an unprotected female at the pyramids-第3章

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a　Frenchwoman。　　After　that　they　rode　on　in　silence　for　a　few　moments。

〃Yes；　I　must　see　Mount　Sinai；〃　said　Miss　Dawkins；　and　then　sighed
deeply。　　M。　Delabordeau；　notwithstanding　that　his　country　does　stand　at
the　head　of　all　human　civilisation；　was　not　courteous　enough　to　declare
that　if　Miss　Dawkins　would　join　his　party　across　the　desert；　nothing
would　be　wanting　to　make　his　beatitude　in　this　world　perfect。

Their　road　from　the　village　of　the　chicken…batching　ovens　lay　up　along
the　left　bank　of　the　Nile；　through　an　immense　grove　of　lofty　palm…
trees；　looking　out　from　among　which　our　visitors　could　ever　and　anon
see　the　heads　of　the　two　great　Pyramids；that　is；　such　of　them　could
see　it　as　felt　any　solicitude　in　the　matter。

It　is　astonishing　how　such　things　lose　their　great　charm　as　men　find
themselves　in　their　close　neighbourhood。　　To　one　living　in　New　York　or
London；　how　ecstatic　is　the　interest　inspired　by　these　huge　structures。
One　feels　that　no　price　would　be　too　high　to　pay　for　seeing　them　as
long　as　time　and　distance；　and　the　world's　inexorable　task…work；　forbid
such　a　visit。　　How　intense　would　be　the　delight　of　climbing　over　the
wondrous　handiwork　of　those　wondrous　architects　so　long　since　dead；　how
thrilling　the　awe　with　which　one　would　penetrate　down　into　their
interior　cavesthose　caves　in　which　lay　buried　the　bones　of　ancient
kings；　whose　very　names　seem　to　have　come　to　us　almost　from　another
world！

But　all　these　feelings　become　strangely　dim；　their　acute　edges
wonderfully　worn；　as　the　subjects　which　inspired　them　are　brought　near
to　us。　　〃Ah！　so　those　are　the　Pyramids；　are　they？〃　says　the　traveller；
when　the　first　glimpse　of　them　is　shown　to　him　from　the　window　of　a
railway　carriage。　　〃Dear　me；　they　don't　look　so　very　high；　do　they？
For　Heaven's　sake　put　the　blind　down；　or　we　shall　be　destroyed　by　the
dust。〃　　And　then　the　ecstasy　and　keen　delight　of　the　Pyramids　has
vanished　for　ever。

Our　friends；　therefore；　who　for　weeks　past　had　seen　from　a　distance；
though　they　had　not　yet　visited　them；　did　not　seem　to　have　any　strong
feeling　on　the　subject　as　they　trotted　through　the　grove　of　palm…trees。
Mr。　Damer　had　not　yet　escaped　from　his　wife；　who　was　still　fretful　from
the　result　of　her　little　accident。

〃It　was　all　the　chattering　of　that　Miss　Dawkins；〃　said　Mrs。　Damer。
〃She　would　not　let　me　attend　to　what　I　was　doing。〃

〃Miss　Dawkins　is　an　ass；〃　said　her　husband。

〃It　is　a　pity　she　has　no　one　to　look　after　her；〃　said　Mrs。　Damer。　　M。
Delabordeau　was　still　listening　to　Miss　Dawkins's　raptures　about　Mount
Sinai。　　〃I　wonder　whether　she　has　got　any　money；〃　said　M。　Delabordeau
to　himself。　　〃It　can't　be　much；〃　he　went　on　thinking；　〃or　she　would　not
be　left　in　this　way　by　herself。〃　　And　the　result　of　his　thoughts　was
that　Miss　Dawkins；　if　undertaken；　might　probably　become　more　plague
than　profit。　　As　to　Miss　Dawkins　herself；　though　she　was　ecstatic　about
Mount　Sinaiwhich　was　not　presentshe　seemed　to　have　forgotten　the
poor　Pyramids；　which　were　then　before　her　nose。

The　two　lads　were　riding　races　along　the　dusty　path；　much　to　the
disgust　of　their　donkey…boys。　　Their　time　for　enjoyment　was　to　come。
There　were　hampers　to　be　opened；　and　then　the　absolute　climbing　of　the
Pyramids　would　actually　be　a　delight　to　them。

As　for　Miss　Damer　and　Mr。　Ingram；　it　was　clear　that　they　had　forgotten
palm…trees；　Pyramids；　the　Nile；　and　all　Egypt。　　They　had　escaped　to　a
much　fairer　paradise。

〃Could　I　bear　to　live　among　Republicans？〃　said　Fanny；　repeating　the
last　words　of　her　American　lover；　and　looking　down　from　her　donkey　to
the　ground　as　she　did　so。　　〃I　hardly　know　what　Republicans　are；　Mr。
Ingram。〃

〃Let　me　teach　you；〃　said　he。

〃You　do　talk　such　nonsense。　　I　declare　there　is　that　Miss　Dawkins
looking　at　us　as　though　she　had　twenty　eyes。　　Could　you　not　teach　her；
Mr。　Ingram？〃

