tales from two hemispheres[1].(两个半球的故事)-第21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！
returned to his cheer… less room with a faint heart and declining spirits。 It
was； after all； a more serious thing than he had imagined； to cut the cable
which binds one to the land of one's birth。 There a hundred subtile
influences； the existence of which no one suspects until the moment they
are withdrawn； unite to keep one in the straight path of rectitude； or at
least of external respectability； and Ralph's life had been all in society； the
opinion of his fellow…men had been the one force to which he implicitly
deferred； and the conscience by which he had been wont to test his actions
had been nothing but the aggregate judgment of his friends。 To such a
man the isolation and the utter irresponsibility of a life among strangers
was tenfold more dangerous； and Ralph found； to his horror； that his
character contained innumerable latent possibilities which the easy… going
life in his home probably never would have revealed to him。 It often cut
81
… Page 82…
TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
him to the quick； when； on entering an office in his daily search for
employment； he was met by hostile or suspicious glances； or when； as it
occasionally happened； the door was slammed in his face； as if he were a
vagabond or an impostor。 Then the wolf was often roused within him；
and he felt a momentary wild desire to become what the people here
evidently believed him to be。 Many a night he sauntered irresolutely
about the gambling places in obscure streets； and the glare of light； the
rude shouts and clamors in the same moment repelled and attracted him。
If he went to the devil； who would care？ His father had himself pointed
out the way to him； and nobody could blame him if he followed the advice。
But then again a memory emerged from that chamber of his soul which
still he held sacred； and Bertha's deep…blue eyes gazed upon him with their
earnest look of tender warning and regret。
When the summer was half gone； Ralph had gained many a hard
victory over himself； and learned many a useful lesson； and at length he
swallowed his pride； divested himself of his fine clothes； and accepted a
position as assistant gardener at a villa on the Hudson。 And as he stood
perspiring with a spade in his hand； and a cheap broad…brimmed straw hat
on his head； he often took a grim pleasure in picturing to himself how his
aristocratic friends at home would receive him； if he should introduce
himself to them in this new costume。
〃After all； it was only my position they cared for；〃 he reflected； bitterly；
〃without my father's name what would I be to them？〃
Then； again； there was a certain satisfaction in knowing that； for his
present situation； humble as it was； he was indebted to nobody but himself；
and the thought that Bertha's eyes； if they could have seen him now would
have dwelt upon him with pleasure and approbation； went far to console
him for his aching back； his sunburned face； and his swollen and blistered
hands。
One day； as Ralph was raking the gravel… walks in the garden； his
employer's daughter； a young lady of seventeen； came out and spoke to
him。 His culture and refinement of manner struck her with wonder； and
she asked him to tell her his history； but then he suddenly grew very grave；
and she forbore pressing him。 From that time she attached a kind of
82
… Page 83…
TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
romantic interest to him； and finally induced her father to obtain him a
situation that would be more to his taste。 And； before winter came； Ralph
saw the dawn of a new future glimmering before him。 He had wrestled
bravely with fate； and had once more gained a victory。 He began the
career in which success and distinction awaited him； as proof…reader on a
newspaper in the city。 He had fortunately been familiar with the English
language before he left home； and by the strength of his will he conquered
all difficulties。 At the end of two years he became attached to the editorial
staff； new ambitious hopes； hitherto foreign to his mind； awoke within him；
and with joyous tumult of heart he saw life opening its wide vistas before
him； and he labored on manfully to repair the losses of the past； and to
prepare himself for greater usefulness in times to come。 He felt in
himself a stronger and fuller manhood； as if the great arteries of the vast
universal world…life pulsed in his own being。 The drowsy； indolent
existence at home appeared like a dull remote dream from which he had
awaked； and he blessed the destiny which； by its very sternness； had
mercifully saved him； he blessed her； too； who； from the very want of love
for him； had； perhaps； made him worthier of love。
The years flew rapidly。 Society had flung its doors open to him； and
what was more； he had found some warm friends； in whose houses he
could come and go at pleasure。 He enjoyed keenly the privilege of daily
association with high…minded and refined women； their eager activity of
intellect stimulated him； their exquisite ethereal grace and their delicately
chiseled beauty satisfied his aesthetic cravings； and the responsive vivacity
of their nature prepared him ever new surprises。 He felt a strange
fascination in the presence of these women； and the conviction grew upon
him that their type of womanhood was superior to any he had hitherto
known。 And by way of refuting his own argument； he would draw from
his pocket…book the photograph of Bertha； which had a secret
compartment there all to itself； and； gazing tenderly at it； would eagerly
defend her against the disparaging reflections which the involuntary
comparison had provoked。 And still； how could he help seeing that her
features； though well molded； lacked animation； that her eye； with its deep；
trustful glance； was not brilliant； and that the calm earnestness of her face；
83
… Page 84…
TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
when compared with the bright； intellectual beauty of his present friends；
appeared pale and simple； like a violet in a bouquet of vividly colored
roses？ It gave him a quick pang； when； at times； he was forced to admit
this； nevertheless； it was the truth。
After six years of residence in America； Ralph had gained a very high
reputation as a journalist of rare culture and ability； and； in 1867 he was
sent to the World's Exhibition in Paris； as correspondent of the paper on
which he had during all these years been employed。 What wonder； then；
that he started for Europe a few weeks before his presence was needed in
the imperial city； and that he steered his course directly toward the fjord
valley where Bertha had her home？ It was she who had bidden him
Godspeed when he fled from the land of his birth； and she； too； should
receive his first greeting on his return。
V。
The sun had fortified itself behind a citadel of flaming clouds； and the
upper forest region shone with a strange ethereal glow； while the lower
plains were wrapped in shadow； but the shadow itself had a strong
suffusion of color。 The mountain peaks rose cold and blue in the
distance。
Ralph； having inquired his way of the boatman who had landed him at
the pier； walked rapidly along the beach； with a small valise in his hand；
and a light summer overcoat flung over his shoulder。 Many half…thoughts
grazed his mind； and ere the first had taken shape； the second； and the
third came and chased it away。 And still they all in some fashion had
reference to Bertha； for in a misty； abstract way； she filled his whole mind；
but for some indefinable reason； he was afraid to give free rein to the
sentiment which lurked in the remoter corners of his soul。
Onward he hastened； while his heart throbbed with the quickening
tempo of mingled expectation and fear。 Now and then one of those chill
gusts of air which seem to be careering about aimlessly in the atmosphere
during early summer； would strike into his face； and recall him to a keener
self…consciousness。
Ralph concluded； from his increasing agitation； that he must be very
84
… Page 85…
TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
near Bertha's home。 He stopped and looked around him。 He saw a
large maple at the roadside； some thirty steps from where he was standing；
and the girl who was sitting under it； resting her head in her hand and
gazing out over the sea； he recognized in an instant to be Bertha。 He
sprang up on the road； not crossing； however； her line of vision； and
approached her noiselessly from behind。
〃Bertha；〃 he whispered。
She gave a little joyous cry； sprang up； and made a gesture as if to
throw herself in his arms； then suddenly checked herself； blushed crimson；
and moved a step backward。
〃You came so suddenly；〃 she murmured。
〃But； Bertha；〃 cried he （and the full bass of his voice rang through her
very soul）； 〃have I gone into exile and waited these many years for so cold
a welcome？〃
〃You have changed so much； Ralph；〃 she answered； with that old
grave smile which he knew so well； and stretched out both her hands
toward him。 〃And I have thought of you so much since you went away；
and blamed myself because I had judged you so harshly； and wondered
that you could listen to me so patiently； and never bear me a
