英语天堂-第44部分

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her　vocabulary—“shiftlessness。”　Her　finale　and　ultimatum　of　contempt　consisted　in　a　very　emphatic　pronunciation　of　the　word　“shiftless；”　and　by　this　she　characterized　all　modes　of　procedure　which　had　not　a　direct　and　inevitable　relation　to　acomomplishment　of　some　purpose　then　definitely　had　in　mind。　People　who　did　nothing；　or　who　did　not　know　exactly　what　they　were　going　to　do；　or　who　did　not　take　the　most　direct　way　to　acomomplish　what　they　set　their　hands　to；　were　objects　of　her　entire　contempt；—a　contempt　shown　less　frequently　by　anything　she　said；　than　by　a　kind　of　stony　grimness；　as　if　she　scorned　to　say　anything　about　the　matter。
As　to　mental　cultivation；—she　had　a　clear；　strong；　active　mind；　was　well　and　thoroughly　read　in　history　and　the　older　English　classics；　and　thought　with　great　strength　within　certain　narrow　limits。　Her　theological　tenets　were　all　made　up；　labelled　in　most　positive　and　distinct　forms；　and　put　by；　like　the　bundles　in　her　patch　trunk；　there　were　just　so　many　of　them；　and　there　were　never　to　be　any　more。　So；　also；　were　her　ideas　with　regard　to　most　matters　of　practical　life；—such　as　housekeeping　in　all　its　branches；　and　the　various　political　relations　of　her　native　village。　And；　underlying　all；　deeper　than　anything　else；　higher　and　broader；　lay　the　strongest　principle　of　her　being—conscientiousness。　Nowhere　is　conscience　so　dominant　and　all…absorbing　as　with　New　England　women。　It　is　the　granite　formation；　which　lies　deepest；　and　rises　out；　even　to　the　tops　of　the　highest　mountains。
Miss　Ophelia　was　the　absolute　bond…slave　of　the　“ought。”　Once　make　her　certain　that　the　“path　of　duty；”　as　she　commonly　phrased　it；　lay　in　any　given　direction；　and　fire　and　water　could　not　keep　her　from　it。　She　would　walk　straight　down　into　a　well；　or　up　to　a　loaded　cannon’s　mouth；　if　she　were　only　quite　sure　that　there　the　path　lay。　Her　standard　of　right　was　so　high；　so　all…embracing；　so　minute；　and　making　so　few　concessions　to　human　frailty；　that；　though　she　strove　with　heroic　ardor　to　reach　it；　she　never　actually　did　so；　and　of　course　was　burdened　with　a　constant　and　often　harassing　sense　of　deficiency；—this　gave　a　severe　and　somewhat　gloomy　cast　to　her　religious　character。
But；　how　in　the　world　can　Miss　Ophelia　get　along　with　Augustine　St。　Clare；—gay；　easy；　unpunctual；　unpractical；　sceptical；—in　short；—walking　with　impudent　and　nonchalant　freedom　over　every　one　of　her　most　cherished　habits　and　opinions？
To　tell　the　truth；　then；　Miss　Ophelia　loved　him。　When　a　boy；　it　had　been　hers　to　teach　him　his　catechism；　mend　his　clothes；　comb　his　hair；　and　bring　him　up　generally　in　the　way　he　should　go；　and　her　heart　having　a　warm　side　to　it；　Augustine　had；　as　he　usually　did　with　most　people；　monopolized　a　large　share　of　it　for　himself；　and　therefore　it　was　that　he　sucomeeded　very　easily　in　persuading　her　that　the　“path　of　duty”　lay　in　the　direction　of　New　Orleans；　and　that　she　must　go　with　him　to　take　care　of　Eva；　and　keep　everything　from　going　to　wreck　and　ruin　during　the　frequent　illnesses　of　his　wife。　