twice-told tales- the ambitious guest-第1部分

快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　TWICE…TOLD　TALES

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　AMBITIOUS　GUEST

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　by　Nathaniel　Hawthorne



　　　ONE　SEPTEMBER　NIGHT　a　family　had　gathered　round　their　hearth；　and

piled　it　high　with　the　driftwood　of　mountain　streams；　the　dry　cones　of

the　pine；　and　the　splintered　ruins　of　great　trees　that　had　come

crashing　down　the　precipice。　Up　the　chimney　roared　the　fire；　and

brightened　the　room　with　its　broad　blaze。　The　faces　of　the　father

and　mother　had　a　sober　gladness；　the　children　laughed；　the　eldest

daughter　was　the　image　of　Happiness　at　seventeen；　and　the　aged

grandmother；　who　sat　knitting　in　the　warmest　place；　was　the　image　of

Happiness　grown　old。　They　had　found　the　〃herb；　heart's…ease；〃　in　the

bleakest　spot　of　all　New　England。　This　family　were　situated　in　the

Notch　of　the　White　Hills；　where　the　wind　was　sharp　throughout　the

year；　and　pitilessly　cold　in　the　winter…　giving　their　cottage　all

its　fresh　inclemency　before　it　descended　on　the　valley　of　the　Saco。

They　dwelt　in　a　cold　spot　and　a　dangerous　one；　for　a　mountain

towered　above　their　heads；　so　steep；　that　the　stones　would　often

rumble　down　its　sides　and　startle　them　at　midnight。

　　　The　daughter　had　just　uttered　some　simple　jest　that　filled　them　all

with　mirth；　when　the　wind　came　through　the　Notch　and　seemed　to　pause

before　their　cottage…　rattling　the　door；　with　a　sound　of　wailing　and

lamentation；　before　it　passed　into　the　valley。　For　a　moment　it

saddened　them；　though　there　was　nothing　unusual　in　the　tones。　But

the　family　were　glad　again　when　they　perceived　that　the　latch　was

lifted　by　some　traveller；　whose　footsteps　had　been　unheard　amid　the

dreary　blast　which　heralded　his　approach；　and　wailed　as　he　was

entering；　and　went　moaning　away　from　the　door。

　　　Though　they　dwelt　in　such　a　solitude；　these　people　held　daily

converse　with　the　world。　The　romantic　pass　of　the　Notch　is　a　great

artery；　through　which　the　life…blood　of　internal　commerce　is

continually　throbbing　between　Maine；　on　one　side；　and　the　Green

Mountains　and　the　shores　of　the　St。　Lawrence；　on　the　other。　The

stage…coach　always　drew　up　before　the　door　of　the　cottage。　The

way…farer；　with　no　companion　but　his　staff；　paused　here　to　exchange

a　word；　that　the　sense　of　loneliness　might　not　utterly　overcome　him

ere　he　could　pass　through　the　cleft　of　the　mountain；　or　reach　the

first　house　in　the　valley。　And　here　the　teamster；　on　his　way　to

Portland　market；　would　put　up　for　the　night；　and；　if　a　bachelor；　might

sit　an　hour　beyond　the　usual　bedtime；　and　steal　a　kiss　from　the

mountain　maid　at　parting。　It　was　one　of　those　primitive　taverns

where　the　traveller　pays　only　for　food　and　lodging；　but　meets　with　a

homely　kindness　beyond　all　price。　When　the　footsteps　were　heard；

therefore；　between　the　outer　door　and　the　inner　one；　the　whole

family　rose　up；　grandmother；　children；　and　all；　as　if　about　to　welcome

someone　who　belonged　to　them；　and　whose　fate　was　linked　with　theirs。

　　　The　door　was　opened　by　a　young　man。　His　face　at　first　wore　the

melancholy　expression；　almost　despondency；　of　one　who　travels　a　wild

and　bleak　road；　at　nightfall　and　alone；　but　soon　brightened　up　when　he

saw　the　kindly　warmth　of　his　reception。　He　felt　his　heart　spring

