malbone- an oldport romance[1].(马尔布恩)-第13节
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a loud whisper。 〃What a goose he is； to be sure！ Dear baby； it promised
its mother it wouldn't drink wine for two months。 Let's all drink with him。
Talbot； my boy； just in time！ Fill your glass。 Stosst an！〃
And Blanche and her attendant spirits in white muslin thronged around
the weak boy； saw him charged with the three glasses that were all his
head could stand； and sent him reeling home to his mother。 Then they
looked round for fresh worlds to conquer。
〃There are the Maxwells！〃 said Miss Ingleside； without lowering her
voice。 〃Who is that party in the high…necked dress？ Is she the
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schoolmistress？ Why do they have such people here？ Society is getting
so common； there is no bearing it。 That Emily who is with her is too good
for that slow set。 She's the school…girl we heard of at Nice； or somewhere；
she wanted to elope with somebody； and Phil Malbone stopped her； worse
luck。 She will be for eloping with us； before long。〃
Emilia colored scarlet； and gave a furtive glance at Hope； half of
shame； half of triumph。 Hope looked at Blanche with surprise； made a
movement forward； but was restrained by the crowd； while the noisy
damsel broke out in a different direction。
〃How fiendishly hot it is here； though！ Jones junior； put your elbow
through that window！ This champagne is boiling。 What a tiresome time
we shall have to…morrow； when the Frenchmen are gone！ Ah； Count； there
you are at last！ Ready for the German？ Come for me？ Just primed and
up to anything； and so I tell you！〃
But as Count Posen； kissing his hand to her； squeezed his way through
the crowd with Hal； to be presented to Hope； there came over Blanche's
young face such a mingled look of hatred and weariness and chagrin； that
even her unobserving friends saw it； and asked with tender commiseration
what was up。
The dancing recommenced。 There was the usual array of partners；
distributed by mysterious discrepancies； like soldiers' uniforms； so that all
the tall drew short； and all the short had tall。 There were the timid
couples； who danced with trembling knees and eyes cast over their
shoulders； the feeble couples； who meandered aimlessly and got tangled in
corners； the rash couples； who tore breathlessly through the rooms and
brought up at last against the large white waistcoat of the violon…cello。
There was the professional lady…killer； too supreme and indolent to dance；
but sitting amid an admiring bevy of fair women； where he reared his head
of raven curls； and pulled ceaselessly his black mustache。 And there were
certain young girls who； having astonished the community for a month by
the lowness of their dresses； now brought to bear their only remaining art；
and struck everybody dumb by appearing clothed。 All these came and
went and came again； and had their day or their night； and danced until the
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MALBONE： AN OLDPORT ROMANCE。
robust Hope went home exhausted and left her more fragile cousins to
dance on till morning。 Indeed； it was no easy thing for them to tear
themselves away； Kate was always in demand； Philip knew everybody；
and had that latest aroma of Paris which the soul of fashion covets； Harry
had the tried endurance which befits brothers and lovers at balls； while
Emilia's foreign court held out till morning； and one handsome young
midshipman； in special； kept revolving back to her after each long orbit of
separation； like a gold…laced comet。
The young people lingered extravagantly late at that ball； for the
corvette was to sail next day； and the girls were willing to make the most
of it。 As they came to the outer door； the dawn was inexpressibly
beautiful；deep rose melting into saffron； beneath a tremulous morning
star。 With a sudden impulse； they agreed to walk home； the fresh air
seemed so delicious。 Philip and Emilia went first； outstripping the
others。
Passing the Jewish cemetery； Kate and Harry paused a moment。 The
sky was almost cloudless； the air was full of a thousand scents and songs；
the rose…tints in the sky were deepening； the star paling； while a few vague
clouds went wandering upward； and dreamed themselves away。
〃There is a grave in that cemetery；〃 said Kate； gently； 〃where lovers
should always be sitting。 It lies behind that tall monument； I cannot see
it for the blossoming boughs。 There were two young cousins who loved
each other from childhood； but were separated； because Jews do not allow
such unions。 Neither of them was ever married； and they lived to be very
old； the one in New Orleans； the other at the North。 In their last illnesses
each dreamed of walking in the fields with the other； as in their early days；
and the telegraphic despatches that told their deaths crossed each other on
the way。 That is his monument； and her grave was made behind it； there
was no room for a stone。〃
Kate moved a step or two； that she might see the graves。 The branches
opened clear。 What living lovers had met there； at this strange hour；
above the dust of lovers dead？ She saw with amazement； and walked on
quickly that Harry might not also see。
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It was Emilia who sat beside the grave； her dark hair drooping and
dishevelled； her carnation cheek still brilliant after the night's excitement；
and he who sat at her feet； grasping her hand in both of his； while his lips
poured out passionate words to which she eagerly listened； was Philip
Malbone。
Here； upon the soil of a new nation； lay a spot whose associations
seemed already as old as time could make them；the last footprint of a
tribe now vanished from this island forever；the resting…place of a race
whose very funerals would soon be no more。 Each April the robins built
their nests around these crumbling stones； each May they reared their
broods； each June the clover blossomed； each July the wild strawberries
grew cool and red； all around was youth and life and ecstasy； and yet the
stones bore inscriptions in an unknown language； and the very graves
seemed dead。
And lovelier than all the youth of Nature； little Emilia sat there in the
early light； her girlish existence gliding into that drama of passion which is
older than the buried nations； older than time； than death； than all things
save life and God。
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MALBONE： AN OLDPORT ROMANCE。
CHAPTER VIII。
TALKING IT OVER。
AUNT JANE was eager to hear about the ball； and called everybody
into her breakfast…parlor the next morning。 She was still hesitating about
her bill of fare。
〃I wish somebody would invent a new animal；〃 she burst forth。 〃How
those sheep bleated last night！ I know it was an expression of shame for
providing such tiresome food。〃
〃You must not be so carnally minded； dear；〃 said Kate。 〃You must be
very good and grateful； and not care for your breakfast。 Somebody says
that mutton chops with wit are a great deal better than turtle without。〃
〃A very foolish somebody；〃 pronounced Aunt Jane。 〃I have had a
great deal of wit in my life； and very little turtle。 Dear child； do not excite
me with impossible suggestions。 There are dropped eggs； I might have
those。 They look so beautifully； if it only were not necessary to eat them。
Yes； I will certainly have dropped eggs。 I think Ruth could drop them；
she drops everything else。〃
〃Poor little Ruth！〃 said Kate。 〃Not yet grown up！〃
〃She will never grow up；〃 said Aunt Jane； 〃but she thinks she is a
woman； she even th
