malbone- an oldport romance[1].(马尔布恩)-第4章
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Browning attributes to his Saul。
This inexhaustible freshness of physical organization seemed to open
the windows of her soul； and make for her a new heaven and earth every
day。 It gave also a peculiar and almost embarrassing directness to her
mental processes； and suggested in them a sort of final and absolute value；
as if truth had for the first time found a perfectly translucent medium。 It
was not so much that she said rare things； but her very silence was
eloquent； and there was a great deal of it。 Her girlhood had in it a certain
dignity as of a virgin priestess or sibyl。 Yet her hearty sympathies and
her healthy energy made her at home in daily life； and in a democratic
society。 To Kate； for instance； she was a necessity of existence； like light
or air。 Kate's nature was limited； part of her graceful equipoise was
narrowness。 Hope was capable of far more self…abandonment to a
controlling emotion； and； if she ever erred； would err more widely； for it
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MALBONE： AN OLDPORT ROMANCE。
would be because the whole power of her conscience was misdirected。
〃Once let her take wrong for right；〃 said Aunt Jane； 〃and stop her if you
can； these born saints give a great deal more trouble than children of this
world； like my Kate。〃 Yet in daily life Hope yielded to her cousin nine
times out of ten； but the tenth time was the key to the situation。 Hope
loved Kate devotedly； but Kate believed in her as the hunted fugitive
believes in the north star。
To these maidens； thus united； came Emilia home from Europe。 The
father of Harry and Hope had been lured into a second marriage with
Emilia's mother； a charming and unscrupulous woman； born with an
American body and a French soul。 She having once won him to Paris；
held him there life…long； and kept her step…children at a safe distance。
She arranged that； even after her own death； her daughter should still
remain abroad for education； nor was Emilia ordered back until she
brought down some scandal by a romantic attempt to elope from boarding…
school with a Swiss servant。 It was by weaning her heart from this man
that Philip Malbone had earned the thanks of the whole household during
his hasty flight through Europe。 He possessed some skill in withdrawing
the female heart from an undesirable attachment； though it was apt to be
done by substituting another。 It was fortunate that； in this case； no fears
could be entertained。 Since his engagement Philip had not permitted
himself so much as a flirtation； he and Hope were to be married soon； he
loved and admired her heartily； and had an indifference to her want of
fortune that was quite amazing； when we consider that he had a fortune of
his own。
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MALBONE： AN OLDPORT ROMANCE。
CHAPTER III。
A DRIVE ON THE AVENUE。
OLDPORT AVENUE is a place where a great many carriages may be
seen driving so slowly that they might almost be photographed without
halting； and where their occupants already wear the dismal expression
which befits that process。 In these fine vehicles； following each other in an
endless file； one sees such faces as used to be exhibited in ball…rooms
during the performance of quadrilles； before round dances came in；faces
marked by the renunciation of all human joy。 Sometimes a faint suspicion
suggests itself on the Avenue； that these torpid countenances might be
roused to life； in case some horse should run away。 But that one chance
never occurs； the riders may not yet be toned down into perfect breeding；
but the horses are。 I do not know what could ever break the gloom of
this joyless procession； were it not that youth and beauty are always in
fashion； and one sometimes meets an exceptional barouche full of boys
and girls； who could absolutely be no happier if they were a thousand
miles away from the best society。 And such a joyous company were our
four youths and maidens when they went to drive that day； Emilia being
left at home to rest after the fatigues of the voyage。
〃What beautiful horses！〃 was Hope's first exclamation。 〃What grave
people！〃 was her second。
〃What though in solemn silence all Roll
round 〃
quoted Philip。
〃Hope is thinking；〃 said Harry； 〃whether 'in reason's ear they all
rejoice。'〃
〃How COULD you know that？〃 said she； opening her eyes。
〃One thing always strikes me；〃 said Kate。 〃The sentence of
stupefaction does not seem to be enforced till after five…and…twenty。 That
