the house of pride(傲慢之家)-第13节
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！
her。 A short distance away； behind a stretched rope guarded by a
policeman； were the lepers' relatives and friends。 They were not
allowed to come near。 There were no last embraces； no kisses of
farewell。 They called back and forth to one anotherlast messages； last
words of love； last reiterated instructions。 And those behind the rope
looked with terrible intensity。 It was the last time they would behold
the faces of their loved ones； for they were the living dead； being carted
away in the funeral ship to the graveyard of Molokai。
Doctor Georges gave the command； and the unhappy wretches
dragged themselves to their feet and under their burdens of luggage
40
… Page 41…
THE HOUSE OF PRIDE
began to stagger across the lighter and aboard the steamer。 It was the
funeral procession。 At once the wailing started from those behind the
rope。 It was blood…curdling； it was heart…rending。 I never heard such
woe； and I hope never to again。 Kersdale and McVeigh were still at the
other end of the wharf； talking earnestly politics； of course； for both were
head…over…heels in that particular game。 When Lucy Mokunui passed
me； I stole a look at her。 She WAS beautiful。 She was beautiful by
our standards； as wellone of those rare blossoms that occur but once in
generations。 And she； of all women； was doomed to Molokai。 She
straight on board； and aft on the open deck where the lepers huddled by
the rail； wailing now； to their dear ones on shore。
The lines were cast off； and the Noeau began to move away from the
wharf。 The wailing increased。 Such grief and despair！ I was just
resolving that never again would I be a witness to the sailing of the
Noeau； when McVeigh and Kersdale returned。 The latter's eyes were
sparkling； and his lips could not quite hide the smile of delight that was
his。 Evidently the politics they had talked had been satisfactory。 The
rope had been flung aside； and the lamenting relatives now crowded the
stringer piece on either side of us。
〃That's her mother；〃 Doctor Georges whispered； indicating an old
woman next to me； who was rocking back and forth and gazing at the
steamer rail out of tear…blinded eyes。 I noticed that Lucy Mokunui was
also wailing。 She stopped abruptly and gazed at Kersdale。 Then she
stretched forth her arms in that adorable； sensuous way that Olga
Nethersole has of embracing an audience。 And with arms outspread；
she cried：
〃Good…bye； Jack！ Good…bye！〃
He heard the cry； and looked。 Never was a man overtaken by more
crushing fear。 He reeled on the stringer piece； his face went white to
the roots of his hair； and he seemed to shrink and wither away inside his
clothes。 He threw up his hands and groaned； 〃My God！ My God！〃
Then he controlled himself by a great effort。
〃Good…bye； Lucy！ Good…bye！〃 he called。
And he stood there on the wharf； waving his hands to her till the
41
… Page 42…
THE HOUSE OF PRIDE
Noeau was clear away and the faces lining her after…rail were vague and
indistinct。
〃I thought you knew；〃 said McVeigh； who had been regarding him
curiously。 〃You； of all men； should have known。 I thought that was
why you were here。〃
〃I know now；〃 Kersdale answered with immense gravity。 〃Where's
the carriage？〃
He walked rapidlyhalf…ranto it。 I had to half…run myself to keep
up with him。
〃Drive to Doctor Hervey's；〃 he told the driver。 〃Drive as fast as
you can。〃
He sank down in a seat； panting and gasping。 The pallor of his face
had increased。 His lips were compressed and the sweat was standing
out on his forehead and upper lip。 He seemed in some horrible agony。
〃For God's sake； Martin； make those horses go！〃 he broke out
suddenly。 〃Lay the whip into them！do you hear？lay the whip into
them！〃
〃They'll break； sir；〃 the driver remonstrated。
〃Let them break；〃 Kersdale answered。 〃I'll pay your fine and square
you with the police。 Put it to them。 That's right。 Faster！ Faster！〃
〃And I never knew； I never knew；〃 he muttered； sinking back in the
seat and with trembling hands wiping the sweat away。
The carriage was bouncing； swaying and lurching around corners at
such a wild pace as to make conversation impossible。 Besides； there
was nothing to say。 But I could hear him muttering over and over；
〃And I never knew。 I never knew。〃
42
… Page 43…
THE HOUSE OF PRIDE
ALOHA OE
Never are there such departures as from the dock at Honolulu。 The
great transport lay with steam up； ready to pull out。 A thousand persons
were on her decks； five thousand stood on the wharf。 Up and down the
long gangway passed native princes and princesses； sugar kings and the
high officials of the Territory。 Beyond； in long lines； kept in order by
the native police； were the carriages and motor…cars of the Honolulu
aristocracy。 On the wharf the Royal Hawaiian Band played 〃Aloha
Oe；〃 and when it finished； a stringed orchestra of native musicians on
board the transport took up the same sobbing strains； the native woman
singer's voice rising birdlike above the instruments and the hubbub of
departure。 It was a silver reed； sounding its clear； unmistakable note in
the great diapason of farewell。
Forward； on the lower deck； the rail was lined six deep with khaki…
clad young boys； whose bronzed faces told of three years' campaigning
under the sun。 But the farewell was not for them。 Nor was it for the
white…clad captain on the lofty bridge； remote as the stars； gazing down
upon the tumult beneath him。 Nor was the farewell for the young
officers farther aft； returning from the Philippines； nor for the white…
faced； climate…ravaged women by their sides。 Just aft the gangway； on
the promenade deck； stood a score of United States Senators with their
wives and daughtersthe Senatorial junketing party that for a month had
been dined and wined； surfeited with statistics and dragged up volcanic
hill and down lava dale to behold the glories and resources of Hawaii。
It was for the junketing party that the transport had called in at
Honolulu； and it was to the junketing party that Honolulu was saying
good…bye。
The Senators were garlanded and bedecked with flowers。 Senator
Jeremy Sambrooke's stout neck and portly bosom were burdened with a
dozen wreaths。 Out of this mass of bloom and blossom projected his
head and the greater portion of his freshly sunburned and perspiring face。
43
… Page 44…
THE HOUSE OF PRIDE
He thought the flowers an abomination； and as he looked out over the
multitude on the wharf it was with a statistical eye that saw none of the
beauty； but that peered into the labour power； the factories； the railroads；
and the plantations that lay back of the multitude and which the
multitude expressed。 He saw resources and thought development； and
h
