malbone- an oldport romance[1].(马尔布恩)-第26节
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nothing to carry。 You must see that I am not in the least tired； only a little
dazzled by the sun。 Here； Charley； give me your hat； and then row on
with Mr。 Harry。〃 She put on the boy's torn straw hat； and they yielded to
her wish。 People almost always yielded to Hope's wishes when she
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expressed them；it was so very seldom。
Somehow the remaining distance seemed very great； as Hope saw
them glide away； leaving her in the water alone； her feet unsupported by
any firm element； the bright and pitiless sky arching far above her； and her
head burning with more heat than she had liked to own。 She was conscious
of her full strength； and swam more vigorously than ever； but her head
was hot and her ears rang； and she felt chilly vibrations passing up and
down her sides； that were like； she fancied； the innumerable fringing oars
of the little jelly…fishes she had so often watched。 Her body felt almost
unnaturally strong； and she took powerful strokes； but it seemed as if her
heart went out into them and left a vacant cavity within。 More and more
her life seemed boiling up into her head； queer fancies came to her； as； for
instance； that she was an inverted thermometer with the mercury all
ascending into a bulb at the top。 She shook her head and the fancy cleared
away； and then others came。
She began to grow seriously anxious； but the distance was diminishing；
Harry was almost at the steps with the child； and the boy had rowed his
skiff round the breakwater out of sight； a young fisherman leaned over the
railing with his back to her； watching the lobster…catchers on the other side。
She was almost in； it was only a slight dizziness； yet she could not see the
light…house。 Concentrating all her efforts； she shut her eyes and swam on；
her arms still unaccountably vigorous； though the rest of her body seemed
losing itself in languor。 The sound in her ear had grown to a roar； as of
many mill…wheels。 It seemed a long distance that she thus swam with her
eyes closed。 Then she half opened her eyes； and the breakwater seemed all
in motion； with tier above tier of eager faces looking down on her。 In an
instant there was a sharp splash close beside her； and she felt herself
grasped and drawn downwards； with a whirl of something just above her；
and then all consciousness went out as suddenly as when ether brings at
last to a patient； after the roaring and the tumult in his brain； its blessed
foretaste of the deliciousness of death。
When Hope came again to consciousness； she found herself
approaching her own pier in a sail…boat； with several very wet gentlemen
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around her； and little Jenny nestled close to her； crying as profusely as if
her pretty scarlet bathing…dress were being wrung out through her eyes。
Hope asked no questions； and hardly felt the impulse to inquire what had
happened。 The truth was； that in the temporary dizziness produced by
her prolonged swim； she had found herself in the track of a steamboat that
was passing the pier； unobserved by her brother。 A young man； leaping
from the dock； had caught her in his arms； and had dived with her below
the paddle…wheels； just as they came upon her。 It was a daring act； but
nothing else could have saved her。 When they came to the surface； they
had been picked up by Aunt Jane's Robinson Crusoe； who had at last
unmoored his pilot…boat and was rounding the light…house for the outer
harbor。
She and the child were soon landed； and given over to the ladies。 Due
attention was paid to her young rescuer； whose dripping garments seemed
for the moment as glorious as a blood…stained flag。 He seemed a simple；
frank young fellow of French or German origin； but speaking English
remarkably well； he was not high…bred； by any means； but had apparently
the culture of an average German of the middle class。 Harry fancied that
he had seen him before； and at last traced back the impression of his
features to the ball for the French officers。 It turned out； on inquiry； that he
had a brother in the service； and on board the corvette； but he himself was
a commercial agent； now in America with a view to business； though he
had made several voyages as mate of a vessel； and would not object to
some such berth as that。 He promised to return and receive the thanks of
the family； read with interest the name on Harry's card； seemed about to
ask a question； but forbore； and took his leave amid the general confusion；
without even giving his address。 When sought next day； he was not to be
found； and to the children he at once became as much a creature of
romance as the sea…serpent or the Flying Dutchman。
Even Hope's strong constitution felt the shock of this adventure。 She
was confined to her room for a week or two； but begged that there might
be no postponement of the wedding； which； therefore； took place without
her。 Her illness gave excuse for a privacy that was welcome to all but the
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bridesmaids； and suited Malbone best of all。
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CHAPTER XVI。
ON THE STAIRS。
AUGUST drew toward its close； and guests departed from the
neighborhood。
〃What a short little thing summer is；〃 meditated Aunt Jane； 〃and
butterflies are caterpillars most of the time after all。 How quiet it seems。
The wrens whisper in their box above the window； and there has not been
a blast from the peacock for a week。 He seems ashamed of the summer
shortness of his tail。 He keeps glancing at it over his shoulder to see if it is
not looking better than yesterday； while the staring eyes of the old tail are
in the bushes all about。〃
〃Poor； dear little thing！〃 said coaxing Katie。 〃Is she tired of autumn；
before it is begun？〃
〃I am never tired of anything；〃 said Aunt Jane； 〃except my maid Ruth；
and I should not be tired of her； if it had pleased Heaven to endow her with
sufficient strength of mind to sew on a button。 Life is very rich to me。
There is always something new in every season； though to be sure I cannot
think what novelty there is just now； except a choice variety of spiders。
There is a theory that spiders kill flies。 But I never miss a fly； and there
does not seem to be any natural scourge divinely appointed to kill spiders；
except Ruth。 Even she does it so feebly； that I see them come back and
hang on their webs and make faces at her。 I suppose they are faces； I do
not understand their anatomy； but it must be a very unpleasant one。〃
〃You are not quite satisfied with life； today； dear；〃 said Kate； 〃I fear
your book did not end to your satisfaction。〃
〃It did end； though；〃 said the lady； 〃and that is something。 What is
there in life so difficult as to stop a book？〃 If I wrote one； it would be as
long as ten 'Sir Charles Grandisons；' and then I never should end it；
because I should die。 And there would be nobody left to read it； because
each reader would have been dead long before。〃
〃But the book amused you！〃 interrupted Kate。 〃I know it did。〃
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〃It was so absurd that I laughed till I cried； and it makes no difference
whether you cry laughing or cry crying； it is equally bad when your
glasses come off。 Never mind。 Whom did you see on the Avenue？〃
〃O； we saw Philip on horseback。 He rides so beautifully； he seems
one with his horse。〃
〃I am glad of it；〃 interposed his aunt。 〃The riders are generally so
inferior to them。〃
〃We saw Mr。 and Mrs。 Lambe
