary stories again, and they all know that Caroza loves to tell creepy stories about murderers and robbers or ghosts and gangsters, or beheadings, prairie fires, horrible accidents and deadly plagues and Dangerous beasts, etc., for example, this time we will talk about wolves.

"When I was little," Caroza began, "there were many wolves in Simuland." "Later Karl XII came and killed them, didn't he?" Li Na interrupted. This made Karosa Maya angry, because although she was old, she was not as old as Li Na said. "As if you knew!" Carosa said this sentence and didn't want to say it any more.But Amir kept trying to please her.At last she told many stories about the ferociousness of wolves and how people dug traps to catch wolves when she was a child. "Then there is no need for Karl XII." Li Na interrupted again, and then she immediately shut up.But it's too late.Caroza is on fire again.This is not surprising, Karl XII was a Swedish king more than a hundred years ago, you should know that there was no Carrosa at that time, she was not that old.

Emile coaxed her again.Then she told the story of the werewolf.This is the most dangerous of all wolves, and comes out only when the moon is shining.A werewolf learns to speak like a man."Because they are not ordinary wolves," said Karosa, "they are the most dangerous beasts, because they are halfway between wolves and men. If you meet such a monster in the moonlight, you will die. Because there is no It is a more ferocious beast. So when the moon rises, people should stay at home!" Karosa said and gave Li Na a look. "But Karl XII..." Li Na interrupted again.

At this point Caroza threw the brush away and said she should go home because she was too old and tired to use it. At night, Emil and little Ida each lay on their own beds and began to talk about wolves. "It's good that there are no wolves at this time!" said little Ida. "No?" Emil said. "How do you know? There is no wolf pit to catch them." With his eyes wide open, he lay on the bed and thought about it for a long time. The more he thought about it, the more he felt that as long as he dug a trap, he would definitely catch a wolf.He did what he said, and early the next morning, he dug in the open space between the carpentry room and the food storage.Here, in summer, the nettles grew all over, but now they were all dead and black and moldy.

Dig a wolf pit deep enough that wolves cannot jump up if they fall into it.This can take a lot of time.Alfred came to help Emil dig a few shovels from time to time, but it still took a long time, about Christmas Eve. "That's okay, though," said Alfred. "Because wolves won't come out of the forest until they are too cold and hungry in winter." Little Ida shuddered at the thought of those wolves in the forest, mad with hunger, howling around the house on cold winter nights.Emil was not afraid, he looked at Alfred with those shining eyes, and was very happy that the wolf was about to fall into the trap he dug.

"Now I will cover the mouth of the pit with branches, so that the wolf cannot see where the pit is." He said with satisfaction.Alfred also agreed with him. "That's it. Stray Yogay said that everything can only be outsmarted, and even the dust on his face can be washed away with tears!" The people of Renébelia often say this happily, but Alfred shouldn't say the same, because Stry Yogay is his grandfather, and he is currently living in the orphanage in Renébelia.My grandfather shouldn't be joking, even though he didn't have any malicious intentions, he just talked like others.

Then there is waiting for the cold winter to come.At last it finally came.The weather started to change just before Christmas, cold and snowy, which was delightful.The whole of Katholdt, the whole of Lenabelja and even the whole of Simalan province were covered with heavy snow, turning into a white world.Only the fence walls were still visible from the snow, so that one could probably guess where the road was going.There was a trap hidden between the pantry and the carpentry, and no one could see it.A thick layer of white snow covered it tightly like a soft carpet.Emil begged God every night to keep the snow from breaking the branches off the trap before the wolf fell in.

