herland(她乡)-第39节
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Ellador my professional companion； that I necessarily enjoyed her society
on any terms。 Onlywhen I had had her with me in her de…feminine
capacity for a sixteen…hour day； I could go to my own room and sleep
without dreaming about her。
The witch！ If ever anybody worked to woo and win and hold a
human soul； she did； great superwoman that she was。 I couldn't then half
comprehend the skill of it； the wonder。 But this I soon began to find： that
under all our cultivated attitude of mind toward women； there is an older；
deeper； more 〃natural〃 feeling； the restful reverence which looks up to the
Mother sex。
So we grew together in friendship and happiness； Ellador and I；
and so did Jeff and Celis。
When it comes to Terry's part of it； and Alima's； I'm sorry and
I'm ashamed。 Of course I blame her somewhat。 She wasn't as fine a
psychologist as Ellador； and what's more； I think she had a far…descended
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atavistic trace of more marked femaleness； never apparent till Terry called
it out。 But when all is said； it doesn't excuse him。 I hadn't realized to
the full Terry's character I couldn't； being a man。
The position was the same as with us； of course； only with these
distinctions。 Alima； a shade more alluring； and several shades less able
as a practical psychologist； Terry； a hundredfold more demandingand
proportionately less reasonable。
Things grew strained very soon between them。 I fancy at first；
when they were together； in her great hope of parentage and his keen joy
of conquestthat Terry was inconsiderate。 In fact； I know it； from things
he said。
〃You needn't talk to me；〃 he snapped at Jeff one day； just before
our weddings。 〃There never was a woman yet that did not enjoy being
MASTERED。 All your pretty talk doesn't amount to a hill o'beansI
KNOW。〃 And Terry would hum：
I've taken my fun where I found it。I've rogued and I've ranged in my
time；
and
The things that I learned from the yellow and black；They 'ave helped
me a 'eap with the white。
Jeff turned sharply and left him at the time。 I was a bit disquieted
myself。
Poor old Terry！ The things he'd learned didn't help him a heap
in Herland。 His idea was to takehe thought that was the way。 He
thought； he honestly believed； that women like it。 Not the women of
Herland！ Not Alima！
I can see her nowone day in the very first week of their
marriage； setting forth to her day's work with long determined strides and
hard…set mouth； and sticking close to Ellador。 She didn't wish to be alone
with Terryyou could see that。
But the more she kept away from him； the more he wanted her
naturally。
He made a tremendous row about their separate establishments；
tried to keep her in his rooms； tried to stay in hers。 But there she drew
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the line sharply。
He came away one night； and stamped up and down the moonlit
road； swearing under his breath。 I was taking a walk that night too； but I
wasn't in his state of mind。 To hear him rage you'd not have believed that
he loved Alima at allyou'd have thought that she was some quarry he was
pursuing； something to catch and conquer。
I think that； owing to all those differences I spoke of； they soon
lost the common ground they had at first； and were unable to meet sanely
and dispassionately。 I fancy toothis is pure conjecturethat he had
succeeded in driving Alima beyond her best judgment； her real conscience；
and that after that her own sense of shame； the reaction of the thing； made
her bitter perhaps。
They quarreled； really quarreled； and after making it up once or
twice； they seemed to come to a real breakshe would not be alone with
him at all。 And perhaps she was a bit nervous； I don't know； but she got
Moadine to come and stay next door to her。 Also； she had a sturdy
assistant detailed to accompany her in her work。
Terry had his own ideas； as I've tried to show。 I daresay he
thought he had a right to do as he did。 Perhaps he even convinced
himself that it would be better for her。 Anyhow； he hid himself in her
bedroom one night 。 。 。
The women of Herland have no fear of men。 Why should they
have？ They are not timid in any sense。 They are not weak； and they all
have strong trained athletic bodies。 Othello could not have extinguished
Alima with a pillow； as if she were a mouse。
Terry put in practice his pet conviction that a woman loves to be
mastered； and by sheer brute force； in all the pride and passion of his
intense masculinity； he tried to master this woman。
It did not work。 I got a pretty clear account of it later from
Ellador； but what we heard at the time was the noise of a tremendous
struggle； and Alima calling to Moadine。 Moadine was close by and came
at once； one or two more strong grave women followed。
Terry dashed about like a madman； he would cheerfully have
killed themhe told me that； himselfbut he couldn't。 When he swung a
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chair over his head one sprang in the air and caught it； two threw
themselves bodily upon him and forced him to the floor； it was only the
work of a few moments to have him tied hand and foot； and then； in sheer
pity for his futile rage； to anesthetize him。
Alima was in a cold fury。 She wanted him killedactually。
There was a trial before the local Over Mother； and this woman；
who did not enjoy being mastered； stated her case。
In a court in our country he would have been held quite 〃within
his rights；〃 of course。 But this was not our country； it was theirs。 They
seemed to measure the enormity of the offense by its effect upon a
possible fatherhood； and he scorned even to reply to this way of putting it。
He did let himself go once； and explained in definite terms that
they were incapable of understanding a man's needs； a man's desires； a
man's point of view。 He called them neuters； epicenes； bloodless； sexless
creatures。 He said they could of course kill him as so many insects
couldbut that he despised them nonetheless。
And all those stern grave mothers did not seem to mind his
despising them； not in the least。
It was a long trial； and many interesting points were brought out
as to their views of our habits； and after a while Terry had his sentence。
He waited； grim and defiant。 The sentence was： 〃You must go home！〃
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CHAPTER 12
Expelled
We had all meant to go home again。 Indeed we had NOT meant
not by any meansto stay as long as we had。 But when it came to
being turned out； dismissed； sent away for bad conduct； we none of us
really liked it。
Terry said he did。 He professed great scorn of the penalty and
the trial； as well as all the other characteristics of 〃this miserable half…
country。〃 But he knew； and we knew； that in any 〃whole〃 country we
should never have been as forgivingly treated as we had been here。
〃If the people had come after us according to the directions we
left； there'd have been quite a different story！〃 said Terry。 We found out
later why no reserve party had arrived。 All our careful directions had
been destroyed in a fire。 We might have all died there and no one at
home h
