manalive-第26章

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of　rich　velvet；　fading　away　into　mauve　and　silver　round　the　edges
of　the　dark　mountain　ampitheatre；　and　between　us　and　the　ravine　below
rose　up　out　of　the　deeps　and　went　up　into　the　heights　the　straight
solitary　rock　we　call　Green　Finger。　　Of　a　queer　volcanic　colour；
and　wrinkled　all　over　with　what　looks　undecipherable　writing；
it　hung　there　like　a　Babylonian　pillar　or　needle。

〃The　man　silently　stretched　out　his　rake　in　that　direction；
and　before　he　spoke　I　knew　what　he　meant。　　Beyond　the　great　green
rock　in　the　purple　sky　hung　a　single　star。

〃‘A　star　in　the　east；'　he　said　in　a　strange　hoarse　voice　like　one　of　our
ancient　eagles'。　‘The　wise　men　followed　the　star　and　found　the　house。
But　if　I　followed　the　star；　should　I　find　the　house？'

〃‘It　depends　perhaps；'　I　said；　smiling；　‘on　whether　you　are　a　wise　man。'
I　refrained　from　adding　that　he　certainly　didn't　look　it。

〃‘You　may　judge　for　yourself；'　he　answered。　　‘I　am　a　man　who　left　his　own
house　because　he　could　no　longer　bear　to　be　away　from　it。'

〃‘It　certainly　sounds　paradoxical；'　I　said。

〃‘I　heard　my　wife　and　children　talking　and　saw　them　moving
about　the　room；'　he　continued；　‘and　all　the　time　I　knew
they　were　walking　and　talking　in　another　house　thousands
of　miles　away；　under　the　light　of　different　skies；　and　beyond
the　series　of　the　seas。　　I　loved　them　with　a　devouring　love；
because　they　seemed　not　only　distant　but　unattainable。
Never　did　human　creatures　seem　so　dear　and　so　desirable：
but　I　seemed　like　a　cold　ghost；　therefore　I　cast　off
their　dust　from　my　feet　for　a　testimony。　　Nay；　I　did　more。
I　spurned　the　world　under　my　feet　so　that　it　swung　full　circle
like　a　treadmill。'

〃‘Do　you　really　mean；'　I　cried；　‘that　you　have　come　right　round　the　world？
Your　speech　is　English；　yet　you　are　coming　from　the　west。'

〃‘My　pilgrimage　is　not　yet　accomplished；'　he　replied　sadly。
‘I　have　become　a　pilgrim　to　cure　myself　of　being　an　exile。'

〃Something　in　the　word　‘pilgrim'　awoke　down　in　the　roots
of　my　ruinous　experience　memories　of　what　my　fathers　had
felt　about　the　world；　and　of　something　from　whence　I　came。
I　looked　again　at　the　little　pictured　lantern　at　which　I　had
not　looked　for　fourteen　years。

〃‘My　grandmother；'　I　said　in　a　low　tone；　‘would　have　said　that　we
were　all　in　exile；　and　that　no　earthly　house　could　cure　the　holy
home…sickness　that　forbids　us　rest。'

〃He　was　silent　a　long　while；　and　watched　a　single　eagle　drift
out　beyond　the　Green　Finger　into　the　darkening　void。

〃Then　he　said；　‘I　think　your　grandmother　was　right；'　and　stood　up
leaning　on　his　grassy　pole。　　‘I　think　that　must　be　the　reason；'
he　said‘the　secret　of　this　life　of　man；　so　ecstatic　and　so　unappeased。
But　I　think　there　is　more　to　be　said。　　I　think　God　has　given　us
the　love　of　special　places；　of　a　hearth　and　of　a　native　land；
for　a　good　reason。'

〃‘I　dare　say；'　I　said。　　‘What　reason？'

〃‘Because　otherwise；'　he　said；　pointing　his　pole　out　at　the　sky　and　the　abyss；
‘we　might　worship　that。'

〃‘What　do　you　mean？'　　I　demanded。

〃‘Eternity；'　he　said　in　his　harsh　voice；　‘the　largest　of　the　idols
the　mightiest　of　the　rivals　of　God。'

〃‘You　mean　pantheism　and　infinity　and　all　that；'　I　suggested。

〃‘I　mean；'　he　said　with　increasing　vehemence；　‘that　if　there　be　a　house
for　me　in　heaven　it　will　either　have　a　green　lamp…post　and　a　hedge；
or　something　quite　as　positive　and　personal　as　a　green　lamp…post
and　a　hedge。　　I　mean　that　God　bade　me　love　one　spot　and　serve　it；
and　do　all　things　however　wild　in　praise　of　it；　so　that　this　one　spot
might　be　a　witness　against　all　the　infinities　and　the　sophistries；
that　Paradise　is　somewhere　and　not　anywhere；　is　something　and　not　anything。
And　I　would　not　be　so　very　much　surprised　if　the　house　in　heaven　had
a　real　green　lamp…post　after　all。'

