the quest of the golden girl-µÚ24ÕÂ
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
CHAPTER¡¡V
CONCERNING¡¡THE¡¡HAVEN¡¡OF¡¡YELLOWSANDS
On¡¡the¡¡morrow£»¡¡at¡¡the¡¡peep¡¡of¡¡day£»¡¡Rosalind¡¡was¡¡off¡¡to¡¡seek¡¡her¡¡lord¡£¡¡¡¡An¡¡hour¡¡or¡¡so¡¡after¡¡I¡¡started¡¡in¡¡leisurely¡¡pursuit¡£
Yellowsands£¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡had¡¡heard¡¡in¡¡a¡¡vague¡¡way¡¡of¡¡the¡¡place£»¡¡as¡¡a¡¡whim¡¡of¡¡a¡¡certain¡¡young¡¡nobleman¡¡who¡¡combined¡¡brains¡¡with¡¡the¡¡pursuit¡¡of¡¡pleasure¡£¡¡¡¡Like¡¡most¡¡ideas£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡simple¡¡enough¡¡when¡¡once¡¡conceived¡£¡¡Any¡¡one¡¡possessing¡¡a¡¡mile¡¡or¡¡two¡¡of¡¡secluded¡¡seaboard£»¡¡cut¡¡off¡¡on¡¡the¡¡land¡¡side¡¡by¡¡precipitous¡¡approaches£»¡¡and¡¡including¡¡a¡¡sheltered¡¡river¡¡mouth¡¡ingeniously¡¡hidden¡¡by¡¡nature£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡form¡¡of¡¡a¡¡jutting¡¡wall¡¡of¡¡rock£»¡¡from¡¡the¡¡sea£»¡¡might¡¡have¡¡made¡¡as¡¡good¡¡use¡¡of¡¡these¡¡natural¡¡opportunities¡¡as¡¡the¡¡nobleman¡¡in¡¡question£»¡¡had¡¡they¡¡only¡¡been¡¡as¡¡wise¡¡and¡¡as¡¡rich¡£¡¡¡¡William¡¡Blake¡¡proposed¡¡to¡¡rebuild¡¡Jerusalem¡¡in¡¡this¡¡green¡¡and¡¡pleasant¡¡land¡£¡¡¡¡My¡¡lord¡¡proposed¡¡to¡¡erect¡¡a¡¡miniature¡¡Babylon¡¡amid¡¡similar¡¡pleasant¡¡surroundings£»¡¡a¡¡little¡¡dream¡city¡¡by¡¡the¡¡sea£»¡¡a¡¡home¡¡for¡¡the¡¡innocent¡¡pleasure¡seeker¡¡stifled¡¡by¡¡the¡¡puritanism¡¡of¡¡the¡¡great¡¡towns£»¡¡refugium¡¡peccatorum¡¡in¡¡this¡¡island¡¡of¡¡the¡¡saints¡£
¡¨Once¡¡it¡¡was¡¡the¡¡Puritan¡¡Fathers¡¡who¡¡left¡¡our¡¡coasts£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡is¡¡recorded¡¡to¡¡have¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨nowadays¡¡it¡¡is¡¡our¡¡Prodigal¡¡Sons¡£¡¨
No¡¡doubt¡¡it¡¡was¡¡in¡¡further¡¡elaboration¡¡of¡¡this¡¡aphorism¡¡that¡¡the¡¡little¡¡steamboat¡¡that¡¡sailed¡¡every¡¡other¡¡day¡¡from¡¡Yellowsands¡¡to¡¡the¡¡beckoning¡¡shores¡¡of¡¡France¡¡was¡¡called¡¡¡¨the¡¡Mayflower¡£¡¨
My¡¡lord's¡¡plan¡¡had¡¡been¡¡simple¡£¡¡¡¡By¡¡the¡¡aid¡¡of¡¡cunning¡¡architects¡¡he¡¡had¡¡first¡¡blasted¡¡his¡¡harbour¡¡into¡¡shape£»¡¡then¡¡built¡¡his¡¡hotels¡¡and¡¡pleasure¡palaces£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡leased¡¡them¡¡to¡¡dependants¡¡of¡¡his¡¡who¡¡knew¡¡the¡¡right¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡people£»¡¡and¡¡who¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡as¡¡much¡¡as