At this time, the people of Carterhult got busy.Gotta get it all set up before Christmas.The first was Christmas cleaning. Li Na and Carosa Maya squatted on the small trestle bridge, washing and brushing in the icy river water.Li Na's fingernails were cracked, and she breathed on her hands in pain, and tears kept falling down.Then a big fat pig was slaughtered.Later, as Li Na said, the kitchen was crowded and there was no room for anyone to stay.Palter, pork sausages, noodle sausages, mincemeat sausages, potato sausages, smoked sausages, ham, aspic, ribs, etc., were packed everywhere.I can't name many things.And the must-have gin drink for Christmas, made by Emile's mother in a large wooden barrel in the brewing house.There are also all kinds of bread and pastries, which make people dazzled.There are baguettes, honey bread, fine rye bread, saffron bread, plain white bread, gingerbread biscuits and a particularly delicious roll, pastries, fried rolls, shortbread, and I really can't They all called out their names one by one.And of course candles, which are also a must for Christmas.Mama Emil and Li Na worked almost all night to cast them.There are big candles, small candles, and three-fork candles.Seeing that Christmas is coming soon, Alfred and Emil put Lucas and Marcos on the sleigh and go to the woods to cut the Christmas tree.Papa Emil brought out some sheaves of oats from the barn, which he had reserved for the sparrows. "It's a stupid thing to do," he said, "but the sparrows must have Christmas too!" Not only that, but also some other people should be thought of, they also have to celebrate a festival, that is the poor people in the orphanage.You probably don't know what an orphanage is, and you should be glad for that! Because if I go into details about an orphanage, it's scarier than the stories of murderers and ghosts and beasts in Caroza.As long as you imagine, in a poor house with only a few small houses, it is filled with a group of poor and exhausted old people.There is hunger and misery everywhere, and the house is full of the stench of dirty laundry, then you know what poor people and orphanages are.The Lenébelia Home for the Elderly is not worse than other homes for the elderly, but it is still a terrible thing to live there, especially when one is too old and too weak to take care of oneself. "Poor grandpa!" said Alfred often. "He's never going to be happy again. If the steward isn't a devil, he'll get by." The steward is the person in charge of the orphanage.In fact, she was also a poor person, but she was the thickest and most irritable in body, so she was appointed steward, and directed everything there.If Emil had grown up to be the chairman of the municipal council by now, this kind of thing would not have happened.But now he is just a child, and there is no way to fix her.Alfred's grandfather was afraid of her, and so were all the other poor old people. "She was like a mad lion among the sheep," old Stray Yogay used to say.This old man looks a bit weird, and he speaks like he is chanting scriptures.But he is kind and amiable.Alfred likes his old grandpa. The old people in the orphanage almost never get a full meal, which is really pitiful.Emil's mother thought so too. "These poor people, they should have something to eat for Christmas," said Emil's mother.So one or two days before Christmas, on the snowy road leading to the orphanage, people can see Emil and little Ida walking slowly with a big basket.Mama Emile filled the basket with everything delicious.There were various sausages, jelly, ham, baguettes, patés, saffron bread, ginger biscuits, and candles and a little tray of snuff dedicated to Stry Jogay. Only those who have been starving for a long time can understand the excitement of the old people when they see Amir and little Ida carrying a basket into the orphanage.They were all eager to eat right away.Stry Yogay, Carly Spouter, John Boss Yoley, Toke Nicholas, Beggar Feya, Lee Krausser, Weberska, Tharia Amalia and many more They all think so.But the steward said: "You have to wait until New Year's Eve to eat, you don't understand this?!" No one dared