twice-told tales- the ambitious guest-第1章
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TWICE…TOLD TALES
THE AMBITIOUS GUEST
by Nathaniel Hawthorne
ONE SEPTEMBER NIGHT a family had gathered round their hearth； and
piled it high with the driftwood of mountain streams； the dry cones of
the pine； and the splintered ruins of great trees that had come
crashing down the precipice。 Up the chimney roared the fire； and
brightened the room with its broad blaze。 The faces of the father
and mother had a sober gladness； the children laughed； the eldest
daughter was the image of Happiness at seventeen； and the aged
grandmother； who sat knitting in the warmest place； was the image of
Happiness grown old。 They had found the 〃herb； heart's…ease；〃 in the
bleakest spot of all New England。 This family were situated in the
Notch of the White Hills； where the wind was sharp throughout the
year； and pitilessly cold in the winter… giving their cottage all
its fresh inclemency before it descended on the valley of the Saco。
They dwelt in a cold spot and a dangerous one； for a mountain
towered above their heads； so steep； that the stones would often
rumble down its sides and startle them at midnight。
The daughter had just uttered some simple jest that filled them all
with mirth； when the wind came through the Notch and seemed to pause
before their cottage… rattling the door； with a sound of wailing and
lamentation； before it passed into the valley。 For a moment it
saddened them； though there was nothing unusual in the tones。 But
the family were glad again when they perceived that the latch was
lifted by some traveller； whose footsteps had been unheard amid the
dreary blast which heralded his approach； and wailed as he was
entering； and went moaning away from the door。
Though they dwelt in such a solitude； these people held daily
converse with the world。 The romantic pass of the Notch is a great
artery； through which the life…blood of internal commerce is
continually throbbing between Maine； on one side； and the Green
Mountains and the shores of the St。 Lawrence； on the other。 The
stage…coach always drew up before the door of the cottage。 The
way…farer； with no companion but his staff； paused here to exchange
a word； that the sense of loneliness might not utterly overcome him
ere he could pass through the cleft of the mountain； or reach the
first house in the valley。 And here the teamster； on his way to
Portland market； would put up for the night； and； if a bachelor； might
sit an hour beyond the usual bedtime； and steal a kiss from the
mountain maid at parting。 It was one of those primitive taverns
where the traveller pays only for food and lodging； but meets with a
homely kindness beyond all price。 When the footsteps were heard；
therefore； between the outer door and the inner one； the whole
family rose up； grandmother； children； and all； as if about to welcome
someone who belonged to them； and whose fate was linked with theirs。
The door was opened by a young man。 His face at first wore the
melancholy expression； almost despondency； of one who travels a wild
and bleak road； at nightfall and alone； but soon brightened up when he
saw the kindly warmth of his reception。 He felt his heart spring
forward to meet them all； from the old woman； who wiped a chair with
her apron； to the little child that held out its arms to him。 One
glance and smile placed the stranger on a footing of innocent
familiarity with the eldest daughter。
〃Ah； this fire is the right thing！〃 cried he； 〃especially when
there is such a pleasant circle round it。 I am quite benumbed； for the
Notch is just like the pipe of a great pair of bellows； it has blown a
terrible blast in my face all the way from Bartlett。〃
〃Then you are going towards Vermont？〃 said the master of the house；
as he helped to take a light knapsack off the young man's shoulders。
〃Yes； to Burlington； and far enough beyond；〃 replied he。 〃I meant
to have been at Ethan Crawford's tonight； but a pedestrian lingers
along such a road as this。 It is no matter； for； when I saw this
good fire； and all your cheerful faces； I felt as if you had kindled
it on purpose for me； and were waiting my arrival。 So I shall sit down
among you； and make myself at home。〃
The frank…hearted stranger had just drawn his chair to the fire
when something like a heavy footstep was heard without； rushing down
the steep side of the mountain； as with long and rapid strides； and
taking such a leap in passing the cottage as to strike the opposite
precipice。 The family held their breath； because they knew the
sound； and their guest held his by instinct。
〃The old mountain has thrown a stone at us； for fear we should
forget him；〃 said the landlord； recovering himself。 〃He sometimes nods
his head and threatens to come down； but we are old neighbors； and
agree together pretty well upon the whole。 Besides we have a sure
place of refuge hard by if he should be coming in good earnest。〃
Let us now suppose the stranger to have finished his supper of
bear's meat； and； by his natural felicity of manner； to have placed
himself on a footing of kindness with the whole family； so that they
talked as freely together as if he belonged to their mountain brood。
He was of a proud； yet gentle spirit… haughty and reserved among the
rich and great； but ever ready to stoop his head to the lowly
cottage door； and be like a brother or a son at the poor man's
fireside。 In the household of the Notch he found warmth and simplicity
of feeling； the pervading intelligence of New England； and a poetry of
native growth； which they had gathered when they little thought of
it from the mountain peaks and chasms； and at the very threshold of
their romantic and dangerous abode。 He had travelled far and alone；
his whole life； indeed； had been a solitary path； for； with the
lofty caution of his nature； he had kept himself apart from those
who might otherwise have been his companions。 The family； too；
though so kind and hospitable； had that consciousness of unity among
themselves； and separation from the world at large； which； in every
domestic circle； should still keep a holy place where no stranger
may intrude。 But this evening a prophetic sympathy impelled the
refined and educated youth to pour out his heart before the simple
mountaineers； and constrained them to answer him with the same free
confidence。 And thus it should have been。 Is not the kindred of a
common fate a closer tie than that of birth？
The secret of the young man's character was a high and abstracted
ambition。 He could have borne to live an undistinguished life； but not
to be forgotten in the grave。 Yearning desire had been transformed
to hope； and hope； long cherished； had become like certainty； that；
obscurely as he journeyed now； a glory was to beam on all his pathway…
though not； perhaps； while he was treading it。 But when posterity
should gaze back into the gloom of what was now the present； they
would trace the brightness of his footsteps； brightening as meaner
glories faded； and confess that a gifted one had passed from his
cradle to his tomb with none to recognize him。
〃As yet；〃 cried the stranger… his cheek glowing and his eye
flashing with enthusiasm… 〃as yet； I have done nothing。 Were I to
vanish from the earth tomorrow； none would know so much of me as
you： that a nameless youth came up at nightfall from the valley of the
Saco； and opened his heart to you in the evening； and passed through
the Notch by sunrise； and was seen no more。 Not a soul would ask； 'Who
was he？ Whither did the wanderer go？' But I cannot die till I have
achieved my destiny。 Then； let Death come！ I shall have built my
monument！〃
There was a continual flow of natural emotion； gushing forth amid
abstracted reverie； which enabled the family to understand this
young man's sentiments； though so foreign from their own。 With quick
sensibility of the ludicrous； he blushed at the ardor into which he
had been betrayed。
〃You laugh at me；〃 said he； taking the eldest daughter's ha