¡¡their¡¡lease¡¡was¡¡worth¡¡to¡¡find¡¡accommodation¡¡for¡¡teetotal¡¡amateur¡¡photographers¡¡or¡¡wistful¡¡wandering¡¡Sunday¡school¡¡treats¡£¡¡¡¡As£»¡¡unfortunately£»¡¡the¡¡Queen's¡¡highway¡¡ran¡¡down¡¡in¡¡tortuous¡¡descent¡¡to¡¡the¡¡handful¡¡of¡¡fishermen's¡¡cottages¡¡that¡¡had¡¡clung¡¡there¡¡limpet¡like¡¡for¡¡ages£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡always¡¡a¡¡chance¡¡of¡¡such¡¡a¡¡stray¡¡visitation£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡was¡¡remote£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡place£»¡¡hand¡¡and¡¡heart£»¡¡was¡¡in¡¡the¡¡pocket¡¡of¡¡my¡¡lord¡£
So¡¡much¡¡to¡¡give¡¡the¡¡reader¡¡some¡¡idea¡¡of¡¡the¡¡secret¡¡watering¡place¡¡of¡¡Yellowsands£»¡¡situated¡¡at¡¡the¡¡mouth¡¡of¡¡that¡¡romantic¡¡little¡¡torrent£»¡¡the¡¡river¡¡Sly¡£¡¡¡¡Such¡¡further¡¡description¡¡as¡¡may¡¡be¡¡needed¡¡may¡¡be¡¡kept¡¡till¡¡we¡¡come¡¡within¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡its¡¡gilded¡¡roofs¡¡and¡¡marble¡¡terraces¡£
CHAPTER¡¡VI
THE¡¡MOORLAND¡¡OF¡¡THE¡¡APOCALYPSE
I¡¡reckoned¡¡that¡¡it¡¡would¡¡take¡¡me¡¡two¡¡or¡¡three¡¡days£»¡¡leisurely¡¡walking£»¡¡to¡¡reach¡¡Yellowsands¡£¡¡¡¡Rosalind¡¡would£»¡¡of¡¡course£»¡¡arrive¡¡there¡¡long¡¡before¡¡me£»¡¡but¡¡that¡¡I¡¡did¡¡not¡¡regret£»¡¡as¡¡I¡¡was¡¡in¡¡a¡¡mood¡¡to¡¡find¡¡company¡¡in¡¡my¡¡own¡¡thoughts¡£
Her¡¡story¡¡gave¡¡me¡¡plenty¡¡to¡¡think¡¡of¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡dwelt¡¡particularly¡¡on¡¡the¡¡careless¡¡extravagance¡¡of¡¡the¡¡happy¡£¡¡¡¡Here¡¡were¡¡two¡¡people¡¡to¡¡whom¡¡life¡¡had¡¡given¡¡casually¡¡what¡¡I¡¡was¡¡compelled¡¡to¡¡go¡¡seeking¡¡lonely¡¡and¡¡footsore¡¡through¡¡the¡¡world£»¡¡and¡¡with¡¡little¡¡hope¡¡of¡¡finding¡¡it¡¡at¡¡the¡¡end£»¡¡and¡¡yet¡¡were¡¡they¡¡so¡¡little¡¡aware¡¡of¡¡their¡¡good¡¡fortune¡¡as¡¡to¡¡risk¡¡it¡¡over¡¡a¡¡trumpery¡¡theory£»¡¡a¡¡shadow¡¡of¡¡pseudo¡philosophy¡£¡¡¡¡Out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡deep¡¡dark¡¡ocean¡¡of¡¡life¡¡Love¡¡had¡¡brought¡¡them¡¡his¡¡great¡¡moon¡pearl£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡sat¡¡on¡¡the¡¡boat's¡¡edge¡¡carelessly¡¡tossing¡¡it¡¡from¡¡one¡¡to¡¡the¡¡other£»¡¡unmindful¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hungry¡¡fathoms¡¡on¡¡every¡¡side¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡sudden¡¡slip£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡had¡¡lost¡¡it¡¡for¡¡ever£»¡¡and¡¡might¡¡only¡¡watch¡¡its