And　so　they　emerged　from　the　palm…tree　grove；　through　a　village　crowded
with　dirty；　straggling　Arab　children；　on　to　the　cultivated　plain；
beyond　which　the　Pyramids　stood；　now　full　before　them；　the　two　large
Pyramids；　a　smaller　one；　and　the　huge　sphynx's　head　all　in　a　group
together。

〃Fanny；〃　said　Bob　Damer；　riding　up　to　her；　〃mamma　wants　you；　so　toddle
back。〃

〃Mamma　wants　me！　　What　can　she　want　me　for　now？〃　said　Fanny；　with　a
look　of　anything　but　filial　duty　in　her　face。

〃To　protect　her　from　Miss　Dawkins；　I　think。　　She　wants　you　to　ride　at
her　side；　so　that　Dawkins　mayn't　get　at　her。　　Now；　Mr。　Ingram；　I'll　bet
you　hall…a…crown　I'm　at　the　top　of　the　big　Pyramid　before　you。〃

Poor　Fanny！　　She　obeyed；　however；　doubtless　feeling　that　it　would　not
do　as　yet　to　show　too　plainly　that　she　preferred　Mr。　Ingram　to　her
mother。　　She　arrested　her　donkey；　therefore；　till　Mrs。　Damer　overtook
her；　and　Mr。　Ingram；　as　he　paused　for　a　moment　with　her　while　she　did
so；　fell　into　the　hands　of　Miss　Dawkins。

〃I　cannot　think；　Fanny；　how　you　get　on　so　quick；〃　said　Mrs。　Damer。
〃I'm　always　last；　but　then　my　donkey　is　such　a　very　nasty　one。　　Look
there；　now；　he's　always　trying　to　get　me　off。〃

〃We　shall　soon　be　at　the　Pyramids　now；　mamma。〃

〃How　on　earth　I　am　ever　to　get　back　again　I　cannot　think。　　I　am　so
tired　now　that　I　can　hardly　sit。〃

〃You'll　be　better；　mamma；　when　you　get　your　luncheon　and　a　glass　of
wine。〃

〃How　on　earth　we　are　to　eat　and　drink　with　those　nasty　Arab　people
around　us；　I　can't　conceive。　　They　tell　me　we　shall　be　eaten　up　by
them。　　But；　Fanny；　what　has　Mr。　Ingram　been　saying　to　you　all　the　day？〃

〃What　has　he　been　saying；　mamma？　　Oh！　　I　don't　know；a　hundred　things；
I　dare　say。　　But　he　has　not　been　talking　to　me　all　the　time。〃

〃I　think　he　has；　Fanny；　nearly；　since　we　crossed　the　river。　　Oh；　dear！
oh；　dear！　this　animal　does　hurt　me　so！　　Every　time　he　moves　he　flings
his　head　about；　and　that　gives　me　such　a　bump。〃　　And　then　Fanny
commiserated　her　mother's　sufferings；　and　in　her　commiseration
contrived　to　elude　any　further　questionings　as　to　Mr。　Ingram's
conversation。

〃Majestic　piles；　are　they　not？〃　said　Miss　Dawkins；　who；　having　changed
her　companion；　allowed　her　mind　to　revert　from　Mount　Sinai　to　the
Pyramids。　　They　were　now　riding　through　cultivated　ground；　with　the
vast　extent　of　the　sands　of　Libya　before　them。　　The　two　Pyramids　were
standing　on　the　margin　of　the　sand；　with　the　head　of　the　recumbent
sphynx　plainly　visible　between　them。　　But　no　idea　can　be　formed　of　the
size　of　this　immense　figure　till　it　is　visited　much　more　closely。　　The
body　is　covered　with　sand；　and　the　head　and　neck　alone　stand　above　the
surface　of　the　ground。　　They　were　still　two　miles　distant；　and　the
sphynx　as　yet　was　but　an　obscure　mount　between　the　two　vast　Pyramids。

〃Immense　piles！〃　said　Miss　Dawkins；　repeating　her　own　words。

〃Yes；　they　are　large；〃　said　Mr。　Ingram；　who　did　not　choose　to　indulge
in　enthusiasm　in　the　presence　of　Miss　Dawkins。

〃Enormous！　　What　a　grand　idea！eh；　Mr。　Ingram？　　The　human　race　does
not　create　such　things　as　those　nowadays！〃

〃No；　indeed；〃　he　answered；　〃but　perhaps　we　create　better　things。〃

〃Better！　　You　do　not　mean　to　say；　Mr。　Ingram；　that　you　are　an
utilitarian。　　I　do；　in　truth；　hope　better　things　of　you　than　that。
Yes！　steam　mills　are　better；　no　doubt；　and　mechanics'　institutes　and
penny　newspapers。　　But　is　nothing　to　be　valued　but　what　is　useful？〃
And　Miss　Dawkins；　in　the　height　of　her　enthusiasm；　switched　her　donkey
severely　over　the　shoulder。

