第70章

类别:其他 作者:William Dean Howells字数:5734更新时间:18/12/22 09:09:46
Itwasapity,hesaid,thattheRothschildswerenotonhisletterofcredit;hewouldhavebeenwillingtopaytributetotheGeniusofFinanceinthepercentageonatleasttenpounds。Butheconsoledhimselfbyreflectingthathedidnotneedthemoney;andheconsoledMrs。MarchfortheirfailuretopenetratetotheinterioroftheRothschilds’birthplacebytakinghertoseethehousewhereGoethewasborn。Thepublicisapparentlymuchmoreexpectedthere,andinthefriendlyplacetheywerenodoubtmuchmorewelcomethantheywouldhavebeenintheRothschildhouse。UnderthatrooftheyrenewedahappymomentofWeimar,whichafterthelapseofaweekseemedalreadysoremote。Theywondered,astheymountedthestairsfromthebasementopeningintoacleanlittlecourt,howBurnamywasgettingon,andwhetherithadyetcometothatunderstandingbetweenhimandAgatha,whichMrs。March,atleast,hadmeanttobeinevitable。Thentheybecamepartofsomesuchsight-seeingretinueasfollowedthecustodianaboutintheGoethehorseinWeimar,andofanemotionindistinguishablefromthatoftheirfellowsight-seers。Theycouldmakesure,afterwards,ofapersonalpleasureinacertainprescientclassicismofthehouse。ItsomehowrecalledboththeGoethehousesatWeimar,anditsomehowrecalledItaly。Itisaseparatehouseoftwofloorsabovetheentrance,whichopenstoalittlecourtoryard,andgivesaccessbyadecentstairwaytotheliving-rooms。Thechiefoftheseisasufficientlydignifiedparlororsalon,andthemostimportantisthelittlechamberinthethirdstorywherethepoetfirstopenedhiseyestothelightwhichherejoicedinforsolongalife,andwhich,dying,heimploredtobewithhimmore。Itisaslargeashisdeath-chamberinWeimar,wherehebreathedthisprayer,anditlooksdownintotheItalian-lookingcourt,whereprobablyhenoticedtheworldforthefirsttime,andthoughtitapavedenclosurethirtyorfortyfeetsquare。Inthebirth- roomtheykeephispuppettheatre,andtheplaceisfairlysuggestiveofhischildhood;later,inhisyouth,hecouldlookfromtheparlorwindowsandseethehousewherehisearliestlovedwelt。SomuchremainsofGoetheintheplacewherehewasborn,andassuchthingsgo,itisnotalittle。Thehouseisthatofaprosperousandwell-placedcitizen,andspeaksofthesenatorialqualityinhisfamilywhichHeinesayshewasfondofrecalling,ratherthanthesartorialqualityoftheancestorwho,againasHeinesays,mendedtheRepublic’sbreeches。 FromtheGoethehouse,onedrivesbytheGoethemonumenttotheRomer,thefamoustown-halloftheoldfreeimperialcitywhichFrankfortoncewas;andbythisroutetheMarchesdrovetoit,agreeingwiththeircoachmanthathewastokeepasmuchinthesunaspossible。ItwasstillsocoldthatwhentheyreachedtheRomer,andhestoppedinabroadblazeoftheonlymeansofheatingthattheyhaveinFrankfortinthesummer,thetravellerswereloathtoleaveitforthechillinterior,wheretheGermanemperorswereelectedforsomanycenturies。Assoonasanemperorwaschosen,inthegreathalleffigiedroundwiththeportraitsofhispredecessors,hehurriedoutinthebalcony,ostensiblytoshowhimselftothepeople,butreally,Marchcontended,towarmupalittleinthesun。Thebalconywasundergoingrepairsthatday,andthetravellerscouldnotgooutonit;butunderthespellofthehistoricinterestofthebeautifuloldGothicplace,theylingeredintheinteriortilltheywerehalf-torpidwiththecold。Thensheabandonedtohimthejointdutyofviewingthecathedral,andhurriedtotheircarriagewhereshebaskedinthesuntillhecametoher。Hereturnedshivering,afterahalf-hour’sabsence,andpretendedthatshehadmissedthegreatestthingintheworld,butashecouldneverbegottosayjustwhatshehadlost,andundertheclosestcross-examinationcouldnotprovethatthiscathedralwasmemorablydifferentfromhundredsofotherfourteenth- centurycathedrals,sheremainedinalastingcontentwiththeeasierpartshehadchosen。HisonlydefiniteimpressionatthecathedralseemedtobeconfinedtoaBostonianofgloomilycorrecttype,whomhehadseendoingitwithhisBaedeker,andnotlettinganobjectofinterestescape;andhisaccountofherfellow-townsmanreconciledMrs。 Marchmoreandmoretonothavinggone。 