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When the World Shook
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第2章
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TheywerenamedBastinandBickley。Bastin——BasilwashisChristianname——wasanuncouth,shock—headed,flat—footedpersonoflarge,ruggedframeandequallyruggedhonesty,withamindalmostincrediblysimple。Nothingsurprisedhimbecausehelackedthefacultyofsurprise。Hewaslikethatkindoffishwhichliesatthebottomoftheseaandtakeseverykindoffoodintoitsgreatmawwithoutdistinguishingitsflavour。Metaphoricallyspeaking,heavenlymannaanddecayedcabbagewerejustthesametoBastin。Hewasnotfastidiousandbothwerementalpabulum——ofasort——togetherwithwhateverlaybetweentheseextremes。Yethewasgood,sopainfullygoodthatonefeltthatwithoutexertiontohimselfhehadbookedafirst—classticketstraighttoHeaven;

indeedthathisguardianangelhadtieditroundhisneckatbirthlestheshouldloseit,alreadynumberedanddatedlikeanidentificationdisc。

IamboundtoaddthatBastinneverwentwrongbecauseheneverfelttheslightesttemptationtodoso。ThisIsupposeconstitutesrealvirtue,since,inviewofcertainBiblesayings,thepersonwhoistemptedandwouldliketoyieldtothetemptation,isequallyasinnerwiththepersonwhodoesyield。

Tobetrulygoodoneshouldbetoogoodtobetempted,ortooweaktomaketheeffortworththetempter’swhile——inshortnotdeservingofhispowderandshot。

IneedhardlyaddthatBastinwentintotheChurch;indeed,hecouldnothavegoneanywhereelse;itabsorbedhimnaturally,asdoubtlessHeavenwilldoinduecourse。OnlyIthinkitlikelythatuntiltheygettoknowhimhewillboretheangelssomuchthattheywillcontinuallymovehimuphigher。Alsoiftheyhaveanysusceptibilitiesleft,probablyhewilltreadupontheirtoes——anartinwhichIneverknewhisequal。However,IalwayslovedBastin,perhapsbecausenooneelsedid,afactofwhichheremainedtotallyunconscious,orperhapsbecauseofhisbrutalwayoftellingonewhatheconceivedtobethetruth,which,ashehadlessimaginationthanadormouse,generallyitwasnot。

Forifthetruthisajewel,itisonecolouredandveiledbymanydifferentlightsandatmospheres。

Itonlyremainstoaddthathewaslearnedinhistheologicalfashionandthatamonghisfurtherpeculiaritiesweretheslow,monotonousvoiceinwhichheutteredhisviewsinlongsentences,andhistotalindifferencetoadverseargumenthoweversoundandconvincing。

Myotherfriend,Bickley,wasapersonofaquitedifferentcharacter。LikeBastin,hewaslearned,buthistendenciesfacedanotherway。IfBastin’somnivorousthroatcouldswallowacamel,especiallyatheologicalcamel,Bickley’swouldstrainatthesmallestgnat,especiallyatheologicalgnat。Theverybestandmostuprightofmen,yethebelievedinnothingthathecouldnottaste,seeorhandle。Hewasconvinced,forinstance,thatmanisabrute—descendedaccidentandnomore,thatwhatwecallthesoulorthemindisproducedbyacertainactionofthegreymatterofthebrain;thateverythingapparentlyinexplicablehasaperfectlymundaneexplanation,ifonlyonecouldfindit;thatmiraclescertainlyneverdidhappen,andneverwill;thatallreligionsarethefruitofhumanhopesandfearsandthemostconvincingproofofhumanweakness;thatnotwithstandingourinfinitevariationswearethesubjectsofNature’ssinglelawandthevictimsofblind,blackandbrutalchance。

SuchwasBickleywithhisclever,well—cutfacethatalwaysremindedmeofacameo,andthoughtfulbrow;hisstrong,capablehandsandhisrathersteelymouth,themeresetofwhichsuggestedcontroversyofanuncompromisingkind。NaturallyastheChurchhadclaimedBastin,somedicineclaimedBickley。