to speak out against this. Emil and Ida go home.It's New Year's Eve, and Katterhult is really lively.Even more so on Christmas Day.Early in the morning they all went to the church of Renébelia to say their prayers.Emil was elated on the sled, because Lucas and Marcos didn't have to kick up the snow and run, leaving the other sleds behind. Amir sat there quietly while praying.He was so honest that his mother wrote in the blue book: "The boy is not naughty in church." He stayed quiet all Christmas, and Ida and Ida played with each other's Christmas presents in harmony without fighting at all.The whole of Le Nebelia rested for the day in an atmosphere of peace and tranquility. But then came the second day of junior high school.On this day, Emil's father and mother are going to visit the Scorpholt Manor, which is located on the other side of Le Nabelia.Because everyone there knew Amir's name, the children were not invited to go with them. "I'm fine," said Emil. "It's bad luck for the Skopholts. Poor man, they won't have a chance to see me now." "Yeah, even I can't see it anymore." Little Ida added. Li Na was supposed to stay at home to look after the children that day, but she got up early in the morning to go to see her mother on a piece of rented land near Skopholt Manor.She probably figured it out, since the carriage is going in that direction, how beautiful it would be to take a ride with her! "Hey, I can watch the kids," Alfred said. "I'll watch them when I've got food." "However, you should know what Amir looks like." Amir's father said with a gloomy face, staring ahead.But Emil's mother took it and said: "Amir is a cute little boy, at least he is not naughty at Christmas. Don't cry, Li Na, you follow!" And so they left.Alfred, Emil, and little Ida stood in front of the kitchen window, watching the sleigh disappear down the hillside.When nothing could be seen, Emil jumped for joy: "Oh! Now we have to have fun!" he exclaimed.But little Ida pointed her slender index finger at the snowy road outside and said, "Look! Here comes Stry Yogay!" "Oh, it's him!" said Alfred. "What happened!" Because the orphanage doesn't allow Stray Yogay to come out alone.He's a bit confused and can't take care of himself, or so the steward says. "He doesn't even know his way when he goes out and comes back," said the steward. "When he forgets to play, I don't have time to look for him everywhere." But when it came to Katterholt, Jogay always found his way.Now he is coming here.His whole body was so shriveled that only skin and bones remained, and a few strands of white hair fluttered beside his ears.In a moment he walked into the kitchen, sobbing. "We didn't get any palter," he said. "We didn't get any sausage either, the steward took it all away!" Then he couldn't go on anymore, and wept bitterly. This made Emil mad.Anger was burning in his chest.Even Alfred and little Ida dared not look at Emil's frightening look when he was angry.There was that wild, terrible light in his eyes.He grabbed the porcelain bowl on the table: "Bring me that bad steward!" he yelled, throwing the bowl against the wall, sending shards flying. "Get my gun!" Alfred was really a little scared. "Calm down," he said. "It's going to hurt you to get angry like that." Then Alfred began to appease his grandfather, and wanted to ask why the management was so bad, but the only answer he could get from Old Jogay was yes. "We didn't get a palter, or a sausage. I didn't get a snuff..." he whimpered. Then Ida pointed out the window and said, "Look, Lee Krause is here." "Lee Krause came to look for me." Jogay said, trembling with fright. Lee Clausa is a thin and clever old lady in the orphanage.Whenever Jogay slipped out, the steward always sent her to Kathholt to find him.Jogay came here often, because Alfred was here, and Mama Emil was kind to the poor. From the mouth of the old man Lee Klausar, they finally figured out what happened.The steward hid all the food delivered that day in a cupboard in the attic.It's colder up there this season, just right.But on the morning of New Year's Eve, when she opened the cupboard to get food, she found