¡¡shimmering¡¡fall¡¡to¡¡the¡¡bottom¡¡of¡¡the¡¡world¡£¡¡Theories£¡¡¡¡¡Theories¡¡are¡¡for¡¡the¡¡unknown¡¡and¡¡the¡¡unhappy¡£¡¡¡¡Who¡¡will¡¡trouble¡¡to¡¡theorise¡¡about¡¡Heaven¡¡when¡¡he¡¡has¡¡found¡¡Heaven¡¡itself£¿¡¡¡¡Theories¡¡are¡¡for¡¡the¡¡poor¡¡¡devil¡¡outcast£»for¡¡him¡¡who¡¡stands¡¡outside¡¡the¡¡confectioner's¡¡shop¡¡of¡¡life¡¡without¡¡a¡¡penny¡¡in¡¡his¡¡pocket£»¡¡while¡¡the¡¡radiant¡¡purchasers¡¡pass¡¡in¡¡and¡¡out¡¡through¡¡the¡¡doors£»for¡¡him¡¡who¡¡watches¡¡with¡¡wistful¡¡eyes¡¡this¡¡and¡¡that¡¡sugared¡¡marvel¡¡taken¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡window¡¡by¡¡mysterious¡¡hands£»¡¡to¡¡bless¡¡some¡¡happy¡¡customer¡¡inside¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡is¡¡not¡¡fool¡¡enough¡¡even¡¡to¡¡hope¡¡for¡¡one¡¡of¡¡those¡¡glistering¡¡masterpieces¡¡of¡¡frosted¡¡sugar¡¡and¡¡silk¡¡flowers£»¡¡which¡¡rise¡¡to¡¡pinnacles¡¡of¡¡snowy¡¡sweetness£»¡¡white¡¡mountains¡¡of¡¡blessedness£»¡¡rich¡¡inside£»¡¡they¡¡say£»¡¡with¡¡untold¡¡treasures¡¡for¡¡the¡¡tooth¡¡that¡¡is¡¡sweet¡£¡¡¡¡No£¡¡¡he¡¡craves¡¡nothing¡¡but¡¡a¡¡simple¡¡Bath¡bun¡¡of¡¡happiness£»¡¡and¡¡even¡¡that¡¡is¡¡denied¡¡him¡£
Would¡¡I¡¡ever¡¡find¡¡my¡¡Bath¡bun£¿¡¡¡¡I¡¡disconsolately¡¡asked¡¡myself¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡had¡¡been¡¡seeking¡¡it¡¡now¡¡for¡¡some¡¡little¡¡time£»¡¡and¡¡seemed¡¡no¡¡nearer¡¡than¡¡when¡¡I¡¡set¡¡out¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡a¡¡good¡¡many¡¡Bath¡buns¡¡on¡¡my¡¡pilgrimage£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡true¡£¡¡¡¡Some¡¡I¡¡have¡¡not¡¡had¡¡space¡¡to¡¡confide¡¡to¡¡the¡¡reader£»¡¡but¡¡somehow¡¡or¡¡other¡¡they¡¡had¡¡not¡¡seemed¡¡the¡¡unmistakably¡¡predestined¡¡for¡¡which¡¡I¡¡was¡¡seeking¡£
And¡¡oh£»¡¡how¡¡I¡¡could¡¡love¡¡a¡¡girl£»¡¡if¡¡she¡¡would¡¡only¡¡give¡¡me¡¡the¡¡chance£»that¡¡is£»¡¡be¡¡the¡¡right¡¡girl£¡¡¡¡¡Oh£»¡¡Sylvia¡¡Joy£¡¡¡where¡¡art¡¡thou£¿¡¡¡¡Why¡¡so¡¡long¡¡dost¡¡thou¡¡remain¡¡hidden¡¡¡¨in¡¡shady¡¡leaves¡¡of¡¡destiny¡¨£¿
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Seest¡¡thou¡¡thy¡¡lover¡¡lowly¡¡laid£»¡¡¡¡Hear'st¡¡thou¡¡the¡¡sighs¡¡that¡¡rend¡¡his¡¡breast£¿¡¨
And¡¡then£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡novelists¡¡say£»¡¡¡¨a¡¡strange¡¡thing¡¡happened¡£¡¨
