the island pharisees-第38节
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enthusiasm； to which was joined a kind of shocked amusement； as who
should say； 〃Of course； I know it's very odd； but really he 's such
an awfully interesting person。〃 For John Noble was a politician；
belonging to one of those two Peculiar parties； which； thoroughly in
earnest； of an honesty above suspicion； and always very busy； are
constitutionally averse to anything peculiar for fear of finding they
have overstepped the limit of what is practical in politics。 As such
he inspired confidence； not caring for things unless he saw some
immediate benefit to be had from them； having a perfect sense of
decency； and a small imagination。 He discussed all sorts of things
with Ferrand； on one occasion Shelton overheard them arguing on
anarchism。
〃No Englishman approves of murder；〃 Noble was saying； in the gloomy
voice that contrasted with the optimistic cast of his fine head； 〃but
the main principle is right。 Equalisation of property is bound to
come。 I sympathise with then； not with their methods。〃
〃Forgive me；〃 struck in Ferrand； 〃do you know any anarchists？〃
〃No；〃 returned Noble； 〃I certainly do not。〃
〃You say you sympathise with them； but the first time it comes to
action…〃
〃Well？〃
〃Oh； monsieur！ one doesn't make anarchism with the head。〃
Shelton perceived that he had meant to add； 〃but with the heart； the
lungs； the liver。〃 He drew a deeper meaning from the saying； and
seemed to see； curling with the smoke from Ferrand's lips； the words：
〃What do you； an English gentleman； of excellent position； and all
the prejudices of your class； know about us outcasts？ If you want to
understand us you must be an outcast too； we are not playing at the
game。〃
This talk took place upon the lawn； at the end of one of Toddles's
French lessons； and Shelton left John Noble maintaining to the
youthful foreigner； with stubborn logic； that he； John Noble； and the
anarchists had much； in common。 He was returning to the house； when
someone called his name from underneath the holm oak。 There； sitting
Turkish fashion on the grass； a pipe between his teeth； he found a
man who had arrived the night before； and impressed him by his
friendly taciturnity。 His name was Whyddon； and he had just returned
from Central Africa； a brown…faced； large…jawed man； with small but
good and steady eyes； and strong； spare figure。
〃Oh； Mr。 Shelton！〃 he said； 〃I wondered if you could tell me what
tips I ought to give the servants here； after ten years away I 've
forgotten all about that sort of thing。〃
Shelton sat down beside him； unconsciously assuming； too； a cross…
legged attitude； which caused him much discomfort。
〃I was listening；〃 said his new acquaintance； 〃to the little chap
learning his French。 I've forgotten mine。 One feels a hopeless
duffer knowing no； languages。〃
〃I suppose you speak Arabic？〃 said Shelton。
〃Oh； Arabic； and a dialect or two； they don't count。 That tutor has
a curious face。〃
〃You think so？〃 said Shelton； interested。 〃He's had a curious life。〃
The traveller spread his hands； palms downwards； on the grass and
looked at Shelton with； a smile。
〃I should say he was a rolling stone；〃 he said。 〃It 's odd； I' ve
seen white men in Central Africa with a good deal of his look about
them。
〃Your diagnosis is a good one；〃 answered Shelton。
〃I 'm always sorry for those fellows。 There's generally some good in
them。 They are their own enemies。 A bad business to be unable to
take pride in anything one does！〃 And there was a look of pity on
his face。
〃That's exactly it；〃 said Shelton。 〃I 've often tried to put it into
words。 Is it incurable？〃
〃I think so。〃
〃Can you tell me why？〃
Whyddon pondered。
〃I rather think；〃 he said at last； 〃it must be because they have too
strong a faculty of criticism。 You can't teach a man to be proud of
his own work； that lies in his blood 〃； folding his arms across his
breast； he heaved a sigh。 Under the dark foliage； his eyes on the
sunlight； he was the type of all those Englishmen who keep their
spirits bright and wear their bodies out in the dark places of hard
work。 〃You can't think；〃 he said； showing his teeth in a smile； 〃how
delightful it is to be at home！ You learn to love the old country
when you're away from it。〃
Shelton often thought； afterwards； of this diagnosis of the vagabond；
for he was always stumbling on instances of that power of subtle
