malbone- an oldport romance[1].(马尔布恩)-第17章
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！
newspapers； and wept profusely at the funerals of strangers。 On every
occasion； however felicitous； she offered her condolences in a feeble voice；
that seemed to have been washed a great many times and to have faded。
But she was a good manager； a devoted wife； and was more cheerful at
home than elsewhere； for she had there plenty of trials to exercise her
eloquence； and not enough joy to make it her duty to be doleful。 At last her
poor； meek； fatiguing voice faded out altogether； and her husband
mourned her as heartily as she would have bemoaned the demise of the
most insignificant neighbor。 After her death； being left childless； he had
nothing to do but to make money； and he naturally made it。 Having taken
his primary financial education in New England； he graduated at that great
business university； Chicago； and then entered on the public practice of
wealth in New York。
Aunt Jane had perhaps done injustice to the personal appearance of Mr。
John Lambert。 His features were irregular； but not insignificant； and
there was a certain air of slow command about him； which made some
persons call him handsome。 He was heavily built； with a large； well…
shaped head； light whiskers tinged with gray； and a sort of dusty
complexion。 His face was full of little curved wrinkles； as if it were a slate
just ruled for sums in long division； and his small blue eyes winked
anxiously a dozen different ways； as if they were doing the sums。 He
76
… Page 77…
MALBONE： AN OLDPORT ROMANCE。
seemed to bristle with memorandum…books； and kept drawing them from
every pocket； to put something down。 He was slow of speech； and his very
heaviness of look added to the impression of reserved power about the
man。
All his career in life had been a solid progress； and his boldest
speculations seemed securer than the legitimate business of less potent
financiers。 Beginning business life by peddling gingerbread on a railway
train； he had developed such a genius for railway management as some
men show for chess or for virtue； and his accumulating property had the
momentum of a planet。
He had read a good deal at odd times； and had seen a great deal of men。
His private morals were unstained； he was equable and amiable； had
strong good sense； and never got beyond his depth。 He had travelled in
Europe and brought home many statistics； some new thoughts； and a few
good pictures selected by his friends。 He spent his money liberally for the
things needful to his position； owned a yacht； bred trotting…horses； and had
founded a theological school。 He submitted to these and other social
observances from a vague sense of duty as an American citizen； his real
interest lay in business and in politics。 Yet he conducted these two
vocations on principles diametrically opposite。 In business he was more
honest than the average； in politics he had no conception of honesty； for he
could see no difference between a politician and any other merchandise。
He always succeeded in business； for he thoroughly understood its
principles； in politics he always failed in the end； for he recognized no
principles at all。 In business he was active； resolute； and seldom
deceived； in politics he was equally active； but was apt to be irresolute；
and was deceived every day of his life。 In both cases it was not so much
from love of power that he labored； as from the excitement of the game。
The larger the scale the better he liked it； a large railroad operation； a large
tract of real estate； a big and noisy statesman；these investments he found
irresistible。
On which of his two sets of principles he would manage a wife
remained to be proved。 It is the misfortune of what are called self…made
77
… Page 78…
MALBONE： AN OLDPORT ROMANCE。
men in America； that； though early accustomed to the society of men of
the world； they often remain utterly unacquainted with women of the
world； until those charming perils are at last sprung upon them in full
force； at New York or Washington。 John Lambert at forty was as
absolutely ignorant of the qualities and habits of a cultivated woman as of
the details of her toilet。 The plain domesticity of his departed wife he had
understood and prized； he remembered her household ways as he did her
black alpaca dress； indeed； except for that item of apparel； she was not so
unlike himself。 In later years he had seen the women of society； he had
heard them talk； he had heard men talk about them； wittily or wickedly； at
the clubs； he had perceived that a good many of them wished to marry him；
and yet； after all； he knew no more of them than of the rearing of
humming…birds or orchids；dainty； tropical things which he allowed his
gardener to raise； he keeping his hands off； and only paying the bills。
Whether there was in existence a class of women who were both useful
and refined；any intermediate type between the butterfly and the drudge；
was a question which he had sometimes asked himself； without having the
materials to construct a reply。
With imagination thus touched and heart unfilled； this man had been
bewitched from the very first moment by Emilia。 He kept it to himself；
and heard in silence the criticisms made at the club…windows。 To those
perpetual jokes about marriage； which are showered with such graceful
courtesy about the path of widowers； he had no reply； or at most would
only admit that he needed some elegant woman to preside over his
establishment； and that he had better take her young； as having habits less
fixed。 But in his secret soul he treasured every tone of this girl's voice；
every glance of her eye； and would have kept in a casket of gold and
diamonds the little fragrant glove she once let fall。 He envied the penniless
and brainless boys； who； with ready gallantry； pushed by him to escort her
to her carriage； and he lay awake at night to form into words the answer he
ought to have made； when she threw at him some careless phrase； and
gave him the opportunity to blunder。
And she； meanwhile； unconscious of his passion； went by him in her
78
… Page 79…
MALBONE： AN OLDPORT ROMANCE。
beauty； and caught him in the net she never threw。 Emilia was always
piquant； because she was indifferent； she had never made an effort in her
life； and she had no respect for persons。 She was capable of marrying for
money； perhaps； but the sacrifice must all be completed in a single vow。
She would not tutor nor control herself for the purpose。 Hand and heart
must be duly transferred； she supposed； whenever the time was up； but till
then she must be free。
This with her was not art； but necessity； yet the most accomplished art
could have devised nothing so effectual to hold her lover。 His strong sense
had always protected him from the tricks of matchmaking mammas and
their guileless maids。 Had Emilia made one effort to please him； once
concealed a dislike； once affected a preference； the spell might have been
broken。 Had she been his slave； he might have become a very unyielding
or a very heedless despot。 Making him her slave； she kept him at the very
height of bliss。 This king of railways and purchaser of statesmen； this man
who made or wrecked the fortunes of others by his whim； was absolutely
governed by a reckless； passionate； inexperienced； ignorant girl。
And this passion was made all the stronger by being a good deal
confined to his own breast。 Somehow it was very hard for him to talk
sentiment to Emilia； he instinctively saw she disliked it； and indeed he
liked her for not approving the stiff phrases which were all he could
command。 Nor could he find any relief of mind in talking with others
about her。 It enraged him to be clapped on the back and congratulated by
his compeers； and he stopped their coarse jokes； often rudely enough。 As
for the young men at the club； he could not bear to hear them mention his
darling's name； however courteously。 He knew well enough that for
them the betrothal had neither dignity nor purity； that they held it to be as
much a matter of bargain and sale as their worst amours。 He would far
rather have talked to the theological professors whose salaries he paid； for
he saw that they had a sort of grave； formal tradition of the sacredness of
marriage。 And he had a right to claim that to him it was sacred； at least as
yet； all the ideal side of his nature was suddenly developed； he walked in a
dream； he even read Tennyson。
79
… Page 80…
MALBONE： AN OLDPORT ROMANCE。
Sometimes he talked a little to his future brother…in…law； Harry；
assuming； as lovers are wont； that brothers see sisters on their ideal side。
This was quite true of Harry and Hope； but not at all true as regarded
Emilia。 She seemed to him simply a beautiful and ungoverned girl
whom he could not respect； and whom he therefore found it very hard to
idealize。 Therefore he heard with a sort of sadness the outpourings of
generous devotion from John Lambert。
〃I don't know how it is； Henry；〃 the merchant would gravely say； 〃I
can't get rightly used to it； that I feel so strange。 Honestly； now； I feel as if
I was beginning life over again。 It ain't a selfish feeling； so I know t
