malbone- an oldport romance[1].(马尔布恩)-第21章
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MALBONE： AN OLDPORT ROMANCE。
get up so much industry out of nothing。 He has all his housework there；
a broom and a duster； and I dare say he has a cooking…stove and a gridiron。
He sits a little while； then he stoops down； then he goes to the other end。
Sometimes he goes ashore in that absurd little tub； with a stick that he
twirls at one end。〃
〃That is called sculling；〃 interrupted Kate。
〃Sculling！ I suppose he runs for a baked potato。 Then he goes back。
He is Robinson Crusoe on an island that never keeps still a single instant。
It is all he has； and he never looks away； and never wants anything more。
So I have him to watch。 Think of living so near a beaver or a water…rat
with clothes on！ Good…by。 Leave the door ajar； it is so warm。〃
And Kate went down to the landing。 It was near the 〃baptismal
shore；〃 where every Sunday the young people used to watch the
immersions； they liked to see the crowd of spectators； the eager friends；
the dripping convert； the serene young minister； the old men and girls who
burst forth in song as the new disciple rose from the waves。 It was the
weekly festival in that region； and the sunshine and the ripples made it
gladdening； not gloomy。 Every other day in the week the children of the
fishermen waded waist…deep in the water； and played at baptism。
Near this shore stood the family bathing…house； and the girls came
down to sit in its shadow and watch the swimming。 It was late in August；
and on the first of September Emilia was to be married。
Nothing looked cool； that day； but the bay and those who were going
into it。 Out came Hope from the bathing…house； in a new bathing…dress of
dark blue； which was evidently what the others had come forth to behold。
〃Hope； what an imposter you are！〃 cried Kate instantly。 〃You declined
all my proffers of aid in cutting that dress； and now see how it fits you！
You never looked so beautifully in your life。 There is not such another
bathing…dress in Oldport； nor such a figure to wear it。〃
And she put both her arms round that supple； stately waist； that might
have belonged to a Greek goddess； or to some queen in the Nibelungen
Lied。
The party watched the swimmers as they struck out over the clear
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MALBONE： AN OLDPORT ROMANCE。
expanse。 It was high noon； the fishing…boats were all off； but a few
pleasure…boats swung different ways at their moorings； in the perfect calm。
The white light…house stood reflected opposite； at the end of its long pier；
a few vessels lay at anchor； with their sails up to dry； but with that deserted
look which coasters in port are wont to wear。 A few fishes dimpled the still
surface； and as the three swam out farther and farther； their merry voices
still sounded close at hand。 Suddenly they all clapped their hands and
called； then pointed forward to the light…house； across the narrow harbor。
〃They are going to swim across；〃 said Kate。 〃What creatures they are！
Hope and little Jenny have always begged for it； and now Harry thinks it is
so still a day they can safely venture。 It is more than half a mile。 See！ he
has called that boy in a boat； and he will keep near them。 They have swum
farther than that along the shore。〃
So the others went away with no fears。
Hope said afterwards that she never swam with such delight as on that
day。 The water seemed to be peculiarly thin and clear； she said； as well as
tranquil； and to retain its usual buoyancy without its density。 It gave a
delicious sense of freedom； she seemed to swim in air； and felt singularly
secure。 For the first time she felt what she had always wished to
experience；that swimming was as natural as walking； and might be
indefinitely prolonged。 Her strength seemed limitless； she struck out
more and more strongly； she splashed and played with little Jenny； when
the child began to grow weary of the long motion。 A fisherman's boy in a
boat rowed slowly along by their side。
Nine tenths of the distance had been accomplished； when the little girl
grew quite impatient； and Hope bade Harry swim on before her； and land
his charge。 Light and buoyant as the child was； her tightened clasp had
begun to tell on him。
〃It tires you； Hal； to bear that weight so long； and you know I have
nothing to carry。 You must see that I am not in the least tired； only a little
dazzled by the sun。 Here； Charley； give me your hat； and then row on
with Mr。 Harry。〃 She put on the boy's torn straw hat； and they yielded to
her wish。 People almost always yielded to Hope's wishes when she
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expressed them；it was so very seldom。
