tales for fifteen-第17章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
half a day in searching for a letter； that she
insisted must be left in some romantic place； none
was ever found； nor did any ever arrive。
While resting with her foot on the step of the
carriage； about to enter it； Julia； whose looks were
depressed from shame； saw a fluid that was
discoloured with tobacco fall on her shoe and soil
her stocking。 Raising her eyes with disgust； she
perceived that the wind had wafted it from the
mouth of Antonio； as he held open the doorand
the same blast throwing aside his screen of silk；
discovered a face that was deformed with disease；
and wanting of an eye！
Our travellers returned to the city by the way of
Montreal and Lake Champlain； nor was it until Julia
had been the happy wife of Charles Weston for
more than a year； that she could summon
resolution to own that she had once been in love；
like thousands of her sex； 〃with a man of straw！〃
=
=
HEART。
…oOo…
〃Some live in airy fantasies；
And in the clouds do move；
And some do burn with inward flames
But few know how to love。〃
ANON。 BALLAD
CHAPTER I。
ON one of those clear； cold days of December；
which so frequently occur in our climate； two very
young women were walking on the fashionable
promenade of New…York。 In the person of the elder
of these females there was exhibited nothing more
than the usual indications of youth and health； but
there were a delicacy and an expression of
exquisite feeling in the countenance of her
companion； that caused many a plodding or idle
passenger to turn and renew the gaze； which had
been attracted by so lovely a person。 Her figure
was light； and possessed rather a character of
aerial grace； than the usual rounded lines of earthly
beauty； and her face was beaming more with the
sentiments of the soul within； than with the
ordinary charms of complexion and features。 It was
precisely that kind of youthful loveliness that a
childless husband would pause to contemplate as
the reality of the visions which his thoughts had
often portrayed； and which his nature coveted as
the only treasure wanting to complete the sum of
his earthly bliss。 It truly looked a being to be loved
without the usual alloy of our passions； and there
was a modest ingenuousness which shone in her
air； that gently impelled the hearts of others to
regard its possessor with a species of holy
affection。 Amongst the gay throng； however； that
thoughtlessly glided along the Broadway； even this
image of female perfection was suffered to move
unnoticed by hundreds； and it was owing to the
obstruction offered to the passage of the ladies； by
a small crowd that had gathered on the side…walk；
that a gentleman of uncommon personal
endowments enjoyed an opportunity of examining it
with more than ordinary attention。 The eldest of
the females drew her companion away from this
impediment to their passage； by moving towards
the opposite side of the street； and observing； as
they crossed； with an indifference in her manner
〃It is nothing； Charlotte； but a drunken man； if
people will drink； they must abide the
consequences。〃
〃He does not seem intoxicated； Maria；〃 replied the
other； in a voice whose tones corresponded with her
appearance； 〃it is some sudden illness。〃
〃One that； I dare say； he is accustomed to；〃 said
Maria； without having even taken such a look at the
sufferer as would enable her to identify his colour；
〃he will be well enough after he has slept。〃
〃But is the pavement a place for him to sleep on？〃
rejoined her companion； still gazing towards the
miserable object； 〃and if he should be ill！why do
they not raise him？Why do they suffer him to
injure himself as he does？〃
The speaker； at the same time that she shrunk in a
kind of sensitive horror from this exhibition of
human infirmities； now unconsciously stopped； with
an interest in the man that she could not controul；
and thus compelled Maria to pause also。 The crowd
had withdrawn from the man； giving him sufficient
room to roll over； in evident pain； while they yet
stood gazing at him； with that indefinable feeling
of curiosity and nerveless sympathy； which
characterises man when not called on to act； by
emulation； vanity； or the practice of well…doing。 No
one offered to assist the sufferer； although many
said it ought to be done； some spoke of sending for
those who monopolized the official charity of the
city； many； having satisfied their curiosity； and
finding that the moment for action was arriving；
quietly withdrew from a trouble that would interfere
with their comforts or their businesswhile a few
felt an impulse to aid the man； but hesitated in
being foremost in doing that which would be
honourable to their feelings； but might not accord
with their condition； or might seem as the
ostentatious display of unusual benevolence。
Where men are congregated； conduct must be
regulated by the touchstone of public opinion； and；
although it is the fashion of New…York to applaud
acts of charity； and to do them too in a particular
mannerit is by no means usual to run to the
assistance of a fellow creature who is lying in
distress on a pavement。
｛those who monopolized the official charity = in
1821 the only officially supported charitable
organization in New York City was the City
Dispensary municipal aid to others having been
cut off in 1817 on the grounds that charity to the
poor only made them lazy and improvident｝
Whatever might be the impulses of the gentleman
whom we have mentioned； his attention was too
much absorbed by the conversation and manner of
the two ladies to regard any thing else； and he
followed them across the street； and stopped also
when they paused to view the scene。 He was
inwardly and deeply admiring the most youthful of
the females； for the natural and simple display of
those very qualities that he forgot himself to
exercise； when he was roused with a feeling of
something like mortification； by hearing Charlotte
exclaim； with a slight glow on her cheek
〃Ah！ there is George Morton cominghe surely will
not pass the poor man without offering to assist
him。〃
The gentleman turned his head quickly； and noticed
a youth making his way through the crowd；
successfully； to the side of the sufferer。 The
distance was too great to hear what passedbut an
empty coach； whose driver had stopped to gaze
with the rest； was instantly drawn up； and the man
lifted in； and followed by the youth； whose
appearance had effected these movements with the
silence and almost with the quietness of magic。
George Morton was far from possessing the elegant
exterior of the uneasy observer of this scene； yet
were the eyes of the lovely young woman who had
caught his attention； fixed in evident delight on his
person； until it was hid from view in the carriage；
when； drawing a long breath； as if relieved from
great uneasiness； she said； in a low voice
〃I knew that George Morton would not pass him so
unfeelinglybut where are they going？not far； I
hope； on this cold dayand George without his
great coat。〃
There was a plaintive and natural melody in the
tones of the speaker's voice； as she thus
unconsciously uttered her concern； that impelled
the listener to advance to the side of the carriage；
where a short conversation passed between the
gentlemen； and the stranger returned to the ladies；
who were yet lingering near the spot； apparently
unwilling to depart from a scene that had so deeply
interested one of them。 Raising his hat； the
gentleman； addressing himself to the magnet that
had attracted him； said
〃Your friend declines the offer of my coat； and says
that the carriage is quite warmthey are going to
the alms…house； and I am happy to inform you that
the poor man is already much better； and is
recovering from his fit。〃
｛The New York City Almshouse； at Bellevue on the
East River； housed over 1；500 inmates at a time
（with annual deaths approaching 500）； and served
as a last refuge for the destitute of all ages｝
Charlotte now for the first time observed the
speaker； and a blush passed over her face as she
courtesied her thanks in silence。 But her
companion； aroused from gazing at the finery of a
shop window； by t
