第 4 节
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京文 更新:2024-09-15 09:12 字数:9321
Clementina did it not only with tender dignity; but when she was fairly
launched in it; with a passion to which her sense of Mrs。 Milray's
strange unkindness lent defiance。 The dance was still so new a thing
then; that it had a surprise to which the girl's gentleness lent a
curious charm; and it had some adventitious fascinations from the
necessity she was in of weaving it in and out among the stationary
armchairs and sofas which still further cramped the narrow space where
she gave it。 Her own delight in it shone from her smiling face; which
was appealingly happy。 Just before it should have ended; one of those
wandering waves that roam the smoothest sea struck the ship; and
Clementina caught herself skilfully from falling; and reeled to her seat;
while the room rang with the applause and sympathetic laughter for the
mischance she had baffled。 There was a storm of encores; but Clementina
called out; 〃The ship tilts so!〃 and her naivete won her another burst of
favor; which was at its height when Lord Lioncourt had an inspiration。
He jumped up and said; 〃Miss Claxon is going to oblige us with a little
bit of dramatics; now; and I'm sure you'll all enjoy that quite as much
as her beautiful dancing。 She's going to take the principal part in the
laughable after…piece of Passing round the Hat; and I hope the audience
willaaado the rest。 She's consented on this occasion to use a
hator cap; ratherof her own; the charming Tam O'Shanter in which
we've all seen her; andaadmired her about the ship for the week
past。〃
He caught up the flat woolen steamer…cap which Clementina had left in her
seat beside Mrs。 Milray when she rose to dance; and held it aloft。 Some
one called out; 〃Chorus! For he's a jolly good fellow;〃 and led off in
his praise。 Lord Lioncourt shouted through the uproar the announcement
that while Miss Claxon was taking up the collection; Mr。 Ewins; of
Boston; would sing one of the student songs of Cambridgeno! Harvard
University; the music being his own。
Everyone wanted to make some joke or some compliment to Clementina about
the cap which grew momently heavier under the sovereigns and half
sovereigns; half crowns and half dollars; shillings; quarters; greenbacks
and every fraction of English and American silver; and the actor who had
given the imitations; made bold; as he said; to ask his lordship if the
audience might not hope; before they dispersed; for something more from
Miss Claxon。 He was sure she could do something more; he for one would
be glad of anything; and Clementina turned from putting her cap into Mrs。
Milray's lap; to find Lord Lioncourt bowing at her elbow; and offering
her his arm to lead her to the spot where she had stood in dancing。
The joy of her triumph went to her head; she wished to retrieve herself
from any shadow of defeat。
She stood panting a moment; and then; if she had had the professional
instinct; she would have given her admirers the surprise of something
altogether different from what had pleased them before。 That was what
the actor would have done; but Clementina thought of how her dance had
been brought to an untimely close by the rolling of the ship; she burned
to do it all as she knew it; no matter how the sea behaved; and in
another moment she struck into it again。 This time the sea behaved
perfectly; and the dance ended with just the swoop and swirl she had
meant it to have at first。 The spectators went generously wild over her;
they cheered and clapped her; and crowded upon her to tell how lovely it
was; but she escaped from them; and ran back to the place where she had
left Mrs。 Milray。 She was not there; and Clementina's cap full of alms
lay abandoned on the chair。 Lord Lioncourt said he would take charge of
the money; if she would lend him her cap to carry it in to the purser;
and she made her way into the saloon。 In a distant corner she saw Mrs。
Milray with Mr。 Ewins。
She advanced in a vague dismay toward them; and as she came near Mrs。
Milray said to Mr。 Ewins; 〃I don't like this place。 Let's go over
yonder。〃 She rose and rushed him to the other end of the saloon。
Lord Lioncourt came in looking about。 〃Ah; have you found her?〃 he
asked; gayly。 〃There were twenty pounds in your cap; and two hundred
dollars。〃
〃Yes;〃 said Clementina; 〃she's over the'a。〃 She pointed; and then shrank
and slipped away。
XVIII。
At breakfast Mrs。 Milray would not meet Clementina's eye; she talked to
the people across the table in a loud; lively voice; and then suddenly
