tea-table talk(茶桌上的谈话)-第8节
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secretes honey for its own purposes； not with any sense of charity towards
the bee。 Man works； as he thinks； for beer and baccy； in reality； for the
benefit of unborn generations。 The woman； in acting selfishly； is assisting
Nature's plans。 In olden days she chose her mate for his strength。 She；
possibly enough； thought only of herself； he could best provide for her
then simple wants； best guard her from the disagreeable accidents of
nomadic life。 But Nature； unseen； directing her； was thinking of the
savage brood needing still more a bold protector。 Wealth now is the
substitute for strength。 The rich man is the strong man。 The woman's
heart unconsciously goes out to him。〃
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〃Do men never marry for money？〃 inquired the Girton Girl。 〃I ask
merely for information。 Maybe I have been misinformed； but I have
heard of countries where the dot is considered of almost more importance
than the bride。〃
〃The German officer；〃 I ventured to strike in； 〃is literally on sale。
Young lieutenants are most expensive； and even an elderly colonel costs a
girl a hundred thousand marks。〃
〃You mean；〃 corrected the Minor Poet； 〃costs her father。 The
Continental husband demands a dowry with his wife； and sees that he gets
it。 He in his turn has to save and scrape for years to provide each of his
daughters with the necessary dot。 It comes to the same thing precisely。
Your argument could only apply were woman equally with man a wealth
producer。 As it is； a woman's wealth is invariably the result of a marriage；
either her own or that of some shrewd ancestress。 And as regards the
heiress； the principle of sale and purchase； if I may be forgiven the
employment of common terms； is still more religiously enforced。 It is
not often that the heiress is given away； stolen she may be occasionally；
much to the indignation of Lord Chancellors and other guardians of such
property； the thief is very properly punishedimprisoned； if need be。 If
handed over legitimately； her price is strictly exacted； not always in
moneythat she possesses herself； maybe in sufficiency； it enables her to
bargain for other advantages no less serviceable to her childrenfor title；
place； position。 In the same way the Neolithic woman； herself of
exceptional strength and ferocity； may have been enabled to bestow a
thought upon her savage lover's beauty； his prehistoric charm of manner；
thus in other directions no less necessary assisting the development of the
race。〃
〃I cannot argue with you；〃 said the Old Maid。 〃I know one case。
They were both poor； it would have made no difference to her； but it did to
him。 Maybe I am wrong； but it seems to me that； as you say； our instincts
are given us to guide us。 I do not know。 The future is not in our hands；
it does not belong to us。 Perhaps it were wiser to listen to the voices that
are sent to us。〃
〃I remember a case； also；〃 said the Woman of the World。 She had
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risen to prepare the tea； and was standing with her back to us。 'Like the
woman you speak of； she was poor； but one of the sweetest creatures I
have ever known。 I cannot help thinking it would have been good for the
world had she been a mother。〃
〃My dear lady；〃 cried the Minor Poet； 〃you help me！〃
〃I always do； according to you；〃 laughed the Woman of the World。 〃I
appear to resemble the bull that tossed the small boy high into the apple…
tree he had been trying all the afternoon to climb。〃
〃It is very kind of you；〃 answered the Minor Poet。 〃My argument is
that woman is justified in regarding marriage as the end of her existence；
the particular man as but a means。 The woman you speak of acted
selfishly； rejecting the crown of womanhood because not tendered to her
by hands she had chosen。〃
〃You would have us marry without love？〃 asked the Girton Girl。
〃With love； if possible；〃 answered the Minor Poet； 〃without； rather
than not at all。 It is the fulfilment of the woman's law。〃
〃You would make of us goods and chattels；〃 cried the Girton Girl。
〃I would make of you what you are；〃 returned the Minor Poet； 〃the
priestesses of Nature's temple； leading man to the worship of her mysteries。
An American humorist has described marriage as the craving of some
young man to pay for some young woman's board and lodging。 There is
no escaping from this definition； let us accept it。 It is beautifulso far as
the young man is concerned。 He sacrifices himself； deprives himself；
that he may give。 That is love。 But from the woman's point of view？
If she accept thinking only of herself； then it is a sordid bargain on her part。
To understand her； to be just to her； we must look deeper。 Not sexual； but
maternal love is her kingdom。 She gives herself not to her lover； but
through her lover to the great Goddess of the Myriad Breasts that shadows
ever with her guardian wings Life from the outstretched hand of Death。〃
〃She may be a nice enough girl from Nature's point of view；〃 said the
Old Maid； 〃personally； I shall never like her。〃
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CHAPTER IV
〃What is the time？〃 asked the Girton Girl。
I looked at my watch。 〃Twenty past four；〃 I answered。
〃Exactly？〃 demanded the Girton Girl。
〃Precisely；〃 I replied。
〃Strange；〃 murmured the Girton Girl。 〃There is no accounting for it；
yet it always is so。〃
〃What is there no accounting for？〃 I inquired。 〃What is strange？〃
〃It is a German superstition；〃 explained the Girton Girl； 〃I learnt it at
school。 Whenever complete silence falls upon any company； it is always
twenty minutes past the hour。〃
〃Why do we talk so much？〃 demanded the Minor Poet。
〃As a matter of fact；〃 observed the Woman of the World； 〃I don't think
we donot we； personally； not much。 Most of our time we appear to be
listening to you。〃
〃Then why do I talk so much； if you prefer to put it that way？〃
continued the Minor Poet。 〃If I talked less； one of you others would have
to talk more。〃
〃There would be that advantage about it；〃 agreed the Philosopher。
〃In all probability； you；〃 returned to him the Minor Poet。 〃Whether
as a happy party we should gain or lose by the exchange； it is not for me to
say； though I have my own opinion。 The essential remains… …that the
stream of chatter must be kept perpetually flowing。 Why？〃
〃There is a man I know；〃 I said； 〃you may have met him； a man named
Longrush。 He is not exactly a bore。 A bore expects you to listen to him。
This man is apparently unaware whether you are listening to him or not。
He is not a fool。 A fool is occasionally amusing Longrush never。 No
subject comes amiss to him。 Whatever the topic； he has something
uninteresting to say about it。 He talks as a piano…organ grinds out music
steadily； strenuously； tirelessly。 The moment you stand or sit him down
he begins； to continue ceaselessly till wheeled away in cab or omnibus to
his next halting…place。 As in the case of his prototype； his rollers are
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changed about once a month to suit the popular taste。 In January he
repeats to you Dan Leno's jokes； and gives you other people's opinions
concerning the Old Masters at the Guild…hall。 In June he recounts at
length what is generally thought concerning the Academy； and agrees with
most people on most points connected with the Opera。 If forgetful for a
