第 2 节
作者:
浮游云中 更新:2021-02-20 16:27 字数:9303
street; pursued by a clamorous troop of confidence men and hotel runners。
〃Kommen Sie mit mir。 Ich bin auch Deutsch;〃 cried one。 〃Voila;
voila; je parle Francais;〃 shouted another; seizing hold of his valise。 〃Jeg
er Dansk。 Tale Dansk;〃'1' roared a third; with an accent which seriously
impeached his truthfulness。 In order to escape from these importunate
rascals; who were every moment getting bolder; he threw himself into the
first street…car which happened to pass; he sat down; gazed out of the
windows and soon became so thoroughly absorbed in the animated scenes
which moved as in a panorama before his eyes; that he quite forgot where
he was going。 The conductor called for fares; and received an English
shilling; which; after some ineffectual expostulation; he pocketed; but
gave no change。 At last after about an hour's journey; the car stopped; the
4
… Page 5…
TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
conductor called out 〃Central Park;〃 and Halfdan woke up with a start。
He dismounted with a timid; deliberate step; stared in dim bewilderment at
the long rows of palatial residences; and a chill sense of loneliness crept
over him。 The hopeless strangeness of everything he saw; instead of
filling him with rapture as he had once anticipated; Sent a cold shiver to
his heart。 It is a very large affair; this world of oursa good deal larger
than it appeared to him gazing out upon it from his snug little corner up
under the Pole; and it was as unsympathetic as it was large; he suddenly
felt what he had never been aware of before that he was a very small part
of it and of very little account after all。 He staggered over to a bench at
the entrance to the park; and sat long watching the fine carriages as they
dashed past him; he saw the handsome women in brilliant costumes
laughing and chatting gayly; the apathetic policemen promenading in stoic
dignity up and down upon the smooth pavements; the jauntily attired
nurses; whom in his Norse innocence he took for mothers or aunts of the
chil… dren; wheeling baby…carriages which to Norse eyes seemed miracles
of dainty ingenuity; under the shady crowns of the elm…trees。 He did not
know how long he had been sitting there; when a little bright…eyed girl
with light kid gloves; a small blue parasol and a blue polonaise; quite a
lady of fashion en miniature; stopped in front of him and stared at him in
shy wonder。 He had always been fond of children; and often rejoiced in
their affectionate ways and confidential prattle; and now it suddenly
touched him with a warm sense of human fellowship to have this little
daintily befrilled and crisply starched beauty single him out for notice
among the hundreds who reclined in the arbors; or sauntered to and fro
under the great trees。
'1' 〃I am a Dane。 I speak Danish。〃
〃What is your name; my little girl?〃 he asked; in a tone of friendly
interest。
〃Clara;〃 answered the child; hesitatingly; then; having by another look
assured herself of his harmlessness; she added: 〃How very funny you
speak!〃
〃Yes;〃 he said; stooping down to take he tiny begloved hand。 〃I do
5
… Page 6…
TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
not speak as well as you do; yet; but I shall soon learn。〃
Clara looked puzzled。
〃How old are you?〃 she asked; raising her parasol; and throwing back
her head with an air of superiority。
〃I am twenty…four years old。〃
She began to count half aloud on her fingers: 〃One; two; three; four;〃
but; before she reached twenty; she lost her patience。
〃Twenty…four;〃 she exclaimed; 〃that is a great deal。 I am only seven;
and papa gave me a pony on my birthday。 Have you got a pony?〃
〃No; I have nothing but what is in this valise; and you know I could
not very well get a pony into it。〃
Clara glanced curiously at the valise and laughed; then suddenly she
grew serious again; put her hand into her pocket and seemed to be
searching eagerly for something。 Presently she hauled out a small
porcelain doll's head; then a red…painted block with letters on it; and at last
a penny。
〃Do you want them?〃 she said; reaching him her treasures in both
hands。 〃You may have them all。〃
Before he had time to answer; a shrill; penetrating voice cried out:
〃Why; gracious! child; what are you doing ? 〃
And the nurse; who had been deeply absorbed in 〃The New York
Ledger;〃 came rushing up; snatched the child away; and retreated as
hastily as she had come。
Halfdan rose and wandered for hours aimlessly along the intertwining
roads and footpaths。 He visited the menageries; admired the statues; took
a very light dinner; consisting of coffee; sandwiches; and ice; at the
Chinese Pavilion; and; toward evening; discovered an inviting leafy arbor;
where he could withdraw into the privacy of his own thoughts; and ponder
upon the still unsolved problem of his destiny。 The little incident with
the child had taken the edge off his unhappiness and turned him into a
more conciliatory mood toward himself and the great pitiless world; which
seemed to take so little notice of him。 And he; who had come here with
so warm a heart and so ardent a will to join in the great work of human
advancementto find himself thus harshly ignored and buffeted about; as
6
… Page 7…
TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
if he were a hostile intruder! Before him lay the huge unknown city
where human life pulsated with large; full heart…throbs; where a breathless;
weird intensity; a cold; fierce passion seemed to be hurrying everything
onward in a maddening whirl; where a gentle; warm… blooded enthusiast
like himself had no place and could expect naught but a speedy destruction。
A strange; unconquerable dread took possession of him; as if he had been
caught in a swift; strong whirlpool; from which he vainly struggled to
escape。 He crouched down among the foliage and shuddered。 He could
not return to the city。 No; no: he never would return。 He would remain
here hidden and unseen until morning; and then he would seek a vessel
bound for his dear native land; where the great mountains loomed up in
serene majesty toward the blue sky; where the pine…forests whispered their
dreamily sympathetic legends; in the long summer twilights; where human
existence flowed on in calm beauty with the modest aims; small virtues;
and small vices which were the happiness of modest; idyllic souls。 He
even saw himself in spirit recounting to his astonished countrymen the
wonderful things he had heard and seen during his foreign pilgrimage; and
smiled to himself as he imagined their wonder when he should tell them
about the beautiful little girl who had been the first and only one to offer
him a friendly greeting in the strange land。 During these reflections he
fell asleep; and slept soundly for two or three hours。 Once; he seemed to
hear footsteps and whispers among the trees; and made an effort to rouse
himself; but weariness again overmastered him and he slept on。 At last;
he felt himself seized violently by the shoulders; and a gruff voice shouted
in his ear:
〃Get up; you sleepy dog。〃
He rubbed his eyes; and; by the dim light of the moon; saw a
Herculean policeman lifting a stout stick over his head。 His former terror
came upon him with increased violence; and his heart stood for a moment
still; then; again; hammered away as if it would burst his sides。
〃Come along!〃 roared the policeman; shaking him vehemently by the
collar of his coat。
In his bewilderment he quite forgot where he was; and; in hurried
Norse sentences; assured his persecutor that he was a harmless; honest