malbone- an oldport romance[1].(马尔布恩)-第10节
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scent of roses came from her； the mere contact of anything so fresh and
pure was a delight。 He put his arm around her； and all the first ardor of
passion came back to him again； he remembered how he had longed to
win this Diana； and how thoroughly she was won。
〃It is you who do me good；〃 said she。 〃O Philip； sail as slowly as you
can。〃 But he only sailed farther； instead of more slowly； gliding in and out
among the rocky islands in the light north wind； which； for a wonder；
lasted all that day；dappling the bare hills of the Isle of Shadows with a
shifting beauty。 The tide was in and brimming； the fishing…boats were
busy； white gulls soared and clattered round them； and heavy cormorants
flapped away as they neared the rocks。 Beneath the boat the soft
multitudinous jellyfishes waved their fringed pendants； or glittered with
tremulous gold along their pink； translucent sides。 Long lines and streaks
of paler blue lay smoothly along the enamelled surface； the low；
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amethystine hills lay couched beyond them； and little clouds stretched
themselves in lazy length above the beautiful expanse。 They reached the
ruined fort at last； and Philip； surrendering Hope to others； was himself
besieged by a joyous group。
As you stand upon the crumbling parapet of old Fort Louis； you feel
yourself poised in middle air； the sea…birds soar and swoop around you；
the white surf lashes the rocks far below； the white vessels come and go；
the water is around you on all sides but one； and spreads its pale blue
beauty up the lovely bay； or； in deeper tints； southward towards the
horizon line。 I know of no ruin in America which nature has so resumed； it
seems a part of the living rock； you cannot imagine it away。
It is a single round； low tower； shaped like the tomb of Cacilia Metella。
But its stately position makes it rank with the vast sisterhood of wave…
washed strongholds； it might be King Arthur's Cornish Tyntagel； it might
be 〃the teocallis tower〃 of Tuloom。 As you gaze down from its height；
all things that float upon the ocean seem equalized。 Look at the crowded
life on yonder frigate； coming in full…sailed before the steady sea…breeze。
To furl that heavy canvas； a hundred men cluster like bees upon the yards；
yet to us upon this height it is all but a plaything for the eyes； and we turn
with equal interest from that thronged floating citadel to some lonely boy
in his skiff。
Yonder there sail to the ocean； beating wearily to windward； a few
slow vessels。 Inward come jubilant white schooners； wing…and…wing。
There are fishing…smacks towing their boats behind them like a family of
children； and there are slender yachts that bear only their own light burden。
Once from this height I saw the whole yacht squadron round Point Judith；
and glide in like a flock of land…bound sea…birds； and above them； yet
more snowy and with softer curves； pressed onward the white squadrons
of the sky。
Within； the tower is full of debris； now disintegrated into one solid
mass； and covered with vegetation。 You can lie on the blossoming clover；
where the bees hum and the crickets chirp around you； and can look
through the arch which frames its own fair picture。 In the foreground lies
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MALBONE： AN OLDPORT ROMANCE。
the steep slope overgrown with bayberry and gay with thistle blooms； then
the little winding cove with its bordering cliffs； and the rough pastures
with their grazing sheep beyond。 Or； ascending the parapet； you can look
across the bay to the men making hay picturesquely on far…off lawns； or to
the cannon on the outer works of Fort Adams； looking like vast black
insects that have crawled forth to die。
Here our young people spent the day； some sketched； some played
croquet； some bathed in rocky inlets where the kingfisher screamed above
them； some rowed to little craggy isles for wild roses； some fished； and
then were taught by the boatmen to cook their fish in novel island ways。
The morning grew more and more cloudless； and then in the afternoon a
fog came and went again； marching by with its white armies； soon met and
annihilated by a rainbow。
The conversation that day was very gay and incoherent；little
fragments of all manner of things； science； sentiment； everything： 〃Like
a distracted dictionary；〃 Kate said。 At last this lively maiden got Philip
away from the rest； and began to cross…question him。
〃Tell me；〃 she said； 〃about Emilia's Swiss lover。 She shuddered when
she spoke of him。 Was he so very bad？〃
〃Not at all；〃 was the answer。 〃You had false impressions of him。 He
was a handsome； manly fellow； a little over…sentimental。 He had travelled；
and had been a merchant's clerk in Paris and London。 Then he came
back； and became a boatman on the lake； some said； for love of her。〃
〃Did she love him？〃
〃Passionately； as she thought。〃
〃Did he love her much？〃
〃I suppose so。〃
〃Then why did she stop loving him？〃
〃She does not hate him？〃
〃No；〃 said Kate； 〃that is what surprises me。 Lovers hate； or those
who have been lovers。 She is only indifferent。 Philip； she had wound
silk upon a torn piece of his carte…de…visite； and did not know it till I
showed it to her。 Even then she did not care。〃
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〃Such is woman！〃 said Philip。
〃Nonsense；〃 said Kate。 〃She had seen somebody whom she loved
better； and she still loves that somebody。 Who was it？ She had not
been introduced into society。 Were there any superior men among her
teachers？ She is just the girl to fall in love with her teacher； at least in
Europe； where they are the only men one sees。〃
〃There were some very superior men among them；〃 said Philip。
〃Professor Schirmer has a European reputation； he wears blue spectacles
and a maroon wig。〃
〃Do not talk so；〃 said Kate。 〃I tell you； Emilia is not changeable； like
you； sir。 She is passionate and constant。 She would have married that
man or died for him。 You may think that your sage counsels restrained
her； but they did not； it was that she loved some one else。 Tell me
honestly。 Do you not know that there is somebody in Europe whom she
loves to distraction？〃
〃I do not know it；〃 said Philip。
〃Of course you do not KNOW it；〃 returned the questioner。 〃Do you not
think it？〃
〃I have no reason to believe it。〃
〃That has nothing to do with it；〃 said Kate。 〃Things that we believe
without any reason have a great deal more weight with us。 Do you not
believe it？〃
〃No；〃 said Philip； point…blank。
〃It is very strange；〃 mused Kate。 〃Of course you do not know much
about it。 She may have misled you； but I am sure that neither you nor any
one else could have cured her of a passion； especially an unreasonable one；
without putting another in its place。 If you did it without that； you are a
magician； as Hope once called you。 Philip； I am afraid of you。〃
〃There we sympathize；〃 said Phil。 〃I am sometimes afraid of myself；
but I discover within half an hour what a very commonplace land harmless
person I am。〃
Meantime Emilia found herself beside her sister； who was sketching。
After watching Hope for a time in silence； she began to question her。
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〃Tell me what you have been doing in all these years；〃 she said。
〃O； I have been at school；〃 said Hope。 〃First I went through the High
School； then I stayed out of school a year； and stud