NowasithappenedthemanwhosucceededmyfatherasvicarofFulcombewasgivenabetterlivingandwentawayshortlyafterI

hadpurchasedtheplaceandwithittheadvowson。JustatthistimealsoIreceivedaletterwritteninthelarge,sprawlinghandofBastinfromwhomIhadnotheardforyears。Itwentstraighttothepoint,sayingthathe,Bastin,hadseeninaChurchpaperthatthelastincumbenthadresignedthelivingofFulcombewhichwasinmygift。HewouldthereforebeobligedifI

wouldgiveittohimastheplacehewasatinYorkshiredidnotsuithiswife’shealth。

HereImaystatethatafterwardsIlearnedthatwhatdidnotsuitMrs。Bastinwastheorganist,whowaspretty。ShewasbynatureawomanwithatemperamentsoinsanelyjealousthatactuallyshemanagedtobesuspiciousofBastin,whomshehadcapturedinanunguardedmomentwhenhewasthinkingofsomethingelseandwhowouldassoonhavethoughtofevenlookingatanywomanashewouldofworshippingBaal。Asamatteroffactittookhimmonthstoknowonefemalefromanother。ExceptaspossibleprovidersofsubscriptionsandpropsofMothers’

Meetings,womenhadnointerestforhim。

Toreturn——withthatengaginghonestywhichIhavementioned——

Bastin’sletterwentontosetoutallhisowndisabilities,which,headded,wouldprobablyrenderhimunsuitablefortheplacehedesiredtofill。HewasaHighChurchman,afactwhichwouldcertainlyoffendmany;hehadnoclaimstobeingapreacheralthoughhewasextraordinarilywellacquaintedwiththewritingsoftheEarlyFathers。(Whatonearthhadthattodowiththequestion,Iwondered。)Ontheotherhandhehadgenerallybeenconsideredagoodvisitorandwasfondofwalking(hemeanttocallondistantparishioners,butdidnotsayso)。

Thenfollowedapageandahalfontheevilsoftheexistingsystemofthepresentationtolivingsbyprivatepersons,endingwiththesuggestionthatIhadprobablycommittedasininbuyingthisparticularadvowsoninordertoincreasemylocalauthority,thatis,ifIhadboughtit,apointonwhichhewasignorant。

Finallyheinformedmethatashehadtochristenasickbabyfivemilesawayonacertainmooranditwastoowetforhimtoridehisbicycle,hemuststop。Andhestopped。

Therewas,however,aP。S。totheletter,whichranasfollows:

"Someonetoldmethatyouweredeadafewyearsago,andofcourseitmaybeanothermanofthesamenamewhoownsFulcombe。

Ifso,nodoubtthePostOfficewillsendbackthisletter。"

Thatwashisonlyallusiontomyhumbleselfinallthosediffusepages。ItwasalongwhilesinceIhadreceivedanepistlewhichmademelaughsomuch,andofcourseIgavehimthelivingbyreturnofpost,andeveninformedhimthatIwouldincreaseitsstipendtoasumwhichIconsideredsuitabletotheposition。

AbouttendayslaterIreceivedanotherletterfromBastinwhich,asascrawlontheflapoftheenvelopeinformedme,hehadcarriedforaweekinhispocketandforgottentopost。

Exceptbyinferenceitreturnednothanksformyintendedbenefits。Whatitdidsay,however,wasthathethoughtitwrongofmetohavesettledamatterofsuchspiritualimportanceinsogreatahurry,thoughhehadobservedthatrichmenwerenearlyalwaysselfishwheretheirtimewasconcerned。Moreover,heconsideredthatIoughtfirsttohavemadeinquiriesastohispresentcharacterandattainments,etc。,etc。

TothisepistleIrepliedbytelegraphtotheeffectthatI

shouldassoonthinkofmakinginquiriesaboutthecharacterofanarchangel,orthatofoneofhisHighChurchsaints。Thistelegram,hetoldmeafterwards,heconsideredunseemlyandevenribald,especiallyasithadgivengreatoffencetothepostmaster,whowasoneofthesidesmeninhischurch。

