erewhon revisited-第22节
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is not faith； but faithlessness to all that we should hold most
faithfully。 Faith consists in holding that the instincts of the
best men and women are in themselves an evidence which may not be
set aside lightly； and the best men and women have ever held that
death is better than dishonour； and desirable if honour is to be
won thereby。
〃It follows； then； that though our conscious flesh and blood life
is the only one that we can fully apprehend； yet we do also indeed
move； even here； in an unseen world； wherein； when our palpable
life is ended； we shall continue to live for a shorter or longer
timereaping roughly； though not infallibly； much as we have sown。
Of this unseen world the best men and women will be almost as
heedless while in the flesh as they will be when their life in
flesh is over； for； as the Sunchild often said； 'The Kingdom of
Heaven cometh not by observation。' It will be all in all to them；
and at the same time nothing； for the better people they are； the
less they will think of anything but this present life。
〃What an ineffable contradiction in terms have we not here。 What a
reversal； is it not； of all this world's canons； that we should
hold even the best of all that we can know or feel in this life to
be a poor thing as compared with hopes the fulfilment of which we
can never either feel or know。 Yet we all hold this； however
little we may admit it to ourselves。 For the world at heart
despises its own canons。〃
I cannot quote further from Dr。 Gurgoyle's pamphlet； suffice it
that he presently dealt with those who say that it is not right of
any man to aim at thrusting himself in among the living when he has
had his day。 〃Let him die；〃 say they； 〃and let die as his fathers
before him。〃 He argued that as we had a right to pester people
till we got ourselves born； so also we have a right to pester them
for extension of life beyond the grave。 Life； whether before the
grave or afterwards； is like loveall reason is against it； and
all healthy instinct for it。 Instinct on such matters is the older
and safer guide； no one； therefore； should seek to efface himself
as regards the next world more than as regards this。 If he is to
be effaced； let others efface him； do not let him commit suicide。
Freely we have received； freely； therefore； let us take as much
more as we can get； and let it be a stand…up fight between
ourselves and posterity to see whether it can get rid of us or no。
If it can； let it； if it cannot； it must put up with us。 It can
better care for itself than we can for ourselves when the breath is
out of us。
Not the least important duty； he continued； of posterity towards
itself lies in passing righteous judgement on the forbears who
stand up before it。 They should be allowed the benefit of a doubt；
and peccadilloes should be ignored； but when no doubt exists that a
man was engrainedly mean and cowardly； his reputation must remain
in the Purgatory of Time for a term varying from； say； a hundred to
two thousand years。 After a hundred years it may generally come
down； though it will still be under a cloud。 After two thousand
years it may be mentioned in any society without holding up of
hands in horror。 Our sense of moral guilt varies inversely as the
squares of its distance in time and space from ourselves。
Not so with heroism； this loses no lustre through time and
distance。 Good is gold； it is rare； but it will not tarnish。 Evil
is like dirty waterplentiful and foul； but it will run itself
clear of taint。
The Doctor having thus expatiated on his own opinions concerning
heaven and hell； concluded by tilting at those which all right…
minded people hold among ourselves。 I shall adhere to my
determination not to reproduce his arguments； suffice it that
though less flippant than those of the young student whom I have
already referred to； they were more plausible； and though I could
easily demolish them； the reader will probably prefer that I should
not set them up for the mere pleasure of knocking them down。 Here；
then； I take my leave of good Dr。 Gurgoyle and his pamphlet；
neither can I interrupt my story further by saying anything about
the other two pamphlets purchased by my father。
CHAPTER XII： GEORGE FAILS TO FIND MY FATHER； WHEREON YRAM CAUTIONS
THE PROFESSORS
On the morning after the interview with her son described in a
foregoing chapter； Yram told her husband what she had gathered from
the Professors； and said that she was expecting Higgs every moment；
inasmuch as she was confident that George would soon find him。
