malbone- an oldport romance[1].(马尔布恩)-第8节
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strange to say； was recognized by both sexes；for handsome men must
often consent to be mildly hated by their own。 He had travelled much；
and had mingled in very varied society； he had a moderate fortune； no
vices； no ambition； and no capacity of ennui。
He was fastidious and over…critical； it might be； in his theories； but in
practice he was easily suited and never vexed。
He liked travelling； and he liked staying at home； he was so
continually occupied as to give an apparent activity to all his life； and yet
he was never too busy to be interrupted； especially if the intruder were a
woman or a child。 He liked to be with people of his own age； whatever
their condition； he also liked old people because they were old； and
children because they were young。 In travelling by rail； he would woo
crying babies out of their mothers' arms； and still them； it was always his
back that Irishwomen thumped； to ask if they must get out at the next
station； and he might be seen handing out decrepit paupers； as if they were
of royal blood and bore concealed sceptres in their old umbrellas。
Exquisitely nice in his personal habits； he had the practical democracy of a
good…natured young prince； he had never yet seen a human being who
awed him； nor one whom he had the slightest wish to awe。 His courtesy；
had； therefore； that comprehensiveness which we call republican； though it
was really the least republican thing about him。 All felt its attraction； there
was really no one who disliked him； except Aunt Jane； and even she
admitted that he was the only person who knew how to cut her lead…pencil。
That cheerful English premier who thought that any man ought to find
happiness enough in walking London streets and looking at the lobsters in
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MALBONE： AN OLDPORT ROMANCE。
the fish…markets； was not more easily satisfied than Malbone。 He liked to
observe the groups of boys fishing at the wharves； or to hear the chat of
their fathers about coral…reefs and penguins' eggs； or to sketch the fisher's
little daughter awaiting her father at night on some deserted and crumbling
wharf； his blue pea…jacket over her fair ring…leted head； and a great cat
standing by with tail uplifted； her sole protector。 He liked the luxurious
indolence of yachting； and he liked as well to float in his wherry among
the fleet of fishing schooners getting under way after a three days' storm；
each vessel slipping out in turn from the closely packed crowd； and
spreading its white wings for flight。 He liked to watch the groups of negro
boys and girls strolling by the window at evening； and strumming on the
banjo；the only vestige of tropical life that haunts our busy Northern zone。
But he liked just as well to note the ways of well…dressed girls and boys at
croquet parties； or to sit at the club window and hear the gossip。 He was
a jewel of a listener； and was not easily bored even when Philadelphians
talked about families； or New Yorkers about bargains； or Bostonians about
books。 A man who has not one absorbing aim can get a great many
miscellaneous things into each twenty…four hours； and there was not a day
in which Philip did not make himself agreeable and useful to many people；
receive many confidences； and give much good…humored advice about
matters of which he knew nothing。 His friends' children ran after him in
the street； and he knew the pet theories and wines of elderly gentlemen。
He said that he won their hearts by remembering every occurrence in their
lives except their birthdays。
It was； perhaps； no drawback on the popularity of Philip Malbone that
he had been for some ten years reproached as a systematic flirt by all
women with whom he did not happen at the moment to be flirting。 The
reproach was unjust； he had never done anything systematically in his life；
it was his temperament that flirted； not his will。 He simply had that most
perilous of all seductive natures； in which the seducer is himself seduced。
With a personal refinement that almost amounted to purity； he was
constantly drifting into loves more profoundly perilous than if they had
belonged to a grosser man。 Almost all women loved him； because he loved
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MALBONE： AN OLDPORT ROMANCE。
almost all； he never had to assume an ardor； for he always felt it。 His heart
was multivalve； he could love a dozen at once in various modes and
gradations； press a dozen hands in a day； gaze into a dozen pair of eyes
with unfeigned tenderness； while the last pair wept for him； he was
looking into the next。 In truth； he loved to explore those sweet depths；
humanity is the highest thing to investigate； he said； and the proper study
of mankind is woman。 Woman needs to be studied while under the
influence of emotion； let us therefore have the emotions。 This was the
reason he gave to himself； but this refined Mormonism of the heart was
not based on reason； but on temperament and habit。 In such matters logic
is only for the by…standers。
His very generosity harmed him； as all our good qualities may harm us
when linked with bad ones； he had so many excuses for doing kindnesses
to his friends； it was hard to quarrel with him if he did them too tenderly。
He was no more capable of unkindness than of constancy； and so strongly
did he fix the allegiance of those who loved him； that the women to whom
he had caused most anguish would still defend him when accused； would
have crossed the continent； if needed； to nurse him in illness； and would
have rained rivers of tears on his grave。 To do him justice； he would
have done almost as much for them；for any of them。 He could torture a
devoted heart； but only through a sort of half…wilful unconsciousness； he
could not bear to see tears shed in his presence； nor to let his imagination
dwell very much on those which flowed in his absence。 When he had once
loved a woman； or even fancied that he loved her； he built for her a shrine
that was never dismantled； and in which a very little faint incense would
sometimes be found burning for years after； he never quite ceased to feel a
languid thrill at the mention of her name； he would make even for a past
love the most generous sacrifices of time； convenience； truth perhaps；
everything； in short； but the present love。 To those who had given him all
that an undivided heart can give he would deny nothing but an undivided
heart in return。 The misfortune was that this was the only thing they
cared to possess。
This abundant and spontaneous feeling gave him an air of earnestness；
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MALBONE： AN OLDPORT ROMANCE。
without which he could not have charmed any woman； and； least of all；
one like Hope。 No woman really loves a trifler； she must at least
convince herself that he who trifles with others is serious with her。 Philip
was never quite serious and never quite otherwise； he never deliberately
got up a passion； for it was never needful； he simply found an object for
his emotions； opened their valves； and then watched their flow。 To love a
charming woman in her presence is no test of genuine passion； let us know
how much you long for her in absence。 This longing had never yet
seriously troubled Malbone； provided there was another charming person
within an easy walk。
If it was sometimes forced upon him that all this ended in anguish to
some of these various charmers； first or last； then there was always in
reserve the pleasure of repentance。 He was very winning and generous in
his repentances； and he enjoyed them so much they were often repeated。
He did not pass for a weak person； and he was not exactly weak； but he
spent his life in putting away temptations with one hand and pulling them
back with the other。 There was for him something piquant in being thus
neither innocent nor guilty； but always on some delicious middle ground。
He loved dearly to