ThusitcameaboutthatIappointedtheRev。BasilBastintothelivingofFulcombe,feelingsurethathewouldprovidemewithendlessamusementandactasamoraltonicanddiscipline。

AlsoIappreciatedtheman’sbluntcandour。Induecoursehearrived,andIconfessthatafterafewSundaysofexperienceI

begantohavedoubtsastothewisdomofmychoice,gladasIwastoseehimpersonally。Hissermonsatonceboredme,and,whentheydidnotsendmetosleep,excitedinmeadesirefordebate。

Howcouldhebesoprofoundlyacquaintedwithmysteriesbeforewhichtheworldhadstoodamazedforages?Wastherenothingtoohotortooheavyinthespiritualwayforhimtodismissinafewblunderingandcasualwords,ashemightanyordinaryincidentofevery—daylife,Iwondered?AlsohisideaofHighChurchobservanceswasnotmine,or,Iimagine,thatofanybodyelse。

ButIwillnotattempttosetitout。

Hispeculiarities,however,wereeasytoexcuseandentirelyswallowedupbytheinnategoodnessofhisnaturewhichsoonmadehimbelovedofeveryoneintheplace,foralthoughhethoughtthatprobablymostthingsweresins,Ineverknewhimtodiscoverasinwhichheconsideredtobebeyondthereachofforgiveness。

Bastinwasindeedamostcharitablemanandinhiswaywide—minded。

ThepersonwhomIcouldnottolerate,however,washiswife,who,tomyfancy,moreresembledavessel,averyunattractivevessel,fullofvinegarthanawoman。HernamewasSarahandshewassmall,plain,flat,sandy—hairedandodious,quiteobsessed,moreover,withherjealousiesoftheRev。Basil,atwhomitpleasedhertosupposethateverywomaninthecountrysideunderfiftywasthrowingherself。

HereIwillconfessthattothebestofmyabilityItookcarethattheydidinoutwardseeming,thatis,whenevershewaspresent,instructingthemtositasidewithhimindarkenedcorners,topresenthimwithflowers,andsoforth。Severalofthemeasilyfellintothehumourofthething,andIhaveseenhimdepartfromadinner—partyfollowedbythatgloweringSarah,withahandfulofrosebudsandviolets,tosaynothingofthetraditionalofferingsofslippers,embroideredmarkersandthelike。Well,itwasmyonlywayofcomingevenwithher,whichI

thinksheknew,forshehatedmepoisonously。

SomuchforBasilBastin。NowforBickley。HimIhadmetonseveraloccasionssinceourcollegedays,andafterIwassettledatthePrioryfromtimetotimeIaskedhimtostaywithme。Atlengthhecame,andIfoundoutthathewasnotatallcomfortableinhisLondonpracticewhichwasofanatureuncongenialtohim;further,thathedidnotgetonwithhispartners。Then,afterreflection,Imadeasuggestiontohim。I

pointedoutthat,owingtoitspopularityamongstseasidevisitors,theneighbourhoodofFulcombewasarisingone,andthatalthoughthereweredoctorsinit,therewasnoreallyfirst—classsurgeonformiles。

NowBickleywasafirst—classsurgeon,havingheldveryhighhospitalappointments,andindeedstillholdingthem。Why,I

asked,shouldhenotcomeandsetuphereonhisown?IwouldappointhimdoctortotheestateandalsogivehimchargeofacottagehospitalwhichIwasendowing,withlibertytobuildandarrangeitasheliked。Further,asIconsideredthatitwouldbeofgreatadvantagetometohaveamanofrealabilitywithinreach,IwouldguaranteeforthreeyearswhateverincomehewasearninginLondon。

Hethankedmewarmlyandintheendactedontheidea,withstartlingresultssofarashisprospectswereconcerned。Verysoonhisreallyremarkableskillbecameknownandhewasearningmoremoneythanasanunmarriedmanhecouldpossiblywant。

Indeed,scarcelyabigoperationtookplaceatanytownwithintwentymiles,andevenmuchfartheraway,atwhichhewasnotcalledintoassist。

