tales from two hemispheres[1].(两个半球的故事)-第28节
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〃It is a hopeless thing to compel a reluctant heart。 I will accept no
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sacrifice from you。 You owe me nothing； for you have acted toward me
honestly and uprightly； and I shall be a stronger； orat least a better
woman for what you gave meand for what you could not give me； even
though you would。〃
〃But； Bertha；〃 exclaimed he； looking mournfully at her； 〃it is not true
when you say that I owe you nothing。 Six years ago； when first I wooed
you； you could not return my love； and you sent me out into the world； and
even refused to accept any pledge or promise for the future。〃
〃And you returned；〃 she responded； 〃a man； such as my hope had
pictured you； but； while I had almost been standing still； you had
outgrown me； and outgrown your old self； and； with your old self；
outgrown its love for me； for your love was not of your new self； but of
the old。 Alas！ it is a sad tale； but it is true。〃
She spoke gravely now； and with a steadier voice； but her eyes hung
upon his face with an eager look of expectation； as if yearning to detect
there some gleam of hope； some contradiction of the dismal truth。 He
read that look aright； and it pierced him like a sharp sword。 He made a
brave effort to respond to its appeal； but his features seemed hard as stone；
and he could only cry out against his destiny； and bewail his misfortune
and hers。
Toward evening； Ralph was sitting in an open boat； listening to the
measured oar…strokes of the boatmen who were rowing him out to the
nearest stopping…place of the steamer。 The mountains lifted their great
placid heads up among the sun…bathed clouds； and the fjord opened its
cool depths as if to make room for their vast reflections。 Ralph felt as if
he were floating in the midst of the blue infinite space； and； with the
strength which this feeling inspired； he tried to face boldly the thought
from which he had but a moment ago shrunk as from something
hopelessly sad and perplexing。
And in that hour he looked fearlessly into the gulf which separates the
New World from the Old。 He had hoped to bridge it； but； alas！ it cannot
be bridged。
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TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
A SCIENTIFIC VAGABOND。
I。
THE steamer which as far back as 1860 passed every week on its
northward way up along the coast of Norway； was of a very sociable turn
of mind。 It ran with much shrieking and needless bluster in and out the
calm； winding fjords； paid unceremonious little visits in every out…of…the…
way nook and bay； dropped now and then a black heap of coal into the
shining water； and sent thick volleys of smoke and shrill little echoes
careering aimlessly among the mountains。 It seemed； on the whole； from
an aesthetic point of view； an objectionable phenomenona blot upon the
perfect summer day。 By the inhabitants； however； of these remote
regions （with the exception of a few obstinate individuals； who had at first
looked upon it as the sure herald of dooms… day； and still were vaguely
wondering what the world was coming to；） it was regarded in a very
different light。 This choleric little monster was to them a friendly and
welcome visitor； which established their connection with the outside world；
and gave them a proud consciousness of living in the very heart of
civilization。 Therefore； on steamboat days they flocked en masse down
on the piers； and； with an ever…fresh sense of novelty； greeted the
approaching boat with lively cheers； with firing of muskets and waving of
handkerchiefs。 The men of condition； as the judge； the sheriff； and the
parson； whose dignity forbade them to receive the steamer in person；
contented themselves with watching it through an opera…glass from their
balconies； and if a high official was known to be on board； they perhaps
displayed the national banner from their flag…poles； as a delicate
compliment to their superior。
But the Rev。 Mr。 Oddson； the parson of whom I have to speak； had this
day yielded to the gentle urgings of his daughters （as； indeed； he always
did）； and had with them boarded the steamer to receive his nephew；
Arnfinn Vording； who was returning from the university for his summer
vacation。 And now they had him between them in their pretty white…
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TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
painted par… sonage boat； with the blue line along the gunwale；
beleaguering him with eager questions about friends and relatives in the
capital； chums； university sports； and a medley of other things interesting
to young ladies who have a collegian for a cousin。 His uncle was
charitable enough to check his own curiosity about the nephew's progress
in the arts and sciences； and the result of his recent examinations； till he
should have become fairly settled under his roof； and Arnfinn； who； in
spite of his natural brightness and ready humor； was anything but a 〃dig；〃
was grateful for the respite。
The parsonage lay snugly nestled at the end of the bay； shining
contentedly through the green foliage from a multitude of small sun…
smitten windows。 Its pinkish whitewash； which was peeling off from
long exposure to the weather； was in cheerful contrast to the broad black
surface of the roof； with its glazed tiles； and the starlings' nests under the
chimney…tops。 The thick…leaved maples and walnut…trees which grew in
random clusters about the walls seemed loftily conscious of standing there
for purposes of protection； for； wherever their long…fingered branches
happened to graze the roof； it was always with a touch； light； graceful； and
airily caressing。 The irregularly paved yard was inclosed on two sides by
the main building； and on the third by a species of log cabin； which； in
Norway； is called a brew…house； but toward the west the view was but
slightly obscured by an elevated pigeon cot and a clump of birches；
through whose sparse leaves the fjord beneath sent its rapid jets and
gleams of light； and its strange suggestions of distance； peace and
unaccountable gladness。
Arnfinn Vording's career had presented that subtle combination of
farce and tragedy which most human lives are apt to be； and if the tragic
element had during his early years been preponderating； he was hardly
himself aware of it； for he had been too young at the death of his parents
to feel that keenness of grief which the same privation would have given
him at a later period of his life。 It might have been humiliating to confess
it； but it was nevertheless true that the terror he had once sustained on
being pursued by a furious bull was much more vivid in his memory than
the vague wonder and depression which had filled his mind at seeing his
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mother so suddenly stricken with age； as she lay motionless in her white
robes in the front parlor。 Since then his uncle； who was his guardian and
nearest relative； had taken him into his family； had instructed him with his
own daughters； and finally sent him to the University； leaving the little
fortune which he had inherited to accumulate for future use。 Arnfinn had
a painfully distinct recollection of his early hardships in trying to acquire
that soft pronunciation of the r which is peculiar to the western fjord
districts of Norway； and which he admired so much in his c
