malbone- an oldport romance[1].(马尔布恩)-第25节
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little thing； seemed as amphibious as himself。 She could already swim
alone； but she liked to keep close to him； as all young animals do to their
elders in the water； not seeming to need actual support； but stronger for the
contact。 Her favorite position； however； was on his back； where she
triumphantly clung； grasping his bathing…dress with one hand； swinging
herself to and fro； dipping her head beneath the water； singing and
shouting； easily shifting her position when he wished to vary his； and
floating by him like a little fish； when he was tired of supporting her。 It
was pretty to see the child in her one little crimson garment； her face
flushed with delight； her fair hair glistening from the water； and the waves
rippling and dancing round her buoyant form。 As Harry swam farther and
farther out； his head was hidden from view by her small person； and she
might have passed for a red seabird rocking on the gentle waves。 It was
one of the regular delights of the household to see them bathe。
Kate came in to Aunt Jane's room； one August morning； to say that
they were going to the water…side。 How differently people may enter a
room！ Hope always came in as the summer breeze comes； quiet； strong；
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soft； fragrant； resistless。 Emilia never seemed to come in at all； you looked
up； and she had somehow drifted where she stood； pleading； evasive；
lovely。 This was especially the case where one person was awaiting her
alone； with two she was more fearless； with a dozen she was buoyant； and
with a hundred she forgot herself utterly and was a spirit of irresistible
delight。
But Kate entered any room； whether nursery or kitchen； as if it were
the private boudoir of a princess and she the favorite maid of honor。 Thus
it was she came that morning to Aunt Jane。
〃We are going down to see the bathers； dear；〃 said Kate。 〃Shall you
miss me？〃
〃I miss you every minute；〃 said her aunt； decisively。 〃But I shall do
very well。 I have delightful times here by myself。 What a ridiculous man
it was who said that it was impossible to imagine a woman's laughing at
her own comic fancies。 I sit and laugh at my own nonsense very often。〃
〃It is a shame to waste it；〃 said Kate。
〃It is a blessing that any of it is disposed of while you are not here；〃
said Aunt Jane。 〃You have quite enough of it。〃
〃We never have enough；〃 said Kate。 〃And we never can make you
repeat any of yesterday's。〃
〃Of course not；〃 said Aunt Jane。 〃Nonsense must have the dew on it；
or it is good for nothing。〃
〃So you are really happiest alone？〃
〃Not so happy as when you are with me；you or Hope。 I like to have
Hope with me now； she does me good。 Really； I do not care for anybody
else。 Sometimes I think if I could always have four or five young kittens
by me； in a champagne…basket； with a nurse to watch them； I should be
happier。 But perhaps not； they would grow up so fast！〃
〃Then I will leave you alone without compunction；〃 said Kate。
〃I am not alone；〃 said Aunt Jane； 〃I have my man in the boat to watch
through the window。 What a singular being he is！ I think he spends hours
in that boat； and what he does I can't conceive。 There it is； quietly
anchored； and there is he in it。 I never saw anybody but myself who could
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get up so much industry out of nothing。 He has all his housework there；
a broom and a duster； and I dare say he has a cooking…stove and a gridiron。
He sits a little while； then he stoops down； then he goes to the other end。
Sometimes he goes ashore in that absurd little tub； with a stick that he
twirls at one end。〃
〃That is called sculling；〃 interrupted Kate。
〃Sculling！ I suppose he runs for a baked potato。 Then he goes back。
He is Robinson Crusoe on an island that never keeps still a single instant。
It is all he has； and he never looks away； and never wants anything more。
So I have him to watch。 Think of living so near a beaver or a water…rat
with clothes on！ Good…by。 Leave the door ajar； it is so warm。〃
And Kate went down to the landing。 It was near the 〃baptismal
shore；〃 where every Sunday the young people used to watch the
immersions； they liked to see the crowd of spectators； the eager friends；
the dripping convert； the serene young minister； the old men and girls who
burst forth in song as the new disciple rose from the waves。 It was the
weekly festival in that region； and the sunshine and the ripples made it
gladdening； not gloomy。 Every other day in the week the children of the
fishermen waded waist…deep in the water； and played at baptism。
Near this shore stood the family bathing…house； and the girls came
down to sit in its shadow and watch the swimming。 It was late in August；
and on the first of September Emilia was to be married。
Nothing looked cool； that day； but the bay and those who were going
into it。 Out came Hope from the bathing…house； in a new bathing…dress of
dark blue； which was evidently what the others had come forth to behold。
〃Hope； what an imposter you are！〃 cried Kate instantly。 〃You declined
all my proffers of aid in cutting that dress； and now see how it fits you！
You never looked so beautifully in your life。 There is not such another
bathing…dress in Oldport； nor such a figure to wear it。〃
And she put both her arms round that supple； stately waist； that might
have belonged to a Greek goddess； or to some queen in the Nibelungen
Lied。
The party watched the swimmers as they struck out over the clear
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expanse。 It was high noon； the fishing…boats were all off； but a few
pleasure…boats swung different ways at their moorings； in the perfect calm。
The white light…house stood reflected opposite； at the end of its long pier；
a few vessels lay at anchor； with their sails up to dry； but with that deserted
look which coasters in port are wont to wear。 A few fishes dimpled the still
surface； and as the three swam out farther and farther； their merry voices
still sounded close at hand。 Suddenly they all clapped their hands and
called； then pointed forward to the light…house； across the narrow harbor。
〃They are going to swim across；〃 said Kate。 〃What creatures they are！
Hope and little Jenny have always begged for it； and now Harry thinks it is
so still a day they can safely venture。 It is more than half a mile。 See！ he
has called that boy in a boat； and he will keep near them。 They have swum
farther than that along the shore。〃
So the others went away with no fears。
Hope said afterwards that she never swam with such delight as on that
day。 The water seemed to be peculiarly thin and clear； she said； as well as
tranquil； and to retain its usual buoyancy without its density。 It gave a
delicious sense of freedom； she seemed to swim in air； and felt singularly
secure。 For the first time she felt what she had always wished to
experience；that swimming was as natural as walking； and might be
indefinitely prolonged。 Her strength seemed limitless； she struck out
more and more strongly； she splashed and played with little Jenny； when
the child began to grow weary of the long motion。 A fisherman's boy in a
boat rowed slowly along by their side。
Nine tenths of the distance had been accomplished； when the little girl
grew quite impatient； and Hope bade Harry swim on before her； and land
his charge。 Light and buoyant as the child was； her tightened clasp had
begun to tell on him。
〃It tires you； Hal； to bear that weight so long； and you know I have
nothing to carry。 You must see that I am not in the least tired； only a little
dazzled by the sun。 Here； Charle
