herland(她乡)-第6节
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dreams； and Terry in highly practical plans。
〃What a perfect road！ What a heavenly country！ See the
flowers； will you？〃
This was Jeff； always an enthusiast； but we could agree with him
fully。
The road was some sort of hard manufactured stuff； sloped
slightly to shed rain； with every curve and grade and gutter as perfect as if
it were Europe's best。 〃No men； eh？〃 sneered Terry。 On either side a
double row of trees shaded the footpaths； between the trees bushes or
vines； all fruit…bearing； now and then seats and little wayside fountains；
everywhere flowers。
〃We'd better import some of these ladies and set 'em to parking
the United States；〃 I suggested。 〃Mighty nice place they've got here。〃
We rested a few moments by one of the fountains； tested the fruit that
looked ripe； and went on； impressed； for all our gay bravado by the sense
of quiet potency which lay about us。
Here was evidently a people highly skilled； efficient； caring for
their country as a florist cares for his costliest orchids。 Under the soft
brilliant blue of that clear sky； in the pleasant shade of those endless rows
of trees； we walked unharmed； the placid silence broken only by the birds。
Presently there lay before us at the foot of a long hill the town or
village we were aiming for。 We stopped and studied it。
Jeff drew a long breath。 〃I wouldn't have believed a collection
of houses could look so lovely；〃 he said。
〃They've got architects and landscape gardeners in plenty； that's
sure；〃 agreed Terry。
I was astonished myself。 You see； I come from California； and
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there's no country lovelier； but when it comes to towns！ I have often
groaned at home to see the offensive mess man made in the face of nature；
even though I'm no art sharp； like Jeff。 But this place！ It was built
mostly of a sort of dull rose…colored stone； with here and there some clear
white houses； and it lay abroad among the green groves and gardens like a
broken rosary of pink coral。
〃Those big white ones are public buildings evidently；〃 Terry
declared。 〃This is no savage country； my friend。 But no men？ Boys； it
behooves us to go forward most politely。〃
The place had an odd look； more impressive as we approached。
〃It's like an exposition。〃 〃It's too pretty to be true。〃 〃Plenty of palaces；
but where are the homes？〃 〃Oh there are little ones enoughbut。〃 It
certainly was different from any towns we had ever seen。
〃There's no dirt；〃 said Jeff suddenly。 〃There's no smoke； 〃he
added after a little。
〃There's no noise；〃 I offered； but Terry snubbed me〃That's
because they are laying low for us； we'd better be careful how we go in
there。〃
Nothing could induce him to stay out； however； so we walked
on。
Everything was beauty； order； perfect cleanness； and the
pleasantest sense of home over it all。 As we neared the center of the
town the houses stood thicker； ran together as it were； grew into rambling
palaces grouped among parks and open squares； something as college
buildings stand in their quiet greens。
And then； turning a corner； we came into a broad paved space
and saw before us a band of women standing close together in even order；
evidently waiting for us。
We stopped a moment and looked back。 The street behind was
closed by another band； marching steadily； shoulder to shoulder。 We
went onthere seemed no other way to goand presently found ourselves
quite surrounded by this close…massed multitude； women； all of them； but…
…
They were not young。 They were not old。 They were not； in
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the girl sense； beautiful。 They were not in the least ferocious。 And yet； as
I looked from face to face； calm； grave； wise； wholly unafraid； evidently
assured and determined； I had the funniest feelinga very early feelinga
feeling that I traced back and back in memory until I caught up with it at
last。 It was that sense of being hopelessly in the wrong that I had so
often felt in early youth when my short legs' utmost effort failed to
overcome the fact that I was late to school。
Jeff felt it too； I could see he did。 We felt like small boys； very
small boys； caught doing mischief in some gracious lady's house。 But
Terry showed no such consciousness。 I saw his quick eyes darting here
and there； estimating numbers； measuring distances； judging chances of
escape。 He examined the close ranks about us； reaching back far on
every side； and murmured softly to me； 〃Every one of 'em over forty as
I'm a sinner。〃
Yet they were not old women。 Each was in the full bloom of
rosy health； erect； serene； standing sure…footed and light as any pugilist。
They had no weapons； and we had； but we had no wish to shoot。
〃I'd as soon shoot my aunts；〃 muttered Terry again。 〃What do
they want with us anyhow？ They seem to mean business。〃 But in spite of
that businesslike aspect； he determined to try his favorite tactics。 Terry
had come armed with a theory。
He stepped forward； with his brilliant ingratiating smile； and
made low obeisance to the women before him。 Then he produced
another tribute； a broad soft scarf of filmy texture； rich in color and pattern；
a lovely thing； even to my eye； and offered it with a deep bow to the tall
unsmiling woman who seemed to head the ranks before him。 She took it
with a gracious nod of acknowledgment； and passed it on to those behind
her。
He tried again； this time bringing out a circlet of rhinestones； a
glittering crown that should have pleased any woman on earth。 He made a
brief address； including Jeff and me as partners in his enterprise； and with
another bow presented this。 Again his gift was accepted and； as before；
passed out of sight。
〃If they were only younger；〃 he muttered between his teeth。
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〃What on earth is a fellow to say to a regiment of old Colonels like this？〃
In all our discussions and speculations we had always
unconsciously assumed that the women； whatever else they might be；
would be young。 Most men do think that way； I fancy。
〃Woman〃 in the abstract is young； and； we assume； charming。
As they get older they pass off the stage； somehow； into private ownership
mostly； or out of it altogether。 But these good ladies were very much on
the stage； and yet any one of them might have been a grandmother。
We looked for nervousnessthere was none。
For terror； perhapsthere was none。
For uneasiness； for curiosity； for excitementand all we saw was
what might have been a vigilance committee of women doctors； as cool as
cucumbers； and evidently meaning to take us to task for being there。
Six of them stepped forward now； one on either side of each of
us； and indicated that we were to go with them。 We thought it best to
accede； at first anyway； and marched along； one of these close at each
elbow； and the others in close masses before； behind； on both sides。
A large building opened before us； a very heavy thick…walled
impressive place； big； and old…looking； of gray stone； not like the rest of
the town。
〃This won't do！〃 said Terry to us； quickly。 〃We mustn't let
them get us in this； boys。 All together； now〃
We stopped in our tracks。 We began to explain； to make signs
pointing away toward the big forestindicating that we would go back to
itat onc
