malbone- an oldport romance[1].(马尔布恩)-第29章
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would go to pieces before morning。 No one would risk being the first to
take the water； and he had at last volunteered； as being the best swimmer；
on condition that Emilia should be next sent； when the communication
was established。
Two ropes were then hauled on board the vessel； a larger and a smaller。
By the flickering firelight and the rarer flashes of lightning （the rain now
falling in torrents） they saw a hammock slung to the larger rope； a
woman's form was swathed in it； and the smaller rope being made fast to
this； they found by pulling that she could be drawn towards the shore。
Those on board steadied the hammock as it was lowered from the ship； but
the waves seemed maddened by this effort to escape their might； and they
leaped up at her again and again。 The rope dropped beneath her weight；
and all that could be done from shore was to haul her in as fast as possible；
to abbreviate the period of buffeting and suffocation。 As she neared the
rocks she could be kept more safe from the water； faster and faster she was
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drawn in； sometimes there came some hitch and stoppage； but by steady
patience it was overcome。
She was so near the rocks that hands were already stretched to grasp
her； when there came one of the great surging waves that sometimes filled
the basin。 It gave a terrible lurch to the stranded vessel hitherto so erect；
the larger rope snapped instantly； the guiding rope was twitched from the
hands that held it； and the canvas that held Emilia was caught and swept
away like a shred of foam； and lost amid the whiteness of the seething
froth below。 Fifteen minutes after； the hammock came ashore empty； the
lashings having parted。
The cold daybreak was just opening； though the wind still blew keenly；
when they found the body of Emilia。 It was swathed in a roll of sea…
weed； lying in the edge of the surf； on a broad； flat rock near where the
young boatman had come ashore。 The face was not disfigured； the
clothing was only torn a little； and tangled closely round her； but the life
was gone。
It was Philip who first saw her； and he stood beside her for a moment
motionless； stunned into an aspect of tranquility。 This； then； was the end。
All his ready sympathy； his wooing tenderness； his winning compliances；
his self…indulgent softness； his perilous amiability； his reluctance to give
pain or to see sorrow；all had ended in this。 For once； he must force
even his accommodating and evasive nature to meet the plain； blank truth。
Now all his characteristics appeared changed by the encounter； it was
Harry who was ready； thoughtful； attentive；while Philip； who usually had
all these traits； was paralyzed among his dreams。 Could he have fancied
such a scene beforehand； he would have vowed that no hand but his
should touch the breathless form of Emilia。 As it was； he instinctively
made way for the quick gathering of the others； as if almost any one else
had a better right to be there。
The storm had blown itself out by sunrise； the wind had shifted；
beating down the waves； it seemed as if everything in nature were
exhausted。 The very tide had ebbed away。 The light…ship rested between
the rocks； helpless； still at the mercy of the returning waves； and yet still
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upright and with that stately look of unconscious pleading which all
shipwrecked vessels wear。 it is wonderfully like the look I have seen in
the face of some dead soldier； on whom war had done its worst。 Every line
of a ship is so built for motion； every part； while afloat； seems so full of
life and so answering to the human life it bears； that this paralysis of
shipwreck touches the imagination as if the motionless thing had once
been animated by a soul。
And not far from the vessel； in a chamber of the seaside farm…house；
lay the tenderer and fairer wreck of Emilia。 Her storms and her passions
were ended。 The censure of the world； the anguish of friends； the
clinging arms of love； were nothing now to her。 Again the soft shelter of
unconsciousness had clasped her in； but this time the trance was longer
and the faintness was unto death。
From the moment of her drifting ashore； it was the young boatman
who had assumed the right to care for her and to direct everything。 Philip
seemed stunned； Harry was his usual clear…headed and efficient self； but to
his honest eyes much revealed itself in a little while； and when Hope
arrived in the early morning； he said to her； 〃This boatman； who once
saved your life； is Emilia's Swiss lover； Antoine Marval。〃
