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第36章

the island pharisees-第36章

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immediate friends; but merely when they spoke of any other women。  He

reflected upon this; and came to the conclusion that; among the upper

classes; each man's own property was holy; while other women were

created to supply him with gossip; jests; and spice。  Another thing

that struck him was the way in which the war then going on was made

into an affair of class。  In their view it was a baddish business;

because poor hack Blank and Peter Blank…Blank had lost their lives;

and poor Teddy Blank had now one arm instead of two。  Humanity in

general was omitted; but not the upper classes; nor; incidentally;

the country which belonged to them。  For there they were; all seated

in a row; with eyes fixed on the horizon of their lawns。



Late one evening; billiards and music being over and the ladies gone;

Shelton returned from changing to his smoking…suit; and dropped into

one of the great arm…chairs that even in summer made a semicircle

round the fendered hearth。  Fresh from his good…night parting with

Antonia; he sat perhaps ten minutes before he began to take in all

the figures in their parti…coloured smoking jackets; cross…legged;

with glasses in their hands; and cigars between their teeth。



The man in the next chair roused him by putting down his tumbler with

a tap; and seating himself upon the cushioned fender。  Through the

mist of smoke; with shoulders hunched; elbows and knees crooked out;

cigar protruding; beak…ways; below his nose; and the crimson collar

of his smoking jacket buttoned close as plumage on his breast; he

looked a little like a gorgeous bird。



〃They do you awfully well;〃 he said。



A voice from the chair on Shelton's right replied;



〃They do you better at Verado's。〃



〃The Veau d'Or 's the best place; they give you Turkish baths for

nothing!〃  drawled a fat man with a tiny mouth。



The suavity of this pronouncement enfolded all as with a blessing。

And at once; as if by magic; in the old; oak…panelled room; the world

fell naturally into its three departments: that where they do you

well; that where they do you better; and that where they give you

Turkish baths for nothing。



〃If you want Turkish baths;〃 said a tall youth with clean red face;

who had come into the room; and stood; his mouth a little open; and

long feet jutting with sweet helplessness in front of him; 〃you

should go; you know; to Buda Pesth; most awfully rippin' there。〃



Shelton saw an indescribable appreciation rise on every face; as

though they had been offered truffles or something equally delicious。



〃Oh no; Poodles;〃 said the man perched on the fender。  〃A Johnny I

know tells me they 're nothing to Sofia。〃  His face was transfigured

by the subtle gloating of a man enjoying vice by proxy。



〃Ah!〃 drawled the small…mouthed man; 〃there 's nothing fit to hold a

candle to Baghda…ad。〃



Once again his utterance enfolded all as with a blessing; and once

again the world fell into its three departments: that where they do

you well; that where they do you better; andBaghdad。



Shelton thought to himself: 〃Why don't I know a place that's better

than Baghdad?〃



He felt so insignificant。  It seemed that he knew none of these

delightful spots; that he was of no use to any of his fellow…men;

though privately he was convinced that all these speakers were as。

ignorant as himself; and merely found it warming to recall such

things as they had heard; with that peculiar gloating look。  Alas!

his anecdotes would never earn for him that prize of persons in

society; the label of a 〃good chap〃 and 〃sportsman。〃



〃Have you ever been in Baghdad?〃 he feebly asked。



The fat man did not answer; he had begun an anecdote; and in his

broad expanse of face his tiny mouth writhed like a caterpillar。  The

anecdote was humorous。



With the exception of Antonia; Shelton saw but little of the ladies;

for; following the well…known custom of the country house; men and

women avoided each other as much as might be。  They met at meals; and

occasionally joined in tennis and in croquet; otherwise it seemed

almost Orientallyagreed that they were better kept apart。



Chancing one day to enter the withdrawing room; while searching for

Antonia; he found that he had lighted on a feminine discussion; he

would have beaten a retreat; of course; but it seemed too obvious

that he was merely looking for his fiancee; so; sitting down; he

listened。



The Honourable Charlotte Penguin; still knitting a silk tiethe

sixth since that she had been knitting at Hyeressat on the low

window…seat close to a hydrangea; the petals of whose round flowers

almost kissed her sanguine cheek。 Her eyes were fixed with languid

aspiration on the lady who was speaking。  This was a square woman of

medium height; with grey hair brushed from her low forehead; the

expression of whose face was brisk and rather cross。  She was

standing with a book; as if delivering a sermon。  Had she been a man

she might have been described as a bright young man of business; for;

though grey; she never could be old; nor ever lose the power of

forming quick decisions。  Her features and her eyes were prompt and

slightly hard; tinged with faith fanatical in the justice of her

judgments; and she had that fussy simpleness of dress which indicates

the right to meddle。  Not red; not white; neither yellow nor quite

blue; her complexion was suffused with a certain mixture of these

colours; adapted to the climate; and her smile had a strange sour

sweetness; like nothing but the flavour of an apple on the turn。



〃I don't care what they tell you;〃 she was sayingnot offensively;

though her voice seemed to imply that she had no time to waste in

pleasing〃 in all my dealings with them I've found it best to treat

them quite like children。〃



A lady; behind the Times; smiled; her mouthindeed; her whole hard;

handsome facewas reminiscent of dappled rocking…horses found in the

Soho Bazaar。  She crossed her feet; and some rich and silk stuff

rustled。  Her whole personality seemed to creak as; without looking;

she answered in harsh tones:



〃I find the poor are most delightful persons。〃



Sybil Dennant; seated on the sofa; with a feathery laugh shot a

barking terrier dog at Shelton。



〃Here's Dick;〃 she said。  〃Well; Dick; what's your opinion?〃



Shelton looked around him; scared。  The elder ladies who had spoken

had fixed their eyes on him; and in their gaze he read his utter

insignificance。



〃Oh; that young man!〃 they seemed to say。  〃Expect a practical remark

from him?  Now; come!〃



〃Opinion;〃 he stammered; 〃of the poor?  I haven't any。〃



The person on her feet; whose name was Mrs。 Mattock; directing her

peculiar sweet…sour smile at the distinguished lady with the Times;

said:



〃Perhaps you 've not had experience of them in London; Lady

Bonington?〃



Lady Bonington; in answer; rustled。



〃Oh; do tell us about the slums; Mrs。 Mattock!〃  cried Sybil。



〃Slumming must be splendid!  It's so deadly herenothing but flannel

petticoats。〃



〃The poor; my dear;〃 began Mrs。 Mattock; 〃are not the least bit what

you think them…〃



〃Oh; d' you know; I think they're rather nice!〃  broke in Aunt

Charlotte close to the hydrangea。



〃You think so?〃 said Mrs。 Mattock sharply。  〃I find they do nothing

but grumble。〃



〃They don't grumble at me: they are delightful persons〃; and Lady

Bonington gave Shelton a grim smile。



He could not help thinking that to grumble in the presence of that

rich; despotic personality would require a superhuman courage。



〃They're the most ungrateful people in the world;〃 said Mrs。 Mattock。



〃Why; then;〃 thought Shelton; 〃do you go amongst them?〃



She continued; 〃One must do them good; one; must do one's duty; but

as to getting thanks…〃



Lady Bonington sardonically said;



〃Poor things! they have a lot to bear。〃



〃The little children!〃  murmured Aunt Charlotte; with a flushi

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