herland(她乡)-第25节
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education is our highest art； only allowed to our highest artists。〃
〃Education？〃 I was puzzled again。 〃I don't mean education。 I
mean by motherhood not only child…bearing； but the care of babies。〃
〃The care of babies involves education； and is entrusted only to
the most fit；〃 she repeated。
〃Then you separate mother and child！〃 I cried in cold horror；
something of Terry's feeling creeping over me； that there must be
something wrong among these many virtues。
〃Not usually；〃 she patiently explained。 〃You see； almost every
woman values her maternity above everything else。 Each girl holds it
close and dear； an exquisite joy； a crowning honor； the most intimate； most
personal； most precious thing。 That is； the child…rearing has come to be
with us a culture so profoundly studied； practiced with such subtlety and
skill； that the more we love our children the less we are willing to trust that
process to unskilled handseven our own。〃
〃But a mother's love〃 I ventured。
She studied my face； trying to work out a means of clear
explanation。
〃You told us about your dentists；〃 she said； at length； 〃those
quaintly specialized persons who spend their lives filling little holes in
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other persons' teetheven in children's teeth sometimes。〃
〃Yes？〃 I said； not getting her drift。
〃Does mother…love urge motherswith youto fill their own
children's teeth？ Or to wish to？〃
〃Why noof course not；〃 I protested。 〃But that is a highly
specialized craft。 Surely the care of babies is open to any woman any
mother！〃
〃We do not think so；〃 she gently replied。 〃Those of us who are
the most highly competent fulfill that office； and a majority of our girls
eagerly try for itI assure you we have the very best。〃
〃But the poor motherbereaved of her baby〃
〃Oh no！〃 she earnestly assured me。 〃Not in the least bereaved。
It is her baby stillit is with hershe has not lost it。 But she is not the
only one to care for it。 There are others whom she knows to be wiser。
She knows it because she has studied as they did； practiced as they did；
and honors their real superiority。 For the child's sake； she is glad to have
for it this highest care。〃
I was unconvinced。 Besides； this was only hearsay； I had yet
to see the motherhood of Herland。
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CHAPTER 8
The Girls of Herland
At last Terry's ambition was realized。 We were invited； always
courteously and with free choice on our part； to address general audiences
and classes of girls。
I remember the first timeand how careful we were about our
clothes； and our amateur barbering。 Terry； in particular； was fussy to a
degree about the cut of his beard； and so critical of our combined efforts；
that we handed him the shears and told him to please himself。 We began
to rather prize those beards of ours； they were almost our sole distinction
among those tall and sturdy women； with their cropped hair and sexless
costume。 Being offered a wide selection of garments； we had chosen
according to our personal taste； and were surprised to find； on meeting
large audiences； that we were the most highly decorated； especially Terry。
He was a very impressive figure； his strong features softened by
the somewhat longer hairthough he made me trim it as closely as I knew
how； and he wore his richly embroidered tunic with its broad； loose girdle
with quite a Henry V air。 Jeff looked more likewell； like a Huguenot
Lover； and I don't know what I looked like； only that I felt very
comfortable。 When I got back to our own padded armor and its starched
borders I realized with acute regret how comfortable were those Herland
clothes。
We scanned that audience； looking for the three bright faces we
knew； but they were not to be seen。 Just a multitude of girls： quiet； eager；
watchful； all eyes and ears to listen and learn。
We had been urged to give； as fully as we cared to； a sort of
synopsis of world history； in brief； and to answer questions。
〃We are so utterly ignorant； you see；〃 Moadine had explained to
us。 〃We know nothing but such science as we have worked out for
ourselves； just the brain work of one small half… country； and you； we
gather； have helped one another all over the globe； sharing your
discoveries； pooling your progress。 How wonderful； how supremely
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beautiful your civilization must be！〃
Somel gave a further suggestion。
〃You do not have to begin all over again； as you did with us。 We
have made a sort of digest of what we have learned from you； and it has
been eagerly absorbed； all over the country。 Perhaps you would like to
see our outline？〃
We were eager to see it； and deeply impressed。 To us； at first；
these women； unavoidably ignorant of what to us was the basic
commonplace of knowledge； had seemed on the plane of children； or of
savages。 What we had been forced to admit； with growing acquaintance；
was that they were ignorant as Plato and Aristotle were； but with a highly
developed mentality quite comparable to that of Ancient Greece。
Far be it from me to lumber these pages with an account of what
we so imperfectly strove to teach them。 The memorable fact is what they
taught us； or some faint glimpse of it。 And at present； our major interest
was not at all in the subject matter of our talk； but in the audience。
Girlshundreds of themeager； bright…eyed； attentive young
faces； crowding questions； and； I regret to say； an increasing inability on
our part to answer them effectively。
Our special guides； who were on the platform with us； and
sometimes aided in clarifying a question or； oftener； an answer； noticed
this effect； and closed the formal lecture part of the evening rather shortly。
〃Our young women will be glad to meet you；〃 Somel suggested；
〃to talk with you more personally； if you are willing？〃
Willing！ We were impatient and said as much； at which I saw a
flickering little smile cross Moadine's face。 Even then； with all those
eager young things waiting to talk to us； a sudden question crossed my
mind： 〃What was their point of view？ What did they think of us？〃 We
learned that later。
Terry plunged in among those young creatures with a sort of
rapture； somewhat as a glad swimmer takes to the sea。 Jeff； with a rapt
look on his high…bred face； approached as to a sacrament。 But I was a little
chilled by that last thought of mine； and kept my eyes open。 I found time
to watch Jeff； even while I was surrounded by an eager group of
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questionersas we all were and saw how his worshipping eyes； his grave
courtesy； pleased and drew some of them； while others； rather stronger
spirits they looked to be； drew away from his group to Terry's or mine。
I watched Terry with special interest； knowing how he had
longed for this time； and how irresistible he had always been at home。
And I could see； just in snatches； of course； how his suave and masterful
approach seemed to irritate them； his too…intimate glances were vaguely
resented； his compliments puzzled and annoyed。 Sometimes a girl would
flush； not with drooped eyelids and inviting timidity； but with anger and a
quick lift of the
