malbone- an oldport romance[1].(马尔布恩)-第1章
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MALBONE： AN OLDPORT ROMANCE。
MALBONE： AN
OLDPORT ROMANCE。
by THOMAS WENTWORTH HIGGINSON。
〃What is Nature unless there is an eventful human life passing
within her？
Many joys and many sorrows are the lights and shadows in which
she shows most beautiful。〃THOREAU； MS。 Diary。
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MALBONE： AN OLDPORT ROMANCE。
CHAPTER I。
AN ARRIVAL。
IT was one of the changing days of our Oldport midsummer。 In the
morning it had rained in rather a dismal way； and Aunt Jane had said she
should put it in her diary。 It was a very serious thing for the elements
when they got into Aunt Jane's diary。 By noon the sun came out as clear
and sultry as if there had never been a cloud； the northeast wind died away；
the bay was motionless； the first locust of the summer shrilled from the
elms； and the robins seemed to be serving up butterflies hot for their
insatiable second brood； while nothing seemed desirable for a human
luncheon except ice…cream and fans。 In the afternoon the southwest wind
came up the bay； with its line of dark…blue ripple and its delicious coolness；
while the hue of the water grew more and more intense； till we seemed to
be living in the heart of a sapphire。
The household sat beneath the large western doorway of the old
Maxwell House；he rear door； which looks on the water。 The house had
just been reoccupied by my Aunt Jane； whose great…grandfather had built
it； though it had for several generations been out of the family。 I know no
finer specimen of those large colonial dwellings in which the genius of Sir
Christopher Wren bequeathed traditions of stateliness to our democratic
days。 Its central hall has a carved archway； most of the rooms have
painted tiles and are wainscoted to the ceiling； the sashes are red…cedar； the
great staircase mahogany； there are pilasters with delicate Corinthian
capitals； there are cherubs' heads and wings that go astray and lose
themselves in closets and behind glass doors； there are curling acanthus…
leaves that cluster over shelves and ledges； and there are those graceful
shell…patterns which one often sees on old furniture； but rarely in houses。
The high front door still retains its Ionic cornice； and the western entrance；
looking on the bay； is surmounted by carved fruit and flowers； and is
crowned； as is the roof； with that pineapple in whose symbolic wealth the
rich merchants of the last century delighted。
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MALBONE： AN OLDPORT ROMANCE。
Like most of the statelier houses in that region of Oldport； this abode
had its rumors of a ghost and of secret chambers。 The ghost had never
been properly lionized nor laid； for Aunt Jane； the neatest of housekeepers；
had discouraged all silly explorations； had at once required all barred
windows to be opened； all superfluous partitions to be taken down； and
several highly eligible dark…closets to be nailed up。 If there was anything
she hated； it was nooks and odd corners。 Yet there had been times that year；
when the household would have been glad to find a few more such hiding…
places； for during the first few weeks the house had been crammed with
guests so closely that the very mice had been ill…accommodated and
obliged to sit up all night； which had caused them much discomfort and
many audible disagreements。
But this first tumult had passed away； and now there remained only
the various nephews and nieces of the house； including a due proportion of
small children。 Two final guests were to arrive that day； bringing the
latest breath of Europe on their wings；Philip Malbone； Hope's betrothed；
and little Emilia； Hope's half…sister。
None of the family had seen Emilia since her wandering mother had
taken her abroad； a fascinating spoiled child of four； and they were all
eager to see in how many ways the succeeding twelve years had
completed or corrected the spoiling。 As for Philip； he had been spoiled；
as Aunt Jane declared； from the day of his birth； by the joint effort of all
friends and neighbors。 Everybody had conspired to carry on the process
except Aunt Jane herself； who directed toward him one of her honest；
steady； immovable dislikes； which may be said to have dated back to the
time when his father and mother were married； some years before he
personally entered on the scene。
The New York steamer； detained by the heavy fog of the night before；
now came in unwonted daylight up the bay。 At the first glimpse； Harry
and the boys pushed off in the row…boat； for； as one of the children said；
anybody who had been to Venice would naturally wish to come to the very
