the lion and the unicorn(狮子与独角兽)-第26节
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them。 It was only that morning； Sir Charles remembered； that an
American had been at work 〃repairing his lawn…mower；〃 as he
considerately expressed it。 He would send for him on the morrow。
But on the morrow the slave of the lawn…mower was reported on the
list of prisoners as 〃missing；〃 and Corporal Mallon was grieved； but
refused to consider himself responsible。 Sir Charles himself had allowed
the vagrant unusual freedom； and the vagrant had taken advantage of it；
and probably escaped to the hills； or up the river to the logwood camp。
〃Telegraph a description of him to Inspector Garrett；〃 Sir Charles
directed； 〃and to the heads of all up stations。 And when he returns； bring
him to me。〃
So great was his zeal that Sir Charles further offered to join Mr。 Collier
in his search among the outlying plantations； but Mr。 Collier preferred to
work alone。 He accordingly set out at once； armed with letters to the
different district inspectors； and in his absence delegated to Sir Charles the
pleasant duty of caring for the wants of Miss Cameron and his wife。 Sir
Charles regarded the latter as deserving of all sympathy； for Mr。 Collier； in
his efforts to conceal the fact from the Governor that Florence Cameron
was responsible； or in any way concerned； in the disappearance of the
missing man； had been too mysterious。 Sir Charles was convinced that
the fugitive had swindled his brother… in…law and stolen his sister's jewels。
The days which followed were to the Governor days and nights of
strange discoveries。 He recognized that the missionaries from the great
outside world had invaded his shores and disturbed his gods and temples。
Their religion of progress and activity filled him with doubt and unrest。
〃In this century；〃 Mr。 Collier had declared； 〃nothing can stand still。
It's the same with a corporation； or a country； or a man。
We must either march ahead or fall out。 We can't mark time。
What？〃
〃Exactlycertainly not；〃 Sir Charles had answered。 But in his heart
he knew that he himself had been marking time under these soft tropical
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skies while the world was pushing forward。 The thought had not
disturbed him before。 Now he felt guilty。 He conceived a sudden
intolerance； if not contempt； for the little village of whitewashed houses；
for the rafts of mahogany and of logwood that bumped against the pier…
heads； for the sacks of coffee piled high like barricades under the
corrugated zinc sheds along the wharf。 Each season it had been his pride
to note the increase in these exports。 The development of the resources
of his colony had been a work in which he had felt that the Colonial
Secretary took an immediate interest。 He had believed that he was one of
the important wheels of the machinery which moved the British Empire：
and now； in a day； he was undeceived。 It was forced upon him that to the
eyes of the outside world he was only a greengrocer operating on a large
scale； he provided the British public with coffee for its breakfast； with
drugs for its stomach； and with strange woods for its dining…room furniture
and walking…sticks。 He combated this ignominious characterization of
his position indignantly。 The new arrivals certainly gave him no hint that
they considered him so lightly。 This thought greatly comforted him； for
he felt that in some way he was summoning to his aid all of his assets and
resources to meet an expert and final valuation。 As he ranged them
before him he was disturbed and happy to find that the value he placed
upon them was the value they would have in the eyes of a young girl not
a girl of the shy； mother…obeying； man…worshipping English type； but a
girl such as Miss Cameron seemed to be； a girl who could understand what
you were trying to say before you said it； who could take an interest in
rates of exchange and preside at a dinner table； who was charmingly
feminine and clever； and who was respectful of herself and of others。 In
fact； he decided； with a flush； that Miss Cameron herself was the young
girl he had in his mind。
〃Why not？〃 he asked。
The question came to him in his room； the sixth night of their visit；
and he strode over to the long pier…glass and stood studying himself
critically for the first time in years。 He was still a fine…looking； well…kept
man。 His hair was thin； but that fact did not show； and his waist was lost；
but riding and tennis would set that right。 He had means outside of his
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official salary； and there was the title； such as it was。 Lady Greville the
wife of the birthday knight sounded as well as Lady Greville the
marchioness。 And Americans cared for these things。 He doubted
whether this particular American would do so； but he was adding up all he
had to offer； and that was one of the assets。 He was sure she would not
be content to remain mistress of the Windless Isles。 Nor； indeed； did he
longer care to be master there； now that he had inhaled this quick； stirring
breath from the outer world。 He would resign； and return and mix with
the world again。 He would enter Parliament； a man so well acquainted as
himself with the Gold Coast of Africa and with the trade of the West
Indies must always be of value in the Lower House。 This value would be
recognized； no doubt； and he would become at first an Under…Secretary for
the Colonies； and then； in time； Colonial Secretary and a cabinet minister。
She would like that； he thought。 And after that place had been reached；
all things were possible。 For years he had not dreamed such dreamsnot
since he had been a clerk in the Foreign Office。 They seemed just as
possible now as they had seemed real then； and just as near。 He felt it
was all absolutely in his own hands。
He descended to the dining…room with the air of a man who already
felt the cares of high responsibility upon his shoulders。 His head was
erect and his chest thrown forward。 He was ten years younger； his
manner was alert； assured； and gracious。 As he passed through the halls
he was impatient of the familiar settings of Government House； they
seemed to him like the furnishings of a hotel where he had paid his bill；
and where his luggage was lying strapped for departure in the hallway。
In his library he saw on his table a number of papers lying open
waiting for his signature； the dog…tax among the others。 He smiled to
remember how important it had seemed to him in the pastin that past of
indolence and easy content。 Now he was on fire to put this rekindled
ambition to work； to tell the woman who had lighted it that it was all from
her and for her； that without her he had existed； that now he had begun to
live。
They had never found him so delighful｛sic｝ as he appeared that night。
He was like a man on the eve of a holiday。 He made a jest of his past
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efforts； he made them see； as he now saw it for the first time； that side of
the life of the Windless Isles which was narrow and petty； even ridiculous。
He talked of big men in a big way； he criticised； and expounded； and
advanced his own theories of government and the proper control of an
empire。
Collier； who had returned from his unsuccessful search of the
plantations； shook his head。
〃It's a pity you are not in London now；〃 he said； sincerely。 〃They
need so
