malbone- an oldport romance[1].(马尔布恩)-第16节
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been asserting Hope's daily life disproves。〃
〃That may be；〃 answered Malbone； heartily。 〃But； Hal； I never flirted；
I always despised it。 It was always a grande passion with me； or what I
took for such。 I loved to be loved； I suppose； and there was always
something new and fascinating to be explored in a human heart； that is； a
woman's。〃
〃Some new temple to profane？〃 asked Hal severely。
〃Never！〃 said Philip。 〃I never profaned it。 If I deceived； I shared
the deception； at least for a time； and； as for sensuality； I had none in me。〃
〃Did you have nothing worse？ Rousseau ends where Tom Jones
begins。〃
〃My temperament saved me；〃 said Philip。 〃A woman is not a woman
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MALBONE： AN OLDPORT ROMANCE。
to me； without personal refinement。〃
〃Just what Rousseau said；〃 replied Harry。
〃I acted upon it；〃 answered Malbone。 〃No one dislikes Blanche
Ingleside and her demi monde more than I。〃
〃You ought not；〃 was the retort。 〃You help to bring other girls to her
level。〃
〃Whom？〃 said Malbone； startled。
〃Emilia。〃
〃Emilia？〃 repeated the other； coloring crimson。 〃I； who have warned
her against Blanche's society。〃
〃And have left her no other resource；〃 said Harry； coloring still more。
〃Malbone； you have gained （unconsciously of course） too much power
over that girl； and the only effect of it is； to keep her in perpetual
excitement。 So she seeks Blanche； as she would any other strong stimulant。
Hope does not seem to have discovered this； but Kate has； and I have。〃
Hope came in； and Harry went out。 The next day he came to Philip
and apologized most warmly for his unjust and inconsiderate words。
Malbone； always generous； bade him think no more about it； and Harry for
that day reverted strongly to his first faith。 〃So noble； so high…toned；〃 he
said to Kate。 Indeed； a man never appears more magnanimous than in
forgiving a friend who has told him the truth。
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MALBONE： AN OLDPORT ROMANCE。
CHAPTER IX。
DANGEROUS WAYS。
IT was true enough what Harry had said。 Philip Malbone's was that
perilous Rousseau…like temperament； neither sincere enough for safety； nor
false enough to alarm； the winning tenderness that thrills and softens at the
mere neighborhood of a woman； and fascinates by its reality those whom
no hypocrisy can deceive。 It was a nature half amiable； half voluptuous；
that disarmed others； seeming itself unarmed。 He was never wholly
ennobled by passion； for it never touched him deeply enough； and； on the
other hand； he was not hardened by the habitual attitude of passion； for he
was never really insincere。 Sometimes it seemed as if nothing stood
between him and utter profligacy but a little indolence； a little kindness；
and a good deal of caution。
〃There seems no such thing as serious repentance in me；〃 he had once
said to Kate； two years before； when she had upbraided him with some
desperate flirtation which had looked as if he would carry it as far as
gentlemen did under King Charles II。 〃How does remorse begin？〃
〃Where you are beginning；〃 said Kate。
〃I do not perceive that；〃 he answered。 〃My conscience seems； after
all； to be only a form of good…nature。 I like to be stirred by emotion； I
suppose； and I like to study character。 But I can always stop when it is
evident that I shall cause pain to somebody。 Is there any other motive？〃
〃In other words；〃 said she； 〃you apply the match； and then turn your
back on the burning house。〃
Philip colored。 〃How unjust you are！ Of course； we all like to play
with fire； but I always put it out before it can spread。 Do you think I have
no feeling？〃
Kate stopped there； I suppose。 Even she always stopped soon； if she
undertook to interfere with Malbone。 This charming Alcibiades always
convinced them； after the wrestling was over； that he had not been thrown。
The only exception to this was in the case of Aunt Jane。 If she had
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MALBONE： AN OLDPORT ROMANCE。
anything in common with Philip；and there was a certain element of
ingenuous unconsciousness in which they were not so far unlike；it only
placed them in the more complete antagonism。 Perhaps if two beings were
in absolutely no respect alike； they never could meet even for purposes of
hostility； there must be some common ground from which the aversion
may proceed。 Moreover； in this case Aunt Jane utterly disbelieved in
Malbone because she had reason to disbelieve in his father； and the better
she knew the son the more she disliked the father retrospectively。
Philip was apt to be very heedless of such aversions；indeed； he had
few to heed；but it was apparent that Aunt Jane was the only person with
whom he was not quite at ease。 Still； the solicitude did not trouble him
very much； for he instinctively knew that it was not his particular actions
which vexed her； so much as his very temperament and atmosphere；
things not to be changed。 So he usually went his way； and if he
sometimes felt one of her sharp retorts； could laugh it off that day and
sleep it off before the next morning。
For you may be sure that Philip was very little troubled by
inconvenient memories。 He never had to affect forgetfulness of anything。
The past slid from him so easily； he forgot even to try to forget。 He liked
to quote from Emerson； 〃What have I to do with repentance？〃 〃What have
my yesterday's errors；〃 he would say； 〃to do with the life of to…day？〃
〃Everything；〃 interrupted Aunt Jane； 〃for you will repeat them to…day；
if you can。〃
〃Not at all；〃 persisted he； accepting as conversation what she meant as
a stab。 〃I may； indeed； commit greater errors；〃here she grimly nodded；
as if she had no doubt of it；〃but never just the same。 To…day must take
thought for itself。〃
〃I wish it would；〃 she said； gently； and then went on with her own
thoughts while he was silent。 Presently she broke out again in her
impulsive way。
〃Depend upon it；〃 she said； 〃there is very little direct retribution in this
world。〃
Phil looked up； quite pleased at her indorsing one of his favorite views。
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She looked； as she always did； indignant at having said anything to please
him。
〃Yes；〃 said she； 〃it is the indirect retribution that crushes。 I've seen
enough of that； God knows。 Kate； give me my thimble。〃
Malbone had that smooth elasticity of surface which made even Aunt
Jane's strong fingers slip from him as they might from a fish； or from the
soft； gelatinous stem of the water…target。 Even in this case he only laughed
good…naturedly； and went out； whistling like a mocking…bird； to call the
children round him。
Toward the more wayward and impulsive Emilia the good lady was far
more merciful。 With all Aunt Jane's formidable keenness； she was a little
apt to be disarmed by youth and beauty； and had no very stern retributions
except for those past middle age。 Emilia especially charmed her while she
repelled。 There was no getting beyond a certain point with this strange
girl； any more than with Philip； but her depths tantalized； while his
apparent shallows were only vexatious。 Emilia was usually sweet；
winning； cordial； and seemed ready to glide into one's heart as softly as
she glided into the room； she liked to please； and found it very easy。 Yet
she left the impression that this smooth and delicate loveliness went but an
inch beyond the surface； like the soft； thin foam that enamels yonder tract
of ocean； belongs to it； is a part of it； yet is； after all； but a beque
