malbone- an oldport romance[1].(马尔布恩)-第31节
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excitement of slight risks； but this was far too intense； the vibrations too
extreme。 She； on the other hand； rode triumphant over waves of passion
which cowed him。 He dared not exclude her； he dared not continue to
admit her； he dared not free himself； he could not be happy。 The privacy
of the concealed stairway saved them from outward dangers； but not from
inward fears。 Their interviews were first blissful； then anxious； then sad；
then stormy。 It was at the end of such a storm that Emilia had passed into
one of those deathly calms which belonged to her physical temperament；
and it was under these circumstances that Hope had followed Philip to the
door。
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MALBONE： AN OLDPORT ROMANCE。
CHAPTER XX。
AUNT JANE TO THE RESCUE。
THE thing that saves us from insanity during great grief is that there is
usually something to do； and the mind composes itself to the mechanical
task of adjusting the details。 Hope dared not look forward an inch into the
future； that way madness lay。 Fortunately； it was plain what must come
first；to keep the whole thing within their own walls； and therefore to
make some explanation to Mrs。 Meredith； whose servants had doubtless
been kept up all night awaiting Emilia。 Profoundly perplexed what to
say or not to say to her； Hope longed with her whole soul for an adviser。
Harry and Kate were both away； and besides； she shrank from darkening
their young lives as hers had been darkened。 She resolved to seek counsel
in the one person who most thoroughly distrusted Emilia；Aunt Jane。
This lady was in a particularly happy mood that day。 Emilia； who did
all kinds of fine needle…work exquisitely； had just embroidered for Aunt
Jane some pillow…cases。 The original suggestion came from Hope； but it
never cost Emilia anything to keep a secret； and she had presented the gift
very sweetly； as if it were a thought of her own。 Aunt Jane； who with all
her penetration as to facts was often very guileless as to motives； was
thoroughly touched by the humility and the embroidery。
〃All last night；〃 she said； 〃I kept waking up； and thinking about
Christian charity and my pillow…cases。〃
It was； therefore； a very favorable day for Hope's consultation； though
it was nearly noon before her aunt was visible； perhaps because it took so
long to make up her bed with the new adornments。
Hope said frankly to Aunt Jane that there were some circumstances
about which she should rather not be questioned； but that Emilia had come
there the previous night from the ball； had been seized with one of her
peculiar attacks； and had stayed all night。 Aunt Jane kept her eyes steadily
fixed on Hope's sad face； and； when the tale was ended； drew her down
and kissed her lips。
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MALBONE： AN OLDPORT ROMANCE。
〃Now tell me； dear；〃 she said； 〃what comes first？〃
〃The first thing is；〃 said Hope； 〃to have Emilia's absence explained to
Mrs。 Meredith in some such way that she will think no more of it； and not
talk about it。〃
〃Certainly；〃 said Aunt Jane。 〃There is but one way to do that。 I will
call on her myself。〃
〃You； auntie？〃 said Hope。
〃Yes； I；〃 said her aunt。 〃I have owed her a call for five years。 It is the
only thing that will excite her so much as to put all else out of her head。〃
〃O auntie！〃 said Hope； greatly relieved； 〃if you only would！ But ought
you really to go out？ It is almost raining。〃
〃I shall go；〃 said Aunt Jane； decisively； 〃if it rains little boys！〃
〃But will not Mrs。 Meredith wonder？〃 began Hope。
〃That is one advantage；〃 interrupted her aunt； 〃of being an absurd old
woman。 Nobody ever wonders at anything I do； or else it is that they
never stop wondering。〃
She sent Ruth erelong to order the horses。 Hope collected her various
wrappers； and Ruth； returning； got her mistress into a state of preparation。
〃If I might say one thing more；〃 Hope whispered。
〃Certainly；〃 said her aunt。 〃Ruth； go to my chamber； and get me a
pin。〃
〃What kind of a pin； ma'am？〃 asked that meek handmaiden； from the
doorway。
〃What a question！〃 said her indignant mistress。 〃Any kind。 The
common pin of North America。 Now； Hope？〃 as the door closed。
〃I think it better； auntie；〃 said Hope； 〃that Philip should not stay here
longer at present。 You can truly say that the house is full； and〃
〃I have just had a note from him；〃 said Aunt Jane severely。 〃He has
gone to lodge at the hotel。 What next？〃
〃Aunt Jane；〃 said Hope； looking her full in the face； 〃I have not the
slightest idea what to do next。〃
（〃The next thing for me；〃 thought her aunt； 〃is to have a little plain
speech with that misguided child upstairs。〃）
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MALBONE： AN OLDPORT ROMANCE。
〃I can see no way out；〃 pursued Hope。
〃Darling！〃 said Aunt Jane； with a voice full of womanly sweetness；
〃there is always a way out； or else the world would have stopped long ago。
Perhaps it would have been better if it had stopped； but you see it has not。
All we can do is； to live on and try our best。〃
She bade Hope leave Emilia to her； and furthermore stipulated that
Hope should go to her pupils as usual； that afternoon； as it was their last
lesson。 The young girl shrank from the effort； but the elder lady was
inflexible。 She had her own purpose in it。 Hope once out of the way；
Aunt Jane could deal with Emilia。
No human being； when met face to face with Aunt Jane； had ever
failed to yield up to her the whole truth she sought。 Emilia was on that
day no exception。 She was prostrate； languid； humble； denied nothing；
was ready to concede every point but one。 Never； while she lived； would
she dwell beneath John Lambert's roof again。 She had left it impulsively；
she admitted； scarce knowing what she did。 But she would never return
there to live。 She would go once more and see that all was in order for
Mr。 Lambert； both in the house and on board the yacht； where they were to
have taken up their abode for a time。 There were new servants in the house；
a new captain on the yacht； she would trust Mr。 Lambert's comfort to none
of them； she would do her full duty。 Duty！ the more utterly she felt herself
to be gliding away from him forever； the more pains she was ready to
lavish in doing these nothings well。 About every insignificant article he
owned she seemed to feel the most scrupulous and wife…like responsibility；
while she yet knew that all she had was to him nothing； compared with the
possession of herself； and it was the thought of this last ownership that
drove her to despair。
Sweet and plaintive as the child's face was； it had a glimmer of
wildness and a hunted look； that baffled Aunt Jane a little； and compelled
her to temporize。 She consented that Emilia should go to her own house；
on condition that she would not see Philip；which was readily and even
eagerly promised；and that Hope should spend the night with Emilia；
which proposal was ardently accepted。
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It occurred to Aunt Jane that nothing better could happen than for John
Lambert； on returning； to find his wife at home； and to secure this result； if
possible； she telegraphed to him to come at once。
Meantime Hope gave her inevitable music…lesson； so absorbed in her
own thoughts that it was all as mechanical as the metronome。 As she
came out upon the Avenue for the walk home； she saw a group of people
from a gardener's house； who had collected beside a muddy crossing；
where a team of cart…horses had refused to stir。 Presently they sprang
forward with a great jerk； and a little Irish child was thrown ben
