malbone- an oldport romance[1].(马尔布恩)-第3章
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maid。 Yet as her father was a New York merchant of the precarious or
spasmodic description； she had been used from childhood to the wildest
fluctuations of wardrobe；a year of Paris dresses；then another year spent
in making over ancient finery； that never looked like either finery or
antiquity when it came from her magic hands。 Without a particle of vanity
or fear； secure in health and good…nature and invariable prettiness； she
cared little whether the appointed means of grace were ancient silk or
modern muslin。 In her periods of poverty； she made no secret of the
necessary devices； the other girls； of course； guessed them； but her lovers
never did； because she always told them。 There was one particular tarlatan
dress of hers which was a sort of local institution。 It was known to all
her companions； like the State House。 There was a report that she had
first worn it at her christening； the report originated with herself。 The
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young men knew that she was going to the party if she could turn that pink
tarlatan once more； but they had only the vaguest impression what a
tarlatan was； and cared little on which side it was worn； so long as Kate
was inside。
During these epochs of privation her life； in respect to dress； was a
perpetual Christmas…tree of second…hand gifts。 Wealthy aunts supplied her
with cast…off shoes of all sizes； from two and a half up to five； and she
used them all。 She was reported to have worn one straw hat through five
changes of fashion。 It was averred that； when square crowns were in
vogue； she flattened it over a tin pan； and that； when round crowns
returned； she bent it on the bedpost。 There was such a charm in her way
of adapting these treasures； that the other girls liked to test her with new
problems in the way of millinery and dress…making； millionnaire friends
implored her to trim their hats； and lent her their own things in order to
learn how to wear them。 This applied especially to certain rich cousins；
shy and studious girls； who adored her； and to whom society only ceased
to be alarming when the brilliant Kate took them under her wing； and
graciously accepted a few of their newest feathers。 Well might they
acquiesce； for she stood by them superbly； and her most favored partners
found no way to her hand so sure as to dance systematically through that
staid sisterhood。 Dear； sunshiny； gracious； generous Kate！who has ever
done justice to the charm given to this grave old world by the presence of
one free…hearted and joyous girl？
At the time now to be described； however； Kate's purse was well filled；
and if she wore only second…best finery； it was because she had lent her
very best to somebody else。 All that her doting father asked was to pay
for her dresses； and to see her wear them； and if her friends wore a part of
them； it only made necessary a larger wardrobe； and more varied and
pleasurable shopping。 She was as good a manager in wealth as in poverty；
wasted nothing； took exquisite care of everything； and saved faithfully for
some one else all that was not needed for her own pretty person。
Pretty she was throughout； from the parting of her jet…black hair to the
high instep of her slender foot； a glancing； brilliant； brunette beauty； with
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the piquant charm of perpetual spirits； and the equipoise of a perfectly
healthy nature。 She was altogether graceful； yet she had not the fresh；
free grace of her cousin
Hope； who was lithe and strong as a hawthorne spray： Kate's was the
narrower grace of culture grown hereditary； an in…door elegance that was
born in her； and of which dancing…school was but the natural development。
You could not picture Hope to your mind in one position more than in
another； she had an endless variety of easy motion。 When you thought of
Kate； you remembered precisely how she sat； how she stood； and how she
walked。 That was all； and it was always the same。 But is not that enough？
We do not ask of Mary Stuart's portrait that it should represent her in more
than one attitude； and why should a living beauty need more than two or
three？
Kate was betrothed to her cousin Harry； Hope's brother； and； though
she was barely twenty； they had seemed to appertain to each other for a
time so long that the memory of man or maiden aunt ran not to the
contrary。 She always declared； indeed； that they were born married； and
that their wedding…day would seem like a silver wedding。 Harry was quiet；
unobtrusive； and manly。 He might seem commonplace at first beside the
brilliant Kate and his more gifted sister； but thorough manhood is never
