an old town by the sea(滨海古城)-第8节
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Wentworth at his mansion at Little Harbor； looking out to sea。 Seven years
passed； and the 〃thin slip of a girl；〃 who promised to be no great beauty；
had flowered into the loveliest of women； with a lip like a cherry and a
cheek like a tea…rosea lady by instinct； one of Nature's own ladies。 The
governor； a lonely widower； and not too young； fell in love with his fair
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handmaid。 Without stating his purpose to any one； Governor Wentworth
invited a number of friends （among others the Rev。 Arthur Brown） to dine
with him at Little Harbor on his birthday。 After the dinner； which was a
very elaborate one； was at an end； and the guests were discussing their
tobacco…pipes； Martha Hilton glided into the room； and stood blushing in
front of the chimney…place。 She was exquisitely dressed； as you may
conceive； and wore her hair three stories high。 The guests stared at each
other； and particularly at her； and wondered。 Then the governor； rising
from his seat；
〃Played slightly with his ruffles； then looked down； And
said unto the Reverend Arthur Brown： 'This is my birthday； it shall
likewise be My wedding…day； and you shall marry me！'〃
The rector was dumfounded； knowing the humble footing Martha had
held in the house； and could think of nothing cleverer to say than； 〃To
whom； your excellency？〃 which was not cleaver at all。
〃To this lady；〃 replied the governor； taking Martha Hilton by the hand。
The Rev。 Arthur Brown hesitated。 〃As the Chief Magistrate of New
Hampshire I command you to marry me！〃 cried the choleric old governor。
And so it was done； and the pretty kitchen…maid became Lady
Wentworth； and did ride in her own chariot。 She would not have been a
woman if she had not taken an early opportunity to drive by Staver's hotel！
Lady Wentworth had a keen appreciation of the dignity of her new
station； and became a grand lady at once。 A few days after her marriage；
dropping her ring on the floor； she languidly ordered her servant to pick it
up。 The servant； who appears to have had a fair sense of humor； grew
suddenly near…sighted； and was unable to the ring until Lady Wentworth
stooped and placed her ladyship's finger upon it。 She turned out a faultless
wife； however； and Governor Wentworth at his death； which occurred in
1770； signified his approval of her by leaving her his entire estate。 She
married again without changing name； accepting the hand； and what there
was of the heart； of Michael Wentworth； a retired colonel of the British
army； who came to this country in 1767。 Colonel Wentworth （not
connected； I think； with the Portsmouth branch of Wentworths） seems to
have been of a convivial turn of mind。 He shortly dissipated his wife's
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fortune in high living； and died abruptly in New Yorkit was supposed by
his own hand。 His last wordsa quite unique contribution to the literature
of last wordswere； 〃I have had my cake； and ate it；〃 which showed that
the colonel within his own modest limitations was a philosopher。
The seat of Governor Wentworth at Little Harbora pleasant walk
from Market Squareis well worth a visit。 Time and change have laid their
hands more lightly on this rambling old pile than on any other of the old
homes in Portsmouth。 When you cross the threshold of the door you step
into the colonial period。 Here the Past seems to have halted courteously；
waiting for you to catch up with it。 Inside and outside the Wentworth
mansion remains nearly as the old governor left it； and though it is no
longer in the possession of the family； the present owners； in their
willingness to gratify the decent curiosity of strangers； show a hospitality
which has always characterized the place。
The house is an architectural freak。 The main buildingif it is the main
buildingis generally two stories in height； with irregular wings forming
three sides of a square which opens in the water。 It is； in brief； a cluster of
whimsical extensions that look as if they had been built at different
periods； which I believe was not the case。 The mansion was completed in
1750。 It originally contained fifty…two rooms； a portion of the structure
was removed about half a century ago； leaving forty…five apartments。 The
chambers were connected in the oddest manner； by unexpected steps
leading up or down； and capricious little passages that seem to have been
the unhappy afterthoughts of the architect。 But it is a mansion on a grand
scale； and with a grand air。 The cellar was arranged for the stabling of a
troop of thirty horse in times of danger。 The council…chamber； where for
many years all questions of vital importance to the State were discussed； is
a spacious； high…studded room； finished in the richest style of the last
century。 It is said that the ornamentation of the huge mantel； carved with
knife and chisel； cost the workman a year's constant labor。 At the entrance
to the council…chamber are still the racks for the twelve muskets of the
governor's guardso long ago dismissed！
Some valuable family portraits adorn the walls here； among which is a
fine painting…yes； by our friend Copleyof the lovely Dorothy Quincy；
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who married John Hancock； and afterward became Madam Scott。 This
lady was a niece of Dr。 Holme's 〃Dorothy Q。〃 Opening on the council…
chamber is a large billiard…room； the billiard…table is gone； but an ancient
spinnet； with the prim air of an ancient maiden lady； and of a wheezy
voice； is there； and in one corner stands a claw…footed buffet； near which
the imaginative nostril may still detect a faint and tantalizing odor of
colonial punch。 Opening also on the council…chamber are several tiny
apartments； empty and silent now； in which many a close rubber has been
played by illustrious hands。 The stillness and loneliness of the old house
seem saddest here。 The jeweled fingers are dust； the merry laughs have
turned themselves into silent； sorrowful phantoms； stealing from chamber
to chamber。 It is easy to believe in the traditional ghost that haunts the
place
〃A jolly place in times of old； But something ails it now！〃
The mansion at Little Harbor is not the only historic house that bears
the name of Wentworth。 On Pleasant Street； at the head of Washington
Street； stands the abode of another colonial worthy； Governor John
Wentworth； who held office from 1767 down to the moment when the
colonies dropped the British yoke as if it had been the letter H。 For the
moment the good gentleman's occupation was gone。 He was a royalist of
the most florid complexion。 In 1775； a man named John Fenton； and ex…
captain in the British army； who had managed to offend the Sons of
Liberty； was given sanctuary in this house by the governor； who refused to
deliver the fugitive to the people。 The mob planted a small cannon
（unloaded） in front of the doorstep and threatened to open fire if Fenton
were not forthcoming。 He forth…with came。 The family vacated the
premises via the back…yard； and the mob entered； doing considerable
damage。 The broken marble chimney…place still remains； mutely
protesting against the uncalled…for violence。 Shortly after this event the
governor made his way to England； where his loyalty was rewarded first
with a governorship and then with a pension of L500。 He was governor of
Nova Scotia from 1792 to 1800； and died in Halifax in 1820。 This house is
one of the handsomest old dwellings in the town； and promises to outlive
many of its newest neighbors。
