malbone- an oldport romance[1].(马尔布恩)-第15章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ready to separate from her； could she be detached from him？
Kate's anxieties； when she at last hinted them to Malbone； only sent
him further into revery。 〃How is it；〃 he asked himself； 〃that when I only
sought to love and be loved； I have thus entangled myself in the fate of
others？ How is one's heart to be governed？ Is there any such governing？
Mlle。 Clairon complained that； so soon as she became seriously attached
to any one； she was sure to meet somebody else whom she liked better。
Have human hearts；〃 he said； 〃or at least； has my heart； no more stability
than this？〃
It did not help the matter when Emilia went to stay awhile with Mrs。
Meredith。 The event came about in this way。 Hope and Kate had been to
a dinner…party； and were as usual reciting their experiences to Aunt Jane。
〃Was it pleasant？〃 said that sympathetic lady。
〃It was one of those dreadfully dark dining…rooms；〃 said Hope； seating
herself at the open window。
〃Why do they make them look so like tombs？〃 said Kate。
〃Because；〃 said her aunt； 〃most Americans pass from them to the tomb；
after eating such indigestible things。 There is a wish for a gentle
transition。〃
〃Aunt Jane；〃 said Hope； 〃Mrs。 Meredith asks to have a little visit from
Emilia。 Do you think she had better go？〃
〃Mrs。 Meredith？〃 asked Aunt Jane。 〃Is that woman alive yet？〃
〃Why； auntie！〃 said Kate。 〃We were talking about her only a week
ago。〃
〃Perhaps so；〃 conceded Aunt Jane； reluctantly。 〃But it seems to me
66
… Page 67…
MALBONE： AN OLDPORT ROMANCE。
she has great length of days！〃
〃How very improperly you are talking； dear！〃 said Kate。 〃She is not
more than forty； and you are〃
〃Fifty…four；〃 interrupted the other。
〃Then she has not seen nearly so many days as you。〃
〃But they are such long days！ That is what I must have meant。 One
of her days is as long as three of mine。 She is so tiresome！〃
〃She does not tire you very often；〃 said Kate。
〃She comes once a year；〃 said Aunt Jane。 〃And then it is not to see
me。 She comes out of respect to the memory of my great…aunt； with whom
Talleyrand fell in love； when he was in America； before Mrs。 Meredith
was born。 Yes； Emilia may as well go。〃
So Emilia went。 To provide her with companionship； Mrs。 Meredith
kindly had Blanche Ingleside to stay there also。 Blanche stayed at different
houses a good deal。 To do her justice； she was very good company； when
put upon her best behavior； and beyond the reach of her demure mamma。
She was always in spirits； often good…natured； and kept everything in
lively motion； you may be sure。 She found it not unpleasant； in rich
houses； to escape some of those little domestic parsimonies which the
world saw not in her own； and to secure this felicity she could sometimes
lay great restraints upon herself； for as much as twenty…four hours。 She
seemed a little out of place； certainly； amid the precise proprieties of Mrs。
Meredith's establishment。 But Blanche and her mother still held their place
in society； and it was nothing to Mrs。 Meredith who came to her doors； but
only from what other doors they came。
She would have liked to see all 〃the best houses〃 connected by secret
galleries or underground passages； of which she and a few others should
hold the keys。 A guest properly presented could then go the rounds of all
unerringly； leaving his card at each； while improper acquaintances in vain
howled for admission at the outer wall。 For the rest； her ideal of social
happiness was a series of perfectly ordered entertainments； at each of
which there should be precisely the same guests； the same topics； the same
supper； and the same ennui。
67
… Page 68…
MALBONE： AN OLDPORT ROMANCE。
68
… Page 69…
MALBONE： AN OLDPORT ROMANCE。
CHAPTER XI。
DESCENSUS AVERNI。
MALBONE stood one morning on the pier behind the house。 A two
days' fog was dispersing。 The southwest breeze rippled the deep blue
water； sailboats； blue； red； and green； were darting about like white…
winged butterflies； sloops passed and repassed； cutting the air with the
white and slender points of their gaff…topsails。 The liberated sunbeams
spread and penetrated everywhere； and even came up to play （reflected
from the water） beneath the shadowy； overhanging counters of dark
vessels。 Beyond； the atmosphere was still busy in rolling away its vapors；
brushing the last gray fringes from the low hills； and leaving over them
only the thinnest aerial veil。 Farther down the bay； the pale tower of the
crumbling fort was now shrouded； now revealed； then hung with floating
