When we reached the homestead and were sitting on the stoep drinking our coffee, we heard that Richard had left quite suddenly and had gone back to England.

当我们赶到范·伦斯堡家，坐在他们家屋前上喝咖啡时，却听说理查德已经不辞而别回英国去了。

When we had finished our sweetmeats or fruit she would accompany us to the stoep, bidding us thank our mother for her gift and sending quaint, old-fashioned messages to her and the Father. Then she would turn and enter the house, closing the door behind, so that it became once more a place of mystery.

待我们吃糖果或水果，总要将我们送到屋前，叮嘱我们要多谢母送食品，要我们对父母转达一些稀奇古怪老式祝愿，然后就转身回到屋里，随手关上，使那里再次成为神秘世界。