malbone- an oldport romance[1].(马尔布恩)-第9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！
neither innocent nor guilty； but always on some delicious middle ground。
He loved dearly to skate on thin ice；that was the trouble；especially
where he fancied the water to be just within his depth。 Unluckily the sea of
life deepens rather fast。
Malbone had known Hope from her childhood； as he had known her
cousins； but their love dated from their meetings beside the sickbed of his
mother； over whom he had watched with unstinted devotion for weary
months。 She had been very fond of the young girl； and her last earthly act
was to place Hope's hand in Philip's。 Long before this final consecration；
Hope had won his heart more thoroughly； he fancied； than any woman he
had ever seen。 The secret of this crowning charm was； perhaps； that she
was a new sensation。 He had prided himself on his knowledge of her sex；
and yet here was a wholly new species。 He was acquainted with the
women of society； and with the women who only wished to be in society。
But here was one who was in the chrysalis； and had never been a grub； and
had no wish to be a butterfly； and what should he make of her？ He was
31
… Page 32…
MALBONE： AN OLDPORT ROMANCE。
like a student of insects who had never seen a bee。 Never had he known
a young girl who cared for the things which this maiden sought； or who
was not dazzled by things to which Hope seemed perfectly indifferent。 She
was not a devotee； she was not a prude； people seemed to amuse and
interest her； she liked them； she declared； as much as she liked books。 But
this very way of putting the thing seemed like inverting the accustomed
order of affairs in the polite world； and was of itself a novelty。
Of course he had previously taken his turn for a while among Kate's
admirers； but it was when she was very young； and； moreover； it was hard
to get up anything like a tender and confidential relation with that frank
maiden； she never would have accepted Philip Malbone for herself； and
she was by no means satisfied with his betrothal to her best beloved。 But
that Hope loved him ardently there was no doubt； however it might be
explained。 Perhaps it was some law of opposites； and she needed some
one of lighter nature than her own。 As her resolute purpose charmed him；
so she may have found a certain fascination in the airy way in which he
took hold on life； he was so full of thought and intelligence； possessing
infinite leisure； and yet incapable of ennui； ready to oblige every one； and
doing so many kind acts at so little personal sacrifice； always easy；
graceful； lovable； and kind。 In her just indignation at those who called him
heartless； she forgot to notice that his heart was not deep。 He was
interested in all her pursuits； could aid her in all her studies； suggest
schemes for her benevolent desires； and could then make others work for
her； and even work himself。 People usually loved Philip； even while they
criticised him； but Hope loved him first； and then could not criticise him at
all。
Nature seems always planning to equalize characters； and to protect
our friends from growing too perfect for our deserts。 Love； for instance；
is apt to strengthen the weak； and yet sometimes weakens the strong。
Under its influence Hope sometimes appeared at disadvantage。 Had the
object of her love been indifferent； the result might have been otherwise；
but her ample nature apparently needed to contract itself a little； to find
room within Philip's heart。 Not that in his presence she became vain or
32
… Page 33…
MALBONE： AN OLDPORT ROMANCE。
petty or jealous； that would have been impossible。 She only grew
credulous and absorbed and blind。 A kind of gentle obstinacy； too；
developed itself in her nature； and all suggestion of defects in him fell off
from her as from a marble image of Faith。 If he said or did anything；
there was no appeal； that was settled； let us pass to something else。
I almost blush to admit that Aunt Janeof whom it could by no means
be asserted that she was a saintly lady； but only a very charming one
rather rejoiced in this transformation。
〃I like it better； my dear；〃 she said； with her usual frankness； to Kate。
〃Hope was altogether too heavenly for my style。 When she first came here；
I secretly thought I never should care anything about her。 She seemed
nothing but a little moral tale。 I thought she would not last me five minutes。
But now she is growing quite human and ridiculous about that Philip； and
I think I may find her very attractive indeed。〃
33
… Page 34…
MALBONE： AN OLDPORT ROMANCE。
CHAPTER VI。
〃SOME LOVER'S CLEAR DAY。〃
〃HOPE！〃 said Philip Malbone； as they sailed together in a little boat
the next morning； 〃I have come back to you from months of bewildered
dreaming。 I have been wandering；no matter where。 I need you。 You
cannot tell how much I need you。〃
〃I can estimate it；〃 she answered； gently； 〃by my need of you。〃
〃Not at all；〃 said Philip； gazing in her trustful face。 〃Any one whom
you loved would adore you； could he be by your side。 You need nothing。
It is I who need you。〃
〃Why？〃 she asked； simply。
〃Because；〃 he said； 〃I am capable of behaving very much like a fool。
Hope； I am not worthy of you； why do you love me？ why do you trust
me？〃
〃I do not know how I learned to love you；〃 said Hope。 〃It is a
blessing that was given to me。 But I learned to trust you in your mother's
sick…room。〃
〃Ay；〃 said Philip； sadly； 〃there； at least； I did my full duty。〃
〃As few would have done it；〃 said Hope； firmly；〃very few。 Such
prolonged self…sacrifice must strengthen a man for life。〃
〃Not always；〃 said Philip； uneasily。 〃Too much of that sort of thing
may hurt one； I fancy； as well as too little。 He may come to imagine that
the balance of virtue is in his favor； and that he may grant himself a little
indulgence to make up for lost time。 That sort of recoil is a little
dangerous； as I sometimes feel； do you know？〃
〃And you show it；〃 said Hope； ardently； 〃by fresh sacrifices！ How
much trouble you have taken about Emilia！ Some time； when you are
willing； you shall tell me all about it。 You always seemed to me a magician；
but I did not think that even you could restore her to sense and wisdom so
soon。〃
Malbone was just then very busy putting the boat about； but when he
34
… Page 35…
MALBONE： AN OLDPORT ROMANCE。
had it on the other tack； he said； 〃How do you like her？〃
〃Philip；〃 said Hope； her eyes filling with tears； 〃I wonder if you have
the slightest conception how my heart is fixed on that child。 She has
always been a sort of dream to me； and the difficulty of getting any letters
from her has only added to the excitement。 Now that she is here； my whole
heart yearns toward her。 Yet； when I look into her eyes； a sort of blank
hopelessness comes over me。 They seem like the eyes of some untamable
creature whose language I shall never learn。 Philip； you are older and
wiser than I； and have shown already that you understand her。 Tell me
what I can do to make her love me？〃
〃Tell me how any one could help it？〃 said Malbone； looking fondly on
the sweet； pleading face before him。
〃I am beginning to fear that it can be helped；〃 she said。 Her thoughts
were still with Emilia。
〃Perhaps it can；〃 said Phil； 〃if you sit so far away from people。 Here
we are alone on the bay。 Come and sit by me； Hope。〃
She had been sitting amidships； but she came aft at once； and nestled
by him as he sat holding the tiller。 She put her face against his knee； like
a tired child； and shut her eyes； her hair was lifted by the summer breeze； a
scent of roses came from her； the mere contact of anything so fresh and
pure wa
