dream days(做梦的日子)-第6章
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searching （as usual） for something I never found； and had been taken in by
them and treated as friend and comrade。 They had made me free of their
ideal little rooms； full of books and pictures； and clean of the antimacassar
taint； they had shown me their chapel； high； hushed； and faintly scented；
beautiful with a strange new beauty born both of what it had and what it
had notthat too familiar dowdiness of common places of worship。 They
had also fed me in their dining…hall； where a long table stood on trestles
plain to view； and all the woodwork was natural； unpainted； healthily
scrubbed； and redolent of the forest it came from。 I brought away from
that visit； and kept by me for many days； a sense of cleanness； of the
freshness that pricks the sensesthe freshness of cool spring water； and
the large swept spaces of the rooms； the red tiles； and the oaken settles；
suggested a comfort that had no connexion with padded upholstery。
On this particular morning I was in much too unsociable a mind for
paying friendly calls。 Still； something in the aspect of the place
harmonised with my humour； and I worked my way round to the back；
where the ground； after affording level enough for a kitchen…garden； broke
steeply away。 Both the word Gothic and the thing itself were still
unknown to me； yet doubtless the architecture of the place； consistent
throughout； accounted for its sense of comradeship in my hour of
disheartenment。 As I mused there； with the low； grey； purposeful…looking
building before me； and thought of my pleasant friends within； and what
good times they always seemed to be having； and how they larked with the
Irish terrier； whose footing was one of a perfect equality； I thought of a
certain look in their faces； as if they had a common purpose and a business；
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and were acting under orders thoroughly recognised and understood。 I
remembered； too； something that Martha had told me； about these same
fellows doing 〃a power o' good；〃 and other hints I had collected vaguely；
of renouncements； rules； self…denials； and the like。 Thereupon； out of the
depths of my morbid soul swam up a new and fascinating idea； and at
once the career of arms seemed over…acted and stale； and piracy； as a
profession； flat and unprofitable。 This； then； or something like it； should
be my vocation and my revenge。 A severer line of business； perhaps；
such as I had read of； something that included black bread and a hair…shirt。
There should be vows； tooirrevocable； blood curdling vows； and an iron
grating。 This iron grating was the most necessary feature of all； for I
intended that on the other side of it my relations should range themselves
I mentally ran over the catalogue； and saw that the whole gang was present；
all in their proper places a sad…eyed row； combined in tristful appeal。
〃We see our error now；〃 they would say； 〃we were always dull dogs； slow
to catch especially in those akin to usthe finer qualities of soul！ We
misunderstood you； misappreciated you； and we own up to it。 And now
〃 〃Alas； my dear friends；〃 I would strike in here； waving towards them
an ascetic handone of the emaciated sort； that lets the light shine through
at the finger…tips〃Alas； you come too late！ This conduct is fitting and
meritorious on your part； and indeed I always expected it of you； sooner or
later； but the die is cast； and you may go home again and bewail at your
leisure this too tardy repentance of yours。 For me； I am vowed and
dedicated； and my relations henceforth are austerity and holy works。
Once a month； should you wish it； it shall be your privilege to come and
gaze at me through this very solid grating； but〃 WHACK！
A well…aimed clod of garden soil； whizzing just past my ear； starred on
a tree…trunk behind； spattering me with dirt。 The present came back to
me in a flash； and I nimbly took cover behind the trees； realising that the
enemy was up and abroad； with ambuscades； alarms； and thrilling sallies。
It was the gardener's boy； I knew well enough； a red proletariat； who hated
me just because I was a gentleman。 Hastily picking up a nice sticky clod
in one hand； with the other I delicately projected my hat beyond the shelter
of the tree…trunk。 I had not fought with Red…skins all these years for
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nothing。
As I had expected； another clod； of the first class for size and
stickiness； took my poor hat full in the centre。 Then； Ajax… like； shouting
terribly； I issued from shelter and discharged my ammunition。 Woe then
for the gardener's boy； who； unprepared； skipping in premature triumph；
took the clod full in his stomach！
He； the foolish one； witless on whose side the gods were fighting that
day； discharged yet other missiles； wavering and wide of the mark； for his
wind had been taken with the first clod； and he shot wildly； as one already
desperate and in flight。 I got another clod in at short range； we clinched
on the brow of the hill； and rolled down to the bottom together。 When he
had shaken himself free and regained his legs； he trotted smartly off in the
direction of his mother's cottage； but over his shoulder he discharged at me
both imprecation and deprecation； menace mixed up with an under…current
of tears。
But as for me； I made off smartly for the road； my frame tingling； my
head high； with never a backward look at the Settlement of suggestive
aspect； or at my well…planned future which lay in fragments around it。
Life had its jollities； then； life was action； contest； victory！ The present
was rosy once more； surprises lurked on every side； and I was beginning
to feel villainously hungry。
Just as I gained the road a cart came rattling by； and I rushed for it；
caught the chain that hung below； and swung thrillingly between the dizzy
wheels； choked and blinded with delicious… smelling dust； the world
slipping by me like a streaky ribbon below； till the driver licked at me with
his whip； and I had to descend to earth again。 Abandoning the beaten
track； I then struck homewards through the fields； not that the way was
very much shorter； but rather because on that route one avoided the bridge；
and had to splash through the stream and get refreshingly wet。 Bridges
were made for narrow folk； for people with aims and vocations which
compelled abandonment of many of life's highest pleasures。 Truly wise
men called on each element alike to minister to their joy； and while the
touch of sun…bathed air； the fragrance of garden soil； the ductible qualities
of mud； and the spark…whirling rapture of playing with fire； had each their
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special charm； they did not overlook th