Asitwaswarmerout-doorsthanin-doorsatFrankfort,andasthebreadthofsunshineincreasedwiththeapproachofnoontheygavetherestofthemorningtodrivingaboutandignorantlyenjoyingtheoutsideofmanyGothicchurches,whosenameseventheydidnottroublethemselvestolearn。TheylikedtheriverMainwhenevertheycametoit,becauseitwassolatelyfromWurzburg,andbecauseitwassobeautifulwithitsbridges,oldandnew,anditsboatsofmanypatterns。Theylikedthemarket-placeinfrontoftheRomernotonlybecauseitwasfulloffascinatingbargainsincuriouscrockeryandwooden-ware,butbecausetherewasscarcelyanyshadeatallinit。TheyreadfromtheirBaedekerthatuntiltheendofthelastcenturynoJewwassufferedtoenterthemarketplace,andtheyrejoicedtofindfromallappearancesthattheJewshadbeenmakingupfortheirunjustexclusioneversince。TheywerealmostasnumerousthereastheAnglo-SaxonswereeverywhereelseinFrankfort。These,bothoftheEnglishandAmericanbranchesoftherace,prevailedinthehoteldiningroom,wheretheMarcheshadamid-daydinnersogoodthatitalmostmadeamendsforthesteam-heatingandelectric- lighting。 AssoonaspossibleafterdinnertheytookthetrainforMayence,andranRhinewardsthroughaprettycountryintowhatseemedamilderclimate。 Itgrewsomuchmilder,apparently,thataladyintheircompartmenttowhomMarchofferedhisforward-lookingseat,orderedthewindowdownwhentheguardcame,withoutaskingtheirleave。Thentheclimateprovedmuchcolder,andMrs。Marchcoweredunderhershawlstherestoftheway,andwouldnotbeentreatedtolookatthepleasantlevellandscapenear,orthehillsfaroff。Heproposedtoputupthewindowasperemptorilyasithadbeenputdown,butshestayedhimwithahoarsewhisper,“ShemaybeanotherBaroness!”Atfirsthedidnotknowwhatshemeant,thenherememberedtheladywhoseclaimstorankherpresencehadsopoorlyenforcedonthewaytoWurzburg,andheperceivedthathiswifewaspractisingawiseforbearancewiththeirfellow-passengers,andgivingherachancetoturnoutanysortofhighhoteshechose。Shefailedtoprofitbytheopportunity;sheremainedsimplyaselfish,disagreeablewoman,ofnomoreperceptibledistinctionthantheirotherfellow- passenger,alittlecommercialtravellerfromVienna(theyresolvedfromhisappearanceandtheletteringonhisvalisethathewasnoother),whosleptwithasortofpassionateintensityallthewaytoMayence。 TheMainwidenedandswamfullerastheyapproachedtheRhine,andfloodedthelow-lyingfieldsin-placeswithapleasanteffectunderawetsunset。WhentheyreachedthestationinMayencetheydroveinterminablytothehoteltheyhadchosenontheriver-shore,throughacityhandsomerandcleanerthananyAmericancitytheycouldthinkof,andgreatpartofthewaybyastreetofdwellingsnobler,Mrs。Marchowned,thanevenCommonwealthAvenueinBoston。Itwasplanted,likethat,withdoublerowsoftrees,butlackeditsgreenlawns;andattimesthesignofWeinhandlungatacorner,betrayedthattherewasnosuchrestrictionagainstshopsaskeepstheBostonstreetsosacred。OtherwisetheyhadtoconfessoncemorethatanyinferiorcityofGermanyisofamoreproperanddignifiedpresencethanthemostparse-proudmetropolisinAmerica。Tobesure,theysaid,theGermantownshadgenerallyathousandyears’start;butallthesamethefactgalledthem。 Itwasverybleak,thoughverybeautifulwhentheystoppedbeforetheirhotelontheRhine,wherealltheirimpalpablememoriesoftheirvisittoMayencethirtyyearsearlierprecipitatedthemselvesintosomethingtangible。Therewerethereachesofthestoriedandfabledstreamwithitsboatsandbridgesandwoodedshoresandislands;therewerethespiresandtowersandroofsofthetownoneitherbankcrowdingtotheriver’sbrink;andtherewithin-doorswasthestatelyportieringoldbraid,andthesmiling,bowing,hand-rubbinglandlord,alluringthemtohismostexpensiverooms,whichsolateintheseasonhewouldfainhavehadthemtake。Butinalittleelevator,thatmountedslowly,veryslowly,inthecurveofthestairs,theywenthighertosomethinglower,andthelandlordretiredbaked,andleftthemtotheministrationsoftheserving-menwhoarrivedwiththeirlargeandsmallbaggage。Alltheseretiredinturnwhentheyaskedtohaveafirelightedinthestove,withoutwhichMrs。Marchwouldneverhavetakenthefinestatelyrooms,andsentbackaprettyyounggirltodoit。