a lonely ride-第2部分

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of　NORMAthat　remarkable　celestial　phenomenon　which　rises　so

palpably　to　a　hushed　audience　and　a　sublime　andante　chorus；　until

the　CASTA　DIVA　is　sungthe　〃inconstant　moon〃　that　then　and

thereafter　remains　fixed　in　the　heavens　as　though　it　were　a　part　of

the　solar　system　inaugurated　by　Joshua。　　Again　the　white…robed

Druids　filed　past　me；　again　I　saw　that　improbable　mistletoe　cut

from　that　impossible　oak；　and　again　cold　chills　ran　down　my　back

with　the　first　strain　of　the　recitative。　　The　thumping　springs

essayed　to　beat　time；　and　the　private…box…like　obscurity　of　the

vehicle　lent　a　cheap　enchantment　to　the　view。　　But　it　was　a　vast

improvement　upon　my　past　experience；　and　I　hugged　the　fond

delusion。



My　fears　for　the　driver　were　dissipated　with　the　rising　moon。　　A

familiar　sound　had　assured　me　of　his　presence　in　the　full

possession　of　at　least　one　of　his　most　important　functions。

Frequent　and　full　expectoration　convinced　me　that　his　lips　were　as

yet　not　sealed　by　the　gag　of　highwaymen；　and　soothed　my　anxious

ear。　　With　this　load　lifted　from　my　mind；　and　assisted　by　the　mild

presence　of　Diana；　who　left；　as　when　she　visited　Endymion；　much　of

her　splendor　outside　my　cavernI　looked　around　the　empty　vehicle。

On　the　forward　seat　lay　a　woman's　hairpin。　　I　picked　it　up　with　an

interest　that；　however；　soon　abated。　　There　was　no　scent　of　the

roses　to　cling　to　it　still；　not　even　of　hair　oil。　　No　bend　or　twist

in　its　rigid　angles　betrayed　any　trait　of　its　wearer's　character。

I　tried　to　think　that　it　might　have　been　〃Mariar's。〃　　I　tried　to

imagine　that；　confining　the　symmetrical　curls　of　that　girl；　it

might　have　heard　the　soft　compliments　whispered　in　her　ears　which

provoked　the　wrath　of　the　aged　female。　　But　in　vain。　　It　was

reticent　and　unswerving　in　its　upright　fidelity；　and　at　last

slipped　listlessly　through　my　fingers。



I　had　dozed　repeatedlywaked　on　the　threshold　of　oblivion　by

contact　with　some　of　the　angles　of　the　coach；　and　feeling　that　I

was　unconsciously　assuming；　in　imitation　of　a　humble　insect　of　my

childish　recollection；　that　spherical　shape　which　could　best　resist

those　impressions；　when　I　perceived　that　the　moon；　riding　high　in

the　heavens；　had　begun　to　separate　the　formless　masses　of　the

shadowy　landscape。　　Trees　isolated；　in　clumps　and　assemblages；

changed　places　before　my　window。　　The　sharp　outlines　of　the　distant

hills　came　back；　as　in　daylight；　but　little　softened　in　the　dry；

cold；　dewless　air　of　a　California　summer　night。　　I　was　wondering

how　late　it　was；　and　thinking　that　if　the　horses　of　the　night

traveled　as　slowly　as　the　team　before　us；　Faustus　might　have　been

spared　his　agonizing　prayer；　when　a　sudden　spasm　of　activity

attacked　my　driver。　　A　succession　of　whip…snappings；　like　a　pack　of

Chinese　crackers；　broke　from　the　box　before　me。　　The　stage　leaped

forward；　and　when　I　could　pick　myself　from　under　the　seat；　a　long

white　building　had　in　some　mysterious　way　rolled　before　my　window。

It　must　be　Slumgullion！　　As　I　descended　from　the　stage　I　addressed

the　driver：



〃I　thought　you　changed　horses　on　the　road？〃



〃So　we　did。　　Two　hours　ago。〃



〃That's　odd。　　I　didn't　notice　it。〃



〃Must　have　been　asleep；　sir。　　Hope　you　had　a　pleasant　nap。　　Bully

place　for　a　nice　quiet　snoozeempty　stage；　sir！〃