malbone- an oldport romance[1].(马尔布恩)-第32节
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forward with a great jerk； and a little Irish child was thrown beneath the
wheel。 Hope sprang forward to grasp the child； and the wheel struck her
also； but she escaped with a dress torn and smeared； while the cart passed
over the little girl's arm； breaking it in two places。 She screamed and then
grew faint； as Hope lifted her。 The mother received the burden with a
wail of anguish； the other Irishwomen pressed around her with the dense
and suffocating sympathy of their nation。 Hope bade one and another run
for a physician； but nobody stirred。 There was no surgical aid within a
mile or more。 Hope looked round in despair； then glanced at her own
disordered garments。
〃As sure as you live！〃 shouted a well…known voice from a carriage
which had stopped behind them。 〃If that isn't Hope what's…her…name；
wish I may never！ Here's a lark！ Let me come there！〃 And the speaker
pushed through the crowd。
〃Miss Ingleside；〃 said Hope； decisively； 〃this child's arm is broken。
There is nobody to go for a physician。 Except for the condition I am in； I
would ask you to take me there at once in your carriage； but as it is〃
〃As it is； I must ask you； hey？〃 said Blanche； finishing the sentence。
〃Of course。 No mistake。 Sans dire。 Jones； junior； this lady will join
us。 Don't look so scared； man。 Are you anxious about your cushions or
your reputation？〃
The youth simpered and disclaimed。
〃Jump in； then； Miss Maxwell。 Never mind the expense。 It's only the
family carriage；surname and arms of Jones。 Lucky there are no parents
to the fore。 Put my shawl over you； so。〃
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〃O Blanche！〃 said Hope； 〃what injustice〃
〃I've done myself？〃 said the volatile damsel。 〃Not a doubt of it。 That's
my style； you know。 But I have some sense； I know who's who。 Now；
Jones； junior； make your man handle the ribbons。 I've always had a grudge
against that ordinance about fast driving； and now's our chance。〃
And the sacred 〃ordinance；〃 with all other proprieties； was left in ruins
that day。 They tore along the Avenue with unexplained and most
inexplicable speed； Hope being concealed by riding backward； and by a
large shawl； and Blanche and her admirer receiving the full indignation of
every chaste and venerable eye。 Those who had tolerated all this girl's
previous improprieties were obliged to admit that the line must be drawn
somewhere。 She at once lost several good invitations and a matrimonial
offer； since Jones； junior； was swept away by his parents to be wedded
without delay to a consumptive heiress who had long pined for his
whiskers； and Count Posen； in his Souvenirs； was severer on Blanche's
one good deed than on the worst of her follies。
A few years after； when Blanche； then the fearless wife of a regular…
army officer； was helping Hope in the hospitals at Norfolk； she would stop
to shout with delight over the reminiscence of that stately Jones equipage
in mad career； amid the barking of dogs and the groaning of dowagers。
〃After all； Hope；〃 she would say； 〃the fastest thing I ever did was under
your orders。〃
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CHAPTER XXI。
A STORM。
THE members of the household were all at the window about noon；
next day； watching the rise of a storm。 A murky wing of cloud； shaped
like a hawk's； hung over the low western hills across the bay。 Then the
hawk became an eagle； and the eagle a gigantic phantom； that hovered
over half the visible sky。 Beneath it； a little scud of vapor； moved by
some cross…current of air； raced rapidly against the wind； just above the
horizon； like smoke from a battle…field。
As the cloud ascended； the water grew rapidly blacker； and in half an
hour broke into jets of white foam； all over its surface； with an angry look。
Meantime a white film of fog spread down the bay from the northward。
The wind hauled from southwest to northwest； so suddenly and strongly
that all the anchored boats seemed to have swung round instantaneously；
without visible process。 The instant the wind shifted； the rain broke forth；
filling the air in a moment with its volume； and cutting so sharply that it
seemed like hail； though no hailstones reached the ground。 At the same
time there rose upon the water a dense white film； which seemed to grow
together from a hundred different directions； and was made partly of rain；
and partly of the blown edges of the spray。 There was but a glimpse of this；
for in a few moments it was impossible to see two rods； but when the first
gust was over； the water showed itself again； the jets of spray all beaten
down； and regular waves； of dull lead…color； breaking higher on the shore。
All the depth of blackness had left the sky； and there remained only an
obscure and ominous gray； through which the lightning flashed white； not
red。 Boats came driving in from the mouth of the bay with a rag of sail up；
the men got them moored with difficulty； and when they sculled ashore in
the skiffs； a dozen comrades stood ready to grasp and haul them in。 Others
launched skiffs in sheltered places； and pulled out bareheaded to bail out
their fishing…boats and keep them from swamping at their moorings。
The shore was thronged with men in oilskin clothes and by women
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with shawls over their heads。 Aunt Jane； who always felt responsible for
whatever went on in the elements； sat in…doors with one lid closed；
wincing at every flash； and watching the universe with the air of a
coachman guiding six wild horses。
Just after the storm had passed its height； two veritable wild horses
were reined up at the door； and Philip burst in； his usual self…composure
gone。
〃Emilia is out sailing！〃 he exclaimed；〃alone with Lambert's boatman；
in this gale。 They say she was bound for Narragansett。〃
〃Impossible！〃 cried Hope； turning pale。 〃I left her not three hours
ago。〃 Then she remembered that Emilia had spoken of going on board the
yacht； to superintend some arrangements； but had said no more about it；
when she opposed it。
〃Harry！〃 said Aunt Jane； quickly； from her chair by the window； 〃see
that fisherman。 He has just come ashore and is telling something。 Ask
him。〃
The fisherman had indeed seen Lambert's boat； which was well known。
Something seemed to be the matter with the sail； but before the storm
struck her； it had been hauled down。 They must have taken in water
enough； as it was。 He had himself been obliged to bail out three times；
running in from the reef。
〃Was there any landing which they could reach？〃 Harry asked。
There was none；but the light…ship lay right in their track； and if they
had good luck； they might get aboard of her。
〃The boatman？〃 said Philip； anxiously；〃Mr。 Lambert's boatman； is he
a good sailor？〃
〃Don't know；〃 was the reply。 〃Stranger here。 Dutchman；
Frenchman； Portegee； or some kind of a foreigner。〃
〃Seems to understand himself in a boat；〃 said another。
〃Mr。 Malbone knows him；〃 said a third。 〃The same that dove with
the young woman under the steamboat paddles。〃
〃Good grit；〃 said the first。
〃That's so；〃 was the answer。 〃But grit don't teach a man the channel。〃
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All agreed to this axiom； but as there was so strong a probability that
the voyagers had reached the light…ship； there seemed less cause for fear。
The next question was； whether it was possible to follow them。 All
agreed that it would be foolish for any boat to attempt