Needlesstosayhisadventwasagreatboontome,forashelivedinahouseIlethimquitenearby,wheneverhehadaspareeveninghewoulddropintodinner,andfromourabsolutelyoppositestandpointswediscussedallthingshumananddivine。

ThusIwasenabledtosharpenmywitsuponthehardsteelofhisclearintellectwhichwasyet,inasense,solimited。

ImustaddthatIneverconvertedhimtomywayofthinkingandheneverconvertedmetohis,anymorethanheconvertedBastin,forwhom,queerlyenough,hehadaliking。Theypoundedawayateachother,Bickleyfrequentlygettingthebestofitintheargument,andwhenatlastBastinrosetogo,hegenerallymadethesameremark。Itwas:

"Itreallyissad,mydearBickley,tofindamanofyourintellectsoutterlywrongheadedandmisguided。Ihaveconvictedyouoferroratleasthalfadozentimes,andnottoconfessitismerepigheadedness。Goodnight。IamsurethatSarahwillbesittingupforme。"

"Sillyoldidiot!"Bickleywouldsay,shakinghisfistafterhim。"Theonlywaytogethimtoseethetruthwouldbetosawhisheadopenandpouritin。"

Thenwewouldbothlaugh。

Suchweremytwomostintimatefriends,althoughIadmititwasratherliketheequatorcultivatingcloserelationshipswiththenorthandsouthpoles。CertainlyBastinwasasfarfromBickleyasthosepointsoftheearthareapart,whileI。asitwere,satequallydistantbetweenthetwo。However,wewereallveryhappytogether,sinceincertaincharacters,therearefewthingsthatbindmenmorecloselythanprofounddifferencesofopinion。

NowImustturntomymorepersonalaffairs。Afterall,itisimpossibleforamantosatisfyhissoul,ifhehasanythingofthesortabouthimwhichintheremotestdegreeanswerstothatdescription,withthehusksofwealth,luxuryandindolence,supplementedbyoccasionaltheologicalandotherargumentsbetweenhisfriends;Becomingprofoundlyconvincedofthistruth,Isearchedroundforsomethingtodoand,likeNoah’sdoveonthewasteofwaters,foundnothing。ThenIaskedBickleyandBastinfortheiropinionsastomybestfuturecourse。Bickleyprovedabarrendraw。HerubbedhisnoseandfeeblysuggestedthatImightgoinfor"researchwork,"which,ofcourse,onlyrepresentedhisownambitions。IaskedhimindignantlyhowIcoulddosuchathingwithoutanyscientificqualificationswhatever。Headmittedthedifficulty,butrepliedthatImightendowotherswhohadthequalifications。

"Inshort,becomeamuchcowforsuckingscientists,"I

replied,andbrokeofftheconversation。

Bastin’sideawas,first,thatIshouldteachinaSundaySchool;secondly,thatifthiscareerdidnotsatisfyallmyaspirations,Imightbeordainedandbecomeamissionary。

Onmyrejectionofthisbrilliantadvice,heremarkedthattheonlyotherthinghecouldthinkofwasthatIshouldgetmarriedandhavealargefamily,whichmightpossiblyadvantagethenationandultimatelyenrichtheKingdomofHeaven,thoughofsuchthingsnoonecouldbequitesure。Atanyrate,hewascertainthatatpresentIwasinpracticeneglectingmyduty,whateveritmightbe,andinfactoneofthosecumberersoftheearthwho,heobservedinthenewspaperhetookinandreadwhenhehadtime,were"veryhappilynamed——theidlerich。"

"Whichremindsme,"headded,"thattheclothing—clubfinancesareinaperfectlyscandalouscondition;infact,itis?5indebt,anamountthatasthesquireoftheparishIconsideritincumbentonyoutomakegood,notasacharitybutasanobligation。"

"Lookhere,myfriend,"Isaid,ignoringalltherest,"willyouanswermeaplainquestion?Haveyoufoundmarriagesuchasuccessthatyouconsiderityourdutytorecommendittoothers?

Andifyouhave,whyhaveyounotgotthelargefamilyofwhichyouspeak?"

