beyond the city(城市之上)-第4章
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boasted chivalrythese fine words and vague phrases？ Where is it when
we wish to put it to the test？ Man in the abstract will do anything to help
a woman。 Of course。 How does it work when his pocket is touched？
Where is his chivalry then？ Will the doctors help her to qualify？ will the
lawyers help her to be called to the bar？ will the clergy tolerate her in the
Church？ Oh； it is close your ranks then and refer poor woman to her
mission！ Her mission！ To be thankful for coppers and not to interfere
with the men while they grabble for gold； like swine round a trough； that is
man's reading of the mission of women。 You may sit there and sneer；
Charles； while you look upon your victim； but you know that it is truth；
every word of it。
Terrified as they were by this sudden torrent of words； the two
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gentlewomen could not but smile at the sight of the fiery； domineering
victim and the big apologetic representative of mankind who sat meekly
bearing all the sins of his sex。 The lady struck a match； whipped a
cigarette from a case upon the mantelpiece； and began to draw the smoke
into her lungs。
〃I find it very soothing when my nerves are at all ruffled；〃 she
explained。 〃You don't smoke？ Ah； you miss one of the purest of
pleasuresone of the few pleasures which are without a reaction。〃
Miss Williams smoothed out her silken lap。
〃It is a pleasure；〃 she said； with some approach to self…assertion；
〃which Bertha and I are rather too old…fashioned to enjoy。〃
〃No doubt； It would probably make you very ill if you attempted it。
By the way； I hope that you will come to some of our Guild meetings。 I
shall see that tickets are sent you。〃
〃Your Guild？〃
〃It is not yet formed； but I shall lose no time in forming a committee。
It is my habit to establish a branch of the Emancipation Guild wherever I
go。 There is a Mrs。 Sanderson in Anerley who is already one of the
emancipated； so that I have a nucleus。 It is only by organized resistance；
Miss Williams； that we can hope to hold our own against the selfish sex。
Must you go； then？〃
〃Yes； we have one or two other visits to pay；〃 said the elder sister。
〃You will； I am sure； excuse us。 I hope that you will find Norwood a
pleasant residence。〃
〃All places are to me simply a battle…field；〃 she answered； gripping
first one and then the other with a grip which crumpled up their little thin
fingers。 〃The days for work and healthful exercise； the evenings to
Browning and high discourse； eh； Charles？ Good…bye！〃 She came to
the door with them； and as they glanced back they saw her still standing
there with the yellow bull pup cuddled up under one forearm； and the thin
blue reek of her cigarette ascending from her lips。
〃Oh； what a dreadful； dreadful woman！〃 whispered sister Bertha； as
they hurried down the street。 〃Thank goodness that it is over。〃
〃But she'll return the visit；〃 answered the other。 〃I think that we had
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better tell Mary that we are not at home。
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CHAPTER III。
DWELLERS IN THE WILDERNESS。
How deeply are our destinies influenced by the most trifling causes！
Had the unknown builder who erected and owned these new villas
contented himself by simply building each within its own grounds； it is
probable that these three small groups of people would have remained
hardly conscious of each other's existence； and that there would have been
no opportunity for that action and reaction which is here set forth。 But
there was a common link to bind them together。 To single himself out
from all other Norwood builders the landlord had devised and laid out a
common lawn tennis ground； which stretched behind the houses with taut…
stretched net； green close…cropped sward； and widespread whitewashed
lines。 Hither in search of that hard exercise which is as necessary as air
or food to the English temperament； came young Hay Denver when
released from the toil of the City； hither； too； came Dr。 Walker and his two
fair daughters； Clara and Ida； and hither also； champions of the lawn； came
the short…skirted； muscular widow and her athletic nephew。 Ere the
summer was gone they knew each other in this quiet nook as they might
not have done after years of a stiffer and more formal acquaintance。
And especially to the Admiral and the Doctor were this closer intimacy
and companionship of value。 Each had a void in his life； as every man
must have who with unexhausted strength steps out of the great race； but
each by his society might help to fill up that of his neighbor。 It is true
that they had not much in common； but that is sometimes an aid rather
than a bar to friendship。 Each had been an enthusiast in his profession；
and had retained all his interest in it。 The Doctor still read from cover to
cover his Lancet and his Medical Journal； attended all professional
gatherings； worked himself into an alternate state of exaltation and
depression over the results of the election of officers； and reserved for
himself a den of his own； in which before rows of little round bottles full
of glycerine； Canadian balsam； and staining agents； he still cut sections
with a microtome； and peeped through his long； brass； old…fashioned
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microscope at the arcana of nature。 With his typical face； clean shaven
on lip and chin； with a firm mouth； a strong jaw； a steady eye； and two
little white fluffs of whiskers； he could never be taken for anything but
what he was； a high…class British medical consultant of the age of fifty； or
perhaps just a year or two older。
The Doctor； in his hey…day； had been cool over great things； but now；
in his retirement； he was fussy over trifles。 The man who had operated
without the quiver of a finger； when not only his patient's life but his own
reputation and future were at stake； was now shaken to the soul by a
mislaid book or a careless maid。 He remarked it himself； and knew the
reason。 〃When Mary was alive；〃 he would say； 〃she stood between me
and the little troubles。 I could brace myself for the big ones。 My girls
are as good as girls can be； but who can know a man as his wife knows
him？〃 Then his memory would conjure up a tuft of brown hair and a
single white； thin hand over a coverlet； and he would feel； as we have all
felt； that if we do not live and know each other after death； t
