tales from two hemispheres[1].(两个半球的故事)-第2节
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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
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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
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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
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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
