manalive-第41章

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with　perfect　simplicity。　　〃Auntie　let　him　have　them　in　his　pockets；
but　not　in　the　bedroom。〃

〃And　you〃　began　Diana；　knitting　her　dark　brows　a　little。

〃Oh；　I　do　as　auntie　did；〃　said　Mary；　〃as　long　as　we're　not　away
from　the　children　more　than　a　fortnight　together　I　play　the　game。
He　calls　me　‘Manalive；'　and　you　must　write　it　all　one　word；
or　he's　quite　flustered。〃

〃But　if　men　want　things　like　that；〃　began　Diana。

〃Oh；　what's　the　good　of　talking　about　men？〃　cried　Mary　impatiently；
〃why；　one　might　as　well　be　a　lady　novelist　or　some　horrid　thing。
There　aren't　any　men。　　There　are　no　such　people。　　There's　a　man；
and　whoever　he　is　he's　quite　different。〃

〃So　there　is　no　safety；〃　said　Diana　in　a　low　voice。

〃Oh；　I　don't　know；〃　answered　Mary；　lightly　enough；
〃there's　only　two　things　generally　true　of　them。
At　certain　curious　times　they're　just　fit　to　take　care　of　us；
and　they're　never　fit　to　take　care　of　themselves。〃

〃There　is　a　gale　getting　up；〃　said　Rosamund　suddenly。
〃Look　at　those　trees　over　there；　a　long　way　off；　and　the
clouds　going　quicker。〃

〃I　know　what　you're　thinking　about；〃　said　Mary；　〃and　don't
you　be　silly　fools。　　Don't　you　listen　to　the　lady　novelists。
You　go　down　the　king's　highway；　for　God's　truth；　it　is
God's。　Yes；　my　dear　Michael　will　often　be　extremely　untidy。
Arthur　Inglewood　will　be　worsehe'll　be　untidy。　　But　what　else
are　all　the　trees　and　clouds　for；　you　silly　kittens？〃

〃The　clouds　and　trees　are　all　waving　about；〃　said　Rosamund。　　〃There　is
a　storm　coming；　and　it　makes　me　feel　quite　excited；　somehow。　　Michael　is
really　rather　like　a　storm：　　he　frightens　me　and　makes　me　happy。〃

〃Don't　you　be　frightened；〃　said　Mary。　　〃All　over；　these　men
have　one　advantage；　they　are　the　sort　that　go　out。〃

A　sudden　thrust　of　wind　through　the　trees　drifted　the　dying　leaves　along
the　path；　and　they　could　hear　the　far…off　trees　roaring　faintly。

〃I　mean；〃　said　Mary；　〃they　are　the　kind　that　look　outwards　and　get　interested
in　the　world。　　It　doesn't　matter　a　bit　whether　it's　arguing；　or　bicycling；
or　breaking　down　the　ends　of　the　earth　as　poor　old　Innocent　does。　　Stick　to
the　man　who　looks　out　of　the　window　and　tries　to　understand　the　world。
Keep　clear　of　the　man　who　looks　in　at　the　window　and　tries　to　understand　you。
When　poor　old　Adam　had　gone　out　gardening　（Arthur　will　go　out　gardening）；
the　other　sort　came　along　and　wormed　himself　in；　nasty　old　snake。〃

〃You　agree　with　your　aunt；〃　said　Rosamund；　smiling：　　〃no　snakes
in　the　bedroom。〃

〃I　didn't　agree　with　my　aunt　very　much；〃　replied　Mary　simply；
〃but　I　think　she　was　right　to　let　Uncle　Harry　collect　dragons
and　griffins；　so　long　as　it　got　him　out　of　the　house。〃

Almost　at　the　same　moment　lights　sprang　up　inside　the　darkened　house；
turning　the　two　glass　doors　into　the　garden　into　gates　of　beaten　gold。
The　golden　gates　were　burst　open；　and　the　enormous　Smith；　who　had
sat　like　a　clumsy　statue　for　so　many　hours；　came　flying　and　turning
cart…wheels　down　the　lawn　and　shouting；　〃Acquitted！　acquitted！〃
Echoing　the　cry；　Michael　scampered　across　the　lawn　to　Rosamund　and
wildly　swung　her　into　a　few　steps　of　what　was　supposed　to　be　a　waltz。
But　the　company　knew　Innocent　and　Michael　by　this　time；
and　their　extravagances　were　gaily　taken　for　granted；　it　was　far
more　extraordinary　that　Arthur　Inglewood　walked　straight　up　to　Diana
and　kissed　her　as　if　it　had　been　his　sister's　birthday。　　Even　Dr。　Pym；
though　he　refrained　from　dancing；　looked　on　with　real　benevolence；
for　indeed　the　whole　of　the　absurd　revelation　had　disturbed　him
less　than　the　others；　he　half　supposed　that　such　irresponsible
tribunals　and　insane　discussions　were　part　of　the　mediaeval　mummeries
of　the　Old　Land。

While　the　tempest　tore　the　sky　as　with　trumpets；　window　after　window　was
lighted　up　in　the　house　within；　and　before　the　company；　broken　with　laughter
and　the　buffeting　of　the　wind；　had　groped　their　way　to　the　house　again；
they　saw　that　the　great　apish　figure　of　Innocent　Smith　had　clambered
out　of　his　own　attic　window；　and　roaring　again　and　again；　〃Beacon　House！〃
whirled　round　his　head　a　huge　log　or　trunk　from　the　wood　fire　below；
of　which　the　river　of　crimson　flame　and　purple　smoke　drove　out　on
the　deafening　air。

He　was　evident　enough　to　have　been　seen　from　three　counties；
but　when　the　wind　died　down；　and　the　party；　at　the　top　of
their　evening's　merriment；　looked　again　for　Mary　and　for　him；
they　were　not　to　be　found。





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