malbone- an oldport romance[1].(马尔布恩)-第11章
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young face such a mingled look of hatred and weariness and chagrin； that
even her unobserving friends saw it； and asked with tender commiseration
what was up。
The dancing recommenced。 There was the usual array of partners；
distributed by mysterious discrepancies； like soldiers' uniforms； so that all
the tall drew short； and all the short had tall。 There were the timid
couples； who danced with trembling knees and eyes cast over their
shoulders； the feeble couples； who meandered aimlessly and got tangled in
corners； the rash couples； who tore breathlessly through the rooms and
brought up at last against the large white waistcoat of the violon…cello。
There was the professional lady…killer； too supreme and indolent to dance；
but sitting amid an admiring bevy of fair women； where he reared his head
of raven curls； and pulled ceaselessly his black mustache。 And there were
certain young girls who； having astonished the community for a month by
the lowness of their dresses； now brought to bear their only remaining art；
and struck everybody dumb by appearing clothed。 All these came and
went and came again； and had their day or their night； and danced until the
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robust Hope went home exhausted and left her more fragile cousins to
dance on till morning。 Indeed； it was no easy thing for them to tear
themselves away； Kate was always in demand； Philip knew everybody；
and had that latest aroma of Paris which the soul of fashion covets； Harry
had the tried endurance which befits brothers and lovers at balls； while
Emilia's foreign court held out till morning； and one handsome young
midshipman； in special； kept revolving back to her after each long orbit of
separation； like a gold…laced comet。
The young people lingered extravagantly late at that ball； for the
corvette was to sail next day； and the girls were willing to make the most
of it。 As they came to the outer door； the dawn was inexpressibly
beautiful；deep rose melting into saffron； beneath a tremulous morning
star。 With a sudden impulse； they agreed to walk home； the fresh air
seemed so delicious。 Philip and Emilia went first； outstripping the
others。
Passing the Jewish cemetery； Kate and Harry paused a moment。 The
sky was almost cloudless； the air was full of a thousand scents and songs；
the rose…tints in the sky were deepening； the star paling； while a few vague
clouds went wandering upward； and dreamed themselves away。
〃There is a grave in that cemetery；〃 said Kate； gently； 〃where lovers
should always be sitting。 It lies behind that tall monument； I cannot see
it for the blossoming boughs。 There were two young cousins who loved
each other from childhood； but were separated； because Jews do not allow
such unions。 Neither of them was ever married； and they lived to be very
old； the one in New Orleans； the other at the North。 In their last illnesses
each dreamed of walking in the fields with the other； as in their early days；
and the telegraphic despatches that told their deaths crossed each other on
the way。 That is his monument； and her grave was made behind it； there
was no room for a stone。〃
Kate moved a step or two； that she might see the graves。 The branches
opened clear。 What living lovers had met there； at this strange hour；
above the dust of lovers dead？ She saw with amazement； and walked on
quickly that Harry might not also see。
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It was Emilia who sat beside the grave； her dark hair drooping and
dishevelled； her carnation cheek still brilliant after the night's excitement；
and he who sat at her feet； grasping her hand in both of his； while his lips
poured out passionate words to which she eagerly listened； was Philip
Malbone。
Here； upon the soil of a new nation； lay a spot whose associations
seemed already as old as time could make them；the last footprint of a
tribe now vanished from this island forever；the resting…place of a race
whose very funerals would soon be no more。 Each April the robins built
their nests around these crumbling stones； each May they reared their
broods； each June the clover blossomed； each July the wild strawberries
grew cool and red； all around was youth and life and ecstasy； and yet the
stones bore inscriptions in an unknown language； and the very graves
seemed dead。
And lovelier than all the youth of Nature； little Emilia sat there in the
early light； her girlish existence gliding into that drama of passion which is