The¡¡road¡¡I¡¡was¡¡tramping¡¡at¡¡the¡¡moment¡¡was¡¡somewhat¡¡desolate¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡ran¡¡up¡¡from¡¡a¡¡small¡¡market¡¡town¡¡through¡¡a¡¡dreary¡¡undulating¡¡moorland£»¡¡forking¡¡off¡¡here¡¡and¡¡there¡¡to¡¡unknown¡¡villages¡¡of¡¡which¡¡the¡¡horizon¡¡gave¡¡no¡¡hint¡£¡¡¡¡Its¡¡cheerless¡¡hillocks¡¡were¡¡all¡¡but¡¡naked¡¡of¡¡vegetation£»¡¡for¡¡a¡¡never¡¡very¡¡flourishing¡¡growth¡¡of¡¡heather¡¡had¡¡recently¡¡been¡¡burnt¡¡right¡¡down¡¡to¡¡the¡¡unkindly¡¡¡looking¡¡earth£»¡¡leaving¡¡a¡¡dwarf¡¡black¡¡forest¡¡of¡¡charred¡¡sticks¡¡very¡¡grim¡¡to¡¡the¡¡eye¡¡and¡¡heart£»¡¡while¡¡the¡¡dull¡¡surface¡¡of¡¡a¡¡small¡¡lifeless¡looking¡¡lake¡¡added¡¡the¡¡final¡¡touch¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Dead¡Sea¡¡mournfulness¡¡of¡¡the¡¡prospect¡£
Suddenly¡¡I¡¡became¡¡aware¡¡of¡¡the¡¡fluttering¡¡of¡¡a¡¡grey¡¡dress¡¡a¡¡little¡¡ahead¡¡of¡¡me¡£¡¡Unconsciously¡¡I¡¡had¡¡been¡¡overtaking¡¡a¡¡tall¡¡young¡¡woman¡¡walking¡¡in¡¡the¡¡same¡¡direction¡¡as¡¡myself£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡fine¡¡athletic¡¡carriage¡¡of¡¡her¡¡figure¡¡and¡¡a¡¡noble¡¡movement¡¡of¡¡her¡¡limbs¡£
She¡¡walked¡¡manfully£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡I¡¡neared¡¡her¡¡I¡¡could¡¡hear¡¡the¡¡sturdy¡¡ring¡¡of¡¡her¡¡well¡shod¡¡feet¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡road¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡an¡¡air¡¡of¡¡expectancy¡¡about¡¡her¡¡walk£»¡¡as¡¡though¡¡she¡¡looked¡¡to¡¡be¡¡met¡¡presently¡¡by¡¡some¡¡one¡¡due¡¡from¡¡the¡¡opposite¡¡direction¡£
It¡¡was¡¡curious¡¡that¡¡I¡¡had¡¡not¡¡noticed¡¡her¡¡before£»¡¡for¡¡she¡¡must¡¡have¡¡been¡¡in¡¡sight¡¡for¡¡some¡¡time¡£¡¡¡¡No¡¡doubt¡¡my¡¡melancholy¡¡abstraction¡¡accounted¡¡for¡¡that£»¡¡and¡¡perhaps¡¡her¡¡presence¡¡there¡¡was¡¡to¡¡be¡¡explained¡¡by¡¡a¡¡London¡¡train¡¡which¡¡I¡¡had¡¡listlessly¡¡observed¡¡come¡¡in¡¡to¡¡the¡¡town¡¡an¡¡hour¡¡before¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡surmise¡¡was¡¡confirmed£»¡¡as¡¡presently£»over¡¡the¡¡brow¡¡of¡¡a¡¡distant¡¡undulation¡¡in¡¡the¡¡road£»¡¡I¡¡descried¡¡a¡¡farmer's¡¡gig¡¡driven¡¡by¡¡another¡¡young¡¡woman¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡gig¡¡immediately¡¡hoisted¡¡a¡¡handkerchief£»¡¡so¡¡did¡¡my¡¡pedestrian¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡this¡¡moment¡¡I¡¡was¡¡within¡¡a¡¡yard¡¡or¡¡two¡¡of¡¡overtaking¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡it¡¡was¡¡then¡¡the¡¡strange¡¡thing¡¡happened¡£