that a small sausage was missing, and she became angry and almost went crazy! "Like a mad lion among sheep," said Jogay.Lee Krause felt the same way.The steward made a big fuss about the sausage.Gritting his teeth, he must catch the man who stole the sausage. "Otherwise this New Year's Eve will make the angels of God miserable," said the steward.And that's exactly what happened, Lee Krause confirmed.Because no matter how much the steward rants, no one will admit to stealing the sausage.Some people think that the steward made this excuse to swallow those things to himself. "Anyway, on this day, even the ghosts and gods were really angry and cried." Lee Krause said.The steward sat all day in her room in the attic.There was a candle on her table, and she devoured sausage, ham, and pate, and nearly burst her stomach.This fat and rough bad woman.The old people in the orphanage downstairs were all crying against the wall, and there was only a little salted herring on the table, even though it was Christmas Eve. The same goes for Christmas Day.The steward cursed again, and said no one could eat half a palter until the sausage thief came forward and confessed.She sat by herself in the attic and waited, feasting and talking to no one.Lee Krause peeked through the keyhole every hour.Every time I saw the delicious food sent by Amir's mother disappear little by little into the big fat mouth of the steward.What the steward was most afraid of at the moment was that the old man Yuegai ran to Kathholt to say gossip, so she told Li Clauser to drag Yogai back immediately regardless of life or death. "So, we'd better go now, Yogay," said Lee Krause. "Oh, grandpa!" said Alfred sadly, "poor poor grandpa!" Emil said nothing.He gritted his teeth while sitting on a wooden pier for chopping wood.He sat there long after Jogay and Lee Krause had left, and you could tell he was working his brains.At last he rapped his fist on the wooden pier and said, "I know someone who is going to have a party!" "Who is it?" Little Ida asked. Amir's fist hit the block again: "It's me!" he said.Then he explained his thoughts.The banquet must be held quickly, and all the elderly in the orphanage must be invited to attend, so come right away! "But Amir!" Little Ida asked anxiously. "Are you sure it's not naughty?" Alfred was also a little scared.Worried it was a prank.But Amil assured them that it wasn't naughty at all, but good deeds.The angels of God must have applauded this, as they lamented that the old people had such a miserable Christmas. "Mother will be happy too," Emile said again. "Yes, but where's Dad?" Little Ida said again. "Well," said Emile, "it's by no means naughty, anyway!" After he finished speaking, he fell silent again, and began to think again. "It's the hardest thing to do to get them all out of the lion's den," he said. "Come on, let's try!" By this time the steward had eaten all the sausages, ham, aspic, and every paté, roll, and ginger biscuit.She also finished tasting Jogay's snuff.Now she was a little bored sitting on the Yan Tower, just like some people often feel empty after doing bad things.Of course, it could also be because she devoured so many patties at once.She didn't want to go down and look at the old people, because they either sighed or stared at her without saying a word. Just as she was sitting here feeling bored, she heard someone knocking hard on the door outside.She hastily climbed down from the attic to see who was coming. It was Emil standing on the threshold, Emil of the Katterholt estate.The steward suddenly panicked.I don't know what Yogay and Lee Krause said, if he came for it! But Emile bowed to her very politely and said: "Did you leave my pocket-knife here the last time I was here?" Look! How clever he is! Never has the pocketknife been more securely in his trouser pocket.But he had to find an excuse to come to the orphanage, so he said so. The steward quickly assured him that no one had ever seen a knife.Then Amir asked: "Are the sausages good? Are the aspics and other things good?" The steward lowered his eyelids, stared at her fat feet and said: "Of course, of course," she