malbone- an oldport romance[1].(马尔布恩)-第6节
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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 earth fresh and strong as a Greek goddess； pure as Diana；
stately as Juno？ She belongs to the unspoiled womanhood of another age；
and is wasted among these dolls and butterflies。
He looked at her。 She sat erect and graceful； unable to droop into the
debility of fashionable reclining；her breezy hair lifted a little by the soft
wind； her face flushed； her full brown eyes looking eagerly about； her
mouth smiling happily。 To be with those she loved best； and to be
driving over the beautiful earth！ She was so happy that no mob of
fashionables could have lessened her enjoyment； or made her for a
moment conscious that anybody looked at her。 The brilliant equipages
which they met each moment were not wholly uninteresting even to her；
for her affections went forth to some of the riders and to all the horses。 She
was as well contented at that moment； on the glittering Avenue； as if they
had all been riding home through country lanes； and in constant peril of
being jolted out among the whortleberry…bushes。
Her face brightened yet more as they met a carriage containing a
graceful lady dressed with that exquisiteness of taste that charms both man
and woman； even if no man can analyze and no woman rival its effect。 She
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had a perfectly high…bred look； and an eye that in an instant would
calculate one's ancestors as far back as Nebuchadnezzar； and bow to them
all together。 She smiled good…naturedly on Hope； and kissed her hand to
Kate。
〃So； Hope；〃 said Philip； 〃you are bent on teaching music to Mrs。
Meredith's children。〃
〃Indeed I am！〃 said Hope； eagerly。 〃O Philip； I shall enjoy it so！ I do
not care so very much about her； but she has dear little girls。 And you
know I am a born drudge。 I have not been working hard enough to enjoy
an entire vacation； but I shall be so very happy here if I can have some real
work for an hour or two every other day。〃
〃Hope；〃 said Philip； gravely； 〃look steadily at these people whom we
are meeting； and reflect。 Should you like to have them say； 'There goes
Mrs。 Meredith's music teacher'？〃
〃Why not？〃 said Hope； with surprise。 〃The children are young； and it
is not very presumptuous。 I ought to know enough for that。〃
Malbone looked at Kate； who smiled with delight； and put her hand on
that of Hope。 Indeed； she kept it there so long that one or two passing
ladies stopped their salutations in mid career； and actually looked after
them in amazement at their attitude； as who should say； 〃What a very
mixed society！〃
So they drove on；meeting four…in…hands； and tandems； and donkey…
carts； and a goat…cart； and basket…wagons driven by pretty girls； with
uncomfortable youths in or out of livery behind。 They met； had they but
known it； many who were aiming at notoriety； and some who had it； many
who looked contented with their lot； and some who actually were so。
They met some who put on courtesy and grace with their kid gloves； and
laid away those virtues in their glove…boxes afterwards； while to others the
mere consciousness of kid gloves brought uneasiness； redness of the face；
and a general impression of being all made of hands。 They met the four
white horses of an ex…harness…maker； and the superb harnesses of an ex…
horse…dealer。 Behind these came the gayest and most plebeian equipage of
all； a party of journeymen carpenters returning from their work in a four…
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horse wagon。 Their only fit compeers were an Italian opera…troupe； who
were chatting and gesticulating on the piazza of the great hotel； and
planning； amid jest and laughter； their future campaigns。 Their work
seemed like play； while the play around them seemed like work。 Indeed；
most people on the Avenue seemed to be happy in inverse ratio to their
income list。
As our youths and maidens passed the hotel； a group of French naval
officers strolled forth； some of whom had a good deal of inexplicable gold
lace dangling in festoons from their shoulders；〃topsail halyards〃 the
American midshipmen called them。 Philip looked hard at one of these
gentlemen。
〃I have seen that young fellow before；〃 said he； 〃or his twin brother。
But who can swear to the personal identity of a Frenchman？〃
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MALBONE： AN OLDPORT ROMANCE。
CHAPTER IV。
AUNT JANE DEFINES HER POSITION。
THE next morning had that luminous morning haze； not quite dense
enough to be called a fog； which is often so lovely in Oldport。 It was
perfectly still； the tide swelled and swelled till it touched the edge of the
green lawn behind the house； and seemed ready to submerge the slender
pier； the water looked at first like glass； till closer gaze revealed long
sinuous undulations； as if from unseen water…snakes beneath。 A few rags
of storm…cloud lay over the half…seen hills beyond the bay； and behind
them came little mutterings of thunder； now here； now there； as if some
wild creature were roaming up and down； dissatisfied； in the shelter of the
clouds。 The pale haze extended into the foreground； and half veiled the
schooners that lay at anchor with their sails up。 It was sultry； and there was
something in the atmosphere that at once threatened and soothed。
Sometimes a few drops dimpled the water and then ceased； the muttering
creature in the sky moved northward and grew still。 It was a day when
every one would be tempted to go out rowing； but when only lovers would
go。 Philip and Hope went。
Kate and Harry； meanwhile； awaited their opportunity to go in and
visit Aunt Jane。 This was a thing that never could be done till near noon；
because that dear lady was very deliberate in her morning habits； and
always averred that she had never seen the sun rise except in a panorama。
She hated to be hurried in dressing； too； for she was accustomed to say
that she must have leisure to understand herself； and this was clearly an
affair of time。
But she was never more charming than when； after dressing and
breakfasting in seclusion； and then vigilantly watching her handmaiden
through the necessary dustings and arrangements； she sat at last； with her
affairs in order； to await events。 Every day she expected something
entirely new to happen； and was never disappointed。 For she herself
always happened； if nothing else did； she could no more repeat herself
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than the sunrise can； and the liveliest visitor always carried away
something fresher and more remarkable than he brought。
Her book that morning had displeased her； and she was boiling with
indignation against its author。
〃I am reading a book so dry；〃 she said； 〃it makes me cough。 No
wonder there was a drought last summer。 It was printed then。 Worcester's
Geography seems in my memory as fascinating as Shakespeare； when I
look back upon it from this book。 How can a man write such a thing and
live？〃
〃Perhaps he lived by writing it；〃 said Kate。
〃Perhaps it was the best he could do；〃 added the more literal Harry。
〃It certainly was not the best he could do； for he might have died；
died instead of dried。 O； I should like to prick that man with something
sharp； and see if sawdust did not run out of him！ Kate； ask the bookseller
to let me know if he ever really dies； and then life may seem fresh again。〃
〃What is it？〃 asked Kate。
〃Somebody
