madam how and lady why(豪夫人和怀女士)-第45节
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the cutter climbing up one side of a wave； and running down the other；
Madam How tells me that； though she will not tell you yet。 Then why do
they go out？
Because they are accustomed to it。 They have come hither all round
from Cowes； past the Land's End； and past Cape Clear； and they are not
afraid or sick either。 But shall I tell you how you would end this
evening？at least so I suspect。 Lying miserable in a stuffy cabin； on a
sofa； and not quite sure whether you were dead or alive； till you were
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bundled into a boat about twelve o'clock at night； when you ought to be
safe asleep； and come home cold； and wet； and stupid； and ill； and lie in
bed all to…morrow。
But will they be wet and cold？
I cannot be sure； but from the look of the sky there to westward； I
think some of them will be。 So do you make up your mind to stay with
me。 But if it is fine and smooth to…morrow； perhaps we may row down
the bay； and see plenty of wonderful things。
But why is it that Madam How will not tell people beforehand what
will happen to them； as you have told me？
Now I will tell you a great secret； which； alas！ every one has not found
out yet。 Madam How will teach you； but only by experience。 Lady Why
will teach you； but by something very differentby something which has
been calledand I know no better names for itgrace and inspiration； by
putting into your heart feelings which no man； not even your father and
mother； can put there； by making you quick to love what is right； and hate
what is wrong； simply because they are right and wrong； though you don't
know why they are right and wrong； by making you teachable； modest；
reverent； ready to believe those who are older and wiser than you when
they tell you what you could never find out for yourself： and so you will
be prudent； that is provident； foreseeing； and know what will happen if
you do so…and…so； and therefore what is really best and wisest for you。
But why will she be kind enough to do that for me？
For the very same reason that I do it。 For God's sake。 Because God
is your Father in heaven； as I am your father on earth； and He does not
wish His little child to be left to the hard teaching of Nature and Law； but
to be helped on by many； many unsought and undeserved favours； such as
are rightly called 〃Means of Grace；〃 and above all by the Gospel and good
news that you are God's child； and that God loves you； and has helped and
taught you； and will help you and teach you； in a thousand ways of which
you are not aware； if only you will be a wise child； and listen to Lady Why；
when she cries from her Palace of Wisdom； and the feast which she has
prepared； 〃Whoso is simple let him turn in hither；〃 and says to him who
wants understanding〃Come； eat of my bread； and drink of the wine
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which I have mingled。〃
〃Counsel is mine； and sound wisdom： I am understanding； I have
strength。 By me kings reign； and princes decree justice。 By me princes
rule； and nobles； even all the judges of the earth。 I love them that love
me； and those that seek me early shall find me。 Riches and honour are
with me； yea； durable riches and righteousness。〃
Yes； I will try and listen to Lady Why： but what will happen if I do
not？
That will happen to you； my childbut God forbid it ever should
happenwhich happens to wicked kings and rulers； and all men； even the
greatest and cleverest； if they do not choose to reign by Lady Why's laws；
and decree justice according to her eternal ideas of what is just； but only
do what seems pleasant and profitable to themselves。 On them Lady
Why turns round； and saysfor she； too； can be awful； ay dreadful； when
she needs …
〃Because I have called； and ye refused； I have stretched out my hand；
and no man regarded； but ye have set at nought all my counsel； and would
have none of my reproof〃 And then come words so terrible； that I will
not speak them here in this happy place： but what they mean is this：…
That these foolish people are handed overas you and I shall be if we
do wrong wilfullyto Madam How and her terrible school… house； which
is called Nature and the Law； to be treated just as the plants and animals
are treated； because they did not choose to behave like men and children
of God。 And there they learn； whether they like or not； what they might
have learnt from Lady Why all along。 They learn the great law； that as
men sow so they will reap； as they make their bed so they will lie on it：
and Madam How can teach that as no one else can in earth or heaven： only；
unfortunately for her scholars； she is apt to hit so hard with her rod； which
is called Experience； that they never get over it； and therefore most of
those who will only be taught by Nature and Law are killed； poor creatures；
before they have learnt their lesson； as many a savage tribe is destroyed；
ay and great and mighty nations toothe old Roman Empire among them。
And the poor Jews； who were carried away captive to Babylon？
Yes； they would not listen to Lady Why； and so they were taken in
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hand by Madam How； and were seventy years in her terrible school… house；
learning a lesson which； to do them justice； they never forgot again。 But
now we will talk of something pleasanter。 We will go back to Lady Why；
and listen to her voice。 It sounds gentle and cheerful enough just now。
Listen。
What？ is she speaking to us now？
Hush！ open your eyes and ears once more； for you are growing sleepy
with my long sermon。 Watch the sleepy shining water； and the sleepy
green mountains。 Listen to the sleepy lapping of the ripple； and the
sleepy sighing of the woods； and let Lady Why talk to you through them
in 〃songs without words；〃 because they are deeper than all words； till you；
too； fall asleep with your head upon my knee。
But what does she say？
She says〃Be still。 The fulness of joy is peace。〃 There； you are fast
asleep； and perhaps that is the best thing for you； for sleep will （so I am
informed； though I never saw it happen； nor any one else） put fresh gray
matter into your brain； or save the wear and tear of the old gray matter； or
something elsewhen they have settled what it is to do： and if so； you
will wake up with a fresh fiddle…string to your little fiddle of a brain； on
which you are playing new tunes all day long。 So much the better： but
when I believe that your brain is you； pretty boy； then I shall believe also
that the fiddler is his fiddle。
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CHAPTER XII
HOMEWARD BOUND
Come： I suppose you consider yourself quite a good sailor by now？
Oh； yes。 I have never been ill yet； though it has been quite rough
again and again。
What you call rough； little man。 But as you are grown such a very
good sailor； and also as the sea is all but smooth； I think we will have a
sail in the yacht to…day； and that a tolerably long one。
Oh； how delightful！ but I thought we were going home； and the things
are all packed up。
And why should we not go homewards in the yacht； things and all？
What； all the way to England？
No； not so far as that； but these kind people； when they came into the
harbour last night； offered to take us up the coast to a town； where we will
sleep； and start comfortably home to…morrow morning。 So now you will
have a chance of seeing something of the great sea outside； and of seeing；
perhaps； the whale himself。
I hope we shall see the whale。 The men say he has been outside the
harbour every day this week after the fish。
Very good。 Now do you keep quiet； and out of the way； while we are
getting ready to go on board； and take a last look at this pretty place； and
all its dear ki
