the coming race(一个即临种族)-第35节
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dainty； the banquet itself did not last long。 The tables sank through the
floor； 127and then came musical entertainments for those who liked them。
Many； however； wandered away：… some of the younger ascended in their
wings； for the hall was roofless； forming aerial dances； others strolled
through the various apartments； examining the curiosities with which they
were stored； or formed themselves into groups for various games； the
favourite of which is a complicated kind of chess played by eight persons。
I mixed with the crowd； but was prevented joining in the conversation by
the constant companionship of one or the other of my host's sons；
appointed to keep me from obtrusive questionings。 The guests； however；
noticed me but slightly； they had grown accustomed to my appearance；
seeing me so often in the streets； and I had ceased to excite much curiosity。
To my great delight Zee avoided me； and evidently sought to excite
my jealousy by marked attentions to a very handsome young An； who
（though； as is the modest custom of the males when addressed by females；
he answered with downcast eyes and blushing cheeks； and was demure
and shy as young ladies new to the world are in most civilised countries；
except England and America） was evidently much charmed by the tall Gy；
and ready to falter a bashful 〃Yes〃 if she had actually proposed。
Fervently hoping that she would； and more and more averse to the idea of
reduction to a cinder after I had seen the rapidity with which a human
body can be hurried into a pinch of dust； I amused myself by watching the
manners of the other young people。 I had the satisfaction of observing
that Zee was no singular assertor of a female's most valued rights。
Wherever I turned my eyes； or lent my ears； it seemed to me that the Gy
was the wooing party； and the An the coy and reluctant one。 The pretty
innocent airs which an An gave himself on being thus courted； the
dexterity with which he evaded direct answers to professions of
attachment； or turned into jest the flattering compliments addressed to him；
would have done honour to the 128most accomplished coquette。 Both
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my male chaperons were subjected greatly to these seductive influences；
and both acquitted themselves with wonderful honour to their tact and
self…control。
I said to the elder son； who preferred mechanical employments to the
management of a great property； and who was of an eminently
philosophical temperament；… 〃I find it difficult to conceive how at your
age； and with all the intoxicating effects on the senses； of music and lights
and perfumes； you can be so cold to that impassioned young Gy who has
just left you with tears in her eyes at your cruelty。〃
The young An replied with a sigh； 〃Gentle Tish； the greatest
misfortune in life is to marry one Gy if you are in love with another。〃
〃Oh！ You are in love with another？〃
〃Alas！ Yes。〃
〃And she does not return your love？〃
〃I don't know。 Sometimes a look； a tone； makes me hope so； but she
has never plainly told me that she loves me。〃
〃Have you not whispered in her own ear that you love her？〃
〃Fie！ What are you thinking of？ What world do you come from？
Could I so betray the dignity of my sex？ Could I be so un…Anly… so lost
to shame； as to own love to a Gy who has not first owned hers to me？〃
〃Pardon： I was not quite aware that you pushed the modesty of your
sex so far。 But does no An ever say to a Gy； 'I love you；' till she says it
first to him？〃
〃I can't say that no An has ever done so； but if he ever does； he is
disgraced in the eyes of the Ana； and secretly despised by the Gy…ei。 No
Gy； well brought up； would listen to him； she would consider that he
audaciously infringed on the rights of her sex； while outraging the
modesty which dignifies his own。 It is very provoking；〃 continued the
An； 〃for she whom I love has certainly courted no one else； and I cannot
but think she likes me。 Sometimes I suspect that she does not court me
because she fears I would ask some unreasonable settlement as 129to the
surrender of her rights。 But if so； she cannot really love me； for where a
Gy really loves she forgoes all rights。〃
〃Is this young Gy present？〃
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〃Oh yes。 She sits yonder talking to my mother。〃
I looked in the direction to which my eyes were thus guided； and saw a
Gy dressed in robes of bright red； which among this people is a sign that a
Gy as yet prefers a single state。 She wears gray； a neutral tint； to indicate
that she is looking about for a spouse； dark purple if she wishes to intimate
that she has made a choice； purple and orange when she is betrothed or
married； light blue when she is divorced or a widow； and would marry
again。 Light blue is of course seldom seen。
Among a people where all are of so high a type of beauty； it is difficult
to single out one as peculiarly handsome。 My young friend's choice
seemed to me to possess the average of good looks； but there was an
expression in her face that pleased me more than did the faces of the
young Gy…ei generally； because it looked less bold… less conscious of
female rights。 I observed that； while she talked to Bra； she glanced； from
time to time； sidelong at my young friend。
〃Courage；〃 said I； 〃that young Gy loves you。〃
〃Ay； but if she shall not say so； how am I the better for her love？〃
〃Your mother is aware of your attachment？〃
〃Perhaps so。 I never owned it to her。 It would be un…Anly to
confide such weakness to a mother。 I have told my father； he may have
told it again to his wife。〃
〃Will you permit me to quit you for a moment and glide behind your
mother and your beloved？ I am sure they are talking about you。 Do not
hesitate。 I promise that I will not allow myself to be questioned till I
rejoin you。〃
The young An pressed his hand on his heart； touched me lightly on the
head； and allowed me to quit his side。 I stole unobserved behind his
mother and his beloved。 I overheard their talk。 130 Bra was speaking；
said she； 〃There can be no doubt of this： either my son； who is of
marriageable age； will be decoyed into marriage with one of his many
suitors； or he will join those who emigrate to a distance and we shall see
him no more。 If you really care for him； my dear Lo； you should
propose。〃
〃I do care for him； Bra； but I doubt if I could really ever win his
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affections。 He is fond of his inventions and timepieces； and I am not like
Zee； but so dull that I fear I could not enter into his favourite pursuits； and
then he would get tired of me； and at the end of three years divorce me；
and I could never marry another… never。〃
〃It is not necessary to know about timepieces to know how to be so
necessary to the happiness of an An； who cares for timepieces； that he
would rather give up the timepieces than divorce his Gy。 You see； my
dear Lo；〃 continued Bra； 〃that precisely because we are the stronger sex；
we rule the other provided we never show our strength。 If you were
superior to my son in making timepieces and automata； you should； as his
wife； always let him suppose you thought him superior in that art to
yourself。 The An tacitly allows the pre…eminence of the Gy in all except
his own special pursuit。 But if she either exc
