herland(她乡)-第37节
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and an excellent fighter when fighting was necessary。 But there was
always this angel streak in him。 It was rather a wonder； Terry being so
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different； that he really loved Jeff as he did； but it happens so sometimes；
in spite of the differenceperhaps because of it。
As for me； I stood between。 I was no such gay Lothario as
Terry； and no such Galahad as Jeff。 But for all my limitations I think I
had the habit of using my brains in regard to behavior rather more
frequently than either of them。 I had to use brain… power now； I can tell
you。
The big point at issue between us and our wives was； as may
easily be imagined； in the very nature of the relation。
〃Wives！ Don't talk to me about wives！〃 stormed Terry。
〃They don't know what the word means。〃
Which is exactly the factthey didn't。 How could they？ Back
in their prehistoric records of polygamy and slavery there were no ideals
of wifehood as we know it； and since then no possibility of forming such。
〃The only thing they can think of about a man is
FATHERHOOD！〃 said Terry in high scorn。 〃FATHERHOOD！〃 As if a
man was always wanting to be a FATHER！〃
This also was correct。 They had their long； wide； deep； rich
experience of Motherhood； and their only perception of the value of a
male creature as such was for Fatherhood。
Aside from that； of course； was the whole range of personal love；
love which as Jeff earnestly phrased it 〃passeth the love of women！〃 It
did； too。 I can give no ideaeither now； after long and happy experience
of it； or as it seemed then； in the first measureless wonderof the beauty
and power of the love they gave us。
Even Alimawho had a more stormy temperament than either of
the others； and who； heaven knows； had far more provocation even
Alima was patience and tenderness and wisdom personified to the man she
loved； until hebut I haven't got to that yet。
These； as Terry put it； 〃alleged or so…called wives〃 of ours； went right
on with their profession as foresters。 We； having no special learnings；
had long since qualified as assistants。 We had to do something； if only to
pass the time； and it had to be work we couldn't be playing forever。
This kept us out of doors with those dear girls； and more or less
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togethertoo much together sometimes。
These people had； it now became clear to us； the highest；
keenest； most delicate sense of personal privacy； but not the faintest idea
of that SOLITUDE A DEUX we are so fond of。 They had； every one of
them； the 〃two rooms and a bath〃 theory realized。 From earliest childhood
each had a separate bedroom with toilet conveniences； and one of the
marks of coming of age was the addition of an outer room in which to
receive friends。
Long since we had been given our own two rooms apiece； and
as being of a different sex and race； these were in a separate house。 It
seemed to be recognized that we should breathe easier if able to free our
minds in real seclusion。
For food we either went to any convenient eating…house； ordered
a meal brought in； or took it with us to the woods； always and equally
good。 All this we had become used to and enjoyedin our courting days。
After marriage there arose in us a somewhat unexpected urge of
feeling that called for a separate house； but this feeling found no response
in the hearts of those fair ladies。
〃We ARE alone； dear；〃 Ellador explained to me with gentle
patience。 〃We are alone in these great forests； we may go and eat in any
little summer…housejust we two； or have a separate table anywhereor
even have a separate meal in our own rooms。 How could we be aloner？〃
This was all very true。 We had our pleasant mutual solitude
about our work； and our pleasant evening talks in their apartments or ours；
we had； as it were； all the pleasures of courtship carried right on； but we
had no sense ofperhaps it may be called possession。 〃Might as well not
be married at all；〃 growled Terry。 〃They only got up that ceremony to
please usplease Jeff； mostly。 They've no real idea of being married。
I tried my best to get Ellador's point of view； and naturally I
tried to give her mine。 Of course； what we； as men； wanted to make
them see was that there were other； and as we proudly said 〃higher；〃 uses
in this relation than what Terry called 〃mere parentage。〃 In the highest
terms I knew I tried to explain this to Ellador。
〃Anything higher than for mutual love to hope to give life； as we
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did？〃 she said。 〃How is it higher？〃
〃It develops love；〃 I explained。 〃All the power of beautiful
permanent mated love comes through this higher development。〃
〃Are you sure？〃 she asked gently。 〃How do you know that it
was so developed？ There are some birds who love each other so that
they mope and pine if separated； and never pair again if one dies； but they
never mate except in the mating season。 Among your people do you find
high and lasting affection appearing in proportion to this indulgence？〃
It is a very awkward thing； sometimes； to have a logical mind。
Of course I knew about those monogamous birds and beasts too；
that mate for life and show every sign of mutual affection； without ever
having stretched the sex relationship beyond its original range。 But what
of it？
〃Those are lower forms of life！〃 I protested。 〃They have no
capacity for faithful and affectionate； and apparently happy but oh； my
dear！ my dear！what can they know of such a love as draws us together？
Why； to touch youto be near youto come closer and closerto lose
myself in yousurely you feel it too； do you not？〃
I came nearer。 I seized her hands。
Her eyes were on mine； tender radiant； but steady and strong。
There was something so powerful； so large and changeless； in those eyes
that I could not sweep her off her feet by my own emotion as I had
unconsciously assumed would be the case。
It made me feel as； one might imagine； a man might feel who
loved a goddessnot a Venus； though！ She did not resent my attitude；
did not repel it； did not in the least fear it； evidently。 There was not a shade
of that timid withdrawal or pretty resistance which are soprovocative。
〃You see； dearest；〃 she said； 〃you have to be patient with us。 We
are not like the women of your country。 We are Mothers； and we are
People； but we have not specialized in this line。〃
〃We〃 and 〃we〃 and 〃we〃it was so hard to get her to be
personal。 And； as I thought that； I suddenly remembered how we were
always criticizing OUR women for BEING so personal。
Then I did my earnest best to picture to her the sweet intense joy
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of married lovers； and the result in higher stimulus to all creative work。
〃Do you mean；〃 she asked quite calmly； as if I was not holding
her cool firm hands in my hot and rather quivering ones； 〃that with you；
when people marry； they go right on doing this in season and out of season；
with no thought of children at all？〃
〃They do；〃 I said； with some bitterness。 〃They are not mere
parents。 They are men and women； and they love each other。〃
〃How long？〃 asked Ellador； rather unexpectedly。
〃How long？〃 I repeated； a little dashe
