tales from two hemispheres[1].(两个半球的故事)-第10节
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form； dressed in a white flowing dress； and with her blonde hair rolling
loosely over her shoulders； appeared for an instant； and then again
vanished。 With one leap Halfdan sprang up the stairs and pushed through
the half…opened door。 Edith closed the door behind him； then with rapid
steps led the way to the back parlor where the moon broke feebly through
the bars of the closed shutters。
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〃Now Mr。 Birch；〃 she said； seating herself upon a lounge； 〃you may
explain to me what this unaccountable behavior of yours means。 I should
hardly think I had deserved to be treated in this way by you。〃
Halfdan was utterly bewildered； a nervous fit of trembling ran through
him； and he endeavored in vain to speak。 He had been prepared for
passionate reproaches； but this calm severity chilled him through； and he
could only gasp and tremble； but could utter no word in his defense。
〃I suppose you are aware；〃 continued Edith； in the same imperturbable
manner； 〃that if I had not interrupted you； the policeman would have
h*eard you； and you would have been arrested for street disturbance。
Then to…morrow we should have seen it in all the newspapers； and I should
have been the laughing…stock of the whole town。〃
No； surely he had never thought of it in that light； the idea struck him
as entirely new。 There was a long pause。 A cock crowed with a drowsy
remoteness in some neighboring yard； and the little clock on the mantel…
piece ticked on patiently in the moonlit dusk。
〃If you have nothing to say；〃 resumed Edith； while the stern
indifference in her voice perceptibly relaxed； 〃then I will bid you good…
night。〃
She arose； and with a grand sweep of her drapery； moved toward the
door。 〃Miss Edith；〃 cried he； stretching his hands despairingly after her；
〃you must not leave me。〃
She paused； tossed her hair back with her hands； and gazed at him over
her shoulder。 He threw himself on his knees； seized the hem of her dress；
and pressed it to his lips。 It was a gesture of such inexpressible humility
that even a stone would have relented。
〃Do not be foolish； Mr。 Birch；〃 she said； try… ing to pull her dress away
from him。 〃Get up； and if you have anything rational to say to me； I will
stay and listen。〃
〃Yes； yes；〃 he whispered； hoarsely； 〃I shall be rational。 Only do not
leave me。〃
She again sank down wearily upon the lounge； and looked at him in
expectant silence。
〃Miss Edith；〃 pleaded he in the same hoarse； passionate undertone；
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〃have pity on me； and do not despise me。 I love youohif you would
but allow me to die for you； I should be the happiest of men。〃
Again he shuddered； and stood long gazing at her with a mute； pitiful
appeal。 A tear stole into Edith's eye and trickled down over her cheek。
〃Ah； Mr。 Birch；〃 she murmured； while a sigh shook her bosom； 〃I am
sorryvery sorry that this misfortune has happened to you。 You have
deserved a better fate than to love meto love a woman who can never
give you anything in return for what you give her。〃
〃Never？〃 he repeated mournfully； 〃never？〃
〃No； never！ You have been a good friend to me； and as such I value
you highly； and I had hoped that you would always remain so。 But I see
that it cannot be。 It will perhaps be best for you henceforth not to see me；
at least not untilpardon the expressionyou have out… lived this generous
folly。 And now； you know； you will need me no more。 You have made
a splendid reputation； and if you choose to avail yourself of it； your
fortune is already made。 I shall always rejoice to hear of your success；
and and if you should ever need a FRIEND； you must come to no one
but me。 I know that these are feeble words； Mr。 Birch； and if they seem
cold to you； you must pardon me。 I can say nothing more。〃
They were indeed feeble words； although most cordially spoken。 He
tried to weigh them； to measure their meaning； but his mind was as if
benumbed； and utterly incapable of thought。 He walked across the floor；
perhaps only to do something； not feeling where he trod； but still with an
absurd sensation that he was taking immoderately long steps。 Then he
stopped abruptly； wrung his hands； and gazed at Edith。 And suddenly；
like a flash in a vacuum； the thought shot through his brain that he had
seen this very scene somewherein a dream； in a remote childhood； in a
previous existence； he did not know when or where。 It seemed strangely
familiar； and in the next instant strangely mean… ingless and unreal。 The
walls； the floor everything began to move； to whirl about him； he struck
his hands against his forehead； and sank down into a damask…covered
easy…chair。 With a faint cry of alarm； Edith sprang up； seized a bottle of
cologne which happened to be within reach； and knelt down at his side。
She put her arm around his neck； and raised his head。
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〃Mr。 Birch； dear Mr。 Birch；〃 she cried； in a frightened whisper； 〃for
God's sake come to yourself！ O God； what have I done？〃
She blew the eau…de…cologne into his face； and； as he languidly opened
his eyes； he felt the touch of her warm hand upon his cheeks and his
forehead。
〃Thank heaven！ he is better；〃 she murmured； still continuing to bathe
his temples。 〃How do you feel now； Mr。 Birch？〃 she added； in a tone of
anxious inquiry。
〃Thank you； it was an unpardonable weakness；〃 he muttered； without
changing his attitude。 〃Do not trouble yourself about me。 I shall soon
be well。〃
It was so sweet to be conscious of her gentle ministry； that it required a
great effort； an effort of conscience； to rouse him once more； as his
strength returned。
〃Had you not better stay？〃 she asked； as he rose to put on his overcoat。
〃I will call one of the servants and have him show you a room。 We will
say to…morrow morning that you were taken ill； and nobody will wonder。〃
〃No； no；〃 he responded； energetically。 〃I am perfectly strong now。〃
But he still had to lean on a chair； and his face was deathly pale。
〃Farewell； Miss Edith；〃 he said； and a tender sadness trembled in his
voice。 〃Farewell。 We shallprobablynever meet again。〃
〃Do not speak so；〃 she answered； seizing his hand。 〃You will try to
forget this； and you will still be great and happy。 And when fortune shall
again smile upon you； andand you will be content to be my friend； then
we shall see each other as before。〃
〃No； no；〃 he broke forth； with a sudden hoarseness。 〃It will never
be。〃
He walked toward the door with the motions of one who feels death in
his limbs； then stopped once more and his eyes lingered with inexpressible
sadness on the wonderful； beloved form which stood dimly outlined
before him in the twilight。 Then Edith's measure of misery； too； seemed
full。 With the divine heedlessness which belongs to her sex； she rushed
up toward him； and remembering only that he was weak and unhappy； and
that he suffered for her sake； she took his face between her hands and
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kissed him。 He was too generous a man to misinterpret the act； so he
whispered but once more： 〃Farewell；〃 and hastened away。
VII。
After that eventful December night； America was no more what it had
been to Halfdan Bjerk。 A strange torpidity had come over him； every
rising day gazed into his eyes with a fierce unmeaning glare。 The noise
of the street annoyed him and made him childishly fretful； and the solitude
of his own room seemed still more dreary and