〃With　which　he　shouldered　his　pole　and　went　striding　down
the　perilous　paths　below；　and　left　me　alone　with　the　eagles。
But　since　he　went　a　fever　of　homelessness　will　often　shake　me。
I　am　troubled　by　rainy　meadows　and　mud　cabins　that　I　have
never　seen；　and　I　wonder　whether　America　will　endure。
Yours　faithfully；　Louis　Hara。〃


After　a　short　silence　Inglewood　said：　　〃And；　finally；　we　desire
to　put　in　as　evidence　the　following　document：


〃This　is　to　say　that　I　am　Ruth　Davis；　and　have　been　housemaid　to
Mrs。　I。　Smith　at　‘The　Laurels'　in　Croydon　for　the　last　six　months。
When　I　came　the　lady　was　alone；　with　two　children；　she　was　not　a　widow；
but　her　husband　was　away。　　She　was　left　with　plenty　of　money　and　did　not
seem　disturbed　about　him；　though　she　often　hoped　he　would　be　back　soon。
She　said　he　was　rather　eccentric　and　a　little　change　did　him　good。
One　evening　last　week　I　was　bringing　the　tea…things　out　on　to　the　lawn
when　I　nearly　dropped　them。　　The　end　of　a　long　rake　was　suddenly　stuck
over　the　hedge；　and　planted　like　a　jumping…pole；　and　over　the　hedge；
just　like　a　monkey　on　a　stick；　came　a　huge；　horrible　man；　all　hairy
and　ragged　like　Robinson　Crusoe。　　I　screamed　out；　but　my　mistress　didn't
even　get　out　of　her　chair；　but　smiled　and　said　he　wanted　shaving。
Then　he　sat　down　quite　calmly　at　the　garden　table　and　took　a　cup
of　tea；　and　then　I　realized　that　this　must　be　Mr。　Smith　himself。
He　has　stopped　here　ever　since　and　does　not　really　give　much　trouble；
though　I　sometimes　fancy　he　is　a　little　weak　in　his　head。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Ruth　Davis。

〃P。S。I　forgot　to　say　that　he　looked　round　at　the　garden　and　said；
very　loud　and　strong：　　‘Oh；　what　a　lovely　place　you've　got；'
just　as　if　he'd　never　seen　it　before。〃


The　room　had　been　growing　dark　and　drowsy；　the　afternoon　sun　sent　one
heavy　shaft　of　powdered　gold　across　it；　which　fell　with　an　intangible
solemnity　upon　the　empty　seat　of　Mary　Gray；　for　the　younger　women
had　left　the　court　before　the　more　recent　of　the　investigations。
Mrs。　Duke　was　still　asleep；　and　Innocent　Smith；　looking　like　a　large
hunchback　in　the　twilight；　was　bending　closer　and　closer　to　his　paper　toys。
But　the　five　men　really　engaged　in　the　controversy；　and　concerned　not
to　convince　the　tribunal　but　to　convince　each　other；　still　sat　round
the　table　like　the　Committee　of　Public　Safety。

Suddenly　Moses　Gould　banged　one　big　scientific　book　on　top　of　another；
cocked　his　little　legs　up　against　the　table；　tipped　his　chair
backwards　so　far　as　to　be　in　direct　danger　of　falling　over；
emitted　a　startling　and　prolonged　whistle　like　a　steam　engine；
and　asserted　that　it　was　all　his　eye。

When　asked　by　Moon　what　was　all　his　eye；　he　banged　down　behind
the　books　again　and　answered　with　considerable　excitement；
throwing　his　papers　about。　　〃All　those　fairy…tales　you've
been　reading　out；〃　he　said。　　〃Oh！　don't　talk　to　me！
I　ain't　littery　and　that；　but　I　know　fairy…tales　when　I　hear　'em。
I　got　a　bit　stumped　in　some　of　the　philosophical　bits
and　felt　inclined　to　go　out　for　a　B。　and　S。　But　we're　living
in　West　'Ampstead　and　not　in　'Ell；　and　the　long　and　the　short
of　it　is　that　some　things　'appen　and　some　things　don't　'appen。
Those　are　the　things　that　don't　'appen。〃

