tea-table talk(茶桌上的谈话)-第6节
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〃I never liked her；〃 said the Old Maid； 〃I always knew she was
heartless。〃
〃To my thinking；〃 said the Minor Poet； 〃she has shown herself a true
woman。〃
〃Really；〃 said the Woman of the World； laughing； 〃I shall have to
nickname you Dr。 Johnson Redivivus。 I believe； were the subject under
discussion； you would admire the coiffure of the Furies。 It would occur
to you that it must have been naturally curly。〃
〃It is the Irish blood flowing in his veins；〃 I told them。 〃He must
always be 'agin the Government。'〃
〃We ought to be grateful to him；〃 remarked the Philosopher。 〃What
can be more uninteresting than an agreeable conversation I mean； a
conversationwhere everybody is in agreement？ Disagreement； on the
other hand； is stimulating。〃
〃Maybe that is the reason；〃 I suggested； 〃why modern society is so
tiresome an affair。 By tabooing all difference of opinion we have
eliminated all zest from our intercourse。 Religion； sex； politics any
subject on which man really thinks； is scrupulously excluded from all
polite gatherings。 Conversation has become a chorus； or； as a writer
wittily expressed it； the pursuit of the obvious to no conclusion。 When
not occupied with mumbling； 'I quite agree with you''As you say''That
is precisely my opinion'we sit about and ask each other riddles： 'What
did the Pro…Boer？' 'Why did Julius Caesar？'〃
〃Fashion has succeeded where Force for centuries has failed；〃 added
the Philosopher。 〃One notices the tendency even in public affairs。 It is
bad form nowadays to belong to the Opposition。 The chief aim of the
Church is to bring itself into line with worldly opinion。 The
Nonconformist Conscience grows every day a still smaller voice。〃
〃I believe；〃 said the Woman of the World； 〃that was the reason why
Emily never got on with poor dear George。 He agreed with her in
everything。 She used to say it made her feel such a fool。〃
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〃Man is a fighting animal；〃 explained the Philosopher。 〃An officer
who had been through the South African War was telling me only the other
day： he was with a column； and news came in that a small commando
was moving in the neighbourhood。 The column set off in the highest of
spirits； and after three days' trying work through a difficult country came
up with； as they thought； the enemy。 As a matter of fact； it was not the
enemy； but a troop of Imperial Yeomanry that had lost its way。 My friend
informs me that the language with which his column greeted those
unfortunate Yeomen their fellow countrymen； men of their own blood
was most unsympathetic。〃
〃Myself； I should hate a man who agreed with me；〃 said the Girton
Girl。
〃My dear；〃 replied the Woman of the World； 〃I don't think any would。〃
〃Why not？〃 demanded the Girton Girl。
〃I was thinking more of you； dear；〃 replied the Woman of the World。
〃I am glad you all concur with me；〃 murmured the Minor Poet。 〃I
have always myself regarded the Devil's Advocate as the most useful
officer in the Court of Truth。〃
〃I remember being present one evening；〃 I observed； 〃at a dinner…
party where an eminent judge met an equally eminent K。 C。； whose
client the judge that very afternoon had condemned to be hanged。 'It is
always a satisfaction；' remarked to him genially the judge； 'condemning
any prisoner defended by you。 One feels so absolutely certain he was
guilty。' The K。 C。 responded that he should always remember the
judge's words with pride。〃
〃Who was it；〃 asked the Philosopher； 〃who said： 'Before you can
attack a lie； you must strip it of its truth'？〃
〃It sounds like Emerson；〃 I ventured。
〃Very possibly；〃 assented the Philosopher； 〃very possibly not。 There is
much in reputation。 Most poetry gets attributed to Shakespeare。〃
〃I entered a certain drawing…room about a week ago；〃 I said。 〃'We
were just speaking about you；' exclaimed my hostess。 'Is not this yours？'
She pointed to an article in a certain magazine lying open on the table。
'No；' I replied； 'one or two people have asked me that same question。 It
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seems to me rather an absurd article；' I added。 'I cannot say I thought
very much of it；' agreed my hostess。〃
〃I can't help it；〃 said the Old Maid。 〃I shall always dislike a girl who
deliberately sells herself for money。〃
〃But what else is there to sell herself for？〃 asked the Minor Poet。
〃She should not sell herself at all；〃 retorted the Old Maid； with warmth。
〃She should give herself； for love。〃
〃Are we not in danger of drifting into a difference of opinion
concerning the meaning of words merely？〃 replied the Minor Poet。 〃We
have all of us； I suppose； heard the story of the Jew clothier remonstrated
with by the Rabbi for doing business on the Sabbath。 'Doing bithness！'
retorted the accused with indignation； 'you call thelling a thuit like that for
eighteen shillings doing bithness！ By； ith's tharity！' This 'love' for which
the maiden gives herself… …let us be a little more exactdoes it not include；
as a matter of course； material more tangible？ Would not the adored one
look somewhat astonished on discovering that； having given herself for
'love；' love was all that her lover proposed to give for her。 Would she not
naturally exclaim： 'But where's the house； to say nothing of the fittings？
And what are we to live on'？〃
〃It is you now who are playing with words；〃 asserted the Old Maid。
〃The greater includes the less。 Loving her； he would naturally desire〃
〃With all his worldly goods her to endow；〃 completed for her the
Minor Poet。 〃In other words； he pays a price for her。 So far as love is
concerned； they are quits。 In marriage； the man gives himself to the
woman as the woman gives herself to the man。 Man has claimed； I am
aware； greater liberty for himself； but the claim has always been
vehemently repudiated by woman。 She has won her case。 Legally and
morally now husband and wife are bound by the same laws。 This being so；
her contention that she gives herself falls to the ground。 She exchanges
herself。 Over and above； she alone of the twain claims a price。〃
〃Say a living wage；〃 corrected the Philosopher。 〃Lazy rubbish lolls
in petticoats； and idle stupidity struts in trousers。 But； class for class；
woman does her share of the world's work。 Among the poor； of the two it
is she who labours the longer。 There is a many… versed ballad popular in
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country districts。 Often I have heard it sung in shrill； piping voice at
harvest supper or barn dance。 The chorus runs …
A man's work 'tis till set of sun； But a woman's work is never done！
〃My housekeeper came to me a few months ago；〃 said the Woman of
the World； 〃to tell me that my cook had given notice。 'I am sorry to hear
it；' I answered； 'has she found a better place？' 'I am not so sure about
that；' answered Markham； 'she's going as general servant。' 'As general
servant！' I exclaimed。 'To old Hudson； at the coal wharf；' answered
Markham。 'His wife died last year； if you remember。 He's got seven
children； poor man； and no one to look after them。' 'I suppose y