forward　to　meet　them　all；　from　the　old　woman；　who　wiped　a　chair　with

her　apron；　to　the　little　child　that　held　out　its　arms　to　him。　One

glance　and　smile　placed　the　stranger　on　a　footing　of　innocent

familiarity　with　the　eldest　daughter。

　　　〃Ah；　this　fire　is　the　right　thing！〃　cried　he；　〃especially　when

there　is　such　a　pleasant　circle　round　it。　I　am　quite　benumbed；　for　the

Notch　is　just　like　the　pipe　of　a　great　pair　of　bellows；　it　has　blown　a

terrible　blast　in　my　face　all　the　way　from　Bartlett。〃

　　　〃Then　you　are　going　towards　Vermont？〃　said　the　master　of　the　house；

as　he　helped　to　take　a　light　knapsack　off　the　young　man's　shoulders。

　　　〃Yes；　to　Burlington；　and　far　enough　beyond；〃　replied　he。　〃I　meant

to　have　been　at　Ethan　Crawford's　tonight；　but　a　pedestrian　lingers

along　such　a　road　as　this。　It　is　no　matter；　for；　when　I　saw　this

good　fire；　and　all　your　cheerful　faces；　I　felt　as　if　you　had　kindled

it　on　purpose　for　me；　and　were　waiting　my　arrival。　So　I　shall　sit　down

among　you；　and　make　myself　at　home。〃

　　　The　frank…hearted　stranger　had　just　drawn　his　chair　to　the　fire

when　something　like　a　heavy　footstep　was　heard　without；　rushing　down

the　steep　side　of　the　mountain；　as　with　long　and　rapid　strides；　and

taking　such　a　leap　in　passing　the　cottage　as　to　strike　the　opposite

precipice。　The　family　held　their　breath；　because　they　knew　the

sound；　and　their　guest　held　his　by　instinct。

　　　〃The　old　mountain　has　thrown　a　stone　at　us；　for　fear　we　should

forget　him；〃　said　the　landlord；　recovering　himself。　〃He　sometimes　nods

his　head　and　threatens　to　come　down；　but　we　are　old　neighbors；　and

agree　together　pretty　well　upon　the　whole。　Besides　we　have　a　sure

place　of　refuge　hard　by　if　he　should　be　coming　in　good　earnest。〃

　　　Let　us　now　suppose　the　stranger　to　have　finished　his　supper　of

bear's　meat；　and；　by　his　natural　felicity　of　manner；　to　have　placed

himself　on　a　footing　of　kindness　with　the　whole　family；　so　that　they

talked　as　freely　together　as　if　he　belonged　to　their　mountain　brood。

He　was　of　a　proud；　yet　gentle　spirit…　haughty　and　reserved　among　the

rich　and　great；　but　ever　ready　to　stoop　his　head　to　the　lowly

cottage　door；　and　be　like　a　brother　or　a　son　at　the　poor　man's

fireside。　In　the　household　of　the　Notch　he　found　warmth　and　simplicity

of　feeling；　the　pervading　intelligence　of　New　England；　and　a　poetry　of

native　growth；　which　they　had　gathered　when　they　little　thought　of

it　from　the　mountain　peaks　and　chasms；　and　at　the　very　threshold　of

their　romantic　and　dangerous　abode。　He　had　travelled　far　and　alone；

his　whole　life；　indeed；　had　been　a　solitary　path；　for；　with　the

lofty　caution　of　his　nature；　he　had　kept　himself　apart　from　those

who　might　otherwise　have　been　his　companions。　The　family；　too；

though　so　kind　and　hospitable；　had　that　consciousness　of　unity　among

themselves；　and　separation　from　the　world　at　large；　which；　in　every

domestic　circle；　should　still　keep　a　holy　place　where　no　stranger

may　intrude。　But　this　evening　a　prophetic　sympathy　impelled　the

refined　and　educated　youth　to　pour　out　his　heart　before　the　simple

mountaineers；　and　constrained　them　to　answer　him　with　the　same　free

confidence。　And　thus　it　should　have　been。　Is　not　the　kindred　of　a

common　fate　a　closer　tie　than　that　of　birth？

　　　The　secret　of　the　young　man's　character　was　a　high　and　abstracted

ambition。　He　could　have　borne　to　live　an　undistinguished　life；　but　not