Shecameindignant,notbecauseshehadcomeluggingaheavyhodofcoalandagreatarm-loadofwood,butbecausehersenseoffitnesswasoutragedbythestrangedemand。 “What!”shecried。“AfireinSeptember!” “Yes。”Marchreturned,inspiredtomiraculousaptnessinhisGermanbytheexigency,“yes,ifSeptemberiscold。” Thegirllookedathim,andthen,eitherbecauseshethoughthimmad,orlikedhimmerry,burstintoaloudlaugh,andkindledthefirewithoutawordmore。 Helightedallthereluctantgas-jetsinthevastgiltchandelier,andinlessthanhalfanhourthetemperatureoftheplacerosetoatleastsixty-fiveFahrenheit,witheverypromiseofgoinghigher。Mrs。Marchmadeherselfcomfortableinadeepchairbeforethestove,andsaidshewouldhavehersupperthere;andshebadehimsendherjustsuchasupperofchickenandhoneyandteaastheyhadallhadinMayencewhentheysuppedinheraunt’sparlorthereallthoseyearsago。Hewishedtocomputetheyears,butshedrovehimoutwithanimploringcry,andhewentdowntoaverygustydining-roomontheground-floor,wherehefoundhimselfalonewithayoungEnglishcoupleandtheirlittleboy。Theywerefriendly,intelligentpeople,andwouldhavebeenconversable,apparently,butfortheterriblecoldofthehusband,whichhesaidhehadcontractedatthemanoeuvresinHombourg。MarchsaidhewasgoingtoHolland,andtheEnglishmanwasdoubtfulofthewarmthwhichMarchexpectedtofindthere。Heseemedtobesufferingfromasuspenseoffaithastothewarmthanywhere;fromtimetotimethedoorofthedining-roomself-openedinasilent,ghostlyfashionintothecourtwithout,andletinachillingdraughtaboutthelegsofall,tillthelittleEnglishboygotdownfromhisplaceandshutit。 Healonecontinuedcheerful,forMarch’sspiritscertainlydidnotrisewhensomemumblingAmericanscameinandmutteredovertheirmeatatanothertable。Hehatedtoownit,buthehadtoownthatwhereverhehadmetthetwobranchesoftheAnglo-SaxonracetogetherinEurope,theelderhadshown,byasuperiorchirpiness,tothedisadvantageoftheyounger。Thecastclothesoftheold-fashionedBritishoffishnessseemedtohavefallentotheAmericantravellerswhoweretryingtobecorrectandexemplary;andhewouldalmostratherhavehadbacktheold-stylebraggingAmericanswhomhenolongersaw。Heaskedofanagreeablefellow-countrymanwhomhefoundlaterinthereading-room,whathadbecomeofthese;andthiscompatriotsaidhehadtravelledwithoneonlythedaybefore,whohadposedbeforetheirwholecompartmentinhisscornoftheGermanlandscape,theGermanweather,theGermangovernment,theGermanrailwaymanagement,andthenturnedoutanAmericanofGermanbirth!Marchfoundhiswifeingreatbodilycomfortwhenhewentbacktoher,butintroubleofmindaboutaclockwhichshehaddiscoveredstandingonthelacqueredirontopofthestove。ItwasaFrenchclock,ofarchitecturalpretensions,inthetasteofthefirstEmpire,anditlookedasifithadnotbeengoingsinceNapoleonoccupiedMayenceearlyinthecentury。ButMrs。Marchnowhaditsorelyonherconsciencewhere,initsdangerfromtheheatofthestove,itrestedwiththeweightofthePantheon,whoseclassicformitrecalled。Shewonderedthatnoonehadnoticeditbeforethefirewaskindled,andsherequiredherhusbandtoremoveitatoncefromthetopofthestovetothemantelunderthemirror,whichwasthenaturalhabitatofsuchaclock。Hesaidnothingcouldbesimpler,butwhenheliftedit,itbegantofallallapart,likeaclockinthehouseoftheHoodoo。Itsmarblebasedropped-off;itspillarstottered;itspedimentswayedtooneside。 WhileMrs。Marchlamentedherhardfate,andimploredhimtohurryittogetherbeforeanyonecame,hecontrivedtoreconstructitinitsnewplace。Thentheybothbreathedfreer,andreturnedtositdownbeforethestove。Butatthesamemomenttheybothsaw,ineffaceablyoutlinedonthelacqueredtop,thebasalformoftheclock。Thechambermaidwouldseeitinthemorning;shewouldnoticetheremovaloftheclock,andwouldmakeameritofreportingitsruinbytheheattothelandlord,andintheendtheywouldbemulctedofitsvalue。Ratherthansufferthiswrongtheyagreedtorestoreittoitsplace,and,letitgotodestructionuponitsownterms。Marchpainfullyrebuiltitwherehehadfoundit,andtheywenttobedwithabadconsciencetoworsedreams。