〃I　might；　perhaps；　have　said　also　that　we　create　more　beautiful
things；〃　said　Mr。　Ingram。

〃But　we　cannot　create　older　things。〃

〃No；　certainly；　we　cannot　do　that。〃

〃Nor　can　we　imbue　what　we　do　create　with　the　grand　associations　which
environ　those　piles　with　so　intense　an　interest。　　Think　of　the　mighty
dead；　Mr。　Ingram；　and　of　their　great　homes　when　living。　　Think　of　the
hands　which　it　took　to　raise　those　huge　blocks〃

〃And　of　the　lives　which　it　cost。〃

〃Doubtless。　　The　tyranny　and　invincible　power　of　the　royal　architects
add　to　the　grandeur　of　the　idea。　　One　would　not　wish　to　have　back　the
kings　of　Egypt。〃

〃Well；　no；　they　would　be　neither　useful　nor　beautiful。〃

〃Perhaps　not；　and　I　do　not　wish　to　be　picturesque　at　the　expense　of　my
fellow…creatures。〃

〃I　doubt；　even；　whether　they　would　be　picturesque。〃

〃You　know　what　I　mean；　Mr。　Ingram。　　But　the　associations　of　such　names；
and　the　presence　of　the　stupendous　works　with　which　they　are　connected；
fill　the　soul　with　awe。　　Such；　at　least；　is　the　effect　with　mine。〃

〃I　fear　that　my　tendencies；　Miss　Dawkins；　are　more　realistic　than　your
own。〃

〃You　belong　to　a　young　country；　Mr。　Ingram；　and　are　naturally　prone　to
think　of　material　life。　　The　necessity　of　living　looms　large　before
you。〃

〃Very　large；　indeed；　Miss　Dawkins。〃

〃Whereas　with　us；　with　some　of　us　at　least；　the　material　aspect　has
given　place　to　one　in　which　poetry　and　enthusiasm　prevail。　　To　such
among　us　the　associations　of　past　times　are　very　dear。　　Cheops；　to　me；
is　more　than　Napoleon　Bonaparte。〃

〃That　is　more　than　most　of　your　countrymen　can　say；　at　any　rate；　just
at　present。〃

〃I　am　a　woman；〃　continued　Miss　Dawkins。

Mr。　Ingram　took　off　his　hat　in　acknowledgment　both　of　the　announcement
and　of　the　fact。

〃And　to　us　it　is　not　givennot　given　as　yetto　share　in　the　great
deeds　of　the　present。　　The　envy　of　your　sex　has　driven　us　from　the
paths　which　lead　to　honour。　　But　the　deeds　of　the　past　are　as　much　ours
as　yours。〃

〃Oh；　quite　as　much。〃

〃'Tis　to　your　country　that　we　look　for　enfranchisement　from　this
thraldom。　　Yes；　Mr。　Ingram；　the　women　of　America　have　that　strength　of
mind　which　has　been　wanting　to　those　of　Europe。　　In　the　United　States
woman　will　at　last　learn　to　exercise　her　proper　mission。〃

Mr。　Ingram　expressed　a　sincere　wish　that　such　might　be　the　case；　and
then　wondering　at　the　ingenuity　with　which　Miss　Dawkins　had　travelled
round　from　Cheops　and　his　Pyramid　to　the　rights　of　women　in　America；　he
contrived　to　fall　back；　under　the　pretence　of　asking　after　the　ailments
of　Mrs。　Damer。

And　now　at　last　they　were　on　the　sand；　in　the　absolute　desert；　making
their　way　up　to　the　very　foot　of　the　most　northern　of　the　two　Pyramids。
They　were　by　this　time　surrounded　by　a　crowd　of　Arab　guides；　or　Arabs
professing　to　be　guides；　who　had　already　ascertained　that　Mr。　Damer　was
the　chief　of　the　party；　and　were　accordingly　driving　him　almost　to
madness　by　the　offers　of　their　services；　and　their　assurance　that　he
could　not　possibly　see　the　outside　or　the　inside　of　either　structure；
or　even　remain　alive　upon　the　ground；　unless　he　at　once　accepted　their
offers　made　at　their　own　prices。

〃Get　away；　will　you？〃　said　he。　　〃I　don't　want　any　of　you；　and　I　won't
have　you！　　If　you　take　hold　of　me　I'll　shoot　you！〃　　This　was　said　to
one　specially　energetic　Arab；　who；　in　his　efforts　to　secure　his　prey；
had　caught　hold　of　Mr。　Damer　by　the　leg。

〃Yes；　yes；　I　say！　　Englishmen　always　take　me；meme；　and　then　no
break　him　leg。　　Yesyesyes；I　go。　　Master；　say　yes。　　Only　one
leetle　ten　shillings！〃

〃Abdallah！〃　shouted　Mr。　Damer；　〃why　don't　you　take　this　man　away？　　Why
don't　you　make　him　understand　that　if　all　the　Pyramids　depended　on　it；
I　would　not　give　him　sixpence！〃

And　then　Abdallah；　thus　invoked；　came　up；　and　expla