commonplace； and he was a person to whom one could anchor。 His strong；
steadfast physique was the type of his whole nature； when he came into
the room； you felt as if a good many people had been added to the
company。 He made steady progress in his profession of the law； through
sheer worth； he never dazzled； but he led。 His type was pure Saxon； with
short； curling hair； blue eyes； and thin； fair skin； to which the color readily
mounted。 Up to a certain point he was imperturbably patient and amiable；
but； when overtaxed； was fiery and impetuous for a single instant； and no
more。 It seemed as if a sudden flash of anger went over him； like the flash
that glides along the glutinous stem of the fraxinella； when you touch it
with a candle； the next moment it had utterly vanished； and was forgotten
as if it had never been。
Kate's love for her lover was one of those healthy and assured ties that
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often outlast the ardors of more passionate natures。 For other
temperaments it might have been inadequate； but theirs matched perfectly；
and it was all sufficient for them。 If there was within Kate's range a more
heroic and ardent emotion than that inspired by Harry； it was put forth
toward Hope。 This was her idolatry； she always said that it was fortunate
Hope was Hal's sister； or she should have felt it her duty to give them to
each other； and not die till the wedding was accomplished。 Harry shared
this adoration to quite a reasonable extent； for a brother； but his admiration
for Philip Malbone was one that Kate did not quite share。 Harry's quieter
mood had been dazzled from childhood by Philip； who had always been a
privileged guest in the household。 Kate's clear； penetrating； buoyant nature
had divined Phil's weaknesses； and had sometimes laughed at them； even
from her childhood； though she did not dislike him； for she did not dislike
anybody。 But Harry was magnetized by him very much as women were；
believed him true； because he was tender； and called him only fastidious
where Kate called him lazy。
Kate was spending that summer with her aunt Jane； whose especial pet
and pride she was。 Hope was spending there the summer vacation of a
Normal School in which she had just become a teacher。 Her father had
shared in the family ups and downs； but had finally stayed down； while the
rest had remained up。 Fortunately； his elder children were indifferent to
this； and indeed rather preferred it； it was a tradition that Hope had
expressed the wish； when a child； that her father might lose his property；
so that she could become a teacher。 As for Harry； he infinitely preferred
the drudgery of a law office to that of a gentleman of leisure； and as for
their step…mother； it turned out； when she was left a widow； that she had
secured for herself and Emilia whatever property remained； so that she
suffered only the delightful need of living in Europe for economy。
The elder brother and sister had alike that fine physical vigor which
New England is now developing； just in time to save it from decay。 Hope
was of Saxon type； though a shade less blonde than her brother； she was a
little taller； and of more commanding presence； with a peculiarly noble
carriage of the shoulders。 Her brow was sometimes criticised as being a
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little too full for a woman； but her nose was straight； her mouth and teeth
beautiful； and her profile almost perfect。 Her complexion had lost by out…
door life something of its delicacy； but had gained a freshness and
firmness that no sunlight could impair。 She had that wealth of hair which
young girls find the most enviable point of beauty in each other。 Hers
reached below her knees； when loosened； or else lay coiled； in munificent
braids of gold； full of sparkling lights and contrasted shadows； upon her
queenly head。
Her eyes were much darker than her hair； and had a way of opening
naively and suddenly； with a perfectly infantine expression； as if she at
that moment saw the sunlight for the first time。 Her long lashes were
somewhat like Emilia's； and she had the same deeply curved eyebrows； in
no other point was there a shade of resemblance between the half…sisters。
As compared with Kate； Hope showed a more abundant physical life；
there was more blood in her； she had ampler outlines； and health more
absolutely unvaried； for she had yet to know the experience of a day's
illness。 Kate seemed born to tread upon a Brussels carpet； and Hope on the
softer luxury of the forest floor。 Out of doors her vigor became a sort of
ecstasy； and she walked the earth with a jubilee of the senses； such as
Browning attributes to his Saul。
This inexhaustible freshness of physical organizat