The　idea　of　a　house　without　anybody　to　take　care　of　it　went　to　her　heart；　then　she　loved　the　lovely　little　girl；　as　few　could　help　doing；　and　though　she　regarded　Augustine　as　very　much　of　a　heathen；　yet　she　loved　him；　laughed　at　his　jokes；　and　forbore　with　his　failings；　to　an　extent　which　those　who　knew　him　thought　perfectly　incredible。　But　what　more　or　other　is　to　be　known　of　Miss　Ophelia　our　reader　must　discover　by　a　personal　acquaintance。
There　she　is；　sitting　now　in　her　state…room；　surrounded　by　a　mixed　multitude　of　little　and　big　carpet…bags；　boxes；　baskets；　each　containing　some　separate　responsibility　which　she　is　tying；　binding　up；　packing；　or　fastening；　with　a　face　of　great　earnestness。
“Now；　Eva；　have　you　kept　count　of　your　things？　Of　course　you　haven’t；—children　never　do：　there’s　the　spotted　carpet…bag　and　the　little　blue　band…box　with　your　best　bonnet；—that’s　two；　then　the　India　rubber　satchel　is　three；　and　my　tape　and　needle　box　is　four；　and　my　band…box；　five；　and　my　collar…box；　and　that　little　hair　trunk；　seven。　What　have　you　done　with　your　sunshade？　Give　it　to　me；　and　let　me　put　a　paper　round　it；　and　tie　it　to　my　umbrella　with　my　shade；—there；　now。”
“Why；　aunty；　we　are　only　going　up　home；—what　is　the　use？”
“To　keep　it　nice；　child；　people　must　take　care　of　their　things；　if　they　ever　mean　to　have　anything；　and　now；　Eva；　is　your　thimble　put　up？”
“Really；　aunty；　I　don’t　know。”
“Well；　never　mind；　I’ll　look　your　box　over；—thimble；　wax；　two　spools；　scissors；　knife；　tape…needle；　all　right；—put　it　in　here。　What　did　you　ever　do；　child；　when　you　were　coming　on　with　only　your　papa。　I　should　have　thought　you’d　a　lost　everything　you　had。”　“Well；　aunty；　I　did　lose　a　great　many；　and　then；　when　we　stopped　anywhere；　papa　would　buy　some　more　of　whatever　it　was。”
“Mercy　on　us；　child；—what　a　way！”
“It　was　a　very　easy　way；　aunty；”　said　Eva。
“It’s　a　dreadful　shiftless　one；”　said　aunty。
“Why；　aunty；　what’ll　you　do　now？”　said　Eva；　“that　trunk　is　too　full　to　be　shut　down。”
“It　must　shut　down；”　said　aunty；　with　the　air　of　a　general；　as　she　squeezed　the　things　in；　and　sprung　upon　the　lid；—still　a　little　gap　remained　about　the　mouth　of　the　trunk。
“Get　up　here；　Eva！”　said　Miss　Ophelia；　courageously；　“what　has　been　done　can　be　done　again。　This　trunk　has　got　to　be　shut　and　locked—there　are　no　two　ways　about　it。”
And　the　trunk；　intimidated；　doubtless；　by　this　resolute　statement；　gave　in。　The　hasp　snapped　sharply　in　its　hole；　and　Miss　Ophelia　turned　the　key；　and　pocketed　it　in　triumph。
“Now　we’re　ready。　Where’s　your　papa？　I　think　it　time　this　baggage　was　set　out。　Do　look　out；　Eva；　and　see　if　you　see　your　papa。”
“O；　yes；　he’s　down　the　other　end　of　the　gentlemen’s　cabin；　eating　an　orange。”
“He　can’t　know　how　near　we　are　coming；”　said　aunty；　“hadn’t　you　better　run　and　speak　to　him？”
“Papa　never　is　in　a　hurry　about　anything；”　said　Eva；　“and　we　haven’t　come　to　the　landing。　Do　step　on　the　guards；　aunty。　Look！　there’s　our　house；　up　that　street！”