young lady we just met looked quite lively and juvenile last year； I
remember； and now she has graduated into a dowager。〃
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〃Like little Helen's kitten；〃 said Philip。 〃She justly remarks that；
since I saw it last； it is all spoiled into a great big cat。〃
〃Those must be snobs；〃 said Harry； as a carriage with unusually
gorgeous liveries rolled by。
〃I suppose so；〃 said Malbone； indifferently。 〃In Oldport we call all
new…comers snobs； you know； till they have invited us to their grand ball。
Then we go to it； and afterwards speak well of them； and only abuse their
wine。〃
〃How do you know them for new…comers？〃 asked Hope； looking after
the carriage。
〃By their improperly intelligent expression；〃 returned Phil。 〃They
look around them as you do； my child； with the air of wide…awake
curiosity which marks the American traveller。 That is out of place here。
The Avenue abhors everything but a vacuum。〃
〃I never can find out；〃 continued Hope； 〃how people recognize each
other here。 They do not look at each other； unless they know each other：
and how are they to know if they know； unless they look first？〃
〃It seems an embarrassment；〃 said Malbone。 〃But it is supposed that
fashion perforates the eyelids and looks through。 If you attempt it in any
other way； you are lost。 Newly arrived people look about them； and； the
more new wealth they have； the more they gaze。 The men are uneasy
behind their recently educated mustaches； and the women hold their
parasols with trembling hands。 It takes two years to learn to drive on the
Avenue。 Come again next summer； and you will see in those same
carriages faces of remote superciliousness； that suggest generations of
gout and ancestors。〃
〃What a pity one feels；〃 said Harry； 〃for these people who still suffer
from lingering modesty； and need a master to teach them to be insolent！〃
〃They learn it soon enough；〃 said Kate。 〃Philip is right。 Fashion lies
in the eye。 People fix their own position by the way they don't look at
you。〃
〃There is a certain indifference of manner；〃 philosophized Malbone；
〃before which ingenuous youth is crushed。 I may know that a man can
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MALBONE： AN OLDPORT ROMANCE。
hardly read or write； and that his father was a ragpicker till one day he
picked up bank…notes for a million。 No matter。 If he does not take the
trouble to look at me； I must look reverentially at him。〃
〃Here is somebody who will look at Hope；〃 cried Kate； suddenly。
A carriage passed； bearing a young lady with fair hair； and a keen；
bright look； talking eagerly to a small and quiet youth beside her。
Her face brightened still more as she caught the eye of Hope； whose
face lighted up in return； and who then sank back with a sort of sigh of
relief； as if she had at last seen somebody she cared for。 The lady waved
an un…gloved hand； and drove by。
〃Who is that？〃 asked Philip； eagerly。 He was used to knowing every
one。
〃Hope's pet；〃 said Kate； 〃and she who pets Hope； Lady Antwerp。〃
〃Is it possible？〃 said Malbone。 〃That young creature？ I fancied her
ladyship in spectacles； with little side curls。 Men speak of her with such
dismay。〃
〃Of course；〃 said Kate； 〃she asks them sensible questions。〃
〃That is bad；〃 admitted Philip。 〃Nothing exasperates fashionable
Americans like a really intelligent foreigner。 They feel as Sydney Smith
says the English clergy felt about Elizabeth Fry； she disturbs their repose；
and gives rise to distressing comparisons；they long to burn her alive。 It is
not their notion of a countess。〃
〃I am sure it was not mine；〃 said Hope； 〃I can hardly remember that
she is one； I only know that I like her； she is so simple and intelligent。 She
might be a girl from a Normal School。〃
〃It is because you are just that；〃 said Kate； 〃that she likes you。 She
came here supposing that we had all been at such schools。 Then she
complained of us；us girls in what we call good society； I mean；because；
as she more than hinted； we did not seem to know anything。〃
〃Some of the mothers were angry；〃 said Hope。 〃But Aunt Jane told
her that it was perfectly true； and that her ladyship had not yet seen the
best…educated girls in America； who were generally the daughters of old
ministers and well…to…do shopkeepers in small New England towns； Aunt
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Jane said。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Kate； 〃she said that the best of those girls went to High
Schools and Normal Schools； and