rose; and swept past her out of the saloon。
The girl did not see her again till Mrs。 Milray came up on the promenade
at the hour when people who have eaten too much breakfast begin to spoil
their appetite for luncheon with the tea and bouillon of the deck…
stewards。 She looked fiercely about; and saw Clementina seated in her
usual place; but with Lord Lioncourt in her own chair next her husband;
and Ewins on foot before her。 They were both talking to Clementina; whom
Lord Lioncourt was accusing of being in low spirits unworthy of her last
night's triumphs。 He jumped up; and offered his place; 〃I've got your
chair; Mrs。 Milray。〃
〃Oh; no;〃 she said; coldly; 〃I was just coming to look after Mr。 Milray。
But I see he's in good hands。〃
She turned away; as if to make the round of the deck; and Ewins hurried
after her。 He came back directly; and said that Mrs。 Milray had gone
into the library to write letters。 He stayed; uneasily; trying to talk;
but with the air of a man who has been snubbed; and has not got back his
composure。
Lord Lioncourt talked on until he had used up the incidents of the night
before; and the probabilities of their getting into Queenstown before
morning; then he and Mr。 Ewins went to the smoking…room together; and
Clementina was left alone with Milray。
〃Clementina;〃 he said; gently; 〃I don't see everything; but isn't there
some trouble between you and Mrs。 Milray?〃
〃Why; I don't know what it can be;〃 answered the girl; with trembling
lips。 〃I've been trying to find out; and I can't undastand it。〃
〃Ah; those things are often very obscure;〃 said Milray; with a patient
smile。
Clementina wanted to ask him if Mrs。 Milray had said anything to him
about her; but she could not; and he did not speak again till he heard
her stir in rising from her chair。 Then he said; 〃I haven't forgotten
that letter to my sister; Clementina。 I will give it to you before we
leave the steamer。 Are you going to stay in Liverpool; over night; or
shall you go up to London at once?〃
〃I don't know。 It will depend upon how Mrs。 Landa feels。〃
〃Well; we shall see each other again。 Don't be worried。〃 He looked up
at her with a smile; and he could not see how forlornly she returned it。
As the day passed; Mrs。 Milray's angry eyes seemed to search her out for
scorn whenever Clementina found herself the centre of her last night's
celebrity。 Many people came up and spoke to her; at first with a certain
expectation of knowingness in her; which her simplicity baffled。 Then
they either dropped her; and went away; or stayed and tried to make
friends with her because of this; an elderly English clergyman and his
wife were at first compassionately anxious about her; and then
affectionately attentive to her in her obvious isolation。 Clementina's
simple…hearted response to their advances appeared to win while it
puzzled them; and they seemed trying to divine her in the strange double
character she wore to their more single civilization。 The theatrical
people thought none the worse of her for her simple…hearted ness;
apparently; they were both very sweet to her; and wanted her to promise
to come and see them in their little box in St。 John's Wood。 Once;
indeed; Clementina thought she saw relenting in Mrs。 Milray's glance; but
it hardened again as Lord Lioncourt and Mr。 Ewins came up to her; and
began to talk with her。 She could not go to her chair beside Milray; for
his wife was now keeping guard of him on the other side with unexampled
devotion。 Lord Lioncourt asked her to walk with him and she consented。
She thought that Mr。 Ewins would go and sit by Mrs。 Milray; of course;
but when she came round in her tour of the ship; Mrs。 Milray was sitting
alone beside her husband。
After dinner she went to the library and got a book; but she could not
read there; every chair was taken by people writing letters to send back
from Queenstown in the morning; and she strayed into the ladies' sitting
room; where no ladies seemed ever to sit; and lost herself in a miserable
muse over her open page。
Some one looked in at the door; and then advanced within and came
straight to Clementina; she knew without looking up that it was Mrs。
Milray。 〃I have been hunting for you; Miss Claxon;〃 she said; in a voice
frostily fierce; and with a bearing furiously formal。 〃I have a letter
to Miss Milray that my busband wished me to write for you; and give you
with his compliments。〃
〃Thank you;〃 said Clementina。 She rose mechanically to her feet; and at
the same time Mrs。 Milray sat down。
〃You will find Miss Milray;〃 she continued; with the same glacial
hauteur; 〃a very agreeable