The　boat　now　began；　with　heavy　groans；　like　some　vast；　tired　monster；　to　prepare　to　push　up　among　the　multiplied　steamers　at　the　levee。　Eva　joyously　pointed　out　the　various　spires；　domes；　and　way…marks；　by　which　she　recognized　her　native　city。
“Yes；　yes；　dear；　very　fine；”　said　Miss　Ophelia。　“But　mercy　on　us！　the　boat　has　stopped！　where　is　your　father？”
And　now　ensued　the　usual　turmoil　of　landing—waiters　running　twenty　ways　at　once—men　tugging　trunks；　carpet…bags；　boxes—women　anxiously　calling　to　their　children；　and　everybody　crowding　in　a　dense　mass　to　the　plank　towards　the　landing。
Miss　Ophelia　seated　herself　resolutely　on　the　lately　vanquished　trunk；　and　marshalling　all　her　goods　and　chattels　in　fine　military　order；　seemed　resolved　to　defend　them　to　the　last。
“Shall　I　take　your　trunk；　ma’am？”　“Shall　I　take　your　baggage？”　“Let　me　’tend　to　your　baggage；　Missis？”　“Shan’t　I　carry　out　these　yer；　Missis？”　rained　down　upon　her　unheeded。　She　sat　with　grim　determination；　upright　as　a　darning…needle　stuck　in　a　board；　holding　on　her　bundle　of　umbrella　and　parasols；　and　replying　with　a　determination　that　was　enough　to　strike　dismay　even　into　a　hackman；　wondering　to　Eva；　in　each　interval；　“what　upon　earth　her　papa　could　be　thinking　of；　he　couldn’t　have　fallen　over；　now；—but　something　must　have　happened；”—and　just　as　she　had　begun　to　work　herself　into　a　real　distress；　he　came　up；　with　his　usually　careless　motion；　and　giving　Eva　a　quarter　of　the　orange　he　was　eating；　said；
“Well；　Cousin　Vermont；　I　suppose　you　are　all　ready。”
“I’ve　been　ready；　waiting；　nearly　an　hour；”　said　Miss　Ophelia；　“I　began　to　be　really　concerned　about　you。
“That’s　a　clever　fellow；　now；”　said　he。　“Well；　the　carriage　is　waiting；　and　the　crowd　are　now　off；　so　that　one　can　walk　out　in　a　decent　and　Christian　manner；　and　not　be　pushed　and　shoved。　Here；”　he　added　to　a　driver　who　stood　behind　him；　“take　these　things。”
“I’ll　go　and　see　to　his　putting　them　in；”　said　Miss　Ophelia。
“O；　pshaw；　cousin；　what’s　the　use？”　said　St。　Clare。
“Well；　at　any　rate；　I’ll　carry　this；　and　this；　and　this；”　said　Miss　Ophelia；　singling　out　three　boxes　and　a　small　carpet…bag。
“My　dear　Miss　Vermont；　positively　you　mustn’t　come　the　Green　Mountains　over　us　that　way。　You　must　adopt　at　least　a　piece　of　a　southern　principle；　and　not　walk　out　under　all　that　load。　They’ll　take　you　for　a　waiting…maid；　give　them　to　this　fellow；　he’ll　put　them　down　as　if　they　were　eggs；　now。”
Miss　Ophelia　looked　despairingly　as　her　cousin　took　all　her　treasures　from　her；　and　rejoiced　to　find　herself　once　more　in　the　carriage　with　them；　in　a　state　of　preservation。
“Where’s　Tom？”　said　Eva。
“O；　he’s　on　the　outside；　Pussy。　I’m　going　to　take　Tom　up　to　mother　for　a　peace…offering；　to　make　up　for　that　drunken　fellow　that　upset　the　carriage。”
“O；　Tom　will　make　a　splendid　driver；　I　know；”　said　Eva；　“he’ll　never　get　drunk。”