answered hastily. "Katerholt's good mother knows what the poor need. Give her my best regards!" At this time Amir said what he wanted to say when he came here, but it didn't sound like it was that important, just mentioned in passing. "Mamma and Papa are visiting at Skopholt." An eager look immediately appeared on the steward's face. "Skopholt's family treats guests, why haven't I heard of it?" "It's true, otherwise you would have run away." Amir thought.He knew as well as all the Renébérians that no matter who was entertaining, the steward would be in the kitchen like clockwork.At least let her eat some cheesecake, otherwise she can't be driven away.She would do it all to get a piece of cheesecake.If you've ever been to one of Lenébelia's dinner parties, you know as well as the steward that the shiny copper tray on the host's table is always filled with cheese cakes.And often it was a gift brought by the guests, or "piggyback" as the Renébelians heard it. "How about seventeen cheesecakes?" said Emil. At this time, Emil definitely didn't know how many cheesecakes were on the banquet at Scorpholt Manor, and he didn't say so with certainty.He didn't want to lie, he just said vaguely, "How about seventeen cheesecakes?" "It's quite a lot," said the steward. Amir left after speaking.He had done what he had to do.He knew that in half an hour the bad steward would be on the road to Skopholt. Emil guessed right! He hid behind a pile of firewood with Alfred and little Ida.After a while, the steward was seen coming out of the door, with her thickest fur shawl wrapped around her head and a begging bag under her arm, ready to go to Skopholt.But you think how bad this devil is, she actually locked the door and put the key in the rice bag! This is good, the old man inside seems to be locked in a prison.Poor poor man! thought the bad steward very proudly.Now look where old Jogay's going, tell him to see who's got the power, it's no joke! Then she hurried towards Skoopholt Manor with the fastest steps those two thick legs could take. At this time, Emil stepped forward and shook the door vigorously. He wanted to try to see if it was locked, and Alfred and little Ida also tried.Oh, it's true that the door is locked really well. All the old people flocked to the window, staring in horror at the three people who wanted to break in.At this moment Emil yelled. "As long as I can pick you up, I invite you all to attend the banquet in Carterholt." Immediately the room buzzed like a beehive.It was rare happy news, but it was also a depressing and painful disaster, because they were all locked in the room and there was no hope of getting out. At this point you may be asking, why not open the window and climb out! It's not difficult! It means you haven't heard of inner windows.In winter, due to the installation of inner windows, all the windows in the orphanage could not be opened, and were firmly nailed to death.Even the window slits were sealed with paper strips and paste to prevent the wind from getting in through the window slits. You may ask: How can you change the air! Dear children, what a stupid question, who said that the air in the orphanage needs to be changed! This kind of stupidity has never interested anyone, because from the fireplace and There was enough cold air coming in through the unblocked cracks in the walls and floors, so no one wanted more fresh air. No, you can't get out of the window, poor people.Only one window could be opened, but it was in the steward's room in the attic.Although they have never been so hungry as today, none of the old people dared to jump from the four-meter-high window in order to have a feast, because there is no doubt that they would jump directly to the kingdom of heaven. Amir was never helpless in the face of difficulties. He found a ladder from under the firewood pile and erected it under the window in charge.Lee Krause had already opened the window happily.Alfred climbed up the ladder.He is tall and strong, and he can lift these skinny old men like nothing.Although some of the elderly screamed or complained for several decades, all of them came out