lines of vapor as with banners。
Hope came down on the pier to Malbone； who was looking at the
boats。 He saw with surprise that her calm brow was a little clouded； her
lips compressed； and her eyes full of tears。
〃Philip；〃 she said； abruptly； 〃do you love me？〃
〃Do you doubt it？〃 said he； smiling； a little uneasily。
Fixing her eyes upon him； she said； more seriously： 〃There is a more
important question； Philip。 Tell me truly； do you care about Emilia？〃
He started at the words； and looked eagerly in her face for an
explanation。 Her expression only showed the most anxious solicitude。
For one moment the wild impulse came up in his mind to put an entire
trust in this truthful woman； and tell her all。 Then the habit of concealment
came back to him； the dull hopelessness of a divided duty； and the
impossibility of explanations。 How could he justify himself to her when he
did not really know himself？ So he merely said； 〃Yes。〃
〃She is your sister；〃 he added； in an explanatory tone； after a pause；
and despised himself for the subterfuge。 It is amazing how long a man
may be false in action before he ceases to shrink from being false in
69
… Page 70…
MALBONE： AN OLDPORT ROMANCE。
words。
〃Philip；〃 said the unsuspecting Hope； 〃I knew that you cared about her。
I have seen you look at her with so much affection； and then again I have
seen you look cold and almost stern。 She notices it； I am sure she does；
this changeableness。 But this is not why I ask the question。 I think you
must have seen something else that I have been observing； and if you care
about her； even for my sake； it is enough。〃
Here Philip started； and felt relieved。
〃You must be her friend；〃 continued Hope； eagerly。 〃She has
changed her whole manner and habits very fast。 Blanche Ingleside and
that set seem to have wholly controlled her； and there is something
reckless in all her ways。 You are the only person who can help her。〃
〃How？〃
〃I do not know how；〃 said Hope； almost impatiently。 〃You know how。
You have wonderful influence。 You saved her before； and will do it
again。 I put her in your hands。〃
〃What can I do for her？〃 asked he； with a strange mingling of terror
and delight。
〃Everything；〃 said she。 〃If she has your society； she will not care for
those people； so much her inferiors in character。 Devote yourself to her for
a time。〃
〃And leave you？〃 said Philip； hesitatingly。
〃Anything； anything；〃 said she。 〃If I do not see you for a month； I
can bear it。 Only promise me two things。 First； that you will go to her
this very day。 She dines with Mrs。 Ingleside。〃
Philip agreed。
〃Then；〃 said Hope； with saddened tones； 〃you must not say it was I
who sent you。 Indeed you must not。 That would spoil all。 Let her think
that your own impulse leads you； and then she will yield。 I know Emilia
enough for that。〃
Malbone paused； half in ecstasy； half in dismay。 Were all the events of
life combining to ruin or to save him？ This young girl； whom he so
passionately loved； was she to be thrust back into his arms； and was he to
70
… Page 71…
MALBONE： AN OLDPORT ROMANCE。
be told to clasp her and be silent？ And that by Hope； and in the name of
duty？
It seemed a strange position； even for him who was so eager for fresh
experiences and difficult combinations。 At Hope's appeal he was to risk
Hope's peace forever； he was to make her sweet sisterly affection its own
executioner。 In obedience to her love he must revive Emilia's。 The tender
intercourse which he had been trying to renounce as a crime must be
rebaptized as a duty。 Was ever a man placed； he thought； in a position so
inextricable； so disastrous？ What could he offer Emilia？ How could he
explain to her his position？ He could not even tell her that it was at Hope's
command he sought her。
He who is summoned to rescue a drowning man； knowing that he
himself may go down with that inevitable clutch around his neck； is placed
in some such situation as Philip's。 Yet Hope had appealed to him so simply；
had trusted him so nobly！ Suppose that； by any self…control； or wisdom； or
unexpected aid of Heaven； he could serve both her and Emilia； was it not
his duty？ What if it should prove that he was right in loving them both；
and had only erred when he cursed himself for tampering with their
destinies？ Perhaps； after all； the Divine Love had been guiding him； and
at some appointed signal all these complications were to be cleared； and
he and his various loves were somehow to be ingeniously provided for；
and all be made happy ever after。
He really grew quite tender and devout over these meditations。 Phil
was not a co