to　be　forgotten　in　the　grave。　Yearning　desire　had　been　transformed

to　hope；　and　hope；　long　cherished；　had　become　like　certainty；　that；

obscurely　as　he　journeyed　now；　a　glory　was　to　beam　on　all　his　pathway…

though　not；　perhaps；　while　he　was　treading　it。　But　when　posterity

should　gaze　back　into　the　gloom　of　what　was　now　the　present；　they

would　trace　the　brightness　of　his　footsteps；　brightening　as　meaner

glories　faded；　and　confess　that　a　gifted　one　had　passed　from　his

cradle　to　his　tomb　with　none　to　recognize　him。

　　　〃As　yet；〃　cried　the　stranger…　his　cheek　glowing　and　his　eye

flashing　with　enthusiasm…　〃as　yet；　I　have　done　nothing。　Were　I　to

vanish　from　the　earth　tomorrow；　none　would　know　so　much　of　me　as

you：　that　a　nameless　youth　came　up　at　nightfall　from　the　valley　of　the

Saco；　and　opened　his　heart　to　you　in　the　evening；　and　passed　through

the　Notch　by　sunrise；　and　was　seen　no　more。　Not　a　soul　would　ask；　'Who

was　he？　Whither　did　the　wanderer　go？'　But　I　cannot　die　till　I　have

achieved　my　destiny。　Then；　let　Death　come！　I　shall　have　built　my

monument！〃

　　　There　was　a　continual　flow　of　natural　emotion；　gushing　forth　amid

abstracted　reverie；　which　enabled　the　family　to　understand　this

young　man's　sentiments；　though　so　foreign　from　their　own。　With　quick

sensibility　of　the　ludicrous；　he　blushed　at　the　ardor　into　which　he

had　been　betrayed。

　　　〃You　laugh　at　me；〃　said　he；　taking　the　eldest　daughter's　hand；

and　laughing　himself。　〃You　think　my　ambition　as　nonsensical　as　if　I

were　to　freeze　myself　to　death　on　the　top　of　Mount　Washington；　only

that　people　might　spy　at　me　from　the　country　round　about。　And；

truly；　that　would　be　a　noble　pedestal　for　a　man's　statue！〃

　　　〃It　is　better　to　sit　here　by　this　fire；〃　answered　the　girl；

blushing；　〃and　be　comfortable　and　contented；　though　nobody　thinks

about　us。〃

　　　〃I　suppose；〃　said　her　father；　after　a　fit　of　musing；　〃there　is

something　natural　in　what　the　young　man　says；　and　if　my　mind　had

been　turned　that　way；　I　might　have　felt　just　the　same。　It　is

strange；　wife；　how　his　talk　has　set　my　head　running　on　things　that　are

pretty　certain　never　to　come　to　pass。〃

　　　〃Perhaps　they　may；〃　observed　the　wife。　〃Is　the　man　thinking　what　he

will　do　when　he　is　a　widower？〃

　　　〃No；　no！〃　cried　he；　repelling　the　idea　with　reproachful　kindness。

〃When　I　think　of　your　death；　Esther；　I　think　of　mine；　too。　But　I　was

wishing　we　had　a　good　farm　in　Bartlett；　or　Bethlehem；　or　Littleton；　or

some　other　township　round　the　White　Mountains；　but　not　where　they

could　tumble　on　our　heads。　I　should　want　to　stand　well　with　my

neighbors　and　be　called　Squire；　and　sent　to　General　Court　for　a　term

or　two；　for　a　plain；　honest　man　may　do　as　much　good　there　as　a　lawyer。

And　when　I　should　be　grown　quite　an　old　man；　and　you　an　old　woman；

so　as　not　to　be　long　apart；　I　might　die　happy　enough　in　my　bed；　and

leave　you　all　crying　around　me。　A　slate　gravestone　would　suit　me　as

well　as　a　marble　one…　with　just　my　name　and　age；　and　a　verse　of　a

hymn；　and　something　to　let　people　know　that　I　lived　an　honest　man

and　died　a　Christian。〃

　　　〃There　now！〃　exclaimed　the　stranger；　〃it　is　our　nature　to　desire

a　monument；　be　it　slate　or　marble；　or　a　pillar　of　granite；　or　a

glorious　memory　in　the　universal　heart　of　man。〃

　　　〃We're　in　a　strange　way；　tonight；〃　said　the　wife；　with　tears　in　her

eyes。　〃They　say　it's　a　sign　of　something；　when　folks'　minds　go

a…wandering　so。　Hark　to　th