except Saria Amalia.She neither dared nor wanted to come out, and she was satisfied with the promise that they would try to bring her back something from the party. It was starting to get dark at this time, and anyone who passed by Katterholt at this moment on the second day of junior high school would have thought he had encountered a group of gray ghosts, limping and staggering, helping each other on the road. Go to the mountain town path of Kathelt.These poor people, all in rags, look like a group of ghosts.But they were as happy as a flock of birds, as impatient as a flock of children, alas, it was years ago for them to go to the Christmas party.They couldn't help being even happier when they thought that the steward would soon be back in the orphanage, and that there was only one old woman in the house empty. "Hey, that's enough for her," said Boss John. "Hey, she's standing there without a poor guy, and she knows what it's like." Everyone laughed with satisfaction.They went into the festive kitchen, where Emil lit five large candles.Candlelight is reflected on the freshly polished copper pans that hang on the walls.Lights flickered everywhere, looking bright and golden.The old people fell silent at once, and Jogay thought he had gone to heaven! "Look, the light and happiness here are really endless!" he said, and wept.Old man Yuegai would cry when he was happy or sad. Then Amir said aloud: "Now the banquet begins!" The banquet started, and Emil, Alfred, and little Ida took out all the food they could move from the food bank.When they laid out the food on the table in the kitchen, there was the following food at the Kathelter feast, which I think you should know.There are. A Pan of Parth One Plate Pork Sausage a plate of aspic One Plate Pork Liver Pie a plate of smoked sausage a plate of meatballs a plate of veal steak a plate of ribs A plate of noodle sausage A plate of potato sausage One Plate Herring Salad a plate of bacon A plate of sauced beef tongue One Pan Mincemeat Sausage A plate of chunky Christmas ham A plate of chunky Christmas cheese a plate of baguettes One Pan Honey Bread One Pan Refined Rye Bread bucket of gin drink jug of milk A plate of rice noodle porridge One Pan Cheesecake A bowl of preserved plums One Pan Apple Pie bowl of cream bowl of strawberry jam Bowl of Ginger Pears A whole roasted piglet covered in sugar gravy I figured it was all the stuff and I probably forgot no more than three dishes.Maybe four, let's say five just to be on the safe side.Except for these five. All the old people in the orphanage sat around the table and waited patiently.With each plate brought, more tears flowed from their eyes. At last Amir said: "Now, please do it!" At this time, they started to eat, and they really ate it, just listen to the sound! Alfred, Emil, and little Ida also started to eat, and little Ida couldn't eat any more after eating a few meatballs, and she began to think again.She felt puzzled: Anyway, this is still a prank.She suddenly thought of the first three days, that is, tomorrow all the relatives who live in Ingerterp Manor will come to Katholt, and all the delicious things here are flying! She heard the chewing, There was a sound of gnawing and sucking, like a herd of wild animals pounced on these plates, bowls and saucers.Little Ida knew that only those who were starving would eat like this.Still, it sounds pretty scary. She pushed Emil's arm and said in a voice that only he could hear. "Isn't this really naughty? Think of the Ingertep visitor tomorrow!" "Those people have already eaten fat, so the leftovers are enough," Amir replied calmly, "It is more useful for those who need it to eat." But what will happen, he is also a little worried, because it seems that after the banquet is over, there will not be even half a palter left.The food that was not stuffed into the mouth was put into the pockets or pockets, and all the food was swept away. "Now I've got ribs on my list," Carly Spouter said, putting the last rib in her mouth. "Now I'm including herring salad on the list," said old beggar Fya. When they say "make a list" they mean it's all eaten and