beasts and super-beasts(野兽与超级野兽)-第14章
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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
conversationalists of the Afghan border。〃
〃I don't mean in that way；〃 said the greybeard hastily； 〃I've been very
much interested in your conversation。 I was alluding to my unfortunate
financial situation。 You mayn't hardly believe it； but at the present
moment I am absolutely without a farthing。 Don't see any prospect of
getting any money； either； for the next few days。 I don't suppose you've
ever found yourself in such a position；〃 he added。
〃In the town of Yom；〃 said Crosby； 〃which is in Southern
Afghanistan； and which also happens to be my birthplace； there was a
Chinese philosopher who used to say that one of the three chiefest
human blessings was to be absolutely without money。 I forget what the
other two were。〃
〃Ah； I daresay；〃 said the stranger； in a tone that betrayed no
enthusiasm for the philosopher's memory； 〃and did he practise what he
preached？ That's the test。〃
〃He lived happily with very little money or resources；〃 said Crosby。
〃Then I expect he had friends who would help him liberally
whenever he was in difficulties； such as I am in at present。〃
〃In Yom；〃 said Crosby； 〃it is not necessary to have friends in order to
obtain help。 Any citizen of Yom would help a stranger as a matter of
course。〃
The greybeard was now genuinely interested。
The conversation had at last taken a favourable turn。
〃If someone； like me； for instance； who was in undeserved
difficulties； asked a citizen of that town you speak of for a small loan to
tide over a few days' impecuniosity … five shillings； or perhaps a rather
larger sum … would it be given to him as a matter of course？〃
〃There would be a certain preliminary；〃 said Crosby； 〃one would
take him to a wine…shop and treat him to a measure of wine； and then；
after a little high…flown conversation； one would put the desired sum in
his hand and wish him good…day。 It is a roundabout way of
performing a simple transaction； but in the East all ways are
57
… Page 58…
BEASTS AND SUPER…BEASTS
roundabout。〃
The listener's eyes were glittering。
〃Ah；〃 he exclaimed； with a thin sneer ringing meaningly through his
words； 〃I suppose you've given up all those generous customs since you
left your town。 Don't practise them now； I expect。〃
〃No one who has lived in Yom；〃 said Crosby fervently； 〃and
remembers its green hills covered with apricot and almond trees； and the
cold water that rushes down like a caress from the upland snows and
dashes under the little wooden bridges； no one who remembers these
things and treasures the memory of them would ever give up a single
one of its unwritten laws and customs。 To me they are as binding as
though I still lived in that hallowed home of my youth。〃
〃Then if I was to ask you for a small loan … 〃 began the greybeard
fawningly； edging nearer on the seat and hurriedly wondering how large
he might safely make his request； 〃if I was to ask you for； say … 〃
〃At any other time； certainly；〃 said Crosby； 〃in the months of
November and December； however； it is absolutely forbidden for anyone
of our race to give or receive loans or gifts； in fact； one does not
willingly speak of them。 It is considered unlucky。 We will therefore
close this discussion。〃
〃But it is still October！〃 exclaimed the adventurer with an eager；
angry whine； as Crosby rose from his seat； 〃wants eight days to the end
of the month！〃
〃The Afghan November began yesterday；〃 said Crosby severely； and
in another moment he was striding across the Park； leaving his recent
companion scowling and muttering furiously on the seat。
〃I don't believe a word of his story；〃 he chattered to himself； 〃pack of
nasty lies from beginning to end。 Wish I'd told him so to his face。
Calling himself an Afghan！〃
The snorts and snarls that escaped from him for the next quarter of
an hour went far to support the truth of the old saying that two of a trade
never agree。
58
… Page 59…
BEASTS AND SUPER…BEASTS
THE SCHARTZ…
METTERKLUME METHOD
LADY CARLOTTA stepped out on to the platform of the small
wayside station and took a turn or two up and down its uninteresting
length； to kill time till the train should be pleased to proceed on its way。
Then； in the roadway beyond； she saw a horse struggling with a more
than ample load； and a carter of the sort that seems to bear a sullen
hatred against the animal that helps him to earn a living。 Lady Carlotta
promptly betook her to the roadway； and put rather a different
complexion on the struggle。 Certain of her acquaintances were wont to
give her plentiful admonition as to the undesirability of interfering on
behalf of a distressed animal； such interference being 〃none of her
business。〃 Only once had she put the doctrine of non…interference into
practice； when one of its most eloquent exponents had been besieged
for nearly three hours in a small and extremely uncomfortable may…tree
by an angry boar…pig； while Lady Carlotta； on the other side of the fence；
had proceeded with the water…colour sketch she was engaged on； and
refused to interfere between the boar and his prisoner。 It is to be feared
that she lost the friendship of the ultimately rescued lady。 On this
occasion she merely lost the train； which gave way to the first sign of
impatience it had shown throughout the journey； and steamed off
without her。 She bore the desertion with philosophical indifference； her
friends and relations were thoroughly well used to the fact of her
luggage arriving without her。 She wired a vague non…committal
message to her destination to say that she was coming on 〃by another
train。〃 Before she had time to think what her next move might be she
was confronted by an imposingly attired lady； who seemed to be taking a
prolonged mental inventory of her clothes and looks。
〃You must be Miss Hope； the governess I've come to meet；〃 said the
apparition； in a tone that admitted of very little argument。
〃Very well； if I must I must；〃 said Lady Carlotta to herself with
dangerous meekness。
59
… Page 60…
BEASTS AND SUPER…BEASTS
〃I am Mrs。 Quabarl；〃 continued the lady； 〃and where； pray； is your
luggage？〃
〃It's gone astray；〃 said the alleged governess； falling in with the
excellent rule of life that the absent are always to blame； the luggage had；
in point of fact； behaved with perfect correctitude。 〃I've just
telegraphed about it；〃 she added； with a nearer approach to truth。
〃How provoking；〃 said Mrs。 Quabarl； 〃these railway companies are
so careless。 However； my maid can lend you things for the night；〃 and
she led the way to her car。
During the drive to the Quabarl mansion Lady Carlotta was
impressively introduced to the nature of the charge that had been thrust
upon her； she learned that Claude and Wilfrid were delicate； sensitive
young people； that Irene had the artistic temperament highly developed；
and that Viola was something or other else of a mould equally
commonplace among children of that class and type in the twentieth
century。
〃I wish them not only to be TAUGHT；〃 said Mrs。 Quabarl； 〃but
INTERESTED in what they learn。 In their history lessons； for instance；
you must try to make them feel that they are being introduced to the life…
stories of men and women who really lived； not merely committing a
mass of names and dates to memory。 French； of course； I shall expect
you to talk at meal…times several days in the week。〃
〃I shall talk French four days of the week and Russian in the
remaining three。〃
〃Russian？ My dear Miss Hope； no one in the house speaks or
understands Russian。〃
〃That will not embarrass me in the least；〃 said Lady Carlotta coldly。
Mrs。 Quabarl； to use a colloquial expression； was knocked off her
perch。 She was one of those imperfectly self…assured individuals who
are magnificent and autocratic as long as they are not seriously opposed。
The least show of unexpected resistance goes a long way towards
rendering them cowed and apologetic。 When the new governess failed
to express wondering admiration of the large newly…purchased and
expensive car； and lightly alluded to the superior advantages of one or
60
… Page 61…
BEASTS AND SUPER…BEASTS
two makes which had just been put on the market； the discomfiture of
her patroness became almost abject。 Her feelings were those which
might have animated a general of ancient warfaring days； on beholding
his heavie