older than the buried nations； older than time； than death； than all things
save life and God。
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CHAPTER VIII。
TALKING IT OVER。
AUNT JANE was eager to hear about the ball； and called everybody
into her breakfast…parlor the next morning。 She was still hesitating about
her bill of fare。
〃I wish somebody would invent a new animal；〃 she burst forth。 〃How
those sheep bleated last night！ I know it was an expression of shame for
providing such tiresome food。〃
〃You must not be so carnally minded； dear；〃 said Kate。 〃You must be
very good and grateful； and not care for your breakfast。 Somebody says
that mutton chops with wit are a great deal better than turtle without。〃
〃A very foolish somebody；〃 pronounced Aunt Jane。 〃I have had a
great deal of wit in my life； and very little turtle。 Dear child； do not excite
me with impossible suggestions。 There are dropped eggs； I might have
those。 They look so beautifully； if it only were not necessary to eat them。
Yes； I will certainly have dropped eggs。 I think Ruth could drop them；
she drops everything else。〃
〃Poor little Ruth！〃 said Kate。 〃Not yet grown up！〃
〃She will never grow up；〃 said Aunt Jane； 〃but she thinks she is a
woman； she even thinks she has a lover。 O that in early life I had
provided myself with a pair of twins from some asylum； then I should
have had some one to wait on me。〃
〃Perhaps they would have been married too；〃 said Kate。
〃They should never have been married；〃 retorted Aunt Jane。 〃They
should have signed a paper at five years old to do no such thing。
Yesterday I told a lady that I was enraged that a servant should presume to
have a heart； and the woman took it seriously and began to argue with me。
To think of living in a town where one person could be so idiotic！ Such a
town ought to be extinguished from the universe。〃
〃Auntie！〃 said Kate； sternly； 〃you must grow more charitable。〃
〃Must I？〃 said Aunt Jane； 〃it will not be at all becoming。 I have
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thought about it； often have I weighed it in my mind whether to be
monotonously lovely； but I have always thrust it away。 It must make life
so tedious。 It is too late for me to change；at least； anything about me
but my countenance； and that changes the wrong way。 Yet I feel so
young and fresh； I look in my glass every morning to see if I have not a
new face； but it never comes。 I am not what is called well…favored。 In fact；
I am not favored at all。 Tell me about the party。〃
〃What shall I tell？〃 said Kate。
〃Tell me what people were there；〃 said Aunt Jane； 〃and how they were
dressed； who were the happiest and who the most miserable。 I think I
would rather hear about the most miserable；at least； till I have my
breakfast。〃
〃The most miserable person I saw；〃 said Kate； 〃was Mrs。 Meredith。
It was very amusing to hear her and Hope talk at cross…purposes。 You
know her daughter Helen is in Paris； and the mother seemed very sad
about her。 A lady was asking if something or other were true； 'Too true；'
said Mrs。 Meredith； 'with every opportunity she has had no real success。 It
was not the poor child's fault。 She was properly presented； but as yet she
has had no success at all。'
〃Hope looked up； full of sympathy。 She thought Helen must be some
disappointed school…teacher； and felt an interest in her immediately。 'Will
there not be another examination？' she asked。 'What an odd phrase；' said
Mrs。 Meredith； looking rather disdainfully at Hope。 'No； I suppose we
must give it up； if that is what you mean。 The only remaining chance is in
the skating。 I had particular attention paid to Helen's skating on that very
account。 How happy shall I be； if my foresight is rewarded！'
〃Hope thought this meant physical education； to be sure； and fancied
that handsome Helen Meredith opening a school for calisthenics in Paris！
Luckily she did not say anything。 Then the other lady said； solemnly； 'My
dear Mrs。 Meredith； it is too true。 No one can tell how things will turn
out in society。 How often do we see girls who were not looked at in
America； and yet have a great success in Paris； then other girls go out who
were here very much admired； and they have no success at all。'
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〃Hope understood it all then； but she took it very calmly。 I was so
indignant； I could hardly help speaking。 I wanted to say that it was
outrageous。 The idea of American mothers training their children for
exhibition before what every