〃More than lover；〃 said the young Swiss； overhearing。 〃She was my
wife before God； when you took her from me。 In my country； a betrothal
is as sacred as a marriage。 Then came that man； he filled her heart with
illusions； and took her away in my absence。 When my brother was here in
the corvette； he found her for me。 Then I came for her； I saved her sister；
then I saw the name on the card and would not give my own。 I became
her servant。 She saw me in the yacht； only once； she knew me； she was
afraid。 Then she said； 'Perhaps I still love you；a little； I do not know； I
am in despair； take me from this home I hate。' We sailed that day in the
small boat for Narragansett；I know not where。 She hardly looked up or
spoke； but for me； I cared for nothing since she was with me。 When the
storm came； she was frightened； and said； 'It is a retribution。' I said； 'You
shall never go back。' She never did。 Here she is。 You cannot take her
from me。〃
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Once on board the light…ship； she had been assigned the captain's state…
room； while Antoine watched at the door。 She seemed to shrink from
him whenever he went to speak to her； he owned； but she answered kindly
and gently； begging to be left alone。 When at last the vessel parted her
moorings； he persuaded Emilia to come on deck and be lashed to the mast；
where she sat without complaint。
Who can fathom the thoughts of that bewildered child； as she sat amid
the spray and the howling of the blast； while the doomed vessel drifted on
with her to the shore？ Did all the error and sorrow of her life pass
distinctly before her？ Or did the roar of the surf lull her into quiet； like the
unconscious kindness of wild creatures that toss and bewilder their prey
into unconsciousness ere they harm it？ None can tell。 Death answers no
questions； it only makes them needless。
The morning brought to the scene John Lambert； just arrived by land
from New York。
The passion of John Lambert for his wife was of that kind which
ennobles while it lasts； but which rarely outlasts marriage。 A man of such
uncongenial mould will love an enchanting woman with a mad； absorbing
passion； where self…sacrifice is so mingled with selfishness that the two
emotions seem one； he will hungrily yearn to possess her； to call her by his
own name； to hold her in his arms； to kill any one else who claims her。 But
when she is once his wife； and his arms hold a body without a soul；no
soul at least for him；then her image is almost inevitably profaned； and
the passion which began too high for earth ends far too low for heaven。
Let now death change that form to marble； and instantly it resumes its
virgin holiness； though the presence of life did not sanctify； its departure
does。 It is only the true lover to whom the breathing form is as sacred as
the breathless。
That ideality of nature which love had developed in this man； and
which had already drooped a little during his brief period of marriage； was
born again by the side of death。 While Philip wandered off silent and
lonely with his grief； John Lambert knelt by the beautiful remains； talking
inarticulately； his eyes streaming with unchecked tears。 Again was
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Emilia； in her marble paleness； the calm centre of a tragedy she herself
had caused。 The wild； ungoverned child was the image of peace； it was
the stolid and prosperous man who was in the storm。 It was not till Hope
came that there was any change。 Then his prostrate nature sought hers； as
the needle leaps to the iron； the first touch of her hand； the sight of her kiss
upon Emilia's forehead； made him strong。 It was the thorough subjection
of a worldly man to the higher organization of a noble woman； and
thenceforth it never varied。 In later years； after he had foolishly sought； as
men will； to win her to a nearer tie； there was no moment when she had
not full control over his time； his energies； and his wealth。
After it was all ended； Hope told him everything that had happened；
but in that wild moment of his despair she told him nothing。 Only she and
Harry knew the story of the young Swiss； and now that Emilia was gone；
her early lover had no wish to speak of her to any but these two； or to
linger long where she had been doubly lost to him； by marriage and by
death。 The world； with all its prying curiosity； usually misses the key to
the very incidents about which it asks most questions； and of the many
who gossiped or mourned concerning Emilia； none knew the tragic
complication which her death alone could have solved。 The breaking of
Hope's engagement to Philip was attributed to every cause but the true one。
And when the storm of the g
