malbone- an oldport romance[1].(马尔布恩)-第28节
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heard him grope his way toward the door she had seen in the wall。
There he seemed to find a stairway； and when his steps were thus
turned from her； she was seized by a sudden impulse and followed him；
groping her way as she could。 She remembered that the girls had talked
of secret stairways in that house； though she had no conception whither
they could lead； unless to some of the shut…up closets。
She steadily followed； treading cautiously upon each creaking step。
The stairway was very narrow； and formed a regular spiral as in a turret。
The darkness and the curving motion confused her brain； and it was
impossible to tell how high in the house she was； except when once she
put her hand upon what was evidently a door； and moreover saw through
its cracks the lamp she had left burning in the upper hall。 This glimpse of
reality reassured her。 She had begun to discover where she was。 The
doors which Aunt Jane had closed gave access； not to mere closets； but to
a spiral stairway； which evidently went from top to bottom of the house；
and was known to some one else beside herself。
Relieved of that slight shudder at the supernatural which sometimes
affects the healthiest nerves； Hope paused to consider。 To alarm the
neighborhood was her first thought。 A slight murmuring from above
dispelled it； she must first reconnoitre a few steps farther。 As she ascended
a little way； a gleam shone upon her； and down the damp stairway came a
fragrant odor； as from some perfumed chamber。 Then a door was shut and
reopened。 Eager beyond expression； she followed on。 Another step； and
she stood at the door of Malbone's apartment。
The room was brilliant with light； the doors and windows were heavily
draped。 Fruit and flowers and wine were on the table。 On the sofa lay
Emilia in a gay ball…dress； sunk in one of her motionless trances； while
Malbone； pale with terror； was deluging her brows with the water he had
just brought from the well below。
Hope stopped a moment and leaned against the door； as her eyes met
Malbone's。 Then she made her way to a chair； and leaning on the back of it；
which she fingered convulsively； looked with bewildered eyes and
compressed lips from the one to the other。 Malbone tried to speak； but
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failed； tried again； and brought forth only a whisper that broke into clearer
speech as the words went on。 〃No use to explain；〃 he said。 〃Lambert is
in New York。 Mrs。 Meredith is expecting herto…night after the ball。
What can we do？〃
Hope covered her face as he spoke； she could bear anything better than
to have him say 〃we；〃 as if no gulf had opened between them。 She sank
slowly on her knees behind her chair； keeping it as a sort of screen
between herself and these two people；the counterfeits； they seemed； of
her lover and her sister。 If the roof in falling to crush them had crushed her
also； she could scarcely have seemed more rigid or more powerless。 It
passed； and the next moment she was on her feet again； capable of action。
〃She must be taken；〃 she said very clearly； but in a lower tone than
usual； 〃to my chamber。〃 Then pointing to the candles； she said； more
huskily； 〃We must not be seen。 Put them out。〃 Every syllable seemed to
exhaust her。 But as Philip obeyed her words； he saw her move suddenly
and stand by Emilia's side。
She put out both arms as if to lift the young girl； and carry her away。
〃You cannot；〃 said Philip； putting her gently aside； while she shrank
from his touch。 Then he took Emilia in his arms and bore her to the door；
Hope preceding。
Motioning him to pause a moment； she turned the lock softly； and
looked out into the dark entry。 All was still。 She went out； and he
followed with his motionless burden。 They walked stealthily； like guilty
things； yet every slight motion seemed to ring in their ears。 It was chilly；
and Hope shivered。 Through the great open window on the stairway a
white fog peered in at them； and the distant fog…whistle came faintly
through； it seemed as if the very atmosphere were condensing about them；
to isolate the house in which such deeds were done。 The clock struck
twelve； and it seemed as if it struck a thousand。
When they reached Hope's door； she turned and put out her arms for
Emilia； as for a child。 Every expression had now gone from Hope's face
but a sort of stony calmness； which put her infinitely farther from Malbone
than had the momentary struggle。 As he gave the girlish form into arms
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that shook and trembled beneath its weight； he caught a glimpse in the
pier…glass of their two white faces； and then； looking down； saw the rose…
tints yet lingering on Emilia's cheek。 She； the source of all this woe；
looked the only representative of innocence between two guilty things。
How white and pure and maidenly looked Hope's little room；such a
home of peace； he thought； till its door suddenly opened to admit all this
passion and despair！ There was a great sheaf of cardinal flowers on the
table； and their petals were drooping； as if reluctant to look on him。
Scheffer's Christus Consolator was upon the walls； and the benign figure
seemed to spread wider its arms of mercy； to take in a few sad hearts
more。
Hope bore Emilia into the light and purity and warmth； while Malbone
was shut out into the darkness and the chill。 The only two things to which
he clung on earth； the two women between whom his unsteady heart had
vibrated； and both whose lives had been tortured by its vacillation； went
away from his sight together； the one victim bearing the other victim in
her arms。 Never any more while he lived would either of them be his again；
and had Dante known it for his last glimpse of things immortal when the
two lovers floated away from him in their sad embrace； he would have had
no such sense of utter banishment as had Malbone then。
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CHAPTER XVIII。
HOPE'S VIGIL。
HAD Emilia chosen out of life's whole armory of weapons the means
of disarming Hope； she could have found nothing so effectual as nature
had supplied in her unconsciousness。 Helplessness conquers。 There was
a quality in Emilia which would have always produced something very
like antagonism in Hope； had she not been her sister。 Had the ungoverned
girl now been able to utter one word of reproach； had her eyes flashed one
look of defiance； had her hand made one triumphant or angry gesture；
perhaps all Hope's outraged womanhood would have coldly nerved itself
against her。 But it was another thing to see those soft eyes closed； those
delicate hands powerless； those pleading lips sealed； to see her extended in
graceful helplessness； while all the concentrated drama of emotion
revolved around her unheeded； as around Cordelia dead。 In what realms
was that child's mind seeking comfort； through what thin air of dreams did
that restless heart beat its pinions； in what other sphere did that untamed
nature wander； while shame and sorrow waited for its awakening in this？
Hope knelt upon the floor； still too much strained and bewildered for
tears or even prayer； a little way from Emilia。 Once having laid down the
unconscious form； it seemed for a moment as if she could no more touch it
than she could lay her hand amid flames。 A gap of miles； of centuries； of
solar systems； seemed to separate these two young girls； alone within the
same chamber； with the same stern secret to keep； and so near that the hem
of their garments almost touched each other on the soft carpet。 Hope felt a
terrible hardness closing over her heart。 What right had this cruel creatur