Somehow the remaining distance seemed very great； as Hope saw
them glide away； leaving her in the water alone； her feet unsupported by
any firm element； the bright and pitiless sky arching far above her； and her
head burning with more heat than she had liked to own。 She was conscious
of her full strength； and swam more vigorously than ever； but her head
was hot and her ears rang； and she felt chilly vibrations passing up and
down her sides； that were like； she fancied； the innumerable fringing oars
of the little jelly…fishes she had so often watched。 Her body felt almost
unnaturally strong； and she took powerful strokes； but it seemed as if her
heart went out into them and left a vacant cavity within。 More and more
her life seemed boiling up into her head； queer fancies came to her； as； for
instance； that she was an inverted thermometer with the mercury all
ascending into a bulb at the top。 She shook her head and the fancy cleared
away； and then others came。
She began to grow seriously anxious； but the distance was diminishing；
Harry was almost at the steps with the child； and the boy had rowed his
skiff round the breakwater out of sight； a young fisherman leaned over the
railing with his back to her； watching the lobster…catchers on the other side。
She was almost in； it was only a slight dizziness； yet she could not see the
light…house。 Concentrating all her efforts； she shut her eyes and swam on；
her arms still unaccountably vigorous； though the rest of her body seemed
losing itself in languor。 The sound in her ear had grown to a roar； as of
many mill…wheels。 It seemed a long distance that she thus swam with her
eyes closed。 Then she half opened her eyes； and the breakwater seemed all
in motion； with tier above tier of eager faces looking down on her。 In an
instant there was a sharp splash close beside her； and she felt herself
grasped and drawn downwards； with a whirl of something just above her；
and then all consciousness went out as suddenly as when ether brings at
last to a patient； after the roaring and the tumult in his brain； its blessed
foretaste of the deliciousness of death。
When Hope came again to consciousness； she found herself
approaching her own pier in a sail…boat； with several very wet gentlemen
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around her； and little Jenny nestled close to her； crying as profusely as if
her pretty scarlet bathing…dress were being wrung out through her eyes。
Hope asked no questions； and hardly felt the impulse to inquire what had
happened。 The truth was； that in the temporary dizziness produced by
her prolonged swim； she had found herself in the track of a steamboat that
was passing the pier； unobserved by her brother。 A young man； leaping
from the dock； had caught her in his arms； and had dived with her below
the paddle…wheels； just as they came upon her。 It was a daring act； but
nothing else could have saved her。 When they came to the surface； they
had been picked up by Aunt Jane's Robinson Crusoe； who had at last
unmoored his pilot…boat and was rounding the light…house for the outer
harbor。
She and the child were soon landed； and given over to the ladies。 Due
attention was paid to her young rescuer； whose dripping garments seemed
for the moment as glorious as a blood…stained flag。 He seemed a simple；
frank young fellow of French or German origin； but speaking English
remarkably well； he was not high…bred； by any means； but had apparently
the culture of an average German of the middle class。 Harry fancied that
he had seen him before； and at last traced back the impression of his
features to the ball for the French officers。 It turned out； on inquiry； that he
had a brother in the service； and on board the corvette； but he himself was
a commercial agent； now in America with a view to business； though he
had made several voyages as mate of a vessel； and would not object to
some such berth as that。 He promised to return and receive the thanks of
the family； read with interest the name on Harry's card； seemed about to
ask a question； but forbore； and took his leave amid the general confusion；
without even giving his address。 When sought next day； he was not to be
found； and to the children he at once became as much a creature of
romance as the sea…serpent or the Flying Dutchman。
Even Hope's strong constitution felt the shock of this adventure。 She
was confined to her room for a week or two； but begged that there might
be no postponement of the wedding； which； therefore； took place without
her。 Her illness gave excuse for a privacy that was welcome to all but the
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bridesmaids； and suited Malbone best of all。
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