The　carriage　stopped　in　front　of　an　ancient　mansion；　built　in　that　odd　mixture　of　Spanish　and　French　style；　of　which　there　are　specimens　in　some　parts　of　New　Orleans。　It　was　built　in　the　Moorish　fashion；—a　square　building　enclosing　a　court…yard；　into　which　the　carriage　drove　through　an　arched　gateway。　The　court；　in　the　inside；　had　evidently　been　arranged　to　gratify　a　picturesque　and　voluptuous　ideality。　Wide　galleries　ran　all　around　the　four　sides；　whose　Moorish　arches；　slender　pillars；　and　arabesque　ornaments；　carried　the　mind　back；　as　in　a　dream；　to　the　reign　of　oriental　romance　in　Spain。　In　the　middle　of　the　court；　a　fountain　threw　high　its　silvery　water；　falling　in　a　never…ceasing　spray　into　a　marble　basin；　fringed　with　a　deep　border　of　fragrant　violets。　The　water　in　the　fountain；　pellucid　as　crystal；　was　alive　with　myriads　of　gold　and　silver　fishes；　twinkling　and　darting　through　it　like　so　many　living　jewels。　Around　the　fountain　ran　a　walk；　paved　with　a　mosaic　of　pebbles；　laid　in　various　fanciful　patterns；　and　this；　again；　was　surrounded　by　turf；　smooth　as　green　velvet；　while　a　carriage…drive　enclosed　the　whole。　Two　large　orange…trees；　now　fragrant　with　blossoms；　threw　a　delicious　shade；　and；　ranged　in　a　circle　round　upon　the　turf；　were　marble　vases　of　arabesque　sculpture；　containing　the　choicest　flowering　plants　of　the　tropics。　Huge　pomegranate　trees；　with　their　glossy　leaves　and　flame…colored　flowers；　dark…leaved　Arabian　jessamines；　with　their　silvery　stars；　geraniums；　luxuriant　roses　bending　beneath　their　heavy　abundance　of　flowers；　golden　jessamines；　lemon…scented　verbenum；　all　united　their　bloom　and　fragrance；　while　here　and　there　a　mystic　old　aloe；　with　its　strange；　massive　leaves；　sat　looking　like　some　old　enchanter；　sitting　in　weird　grandeur　among　the　more　perishable　bloom　and　fragrance　around　it。
The　galleries　that　surrounded　the　court　were　festooned　with　a　curtain　of　some　kind　of　Moorish　stuff；　and　could　be　drawn　down　at　pleasure；　to　exclude　the　beams　of　the　sun。　On　the　whole；　the　appearance　of　the　place　was　luxurious　and　romantic。
As　the　carriage　drove　in；　Eva　seemed　like　a　bird　ready　to　burst　from　a　cage；　with　the　wild　eagerness　of　her　delight。
“O；　isn’t　it　beautiful；　lovely！　my　own　dear；　darling　home！”　she　said　to　Miss　Ophelia。　“Isn’t　it　beautiful？”
“’T　is　a　pretty　place；”　said　Miss　Ophelia；　as　she　alighted；　“though　it　looks　rather　old　and　heathenish　to　me。”
Tom　got　down　from　the　carriage；　and　looked　about　with　an　air　of　calm；　still　enjoyment。　The　negro；　it　must　be　remembered；　is　an　exotic　of　the　most　gorgeous　and　superb　countries　of　the　world；　and　he　has；　deep　in　his　heart；　a　passion　for　all　that　is　splendid；　rich；　and　fanciful；　a　passion　which；　rudely　indulged　by　an　untrained　taste；　draws　on　them　the　ridicule　of　the　colder　and　more　correct　white　race。
St。　Clare；　who　was　in　heart　a　poetical　voluptuary；　smiled　as　Miss　Ophelia　made　her　remark　on　his　premises；　and；　turning　to　Tom；　who　was　standing　looking　round；　his　beaming　black　face　perfectly　radiant　with　admiration；　he　said；
“Tom；　my　boy；　this　seems　to　suit　you。”
“Yes；　Mas’r；　it　looks　about　the　right　thing；”　said　Tom。