Distance¡¡had¡¡lent¡¡no¡¡enchantment¡¡which¡¡nearness¡¡did¡¡not¡¡a¡¡hundred¡¡times¡¡repay¡£¡¡The¡¡immediate¡¡impression¡¡of¡¡strength¡¡and¡¡distinction¡¡which¡¡the¡¡first¡¡glimpse¡¡of¡¡her¡¡had¡¡made¡¡upon¡¡me¡¡was¡¡more¡¡and¡¡more¡¡verified¡¡as¡¡I¡¡drew¡¡closer¡¡to¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡carriage¡¡of¡¡her¡¡head¡¡was¡¡no¡¡whit¡¡less¡¡noble¡¡than¡¡the¡¡queenly¡¡carriage¡¡of¡¡her¡¡limbs£»¡¡and¡¡her¡¡glorious¡¡chestnut¡¡hair£»¡¡full¡¡of¡¡warm¡¡tints¡¡of¡¡gold£»¡¡was¡¡massed¡¡in¡¡a¡¡sumptuous¡¡simplicity¡¡above¡¡a¡¡neck¡¡that¡¡would¡¡have¡¡made¡¡an¡¡average¡¡woman's¡¡fortune¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡glowing¡¡description£»¡¡however£»¡¡must¡¡be¡¡lowered¡¡or¡¡heightened¡¡in¡¡tone¡¡by¡¡the¡¡association¡¡of¡¡these¡¡characteristics¡¡with¡¡an¡¡undefinable¡¡simplicity¡¡of¡¡mien£»¡¡a¡¡certain¡¡slight¡¡rusticity¡¡of¡¡effect¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡town¡¡spoke¡¡in¡¡her¡¡well¡cut¡¡gown¡¡and¡¡a¡¡few¡¡simple¡¡adornments£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡dryad¡¡still¡¡moved¡¡inside¡£
I¡¡suppose¡¡most¡¡men£»¡¡even¡¡in¡¡old¡¡age£»¡¡feel¡¡a¡¡certain¡¡anxiety£»¡¡conscious¡¡or¡¡not£»¡¡as¡¡they¡¡overtake¡¡a¡¡woman¡¡whose¡¡back¡¡view¡¡is¡¡in¡¡the¡¡least¡¡attractive¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡confess¡¡that¡¡I¡¡felt¡¡a¡¡more¡¡than¡¡usual£»¡¡indeed¡¡a¡¡quite¡¡irrational£»¡¡perturbation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡blood£»¡¡as£»¡¡coming¡¡level¡¡with¡¡her£»¡¡I¡¡dared¡¡to¡¡look¡¡into¡¡her¡¡face¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡I¡¡did¡¡so¡¡she¡¡involuntarily¡¡turned¡¡to¡¡look¡¡at¡¡meturned¡¡to¡¡look¡¡at¡¡me£»¡¡did¡¡I¡¡say£¿¡¡¡¡¡¨To¡¡look¡¨¡¡is¡¡a¡¡feeble¡¡verb¡¡indeed¡¡to¡¡express¡¡the¡¡unexpected¡¡shock¡¡of¡¡beauty¡¡to¡¡which¡¡I¡¡was¡¡suddenly¡¡exposed¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡cannot¡¡describe¡¡her¡¡features£»¡¡for¡¡somehow¡¡features¡¡always¡¡mean¡¡little¡¡to¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡were¡¡certainly¡¡beautifully¡¡moulded£»¡¡and¡¡her¡¡skin¡¡was¡¡of¡¡a¡¡lovely¡¡pale¡¡olive£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡life¡¡of¡¡her¡¡face¡¡was¡¡in¡¡her¡¡great¡¡violet¡¡eyes¡¡and¡¡her¡¡wonderful¡¡mouth¡£¡¡¡¡Thus¡¡suddenly¡¡to¡¡look¡¡into¡¡her¡¡face¡¡was¡¡like¡¡unexpectedly¡¡to¡¡come¡¡upon¡¡moon¡¡and¡¡stars¡¡reflected¡¡in¡¡some¡¡lonely¡¡pool¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡suppose¡¡the¡¡look¡¡last