criticism which was the young foreigner's prime claim to be 〃a most
awfully interesting〃 and perhaps a rather shocking person。
An old school…fellow of Shelton's and his wife were staying in the
house； who offered to the eye the picture of a perfect domesticity。
Passionless and smiling； it was impossible to imagine they could ever
have a difference。 Shelton； whose bedroom was next to theirs； could
hear them in the mornings talking in exactly the tones they used at
lunch； and laughing the same laughs。 Their life seemed to accord
them perfect satisfaction； they were supplied with their convictions
by Society just as； when at home； they were supplied with all the
other necessaries of life by some co…operative stores。 Their fairly
handsome faces； with the fairly kind expressions； quickly and
carefully regulated by a sense of compromise； began to worry him so
much that when in the same room he would even read to avoid the need
of looking at them。 And yet they were kindthat is； fairly kind
and clean and quiet in the house； except when they laughed； which was
often； and at things which made him want to howl as a dog howls at
music。
〃Mr。 Shelton；〃 Ferrand said one day； 〃I 'm not an amateur of
marriagenever had the chance； as you may well suppose； but； in any
case； you have some people in the house who would make me mark time
before I went committing it。 They seem the ideal young married
peopledon't quarrel； have perfect health； agree with everybody； go
to church； have childrenbut I should like to hear what is beautiful
in their life；〃 and he grimaced。 〃It seems to me so ugly that I can
only gasp。 I would much rather they ill…treated each other； just to
show they had the corner of a soul between them。 If that is
marriage； 'Dieu m'en garde！'〃
But Shelton did not answer； he was thinking deeply。
The saying of John Noble's； 〃He's really a most interesting person；〃
grew more and more upon his nerves； it seemed to describe the Dennant
attitude towards this stranger within their gates。 They treated him
with a sort of wonder on the 〃don't touch〃 system； like an object in
an exhibition。 The restoration； however； of； his self…respect
proceeded with success。 For all the semblance of having grown too
big for Shelton's clothes； for all his vividly burnt face； and the
quick but guarded play of cynicism on his lipshe did much credit to
his patrons。 He had subdued his terror of a razor； and looked well
in a suit of Shelton's flannels。 For； after all； he had only been
eight years exiled from middle…class gentility； and he had been a
waiter half that time。 But Shelton wished him at the devil。 Not for
his manners' sakehe was never tired of watching how subtly the
vagabond adapted his conduct to the conduct of his hosts； while
keeping up his critical detachmentbut because that critical
detachment was a constant spur to his own vision； compelling him to
analyse the life into which； he had been born and was about to marry。
This process was disturbing； and to find out when it had commenced；
he had to go back to his meeting with Ferrand on the journey up from
Dover。
There was kindness in a hospitality which opened to so strange a
bird； admitting the kindness； Shelton fell to analysing it。 To
himself； to people of his class； the use of kindness was a luxury；
not significant of sacrifice； but productive of a pleasant feeling in
the heart； such as massage will setup in the legs。 〃Everybody's
kind；〃 he thought； 〃the question is； What understanding is there；
what real sympathy？〃 This problem gave him food for thought。
The progress； which Mrs。 Dennant not unfrequently remarked upon； in
Ferrand's conquest of his strange position； seemed to Shelton but a
sign that he was getting what he could out of his sudden visit to
green pastures； under the same circumstances； Shelton thought that he
himself would do the same。 He felt that the young foreigner was
making a convenient bow to property； but he had more respect for the
sarcastic smile on the lips of Ferrand's heart。
It was not long before the inevitable change came in the spirit of
the situation； more and more was Shelton conscious of a quaint
uneasiness in the very breathing of the household。
〃Curious fellow you've got hold of there； Shelton；〃 Mr。 Dennant said
to him during a game of croquet； 〃 he 'll never do any good for
himself； I'm afraid。〃
〃In one sense I'm afraid not；〃 admitted Shelto
