malbone- an oldport romance[1].(马尔布恩)-第11节
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〃O； I have been at school；〃 said Hope。 〃First I went through the High
School； then I stayed out of school a year； and studied Greek and German
with my uncle； and music with my aunt； who plays uncommonly well。
Then I persuaded them to let me go to the Normal School for two years；
and learn to be a teacher。〃
〃A teacher！〃 said Emilia； with surprise。 〃Is it necessary that you
should be a teacher？〃
〃Very necessary；〃 replied Hope。 〃I must have something to do； you
know； after I leave school。〃
〃To do？〃 said the other。 〃Cannot you go to parties？〃
〃Not all the time；〃 said her sister。
〃Well；〃 said Emilia； 〃in the mean time you can go to drive； or make
calls； or stay at home and make pretty little things to wear； as other girls
do。〃
〃I can find time for that too； little sister； when I need them。 But I love
children； you know； and I like to teach interesting studies。 I have splendid
health； and I enjoy it all。 I like it as you love dancing； my child； only I
like dancing too； so I have a greater variety of enjoyments。〃
〃But shall you not sometimes find it very hard？〃 said Emilia。
〃That is why I shall like it；〃 was the answer。
〃What a girl you are！〃 exclaimed the younger sister。 〃You know
everything and can do everything。〃
〃A very short everything；〃 interposed Hope。
〃Kate says；〃 continued Emilia； 〃that you speak French as well as I do；
and I dare say you dance a great deal better； and those are the only things I
know。〃
〃If we both had French partners； dear；〃 replied the elder maiden； 〃they
would soon find the difference in both respects。 My dancing came by
nature； I believe； and I learned French as a child； by talking with my old
uncle； who was half a Parisian。 I believe I have a good accent； but I have
so little practice that I have no command of the language compared to
yours。 In a week or two we can both try our skill； as there is to be a ball
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MALBONE： AN OLDPORT ROMANCE。
for the officers of the French corvette yonder；〃 and Hope pointed to the
heavy spars； the dark canvas； and the high quarter…deck which made the
〃Jean Hoche〃 seem as if she had floated out of the days of Nelson。
The calm day waned； the sun drooped to his setting amid a few golden
bars and pencilled lines of light。 Ere they were ready for departure； the
tide had ebbed； and； in getting the boats to a practicable landing…place；
Malbone was delayed behind the others。 As he at length brought his boat
to the rock； Hope sat upon the ruined fort； far above him； and sang。 Her
noble contralto voice echoed among the cliffs down to the smooth water；
the sun went down behind her； and still she sat stately and noble； her white
dress looking more and more spirit…like against the golden sky； and still
the song rang on；
〃Never a scornful word should grieve thee； I'd smile on thee； sweet； as
the angels do； Sweet as thy smile on me shone ever； Douglas； Douglas；
tender and true。〃
All sacredness and sweetness； all that was pure and brave and truthful；
seemed to rest in her。 And when the song ceased at his summons； and
she came down to meet him；glowing； beautiful； appealing； tender；then
all meaner spells vanished； if such had ever haunted him； and he was hers
alone。
Later that evening； after the household had separated； Hope went into
the empty drawing…room for a light。 Philip； after a moment's hesitation；
followed her； and paused in the doorway。 She stood； a white…robed figure；
holding the lighted candle； behind her rose the arched alcove； whose
quaint cherubs looked down on her； she seemed to have stepped forth； the
awakened image of a saint。 Looking up； she saw his eager glance； then
she colored； trembled； and put the candle down。 He came to her； took her
hand and kissed it； then put his hand upon her brow and gazed into her
face； then kissed her lips。 She quietly yielded； but her color came and went；
and her lips moved as if to speak。 For a moment he saw her only；
thought only of her。
Then； even while he gazed into her eyes； a flood of other memories
surged over him； and his own eyes grew dim。 His head swam； the lips he
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had just kissed appeared to fade away； and something of darker； richer
beauty seemed to burn through those fair features； he looked through those
gentle eyes into orbs more radiant； and it was as if a countenance of eager
passion obliterated that fair head； and spoke with substituted lips； 〃Behold
your love。〃 There was a thrill of infinite ecstasy in the work his
imagination did； he gave it rein； then suddenly drew it in and looked at
Hope。 Her touch brought pain for an instant； as she laid her hand upon
him； but he bore it。 Then some influence of calmness came； there swept by
him a flood of earlier； serener memories； he sat down in the window…seat
beside her； and when she put her face beside his； and her soft hair touched
his cheek； and he inhaled the rose…odor that always clung round her； every
atom of his manhood stood up to drive away the intruding presence； and
he again belonged to her alone。
When he went to his chamber that night； he drew from his pocket a
little note in a girlish hand； which he lighted in the candle； and put upon
the open hearth to burn。 With what a cruel； tinkling rustle the pages
flamed and twisted and opened； as if the fire read them； and collapsed
again as if in agonizing effort to hold their secret even in death！ The
closely folded paper refused to burn； it went out again and again； while
each time Philip Malbone examined it ere relighting； with a sort of vague
curiosity； to see how much passion had already vanished out of existence；
and how much yet survived。 For each of these inspections he had to
brush aside the calcined portion of the letter； once so warm and beautiful
with love； but changed to something that seemed to him a semblance of
his own heart just then；black； trivial； and empty。
Then he took from a little folded paper a long tress of dark silken hair；
and； without trusting himself to kiss it； held it firmly in the candle。 It
crisped and sparkled； and sent out a pungent odor； then turned and writhed
between his fingers； like a living thing in pain。 What part of us has earthly
immortality but our hair？ It dies not with death。 When all else of human
beauty has decayed beyond corruption into the more agonizing irrecov…
erableness of dust； the hair is still fresh and beautiful； defying annihilation；
and restoring to the powerless heart the full association of the living image。
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These shrinking hairs； they feared not death； but they seemed to fear
Malbone。 Nothing but the hand of man could destroy what he was
destroying； but his hand shrank not； and it was done。
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MALBONE： AN OLDPORT ROMANCE。
CHAPTER VII。
AN INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITION。
AT the celebrated Oldport ball for the French officers； the merit of
each maiden was estimated by the number of foreigners with whom she
could talk at once； for there were more gentlemen than ladies； and not
more than half the ladies spoke French。 Here Emilia was in her glory；
the ice being once broken； officers were to her but like so many school…
girls； and she rattled away to the admiral and the fleet captain and two or
three lieutenants at once； while others hovered behind the circle of her
immediate adorers； to pick up the stray shafts of what passed for wit。
Other girls again drove two…in…hand； at the most； in the way of
conversation； while those least gifted could only encounter one small
Frenchman in some safe
