malbone- an oldport romance[1].(马尔布恩)-第2节
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an end of her。〃
Polar ice would have been thawed by this reopening of communication。
Philip soon had the little maid on his shoulder；the natural throne of all
children；and they went in together to greet Aunt Jane。
Aunt Jane was the head of the house；a lady who had spent more than
fifty years in educating her brains and battling with her ailments。 She had
received from her parents a considerable inheritance in the way of whims；
and had nursed it up into a handsome fortune。 Being one of the most
impulsive of human beings； she was naturally one of the most entertaining；
and behind all her eccentricities there was a fund of the soundest sense and
the tenderest affection。 She had seen much and varied society； had been
greatly admired in her youth； but had chosen to remain unmarried。
Obliged by her physical condition to make herself the first object； she was
saved from utter selfishness by sympathies as democratic as her personal
habits were exclusive。 Unexpected and commonly fantastic in her doings；
often dismayed by small difficulties； but never by large ones； she
sagaciously administered the affairs of all those around her；planned their
dinners and their marriages； fought out their bargains and their feuds。
She hated everything irresolute or vague； people might play at cat's…
cradle or study Spinoza； just as they pleased； but； whatever they did； they
must give their minds to it。 She kept house from an easy…chair； and ruled
her dependants with severity tempered by wit； and by the very sweetest
voice in which reproof was ever uttered。 She never praised them； but if
they did anything particularly well； rebuked them retrospectively； asking
why they had never done it well before？ But she treated them
munificently； made all manner of plans for their comfort； and they all
thought her the wisest and wittiest of the human race。 So did the youths
and maidens of her large circle； they all came to see her； and she
counselled； admired； scolded； and petted them all。 She had the gayest
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MALBONE： AN OLDPORT ROMANCE。
spirits； and an unerring eye for the ludicrous； and she spoke her mind with
absolute plainness to all comers。 Her intuitions were instantaneous as
lightning； and； like that； struck very often in the wrong place。 She was
thus extremely unreasonable and altogether charming。
Such was the lady whom Emilia and Malbone went up to greet；the
one shyly； the other with an easy assurance； such as she always disliked。
Emilia submitted to another kiss； while Philip pressed Aunt Jane's hand； as
he pressed all women's； and they sat down。
〃Now begin to tell your adventures；〃 said Kate。 〃People always tell
their adventures till tea is ready。〃
〃Who can have any adventures left；〃 said Philip； 〃after such letters as I
wrote you all？〃
〃Of which we got precisely one！〃 said Kate。 〃That made it such an
event； after we had wondered in what part of the globe you might be
looking for the post…office！ It was like finding a letter in a bottle； or
disentangling a person from the Dark Ages。〃
〃I was at Neuchatel two months； but I had no adventures。 I lodged
with a good Pasteur； who taught me geology and German。〃
〃That is suspicious；〃 said Kate。 〃Had he a daughter passing fair？〃
〃Indeed he had。〃
〃And you taught her English？ That is what these beguiling youths
always do in novels。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃What was her name？〃
〃Lili。〃
〃What a pretty name！ How old was she？〃
〃She was six。〃
〃O Philip！〃 cried Kate； 〃but I might have known it。 Did she love you
very much？〃
Hope looked up； her eyes full of mild reproach at the possibility of
doubting any child's love for Philip。 He had been her betrothed for more
than a year； during which time she had habitually seen him wooing every
child he had met as if it were a woman；which； for Philip； was saying a
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MALBONE： AN OLDPORT ROMANCE。
great deal。 Happily they had in common the one trait of perfect amiability；
and she knew no more how to be jealous than he to be constant。
〃Lili was easily won；〃 he said。 〃Other things being equal； people of
six prefer that man who is tallest。〃
〃Philip is not so very tall；〃 said the eldest of the boys； who was
listening eagerly； and growing rapidly。
〃No；〃 said Philip； meekly。 〃But then the Pasteur was short； and his
brother was a dwarf。〃
〃When Lili found that she could reach the ceiling from Mr。 Malbone's
shoulder；〃 said Emilia； 〃she asked no more。〃
〃Then you knew the pastor's family also； my child；〃 said Aunt Jane；
looking at her kindly and a little keenly。
〃I was allowed to go there sometimes；〃 she began； timidly。
〃To meet her American Cousin；〃 interrupted Philip。 〃I got some
relaxation in the rules of the school。 But； Aunt Jane； you have told us
nothing about your health。〃
〃There is nothing to tell；〃 she answered。 〃I should like； if it were
convenient； to be a little better。 But in this life； if one can walk across the
floor； and not be an idiot； it is something。 That is all I aim at。〃
〃Isn't it rather tiresome？〃 said Emilia； as the elder lady happened to
look at her。
〃Not at all；〃 said Aunt Jane； composedly。 〃I naturally fall back into
happiness； when left to myself。〃
〃So you have returned to the house of your fathers；〃 said Philip。 〃I
hope you like it。〃
〃It is commonplace in one respect；〃 said Aunt Jane。 〃General
Washington once slept here。〃
〃Oh！〃 said Philip。 〃It is one of that class of houses？〃
〃Yes；〃 said she。 〃There is not a village in America that has not half a
dozen of them； not counting those where he only breakfasted。 Did ever
man sleep like that man？ What else could he ever have done？ Who
governed； I wonder； while he was asleep？ How he must have travelled！
The swiftest horse could scarcely have carried him from one of these
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MALBONE： AN OLDPORT ROMANCE。
houses to another。〃
〃I never was attached to the memory of Washington；〃 meditated Philip；
〃but I always thought it was the pear…tree。 It must have been that he was
such a very unsettled person。〃
〃He certainly was not what is called a domestic character；〃 said Aunt
Jane。
〃I suppose you are； Miss Maxwell；〃 said Philip。 〃Do you often go
out？〃
〃Sometimes； to drive；〃 said Aunt Jane。 〃Yesterday I went shopping
with Kate； and sat in the carriage while she bought under…sleeves enough
for a centipede。 It is always so with that child。 People talk about the
trouble of getting a daughter ready to be married； but it is like being
married once a month to live with her。〃
〃I wonder that you take her to drive with you；〃 suggested Philip；
sympathetically。
〃It is a great deal worse to drive without her；〃 said the impetuous lady。
〃She is the only person who lets me enjoy things； and now I cannot enjoy
them in her absence。 Yesterday I drove alone over the three beaches； and
left her at home with a dress…maker。 Never did I see so many lines of surf；
but they only seemed to me like some of Kate's ball…dresses； with the
prevailing flounces； six deep。 I was so enraged that she was not there； I
wished to cover my face with my handkerchief。 By the third beach I was
ready for the madhouse。〃
〃Is Oldport a pleasant place to live in？〃 asked Emilia； eagerly。
〃It is amusing in the summer；〃 said Aunt Jane； 〃though the society is
nothing but a pack of visiting…cards。 In winter it is too dull for young
people； and only suits quiet old women like me； who merely live here to
keep the Ten Commandments and darn their stockings。〃
Meantime the children were ai