〃I　thought；〃　said　Moon　gravely；　〃that　we　quite　clearly　explained〃

〃Oh　yes；　old　chap；　you　quite　clearly　explained；〃　assented　Mr。　Gould
with　extraordinary　volubility。　　〃You'd　explain　an　elephant
off　the　doorstep；　you　would。　　I　ain't　a　clever　chap　like　you；
but　I　ain't　a　born　natural；　Michael　Moon；　and　when　there's
an　elephant　on　my　doorstep　I　don't　listen　to　no　explanations。
‘It's　got　a　trunk；'　I　says。‘My　trunk；'　you　says：
‘I'm　fond　of　travellin'；　and　a　change　does　me　good。'‘But
the　blasted　thing's　got　tusks；'　I　says。‘Don't　look　a　gift　'orse
in　the　mouth；'　you　says；　‘but　thank　the　goodness　and　the　graice
that　on　your　birth　'as　smiled。'‘But　it's　nearly　as　big　as
the　'ouse；'　I　says。‘That's　the　bloomin'　perspective；'　you　says；
‘and　the　sacred　magic　of　distance。'‘Why；　the　elephant's　trumpetin'
like　the　Day　of　Judgement；'　I　says。‘That's　your　own　conscience
a…talking　to　you；　Moses　Gould；'　you　says　in　a　grive　and
tender　voice。　　Well；　I　'ave　got　a　conscience　as　much　as　you。
I　don't　believe　most　of　the　things　they　tell　you　in　church
on　Sundays；　and　I　don't　believe　these　'ere　things　any　more
because　you　goes　on　about　'em　as　if　you　was　in　church。
I　believe　an　elephant's　a　great　big　ugly　dingerous　beast
and　I　believe　Smith's　another。〃

〃Do　you　mean　to　say；〃　asked　Inglewood；　〃that　you　still　doubt　the　evidence
of　exculpation　we　have　brought　forward？〃

〃Yes；　I　do　still　doubt　it；〃　said　Gould　warmly。　　〃It's　all
a　bit　too　far…fetched；　and　some　of　it　a　bit　too　far　off。
'Ow　can　we　test　all　those　tales？　　'Ow　can　we　drop　in　and　buy
the　‘Pink　'Un'　at　the　railway　station　at　Kosky　Wosky　or　whatever
it　was？　　'Ow　can　we　go　and　do　a　gargle　at　the　saloon…bar　on　top
of　the　Sierra　Mountains？　　But　anybody　can　go　and　see　Bunting's
boarding…house　at　Worthing。〃

Moon　regarded　him　with　an　expression　of　real　or　assumed　surprise。

〃Any　one；〃　continued　Gould；　〃can　call　on　Mr。　Trip。〃

〃It　is　a　comforting　thought；〃　replied　Michael　with　restraint；
〃but　why　should　any　one　call　on　Mr。　Trip？〃

〃For　just　exactly　the　sime　reason；〃　cried　the　excited　Moses；
hammering　on　the　table　with　both　hands；　〃for　just　exactly　the　sime
reason　that　he　should　communicate　with　Messrs。　　'Anbury　and　Bootle
of　Paternoster　Row　and　with　Miss　Gridley's　'igh　class　Academy
at　'Endon；　and　with　old　Lady　Bullingdon　who　lives　at　Penge。〃

〃Again；　to　go　at　once　to　the　moral　roots　of　life；〃　said　Michael；
〃why　is　it　among　the　duties　of　man　to　communicate　with　old
Lady　Bullingdon　who　lives　at　Penge？〃

〃It　ain't　one　of　the　duties　of　man；〃　said　Gould；　〃nor　one　of　his　pleasures；
either；　I　can　tell　you。　　She　takes　the　crumpet；　does　Lady　Bullingdon
at　Penge。　　But　it's　one　of　the　duties　of　a　prosecutor　pursuin'
the　innocent；　blameless　butterfly　career　of　your　friend　Smith；
and　it's　the　sime　with　all　the　others　I　mentioned。〃

〃But　why　do　you　bring　in　these　people　here？〃　asked　Inglewood。

〃Why！　　Because　we've　got　proof　enough　to　sink　a　steamboat；〃
roared　Moses；　〃because　I've　got　the　papers　in　my　very　'and；
because　your　precious　Innocent　is　a　blackguard　and　'ome　smasher；
and　these　are　the　'omes　he's　smashed。　　I　don't　set　up　for　a　'oly　man；
but　I　wouldn't　'ave　all　those　poor　girls　on　my　conscience　for　something。
And　I　think　a　chap　that's　capable　of　deserting　and　perhaps
killing　'em　all　is　about　capable　of　cracking　a　crib　or　shootin'
an　old　schoolmasterso　I　don't　care　much　about　the　other　yarns
one　way　or　another。〃

〃I　think；〃　said　Dr。　Cyrus　Pym　with　a　refined　cough；
〃that　we　are　approaching　this　matter　rather　irregularly。
This　is　really　the　fourth　charge　on　the　charge　sheet；
and　perhaps　I　had　better　put　it　before　you　in　an　ordered
and　scientific　manner。〃

Nothing　but　a　faint　groan　from　Michael　broke　the　silence
of　the　darkening　room。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　IV

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　Wild　Weddings；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　or；　the　Polygamy　Charge


〃A　modern　man；〃　said　Dr。　Cyrus　Pym；　〃must；　if　he　be　thoughtful；
approach　the　problem　of　marriage　with　some　caution。
Marriage　is　a　stagedoubtless　a　suitable　stagein　the　long
advance　of　mankind　towards　a　goal　which　we　cannot　as　yet　conceive；
which　we　are　not；　perhaps；　as　yet　fitted　even　to　desire。