herland(她乡)-第8节
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plenty of room for them。
Terry was sitting up； looking about him； alert as ever。 His
remark； though not loud； roused Jeff also。 We all sat up。
Terry swung his legs out of bed； stood up； stretched himself
mightily。 He was in a long nightrobe； a sort of seamless garment；
undoubtedly comfortablewe all found ourselves so covered。 Shoes were
beside each bed； also quite comfortable and goodlooking though by no
means like our own。
We looked for our clothesthey were not there； nor anything of
all the varied contents of our pockets。
A door stood somewhat ajar； it opened into a most attractive
bathroom； copiously provided with towels； soap； mirrors； and all such
convenient comforts； with indeed our toothbrushes and combs； our
notebooks； and thank goodness； our watchesbut no clothes。
Then we made a search of the big room again and found a large
airy closet； holding plenty of clothing； but not ours。
〃A council of war！〃 demanded Terry。 〃Come on back to bed
the bed's all right anyhow。 Now then； my scientific friend； let us consider
our case dispassionately。〃
He meant me； but Jeff seemed most impressed。
〃They haven't hurt us in the least！〃 he said。 〃They could have
killed usoror anythingand I never felt better in my life。〃
〃That argues that they are all women；〃 I suggested； 〃and highly
civilized。 You know you hit one in the last scrimmage I heard her sing
outand we kicked awfully。〃
Terry was grinning at us。 〃So you realize what these ladies
have done to us？〃 he pleasantly inquired。 〃They have taken away all our
possessions； all our clothesevery stitch。 We have been stripped and
washed and put to bed like so many yearling babiesby these highly
civilized women。〃
Jeff actually blushed。 He had a poetic imagination。 Terry had
imagination enough； of a different kind。 So had I； also different。 I always
flattered myself I had the scientific imagination； which； incidentally； I
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considered the highest sort。 One has a right to a certain amount of
egotism if founded on factand kept to one's selfI think。
〃No use kicking； boys；〃 I said。 〃They've got us； and apparently
they're perfectly harmless。 It remains for us to cook up some plan of
escape like any other bottled heroes。 Meanwhile we've got to put on
these clothesHobson's choice。〃
The garments were simple in the extreme； and absolutely
comfortable； physically； though of course we all felt like supes in the
theater。 There was a one…piece cotton undergarment； thin and soft； that
reached over the knees and shoulders； something like the one…piece
pajamas some fellows wear； and a kind of half…hose； that came up to just
under the knee and stayed there had elastic tops of their own； and
covered the edges of the first。
Then there was a thicker variety of union suit； a lot of them in
the closet； of varying weights and somewhat sturdier material evidently
they would do at a pinch with nothing further。 Then there were tunics；
knee…length； and some long robes。 Needless to say； we took tunics。
We bathed and dressed quite cheerfully。
〃Not half bad；〃 said Terry； surveying himself in a long mirror。
His hair was somewhat longer than when we left the last barber； and the
hats provided were much like those seen on the prince in the fairy tale；
lacking the plume。
The costume was similar to that which we had seen on all the
women； though some of them； those working in the fields； glimpsed by
our glasses when we first flew over； wore only the first two。
I settled my shoulders and stretched my arms； remarking： 〃They
have worked out a mighty sensible dress； I'll say that for them。〃 With
which we all agreed。
〃Now then；〃 Terry proclaimed； 〃we've had a fine long sleep
we've had a good bathwe're clothed and in our right minds； though
feeling like a lot of neuters。 Do you think these highly civilized ladies
are going to give us any breakfast？〃
〃Of course they will；〃 Jeff asserted confidently。 〃If they had
meant to kill us； they would have done it before。 I believe we are going
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to be treated as guests。〃
〃Hailed as deliverers； I think；〃 said Terry。
〃Studied as curiosities；〃 I told them。 〃But anyhow； we want
food。 So now for a sortie！〃
A sortie was not so easy。
The bathroom only opened into our chamber； and that had but
one outlet； a big heavy door； which was fastened。
We listened。
〃There's someone outside；〃 Jeff suggested。 〃Let's knock。〃
So we knocked； whereupon the door opened。
Outside was another large room； furnished with a great table at
one end； long benches or couches against the wall； some smaller tables
and chairs。 All these were solid； strong； simple in structure； and
comfortable in usealso； incidentally； beautiful。
This room was occupied by a number of women； eighteen to be
exact； some of whom we distinctly recalled。
Terry heaved a disappointed sigh。 〃The Colonels！〃 I heard him
whisper to Jeff。
Jeff； however； advanced and bowed in his best manner； so did
we all； and we were saluted civilly by the tall…standing women。
We had no need to make pathetic pantomime of hunger； the
smaller tables were already laid with food； and we were gravely invited to
be seated。 The tables were set for two； each of us found ourselves placed
vis…a…vis with one of our hosts； and each table had five other stalwarts
nearby； unobtrusively watching。 We had plenty of time to get tired of
those women！
The breakfast was not profuse； but sufficient in amount and
excellent in quality。 We were all too good travelers to object to novelty；
and this repast with its new but delicious fruit； its dish of large rich…
flavored nuts； and its highly satisfactory little cakes was most agreeable。
There was water to drink； and a hot beverage of a most pleasing quality；
some preparation like cocoa。
And then and there； willy…nilly； before we had satisfied our
appetites； our education began。
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By each of our plates lay a little book； a real printed book；
though different from ours both in paper and binding； as well； of course； as
in type。 We examined them curiously。
〃Shades of Sauveur！〃 muttered Terry。 〃We're to learn the
language！〃
We were indeed to learn the language； and not only that； but to
teach our own。 There were blank books with parallel columns； neatly
ruled； evidently prepared for the occasion； and in these； as fast as we
learned and wrote down the name of anything； we were urged to write our
own name for it by its side。
The book we had to study was evidently a schoolbook； one in
which children learned to read； and we judged from this； and from their
frequent consultation as to methods； that they had had no previous
experience in the art of teaching foreigners their language； or of learning
any other。
On the other hand； what they lacked in experience； they made up
for in genius。 Such subtle understanding； such instant recognition of our
difficulties； and readiness to meet them； were a constant surprise to us。
Of course； we were willing to meet them halfway。 It was
wholly to o