"Ofcoursenot,"herepliedwithhisusualfrankness。"Indeed,itisinmanywayssodisagreeablethatIamconvinceditmustberightandforthegoodofallconcerned。AsregardsthefamilyI

amsureIdonotknow,butSarahneverlikedbabies,whichperhapshassomethingtodowithit。"

Thenhesighed,adding,"Yousee,Arbuthnot,wehavetotakethingsaswefindtheminthisworldandhopeforabetter。"

"WhichisjustwhatIamtryingtodo,youunilluminatingolddonkey!"Iexclaimed,andlefthimthereshakinghisheadovermattersingeneral,butIthinkprincipallyoverSarah。

Bytheway,Ithinkthatthevillagersrecognisedthisgoodlady’svinegarynature。Atleast,theyusedtocallher"SourSal。"

ChapterIII

NatalieNowwhatBastinhadsaidaboutmarriagestuckinmymindashisblunderingremarkshadawayofdoing,perhapsbecauseofthegrainofhonesttruthwithwhichtheywereoftenpermeated。

Probablyinmypositionitwasmoreorlessmydutytomarry。Butherecametherub;Ihadneverexperiencedanyleaningsthatway。

Iwasasmuchamanasothers,moresothanmanyare,perhaps,andIlikedwomen,butatthesametimetheyrepelledme。

Myoldfastidiousnesscamein;tomytastetherewasalwayssomethingwrongaboutthem。Whiletheyattractedonepartofmynaturetheyrevoltedanotherpart,andonthewholeIpreferredtodowithouttheirintimatesociety,ratherthanworkviolencetothissecondandhigherpartofme。Moreover,quiteatthebeginningofmycareerIhadconcludedfromobservationthatamangetsonbetterinlifealone,ratherthanwithanothertodragathisside,orbywhomperhapshemustbedragged。Stilltruemarriage,suchasmostmenandsomewomenhavedreamedofintheiryouth,hadalwaysbeenoneofmyideals;indeeditwasonandaroundthisvisionthatIwrotethatfirstbookofminewhichwassosuccessful。SinceIknewthistobeunattainableinourimperfectconditions,however,notwithstandingBastin’sstrictures,againIdismissedthewholematterfrommymindasavainimagination。

AsanalternativeIreflecteduponaparliamentarycareerwhichIwasnottoooldtobegin,andeventoyedwithoneortwoopportunitiesthatofferedthemselves,asthesedotomenofwealthandadvancedviews。Theynevercametoanything,forintheendIdecidedthatPartypoliticsweresohatefulandsodishonest,thatIcouldnotbringmyselftoputmyneckbeneaththeiryoke。IwassurethatifItriedtodoso,IshouldfailmorecompletelythanIhaddoneattheBarandinLiterature。

Here,too,IamquitecertainthatIwasright。

TheupshotofitallwasthatIsoughtrefugeinthatlastexpedientofwearyEnglishmen,travel,notasaglobe—trotter,butleisurelyandwithaninquiringmind,learningmuchbutagainfinding,liketheancientwriterwhomIhavequotedalready,thatthereisnonewthingunderthesun;thatwithcertainvariationsitisthesamethingoverandoveragain。

No,Iwillmakeanexception,theEastdidinterestmeenormously。Thereitwas,atBenares,thatIcameintotouchwithcertainthinkerswhoopenedmyeyestoagreatdeal。Theyreleasedsomehiddenspringinmynaturewhichhithertohadalwaysbeenstrivingtobreakthroughthecrustofourconventionsandinheritedideas。IknownowthatwhatIwasseekingwasnothinglessthantheInfinite;thatIhad"immortallongingsinme。"Ilistenedtoalltheirsolemntalkofepochsandyearsmeasurelesstoman,andreflectedwithathrillthatafterallmanmighthavehispartineveryoneofthem。Yes,thatbirdofpassageasheseemedtobe,flyingoutofdarknessintodarkness,stillhemighthavespreadhiswingsinthelightofothersunsmillionsuponmillionsofyearsago,andmightstillspreadthem,grownradiantandglorious,millionsuponmillionsofyearshenceinatimeunborn。

IfonlyIcouldknowthetruth。WasLife(accordingtoBickley)

merelyashortactivityboundedbynothingnessbeforeandbehind;

or(accordingtoBastin)aconventionalgolden—harpedandhaloedimmortality,awordofwhichhedidnotintheleastunderstandthemeaning?