the plates are empty.Finally Tao Ke Nicholas said, "We made a list of all the meals." He never said anything more accurate than that.So later people called this banquet "Katholt's Big List".You know that after this incident, René Belya and the people from other villages still talked about it for a long time. In the end there was only one thing left, and that was the little roast pig, who stood looking sadly at the crowd with his eyes made of syrup crystals. "My God, this little pig looks like a little ghost," exclaimed the old beggar Feya, "I dare not touch it." She had never seen a whole roast pig before.No one else has seen it.So they all had a little respect for it and didn't dare to touch it. "Will any sausages be forgotten?" asked Carle Spoutet when all the plates were clear. At this point Emil replied that at the moment only A piece of sausage, which hung on top of a picket outside the wolf-pit. But it was used as bait, so Spoutey didn't eat it, and no one else got it. Suddenly Webeska cried out. "Saria Amalia!," she cried. "We forgot about her!" She looked around at a loss, and finally her eyes fell on the little roast pig. "She'll probably have it, Amalia! It looks like an imp, though. Do you think so, Emil?" "Well, then she will have to eat this pig." Amir said with a sigh. Now the stomachs of the old people are so full that they can't walk. It's impossible for them to crawl back to the orphanage by themselves. "We can take the sledge," said Emile.That's how it is.Katterholt has a big and long sledge called a "Duoshenggen" specially used for firewood, and it can carry as many poor people as possible, although they are now a little fatter than usual. Night has fallen, and the sky is full of stars.The moon was full and the new snow was soft and clean, and it was a wonderful night for a sleigh ride. Amir and Alfred help the old people get on the "Duoshenggen".In the front sat Weberska, holding the piglet in her hands.The others sat in an orderly row at the back, with Ida, Emil and Alfred sitting at the end. "Now drive!" Emil yelled. The sled flew down the slopes of Katterhult, sending snow flying in all directions.The old people cheered happily. They hadn't been on a sled for a long time.Listen to the shouting! Only the little pig sat quietly in Weberska's hand, staring at the faint moonlight with its eyes like a kid. Where's the bad steward? What's she doing now? You'll hear it soon.I wish you could have seen her when she came back from the Skoopholt cheesecake trip: the gray fur shawl, the fat face smug.She took out the key and put it in the lock.When she thought of how honest and obedient those poor people would become at this moment, she couldn't help but secretly rejoiced, "Hmph! We must teach them a lesson, so that they know who is in charge here. If you are in charge, you must rule over everything!" Then she turned the key, opened the door, and stepped through the threshold.Now she walks into the foyer...but why is it so quiet in there? Are they all asleep? Or are they all sitting there sulking? No living people? The reason is simple, there is no one in the room.Mrs. Steward, there is no one inside! At this time, the steward began to tremble all over. She had never been so afraid in her life.Who can come in and out of a locked door? Who else but an angel of God... yes, it sure is! The poor souls she tricked into sausages, pastries, and snuff have been taken to an orphanage by an angel of God She had gone to a better place, and she was left to suffer here alone.Whoop whoop! The steward howled like a bitch. At this time, a sound came from a bed in the distance, and there seemed to be a thin and small thing hidden under the quilt on the bed. "Why are you crying?" Tharia Amalia said. As soon as someone spoke, the steward immediately returned to normal.In no time she was squeezing everything out of Amalia's mouth, something she was very good at. She ran to Kathelter as fast as she could.Now that the poor are coming back, let them go quickly, and go quietly, but don't make a scene in Renébelia, and people will talk about it forever. Carterholt Manor looked so beautiful in the moonlight.When the steward saw many big candles burning in the kitchen, she suddenly felt a little shy, so she didn't go in directly.She wanted to see from the window first if her poor fellows were really having a party there.