house in a gondola。 In another half…hour there was a great entanglement of
embraces at the water…side； for the guests had landed。
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MALBONE： AN OLDPORT ROMANCE。
Malbone's self…poised easy grace was the same as ever； his chestnut…
brown eyes were as winning； his features as handsome； his complexion；
too clearly pink for a man； had a sea bronze upon it： he was the same
Philip who had left home； though with some added lines of care。 But in
the brilliant little fairy beside him all looked in vain for the Emilia they
remembered as a child。 Her eyes were more beautiful than ever；the
darkest violet eyes； that grew luminous with thought and almost black
with sorrow。 Her gypsy taste； as everybody used to call it； still showed
itself in the scarlet and dark blue of her dress； but the clouded gypsy tint
had gone from her cheek； and in its place shone a deep carnation； so hard
and brilliant that it appeared to be enamelled on the surface； yet so firm
and deep…dyed that it seemed as if not even death could ever blanch it。
There is a kind of beauty that seems made to be painted on ivory； and such
was hers。 Only the microscopic pencil of a miniature…painter could
portray those slender eyebrows； that arched caressingly over the beautiful
eyes；or the silky hair of darkest chestnut that crept in a wavy line along
the temples； as if longing to meet the brows；or those unequalled lashes！
〃Unnecessarily long；〃 Aunt Jane afterwards pronounced them； while Kate
had to admit that they did indeed give Emilia an overdressed look at
breakfast； and that she ought to have a less showy set to match her
morning costume。
But what was most irresistible about Emilia；that which we all noticed
in this interview； and which haunted us all thenceforward；was a certain
wild； entangled look she wore； as of some untamed out…door thing； and a
kind of pathetic lost sweetness in her voice； which made her at once and
forever a heroine of romance with the children。 Yet she scarcely seemed to
heed their existence； and only submitted to the kisses of Hope and Kate as
if that were a part of the price of coming home； and she must pay it。
Had she been alone； there might have been an awkward pause； for if
you expect a cousin； and there alights a butterfly of the tropics； what
hospitality can you offer？ But no sense of embarrassment ever came
near Malbone； especially with the children to swarm over him and claim
him for their own。 Moreover； little Helen got in the first remark in the way
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MALBONE： AN OLDPORT ROMANCE。
of serious conversation。
〃Let me tell him something！〃 said the child。 〃Philip！ that doll of
mine that you used to know； only think！ she was sick and died last summer；
and went into the rag…bag。 And the other split down the back； so there was
an end of her。〃
Polar ice would have been thawed by this reopening of communication。
Philip soon had the little maid on his shoulder；the natural throne of all
children；and they went in together to greet Aunt Jane。
Aunt Jane was the head of the house；a lady who had spent more than
fifty years in educating her brains and battling with her ailments。 She had
received from her parents a considerable inheritance in the way of whims；
and had nursed it up into a handsome fortune。 Being one of the most
impulsive of human beings； she was naturally one of the most entertaining；
and behind all her eccentricities there was a fund of the soundest sense and
the tenderest affection。 She had seen much and varied society； had been
greatly admired in her youth； but had chosen to remain unmarried。
Obliged by her physical condition to make herself the first object； she was
saved from utter selfishness by sympathies as democratic as her personal
habits were exclusive。 Unexpected and commonly fantastic in her doings；
often dismayed by small difficulties； but never by large ones； she
sagaciously administered the affairs of all those around her；planned their
dinners and their marriages； fought out their bargains and their feuds。
She hated everything irresolute or vague； people might play at cat's…
cradle or study Spinoza； just as they pleased； but； whatever they did； they
must give their minds to it。 She kept house from an easy…chair； and ruled
her dependants with severity tempered by wit； and by the very sweetest
voice in which reproof was ever uttered。 She never praised them； but if
they did anything particularly well； rebuked them retrospectively； asking
why they had never done it well before？ But she treated them
munificently； made all manner of plans for their comfort； and they all
thought her the wisest and wittiest of the