All　this　passed　in　a　moment；　while　trunks　were　being　hustled　off；　hackman　paid；　and　while　a　crowd；　of　all　ages　and　sizes；—men；　women；　and　children；—came　running　through　the　galleries；　both　above　and　below　to　see　Mas’r　come　in。　Foremost　among　them　was　a　highly…dressed　young　mulatto　man；　evidently　a　very　distingue　personage；　attired　in　the　ultra　extreme　of　the　mode；　and　gracefully　waving　a　scented　cambric　handkerchief　in　his　hand。
This　personage　had　been　exerting　himself；　with　great　alacrity；　in　driving　all　the　flock　of　domestics　to　the　other　end　of　the　verandah。
“Back！　all　of　you。　I　am　ashamed　of　you；”　he　said；　in　a　tone　of　authority。　“Would　you　intrude　on　Master’s　domestic　relations；　in　the　first　hour　of　his　return？”
All　looked　abashed　at　this　elegant　speech；　delivered　with　quite　an　air；　and　stood　huddled　together　at　a　respectful　distance；　except　two　stout　porters；　who　came　up　and　began　conveying　away　the　baggage。
Owing　to　Mr。　Adolph’s　systematic　arrangements；　when　St。　Clare　turned　round　from　paying　the　hackman；　there　was　nobody　in　view　but　Mr。　Adolph　himself；　conspicuous　in　satin　vest；　gold　guard…chain；　and　white　pants；　and　bowing　with　inexpressible　grace　and　suavity。
“Ah；　Adolph；　is　it　you？”　said　his　master；　offering　his　hand　to　him；　“how　are　you；　boy？”　while　Adolph　poured　forth；　with　great　fluency；　an　extemporary　speech；　which　he　had　been　preparing；　with　great　care；　for　a　fortnight　before。
“Well；　well；”　said　St。　Clare；　passing　on；　with　his　usual　air　of　negligent　drollery；　“that’s　very　well　got　up；　Adolph。　See　that　the　baggage　is　well　bestowed。　I’ll　come　to　the　people　in　a　minute；”　and；　so　saying；　he　led　Miss　Ophelia　to　a　large　parlor　that　opened　on　the　verandah。
While　this　had　been　passing；　Eva　had　flown　like　a　bird；　through　the　porch　and　parlor；　to　a　little　boudoir　opening　likewise　on　the　verandah。
A　tall；　dark…eyed；　sallow　woman；　half　rose　from　a　couch　on　which　she　was　reclining。
“Mamma！”　said　Eva；　in　a　sort　of　a　rapture；　throwing　herself　on　her　neck；　and　embracing　her　over　and　over　again。
“That’ll　do；—take　care；　child；—don’t；　you　make　my　head　ache；”　said　the　mother；　after　she　had　languidly　kissed　her。
St。　Clare　came　in；　embraced　his　wife　in　true；　orthodox；　husbandly　fashion；　and　then　presented　to　her　his　cousin。　Marie　lifted　her　large　eyes　on　her　cousin　with　an　air　of　some　curiosity；　and　received　her　with　languid　politeness。　A　crowd　of　servants　now　pressed　to　the　entry　door；　and　among　them　a　middle…aged　mulatto　woman；　of　very　respectable　appearance；　stood　foremost；　in　a　tremor　of　expectation　and　joy；　at　the　door。
“O；　there’s　Mammy！”　said　Eva；　as　she　flew　across　the　room；　and；　throwing　herself　into　her　arms；　she　kissed　her　repeatedly。
This　woman　did　not　tell　her　that　she　made　her　head　ache；　but；　on　the　contrary；　she　hugged　her；　and　laughed；　and　cried；　till　her　sanity　was　a　thing　to　be　doubted　of；　and　when　released　from　her；　Eva　flew　from　one　to　another；　shaking　hands　and　kissing；　in　a　way　that　Miss　Ophelia　afterwards　declared　fairly　turned　her　stomach。
“Well！”　said　Miss　Ophelia；　“you　southern　children　can　do　something　that　I　couldn’t。”
“What；　now；　pray？”　said　St。　Clare。
“Well；　I　want　to　be　ki