第 4 节
作者: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