现在她需要找个木箱子或别的东西垫脚。否则就够不着窗户。于是管事向木工房走去，想找点东西。最后她找到了，但不是木箱子，而是一根香肠。真怪，在雪地里的一根木棍上竟插着根美味儿的小土豆香肠。这时管事的肚子虽然还是满满的，奶酪蛋糕差点儿把它撑破了，但是她知道人的肚子很快又会饿的。再说把这么一根美味儿的小香肠放在这里浪费着，也太傻了。于是她跨出一步，仅仅跨了一大步。 ——以前，斯毛兰人就是这样捉狼的。 正当管事在陷坑里翻滚挣扎时，卡特侯尔特家的宴会也结束了。老人们都走出厨房．坐上雪橇准备回孤老院去。从陷狼坑那边并没有传出来一点声音，因为管事起初不想呼救。她以为自己能挣扎着爬出来，所以一声不响。 当那些老人们顺坡而下飞驶到孤老院时，他们惊奇地发现门大开着。他们摇摇晃晃地走进屋子，爬上床。那顿美餐和那阵坐雪橇使得他们都困倦得要命，虽然他们有好多年没这么高兴过了。 艾米尔、阿尔佛菜德和小伊达转身向卡特侯尔特走去。明亮的月光下群星在向他们眨着眼睛。艾米尔和阿尔佛莱德拉着雪橇爬过一坡又一坡，小伊达坐在雪橇上，因为她还小。 要是你曾经在这么一个寂静的冬天夜晚，在月光下坐着雪橇到卡特侯尔特去一趟，你就会感到那令人奇怪的寂静，好象整个大地都在沉睡。你也可以想象出，在这万籁俱寂的夜晚，忽然听到一阵鬼哭狼嚎般的声音该有多么吓人了。正当艾米尔和阿尔佛莱德轻松愉快地，没有任何戒备地把雪橇拖上最后一个山坡时，突然从艾米尔挖的陷阱方向传来了一阵阵使任何人听了都会失魂落魄的嗥叫声。小伊达立刻脸色苍白，心里非常想念她的妈妈。但是艾米尔可不怕，他高兴地一下子蹦了起来。 “一条狼掉到我的坑里了。”他喊道，“哎呀，我的枪在哪里?” 他们越往前走，那东西叫得越凶。叫声在整个卡特侯尔特回响，好象森林里到处都是狼群，都在为坑里的那只狼鸣冤叫屈似的。 这时阿尔佛莱德说：“这狼叫得有点怪，听!” 在月光下，他们都站住了，仔细倾听着那可怕的叫声。 “救命呀!救命!救命!”听起来好象是这么几句话。 这时艾米尔眼睛里闪过一线亮光。 “一只人狼!”他叫道，“真叫人难以相信，竟是一只人狼!” 他又蹦又跳地跑了几步，抢先来到坑边，站在那里想看看到底捉到一只什么样的狼。遗憾的是根本不是什么人狼，不过是那个倒霉的管事罢了。艾米尔勃然大怒，她跑到这坑里干什么! 他想抓的是一只真狼!但是后来他转念一想：她掉在这坑里可能也有点用处，他想借此机会教训她一下，让她变得老实点，别再那么粗野。他又想，说不定还可以教她懂点羞耻，她也真需要知道这些。因此他向阿尔佛莱德和小伊达喊道： “快来!快来看这只难看的长毛野兽!” 他们三人都站在坑边往下看。坑里的管事披着她的灰色毛披巾还真有点象狼。 “你肯定这是一个人狼吗！”小伊达用颤抖的声音问。 “可以这么说。”艾米尔说，“一只残暴的老母人狼，就是这东西。这是世界上最危险的动物!” “对，因为她们太贪婪了!”阿尔佛莱德说。 “就是!看这只!”艾米尔说，“她这辈子不知贪婪地吞吃了多少东西，可这回她的末日到了。阿尔佛莱德，拿我的枪来!” “可别!亲爱的小艾米尔，你看不见是谁吗?”管事尖叫道。 艾米尔一提到枪可把她吓得魂飞魄散。她不知道那不过是一只玩具枪，是阿尔佛莱德给他做的。 “阿尔佛菜德，这只人狼说什么?”艾米尔说，“我没听清。” “我也没听见。“阿尔佛莱德摇摇头。 “管她说什么。”艾米尔说，“拿我的步枪来，阿尔佛莱德!” 这时管事又拚命地喊道： “你们看不见是我被陷住了吗?” “她说什么?”艾米尔说，“问我们见没见到她姑姑？” “不错。可是我们没见过。”阿尔佛莱德说。 “没见，连她姨姨也没见。”艾米尔又说，“快点!要不这坑里很快就会装满人狼了。阿尔佛莱德，快拿枪来!” 这时管事大声哭嚎起来： “你们怎么这么坏呀!我的命运怎么这样惨呀!” “她说她喜欢帕尔特糕?” “真的，她可喜欢了!”阿尔佛莱德说，“可是我们没有帕尔特了。” “真的，恐怕全斯毛兰都没有帕尔特糕了。”艾米尔又说。“都让那个坏管事独吞了!” 这时管事哭得更凶了。说到这儿，她才明白她虐待约盖和别的老人的事艾米尔都知道了。她哭得越来越厉害，使艾米尔也可怜起她来。因为他是一个心地善良的孩子。但是他又想到要使孤老院稍有改善，就不能轻易放掉她。因此他接着说： “我说，阿尔佛莱德，要是你仔细看看这只人狼，你不觉得她长得有点象孤老院的那个管事吗？” “哼!”阿尔佛莱德说，“那个管事可比斯毛兰所有的人狼都坏!” “倒是，”艾米尔说，“和她比起来所有的人狼都成了小乖孩儿了。连飞过的大雁她也想拔根毛下来，我真想知道究竟是谁偷走了那根香肠。” “是我。”管事痛哭流涕地说，“是我干的。我什么都承认，只要你们把我放了。” 艾米尔和阿尔佛莱德相互交换了个眼色，会意地笑了。 “阿尔佛莱德!”艾米尔说，“你的眼睛长到哪儿去了!看不见这不是什么人狼而是管事太太吗!” “哎呀，我的上帝，”阿尔佛莱德说，“我们怎么这么糊涂呀!” “唉，我也真给弄糊涂了。”艾米尔说，“虽然他们都差不多，但人狼肯定没有这样的毛披巾。” “当然没有!但人狼也会造谣诬陷别人的!” “去!阿尔佛莱德，现在你可得对管事客气点。”艾米尔说， “快去拿个梯子来!” 这样，一个梯子伸到坑底的管事面前，她哭着爬了上来，一上来就飞快地逃走了。只听见那两只大脚吧嗒吧嗒地越跑越远。 这次她可要永远逃离卡特侯尔特。一辈子也不再回到此地。在她从坡后消失前，她回过身来喊道。 “不错，是我吃了那根香肠，上帝原谅我!可是那天我忘了，我发誓是我忘了!” “她在这陷坑里坐会儿，并回想起来，也不坏。”艾米尔说。“这陷坑不管怎么说，也没白挖。” 管事的两条粗腿迈着最快的步子逃下了山坡。跑到孤老院时，她已经上气不接下气了。这时孤老院的穷人们都躺在那些虱子乱爬的床上睡着了。管事无论如何也不想惊醒他们，因此她就象一个阴魂似的悄悄地溜了进去，步子从来没有这么轻过。 她象数羊群一样查了一遍人数，穷佬们都在，一个不少。卡莱·斯包泰，斯特莱·约盖，约翰老大·约莱，淘克·尼克拉斯，老乞婆费娅，李克劳萨，魏伯斯卡和萨里娅·阿玛丽娅等都在，她都看到了。突然，她看到一个东西，在阿玛丽娅床边的桌子上站着……唉呀，我的妈，站着一个小鬼，确实是个小鬼，尽管它的样子有点象小猪。在月光下一只可怕的小猪，也可能是只真的人狼站在那里，用一双骇人的白眼珠盯着她! 这一天管事经受了这么多惊吓，也真受不了啦。她倒抽了口凉气，就瘫在地板上，晕了过去。直到初三早上太阳照进屋里，她才苏醒过来。 初三，对，这天英厄特普庄园的亲戚们要来卡特侯尔特作客。唉呀，可这天他们吃什么呀!嗨!车到山前自有路，外面食品库里有新腌的咸猪肉，猪肉炒土豆加上洋葱汁，就是用来招待国王也可以了，如果他来的话。 当艾米尔妈妈那天晚上在蓝本本上写记录时，她很难过，这必须承认。因为那页纸上现在还可以看到眼泪的痕迹。 “圣诞节之后初三，我的痛苦的夜晚。”她在上面写道。“今天他在木工房里坐了一整天，这个可怜的孩子。他真象一只小天鹅，尽管有时我也觉得他有点发疯。” 卡特侯尔特的生活一天一天过去了，很快冬去春来。艾米尔时常坐在木工房里，其他时间他和小伊达玩，骑卢卡斯溜达，驾车送牛奶，惹惹李娜，或者同阿尔佛莱德聊天。还有不断地创造些新的恶作剧，使得他的生话从早到晚内容多变，丰富多采。因此到五月初木工房的木架上就摆满了一百二十五个小木人了，这个聪明的孩子! 阿尔佛莱德没干什么调皮事，不过他也有自己的烦恼。到现在他还没敢告诉李娜他不愿和她结婚。 “可能最好由我去说。”艾米尔说。但是阿尔佛莱德还是不同意。 “这必须说得委婉点，我已经跟你说过了，别让她难过才好。” 阿尔佛莱德有—颗善良的心。他真不知道谁能给他出个主意，让他能婉转地把这意思转达给李挪。五月初一个星期六的傍晚，李娜坐在长工房前台阶上，固执地等着阿尔佛莱德出来和她谈情说爱。阿尔佛莱德觉得时候到了，就从长工房里伸出头来喊她。 “李娜，你听我说，有件事我总想告诉你!” 李娜笑了，以为她盼望的那句话总算要听到了。 “干什么呀，小阿尔佛菜德。”她答应道，“你要告诉我什么?” “就是我们谈过的结婚那件事。你听着，我们把它扔到茅坑去算了!” 他就是这么说的，可怜的阿尔佛莱德。这真够难听的，我真不该说给你们听。我可不想让你们除了已经会的以外再学些脏话。可是你们得记住，阿尔佛莱德不过是一个穷长工，而你们却不一样。他确实想不出更漂亮的话来讲清这件事了，为此他已冥思苦想了好长时间，可怜的阿尔佛莱德! 不过，李娜并没有因此而难过。 “你这么想。”她说，“那你等着瞧吧!” 这时阿尔佛莱德立刻意识到他恐怕一辈子也没法儿摆脱李娜了。但是今天晚上他还是想高兴一下，并自由自在地度过。因此他和艾米尔一起去卡特侯尔持的湖边钓鱼去了。 这是一个只有在斯毛兰省才能找到的美妙的傍晚。卡特侯尔特樱花盛开，画眉在欢唱，蚊蝇在嗡叫，河鲈在吞食鱼饵。他们，艾米尔和阿尔佛莱德，坐在那里，看着明镜般的湖水上鱼漂儿在跳动。他们说话不多，但是都觉得心旷神怡，无限欢乐。直到太阳落山，天全黑了他们才动身回家。阿尔佛莱德用一个小树枝串着鱼，艾米尔吹着阿尔佛莱德给他做的柳笛，一起沿着弯弯曲曲的小道走着。道旁的白桦树刚刚长出翠绿的嫩叶，艾米尔的管声惊动了画眉，但是忽然他把笛子从嘴里拿出来， “你知道我明天要干什么?”他说。 “不知道。”阿尔佛莱德回答，“又要搞新的恶作剧吗?” 艾米尔把柳笛又放回嘴里吹了起来，他一面走，一面吹。一面使劲想。 “我也不知道，”他最后说，“我也是从来只有事后才知道。”