Orwasitsomethingquitedifferentfromeitherofthese,somethingvastandsplendidbeyondthereachofvision,somethingGod—sent,beginningandendingintheEternalAbsoluteandatlastpartakingofHisattributesandnatureandfromaeontoaeonshotthroughwithHislight?Andhowwasthetruthtobelearned?IaskedmyEasternfriends,andtheytalkedvaguelyoflongasceticpreparation,ofyearsuponyearsoflearning,fromwhomIcouldnotquitediscover。Iwassureitcouldnotbefromthem,becauseclearlytheydidnotknow;theyonlypassedonwhattheyhadheardelsewhere,whenorhowtheyeithercouldnotorwouldnotexplain。SoatlengthIgaveitup,havingsatisfiedmyselfthatallthiswasbutaneffortofOrientalimaginationcalledintolifebythesweetinfluencesoftheEasternstars。

Igaveitupandwentaway,thinkingthatIshouldforget。ButIdidnotforget。Iwasquickwithanewhope,oratanyratewithanewaspiration,andthatsecretchildofholydesiregrewandgrewwithinmysoul,tillatlengthitflasheduponmethatthissoulofminewasitselfthehiddenMasterfromwhichImustlearnmylesson。NowonderthatthoseEasternfriendscouldnotgivehisname,seeingthatwhatevertheyreallyknew,asdistinguishedfromwhattheyhadheard,anditwaslittleenough,eachofthemhadlearnedfromtheteachingofhisownsoul。

Thus,then,Itoobecameadreamerwithonlyonelonging,thelongingforwisdom,forthatspirittouchwhichshouldopenmyeyesandenablemetosee。

YetnowithappenedstrangelyenoughthatwhenIseemedwithinmyselftohavelittlefurtherinterestinthethingsoftheworld,andleastofallinwomen,I,whohadtakenanotherguesttodwellwithme,thosethingsoftheworldcamebacktomeandintheshapeofWomantheInevitable。Probablyitwassodecreedsinceisitnotwrittenthatnomancanlivetohimselfalone,orlosehimselfinwatchingandnurturingthegrowthofhisownsoul?

Ithappenedthus。IwenttoRomeonmywayhomefromIndia,andstayedthereawhile。OnthedayaftermyarrivalIwrotemynameinthebookofourMinistertoItalyatthattime,SirAlfredUpton,notbecauseIwishedhimtoaskmetodinner,butforthereasonthatIhadheardofhimasamanofarcheologicaltastesandthoughtthathemightenablemetoseethingswhichotherwiseIshouldnotsee。

AsitchancedheknewaboutmethroughsomeofmyDevonshireneighbourswhowerefriendsofhis,anddidaskmetodinneronthefollowingnight。Iacceptedandfoundmyselfoneofaconsiderableparty,someofthemdistinguishedEnglishpeoplewhoworeOrders,asiscustomarywhenonedineswiththerepresentativeofourSovereign。Seeingthese,andthisshowsthatinthebestofusvanityisonlylatent,forthefirsttimeinmylifeIwassorrythatIhadnoneandwasonlyplainMr。

Arbuthnotwho,asSirAlfredexplainedtomepolitely,mustgointodinnerlast,becausealltheresthadtitles,andwithoutevenaladyastherewasnotonetospare。

NorwasmylotbetteredwhenIgotthere,asIfoundmyselfseatedbetweenanItaliancountessandaRussianprince,neitherofwhomcouldtalkEnglish,while,alas,Iknewnoforeignlanguage,notevenFrenchinwhichtheyaddressedme,seemingsurprisedthatIdidnotunderstandthem。Iwashumiliatedatmyownignorance,althoughinfactIwasnotignorant,onlymyeducationhadbeenclassical。IndeedIwasagoodclassicandhadkeptupmyknowledgemoreorless,especiallysinceIbecameanidleman。InmyconfusionitoccurredtomethattheItaliancountessmightknowLatinfromwhichherownlanguagewasderived,andaddressedherinthattongue。Shestared,andSirAlfred,whowasnotfaroffandoverheardme(healsoknewLatin),burstintolaughterandproceededtoexplainthejokeinaloudvoice,firstinFrenchandtheninEnglish,totheassembledcompany,whoallbecameinfectedwithmerrimentandalsostaredatmeasacuriosity。

