malbone- an oldport romance[1].(马尔布恩)-第4节
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three？
Kate was betrothed to her cousin Harry； Hope's brother； and； though
she was barely twenty； they had seemed to appertain to each other for a
time so long that the memory of man or maiden aunt ran not to the
contrary。 She always declared； indeed； that they were born married； and
that their wedding…day would seem like a silver wedding。 Harry was quiet；
unobtrusive； and manly。 He might seem commonplace at first beside the
brilliant Kate and his more gifted sister； but thorough manhood is never
commonplace； and he was a person to whom one could anchor。 His strong；
steadfast physique was the type of his whole nature； when he came into
the room； you felt as if a good many people had been added to the
company。 He made steady progress in his profession of the law； through
sheer worth； he never dazzled； but he led。 His type was pure Saxon； with
short； curling hair； blue eyes； and thin； fair skin； to which the color readily
mounted。 Up to a certain point he was imperturbably patient and amiable；
but； when overtaxed； was fiery and impetuous for a single instant； and no
more。 It seemed as if a sudden flash of anger went over him； like the flash
that glides along the glutinous stem of the fraxinella； when you touch it
with a candle； the next moment it had utterly vanished； and was forgotten
as if it had never been。
Kate's love for her lover was one of those healthy and assured ties that
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MALBONE： AN OLDPORT ROMANCE。
often outlast the ardors of more passionate natures。 For other
temperaments it might have been inadequate； but theirs matched perfectly；
and it was all sufficient for them。 If there was within Kate's range a more
heroic and ardent emotion than that inspired by Harry； it was put forth
toward Hope。 This was her idolatry； she always said that it was fortunate
Hope was Hal's sister； or she should have felt it her duty to give them to
each other； and not die till the wedding was accomplished。 Harry shared
this adoration to quite a reasonable extent； for a brother； but his admiration
for Philip Malbone was one that Kate did not quite share。 Harry's quieter
mood had been dazzled from childhood by Philip； who had always been a
privileged guest in the household。 Kate's clear； penetrating； buoyant nature
had divined Phil's weaknesses； and had sometimes laughed at them； even
from her childhood； though she did not dislike him； for she did not dislike
anybody。 But Harry was magnetized by him very much as women were；
believed him true； because he was tender； and called him only fastidious
where Kate called him lazy。
Kate was spending that summer with her aunt Jane； whose especial pet
and pride she was。 Hope was spending there the summer vacation of a
Normal School in which she had just become a teacher。 Her father had
shared in the family ups and downs； but had finally stayed down； while the
rest had remained up。 Fortunately； his elder children were indifferent to
this； and indeed rather preferred it； it was a tradition that Hope had
expressed the wish； when a child； that her father might lose his property；
so that she could become a teacher。 As for Harry； he infinitely preferred
the drudgery of a law office to that of a gentleman of leisure； and as for
their step…mother； it turned out； when she was left a widow； that she had
secured for herself and Emilia whatever property remained； so that she
suffered only the delightful need of living in Europe for economy。
The elder brother and sister had alike that fine physical vigor which
New England is now developing； just in time to save it from decay。 Hope
was of Saxon type； though a shade less blonde than her brother； she was a
little taller； and of more commanding presence； with a peculiarly noble
carriage of the shoulders。 Her brow was sometimes criticised as being a
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MALBONE： AN OLDPORT ROMANCE。
little too full for a woman； but her nose was straight； her mouth and teeth
beautiful； and her profile almost perfect。 Her complexion had lost by out…
door life something of its delicacy； but had gained a freshness and
firmness that no sunlight could impair。 She had that wealth of hair which
young girls find the most enviable point of beauty in each other。 Hers
reached below her knees； when loosened； or else lay coiled； in munificent
braids of gold； full of sparkling lights and contrasted shadows； upon her
queenly head。
Her eyes were much darker than her hair； and had a way of opening
naively and suddenly； with a perfectly infantine expression； as if she at
that moment saw the sunlight for the first time。 Her long lashes were
somewhat like Emilia's； and she had the same deeply curved eyebrows； in
no other point was there a shade of resemblance between the half…sisters。
As compared with Kate； Hope showed a more abundant physical life；
there was more blood in her； she had ampler outlines； and health more
absolutely unvaried； for she had yet to know the experience of a day's
illness。 Kate seemed born to tread upon a Brussels carpet； and Hope on the
softer luxury of the forest floor。 Out of doors her vigor became a sort of
ecstasy； and she walked the earth with a jubilee of the senses； such as
Browning attributes to his Saul。
This inexhaustible freshness of physical organization seemed to open
the windows of her soul； and make for her a new heaven and earth every
day。 It gave also a peculiar and almost embarrassing directness to her
mental processes； and suggested in them a sort of final and absolute value；
as if truth had for the first time found a perfectly translucent medium。 It
was not so much that she said rare things； but her very silence was
eloquent； and there was a great deal of it。 Her girlhood had in it a certain
dignity as of a virgin priestess or sibyl。 Yet her hearty sympathies and
her healthy energy made her at home in daily life； and in a democratic
society。 To Kate； for instance； she was a necessity of existence； like light
or air。 Kate's nature was limited； part of her graceful equipoise was
narrowness。 Hope was capable of far more self…abandonment to a
controlling emotion； and； if she ever erred； would err more widely； for it
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MALBONE： AN OLDPORT ROMANCE。
would be because the whole power of her conscience was misdirected。
〃Once let her take wrong for right；〃 said Aunt Jane； 〃and stop her if you
can； these born saints give a great deal more trouble than children of this
world； like my Kate。〃 Yet in daily life Hope yielded to her cousin nine
times out of ten； but the tenth time was the key to the situation。 Hope
loved Kate devotedly； but Kate believed in her as the hunted fugitive
believes in the north star。
To these maidens； thus united； came Emilia home from Europe。 The
father of Harry and Hope had been lured into a second marriage with
Emilia's mother； a charming and unscrupulous woman； born with an
American body and a French soul。 She having once won him to Paris；
held him there life…long； and kept her step…children at a safe distance。
She arranged that； even after her own death； her daughter should still
remain abroad for education； nor was Emilia ordered back until she
brought down some scandal by a romantic attempt to elope from boarding…
school with a Swiss servant。 It was by weaning her heart from this man
that Philip Malbone had earned the thanks of the whole household during
his hasty flight through Europe。 He possessed some skill in withdrawing
the female heart from an undesirable attachment； though it was apt to be
done by substituting another。 It was fortunate that； in this case； no fears
could be entertained。 Since his engagement Philip had not
