malbone- an oldport romance[1].(马尔布恩)-第5节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
could be entertained。 Since his engagement Philip had not permitted
himself so much as a flirtation； he and Hope were to be married soon； he
loved and admired her heartily； and had an indifference to her want of
fortune that was quite amazing； when we consider that he had a fortune of
his own。
15
… Page 16…
MALBONE： AN OLDPORT ROMANCE。
CHAPTER III。
A DRIVE ON THE AVENUE。
OLDPORT AVENUE is a place where a great many carriages may be
seen driving so slowly that they might almost be photographed without
halting； and where their occupants already wear the dismal expression
which befits that process。 In these fine vehicles； following each other in an
endless file； one sees such faces as used to be exhibited in ball…rooms
during the performance of quadrilles； before round dances came in；faces
marked by the renunciation of all human joy。 Sometimes a faint suspicion
suggests itself on the Avenue； that these torpid countenances might be
roused to life； in case some horse should run away。 But that one chance
never occurs； the riders may not yet be toned down into perfect breeding；
but the horses are。 I do not know what could ever break the gloom of
this joyless procession； were it not that youth and beauty are always in
fashion； and one sometimes meets an exceptional barouche full of boys
and girls； who could absolutely be no happier if they were a thousand
miles away from the best society。 And such a joyous company were our
four youths and maidens when they went to drive that day； Emilia being
left at home to rest after the fatigues of the voyage。
〃What beautiful horses！〃 was Hope's first exclamation。 〃What grave
people！〃 was her second。
〃What though in solemn silence all Roll
round 〃
quoted Philip。
〃Hope is thinking；〃 said Harry； 〃whether 'in reason's ear they all
rejoice。'〃
〃How COULD you know that？〃 said she； opening her eyes。
〃One thing always strikes me；〃 said Kate。 〃The sentence of
stupefaction does not seem to be enforced till after five…and…twenty。 That
young lady we just met looked quite lively and juvenile last year； I
remember； and now she has graduated into a dowager。〃
16
… Page 17…
MALBONE： AN OLDPORT ROMANCE。
〃Like little Helen's kitten；〃 said Philip。 〃She justly remarks that；
since I saw it last； it is all spoiled into a great big cat。〃
〃Those must be snobs；〃 said Harry； as a carriage with unusually
gorgeous liveries rolled by。
〃I suppose so；〃 said Malbone； indifferently。 〃In Oldport we call all
new…comers snobs； you know； till they have invited us to their grand ball。
Then we go to it； and afterwards speak well of them； and only abuse their
wine。〃
〃How do you know them for new…comers？〃 asked Hope； looking after
the carriage。
〃By their improperly intelligent expression；〃 returned Phil。 〃They
look around them as you do； my child； with the air of wide…awake
curiosity which marks the American traveller。 That is out of place here。
The Avenue abhors everything but a vacuum。〃
〃I never can find out；〃 continued Hope； 〃how people recognize each
other here。 They do not look at each other； unless they know each other：
and how are they to know if they know； unless they look first？〃
〃It seems an embarrassment；〃 said Malbone。 〃But it is supposed that
fashion perforates the eyelids and looks through。 If you attempt it in any
other way； you are lost。 Newly arrived people look about them； and； the
more new wealth they have； the more they gaze。 The men are uneasy
behind their recently educated mustaches； and the women hold their
parasols with trembling hands。 It takes two years to learn to drive on the
Avenue。 Come again next summer； and you will see in those same
carriages faces of remote superciliousness； that suggest generations of
gout and ancestors。〃
〃What a pity one feels；〃 said Harry； 〃for these people who still suffer
from lingering modesty； and need a master to teach them to be insolent！〃
〃They learn it soon enough；〃 said Kate。 〃Philip is right。 Fashion lies
in the eye。 People fix their own position by the way they don't look at
you。〃
〃There is a certain indifference of manner；〃 philosophized Malbone；
〃before which ingenuous youth is crushed。 I may know that a man can
17
… Page 18…
MALBONE： AN OLDPORT ROMANCE。
hardly read or write； and that his father was a ragpicker till one day he
picked up bank…notes for a million。 No matter。 If he does not take the
trouble to look at me； I must look reverentially at him。〃
〃Here is somebody who will look at Hope；〃 cried Kate； suddenly。
A carriage passed； bearing a young lady with fair hair； and a keen；
bright look； talking eagerly to a small and quiet youth beside her。
Her face brightened still more as she caught the eye of Hope； whose
face lighted up in return； and who then sank back with a sort of sigh of
relief； as if she had at last seen somebody she cared for。 The lady waved
an un…gloved hand； and drove by。
〃Who is that？〃 asked Philip； eagerly。 He was used to knowing every
one。
〃Hope's pet；〃 said Kate； 〃and she who pets Hope； Lady Antwerp。〃
〃Is it possible？〃 said Malbone。 〃That young creature？ I fancied her
ladyship in spectacles； with little side curls。 Men speak of her with such
dismay。〃
〃Of course；〃 said Kate； 〃she asks them sensible questions。〃
〃That is bad；〃 admitted Philip。 〃Nothing exasperates fashionable
Americans like a really intelligent foreigner。 They feel as Sydney Smith
says the English clergy felt about Elizabeth Fry； she disturbs their repose；
and gives rise to distressing comparisons；they long to burn her alive。 It is
not their notion of a countess。〃
〃I am sure it was not mine；〃 said Hope； 〃I can hardly remember that
she is one； I only know that I like her； she is so simple and intelligent。 She
might be a girl from a Normal School。〃
〃It is because you are just that；〃 said Kate； 〃that she likes you。 She
came here supposing that we had all been at such schools。 Then she
complained of us；us girls in what we call good society； I mean；because；
as she more than hinted； we did not seem to know anything。〃
〃Some of the mothers were angry；〃 said Hope。 〃But Aunt Jane told
her that it was perfectly true； and that her ladyship had not yet seen the
best…educated girls in America； who were generally the daughters of old
ministers and well…to…do shopkeepers in small New England towns； Aunt
18
… Page 19…
MALBONE： AN OLDPORT ROMANCE。
Jane said。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Kate； 〃she said that the best of those girls went to High
Schools and Normal Schools； and learned things thoroughly； you know；
but that we were only taught at boarding…schools and by governesses； and
came out at eighteen； and what could we know？ Then came Hope； who
had been at those schools； and was the child of refined people too； and
Lady Antwerp was perfectly satisfied。〃
〃Especially；〃 said Hope； 〃when Aunt Jane told her that； after all；
schools did not do very much good； for if people were born stupid they
only became more tiresome by schooling。 She said that she had forgotten
all she learned at school except the boundaries of ancient Cappadocia。〃
Aunt Jane's fearless sayings always passed current among her nieces；
and they drove on； Hope not being lowered in Philip's estimation； nor
raised in her own； by being the pet of a passing countess。
Who would not be charmed （he thought to himself） by this noble girl；
who walks the