ThenitwasthatforthefirsttimeIsawNatalie,forowingtoamistakeofmydriverIhadarrivedratherlateandhadnotbeenintroducedtoher。Asherfather’sonlydaughter,hermotherbeingdead,shewasseatedattheendofthetablebehindafan—likearrangementofwhiteMadonnalilies,andshehadbentforwardand,liketheothers,waslookingatme,butinsuchafashionthatherheadfromthatdistanceseemedasthoughitweresurroundedandcrownedwithlilies。Indeedthegreatestartcouldnothaveproducedamorebeautifuleffectwhichwas,however,reallyoneofnakedaccident。

AnangellookingdownuponearththroughtheliliesofHeaven——thatwastheratherabsurdthoughtwhichflashedintomymind。Ididnotquiterealiseherfaceatfirstexceptthatitseemedtobebothdarkandfair;asafactherwavinghairwhichgrewratherlowuponherforehead,wasdark,andherlarge,softeyesweregrey。Ididnotknow,andtothismomentIdonotknowifshewasreallybeautiful,butcertainlythelightthatshonethroughthoseeyesofhersandseemedtobereflecteduponherdelicatefeatures,wasbeautyitself。Itwaslikethatglowingthroughathinvaseofthepurestalabasterwithinwhichalampisplaced,andIfeltthiseffecttoarisefromnochance,likethatofthelily—setting,but,asitwere,fromthelampofthespiritwithin。

Oureyesmet,andIsupposethatshesawthewonderandadmirationinmine。Atanyrateheramusedsmilefaded,leavingthefaceratherserious,thoughstillsweetlyserious,andatingeofcolourcreptoveritasthefirsthueofdawncreepsintoapearlysky。ThenshewithdrewherselfbehindthescreenofliliesandfortherestofthatdinnerwhichIthoughtwasnevercomingtoanend,practicallyIsawhernomore。OnlyInotedasshepassedoutthatalthoughnottall,shewasroundedandgracefulinshapeandthatherhandswerepeculiarlydelicate。

Afterwardsinthedrawing—roomherfather,withwhomIhadtalkedatthetable,introducedmetoher,saying:

"Mydaughteristherealarchaeologist,Mr。Arbuthnot,andI

thinkifyouaskher,shemaybeabletohelpyou。"

Thenhebustledawaytospeaktosomeofhisimportantguests,fromwhomIthinkhewasseekingpoliticalinformation。

"Myfatherexaggerates,"shesaidinasoftandverysympatheticvoice,"butperhaps"——andshemotionedmetoaseatatherside。

ThenwetalkedoftheplacesandthingsthatImoreparticularlydesiredtoseeand,well,theendofitwasthatI

wentbacktomyhotelinlovewithNatalie;andassheafterwardsconfessed,shewenttobedinlovewithme。

Itwasacuriousbusiness,morelikemeetingaveryoldfriendfromwhomonehadbeenseparatedbycircumstancesforascoreofyearsorsothananythingelse。Wewere,sotospeak,intimatefromthefirst;weknewallabouteachother,althoughhereandtherewassomethingnew,somethingdifferentwhichwecouldnotremember,linesofthought,veinsofmemorywhichwedidnotpossessincommon。OnonepointIamabsolutelyclear:itwasnotsolelytheeverydayandancientappealofwomantomanandmantowomanwhichdrewustogether,thoughdoubtlessthishaditspartinourattachmentasunderourhumanconditionsitmustdo,seeingthatitisNature’sbaittoensurethecontinuanceoftherace。Itwassomethingmore,somethingquitebeyondthatelementaryimpulse。

【推荐阅读】幽幽深宫,醒来一梦似千年,重生于下堂妃身躯中的她,将如何手刃仇人? 点击阅读

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