〃Do what you like； my dear；〃 said the Mayor。 〃I shall keep out of
the way； for you will manage him better without me。 You know what
I think of you。〃
He then went unconcernedly to his breakfast； at which the
Professors found him somewhat taciturn。 Indeed they set him down
as one of the dullest and most uninteresting people they had ever
met。
When George returned and told his mother that though he had at last
found the inn at which my father had slept； my father had left and
could not be traced； she was disconcerted； but after a few minutes
she said …
〃He will come back here for the dedication； but there will be such
crowds that we may not see him till he is inside the temple； and it
will save trouble if we can lay hold on him sooner。 Therefore；
ride either to Clearwater or Fairmead； and see if you can find him。
Try Fairmead first； it is more out of the way。 If you cannot hear
of him there； come back； get another horse； and try Clearwater。 If
you fail here too； we must give him up； and look out for him in the
temple to…morrow morning。〃
〃Are you going to say anything to the Professors？〃
〃Not if you can bring Higgs here before night…fall。 If you cannot
do this I must talk it over with my husband； I shall have some
hours in which to make up my mind。 Now gothe sooner the better。〃
It was nearly eleven； and in a few minutes George was on his way。
By noon he was at Fairmead； where he tried all the inns in vain for
news of a person answering the description of my fatherfor not
knowing what name my father might choose to give； he could trust
only to description。 He concluded that since my father could not
be heard of in Fairmead by one o'clock （as it nearly was by the
time he had been round all the inns） he must have gone somewhere
else； he therefore rode back to Sunch'ston； made a hasty lunch； got
a fresh horse； and rode to Clearwater； where he met with no better
success。 At all the inns both at Fairmead and Clearwater he left
word that if the person he had described came later in the day； he
was to be told that the Mayoress particularly begged him to return
at once to Sunch'ston； and come to the Mayor's house。
Now all the time that George was at Fairmead my father was inside
the Musical Bank； which he had entered before going to any inn。
Here he had been sitting for nearly a couple of hours； resting；
dreaming； and reading Bishop Gurgoyle's pamphlet。 If he had left
the Bank five minutes earlier； he would probably have been seen by
George in the main street of Fairmeadas he found out on reaching
the inn which he selected and ordering dinner。
He had hardly got inside the house before the waiter told him that
young Mr。 Strong； the Ranger from Sunch'ston； had been enquiring
for him and had left a message for him； which was duly delivered。
My father； though in reality somewhat disquieted； showed no
uneasiness； and said how sorry he was to have missed seeing Mr。
Strong。 〃But；〃 he added； 〃it does not much matter； I need not go
back this afternoon； for I shall be at Sunch'ston to…morrow morning
and will go straight to the Mayor's。〃
He had no suspicion that he was discovered； but he was a good deal
puzzled。 Presently he inclined to the opinion that George； still
believing him to be Professor Panky； had wanted to invite him to
the banquet on the following dayfor he had no idea that Hanky and
Panky were staying with the Mayor and Mayoress。 Or perhaps the
Mayor and his wife did not like so distinguished a man's having
been unable to find a lodging in Sunch'ston； and wanted him to stay
with them。 Ill satisfied as he was with any theory he could form；
he nevertheless reflected that he could not do better than stay
where he was for the night； inasmuch as no one would be likely to
look for him a second time at Fairmead。 He therefore ordered his
room at once。
It was nearly seven before George got back to Sunch'ston。 In the
meantime Yram and the Mayor had considered the question whether
anything was to be said to the Professors or no。 They were
confident that my father would not commit himselfwhy； indeed；
should he have dyed his hair and otherwise disguised himself； if he
had not intended to remain undiscovered？ Oh no； the probability
was that if nothing was said to the Professors now； nothing need
ever be said； for my father might be escorted back to the statues
by George on the Sunday evening and be told that he was not to
return。 Moreover； even though something untoward were to happen
after all； the Professors would have no reason for thinking that
their hostess had known of the Sunchild's being in
