erewhon-第15章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
quite as a matter of course。
Once only did Yram treat me in a way that was unkind and
unreasonable；at least so I thought it at the time。 It happened
thus。 I had been playing fives in the garden and got much heated。
Although the day was cold； for autumn was now advancing； and Cold
Harbour （as the name of the town in which my prison was should be
translated） stood fully 3000 feet above the sea； I had played
without my coat and waistcoat； and took a sharp chill on resting
myself too long in the open air without protection。 The next day I
had a severe cold and felt really poorly。 Being little used even
to the lightest ailments； and thinking that it would be rather nice
to be petted and cossetted by Yram； I certainly did not make myself
out to be any better than I was； in fact； I remember that I made
the worst of things； and took it into my head to consider myself
upon the sick list。 When Yram brought me my breakfast I complained
somewhat dolefully of my indisposition； expecting the sympathy and
humouring which I should have received from my mother and sisters
at home。 Not a bit of it。 She fired up in an instant； and asked
me what I meant by it； and how I dared to presume to mention such a
thing； especially when I considered in what place I was。 She had
the best mind to tell her father； only that she was afraid the
consequences would be so very serious for me。 Her manner was so
injured and decided； and her anger so evidently unfeigned； that I
forgot my cold upon the spot； begging her by all means to tell her
father if she wished to do so； and telling her that I had no idea
of being shielded by her from anything whatever； presently
mollifying； after having said as many biting things as I could； I
asked her what it was that I had done amiss； and promised amendment
as soon as ever I became aware of it。 She saw that I was really
ignorant； and had had no intention of being rude to her； whereon it
came out that illness of any sort was considered in Erewhon to be
highly criminal and immoral； and that I was liable； even for
catching cold； to be had up before the magistrates and imprisoned
for a considerable periodan announcement which struck me dumb
with astonishment。
I followed up the conversation as well as my imperfect knowledge of
the language would allow； and caught a glimmering of her position
with regard to ill…health； but I did not even then fully comprehend
it； nor had I as yet any idea of the other extraordinary
perversions of thought which existed among the Erewhonians； but
with which I was soon to become familiar。 I propose； therefore； to
make no mention of what passed between us on this occasion； save
that we were reconciled； and that she brought me surreptitiously a
hot glass of spirits and water before I went to bed； as also a pile
of extra blankets； and that next morning I was quite well。 I never
remember to have lost a cold so rapidly。
This little affair explained much which had hitherto puzzled me。
It seemed that the two men who were examined before the magistrates
on the day of my arrival in the country； had been given in charge
on account of ill health； and were both condemned to a long term of
imprisonment with hard labour； they were now expiating their
offence in this very prison； and their exercise ground was a yard
separated by my fives wall from the garden in which I walked。 This
accounted for the sounds of coughing and groaning which I had often
noticed as coming from the other side of the wall： it was high；
and I had not dared to climb it for fear the jailor should see me
and think that I was trying to escape； but I had often wondered
what sort of people they could be on the other side； and had
resolved on asking the jailor； but I seldom saw him； and Yram and I
generally found other things to talk about。
Another month flew by； during which I made such progress in the
language that I could understand all that was said to me； and
express myself with tolerable fluency。 My instructor professed to
be astonished with the progress I had made； I was careful to
attribute it to the pains he had taken with me and to his admirable
method of explaining my difficulties； so we became excellent
friends。
My visitors became more and more frequent。 Among them there were
some； both men and women； who delighted me entirely by their
simplicity； unconsciousness of self； kindly genial manners； and
last； but not least； by their exquisite beauty； there came others
less well…bred； but still comely and agreeable people； while some
were snobs pure and simple。
At the end of the third month the jailor and my instructor came
together to visit me and told me that communications had been
received from the Government to the effect that if I had behaved
well and seemed generally reasonable； and if there could be no
suspicion at all about my bodily health and vigour； and if my hair
was really light； and my eyes blue and complexion fresh； I was to
be sent up at once to the metropolis in order that the King and
Queen might see me and converse with me； but that when I arrived
there I should be set at liberty； and a suitable allowance would be
made me。 My teacher also told me that one of the leading merchants
had sent me an invitation to repair to his house and to consider
myself his guest for as long a time as I chose。 〃He is a
delightful man；〃 continued the interpreter； 〃but has suffered
terribly from〃 （here there came a long word which I could not quite
catch； only it was much longer than kleptomania）； 〃and has but
lately recovered from embezzling a large sum of money under
singularly distressing circumstances； but he has quite got over it；
and the straighteners say that he has made a really wonderful
recovery； you are sure to like him。〃
CHAPTER IX： TO THE METROPOLIS
With the above words the good man left the room before I had time
to express my astonishment at hearing such extraordinary language
from the lips of one who seemed to be a reputable member of
society。 〃Embezzle a large sum of money under singularly
distressing circumstances！〃 I exclaimed to myself； 〃and ask ME to
go and stay with him！ I shall do nothing of the sortcompromise
myself at the very outset in the eyes of all decent people； and
give the death…blow to my chances of either converting them if they
are the lost tribes of Israel； or making money out of them if they
are not！ No。 I will do anything rather than that。〃 And when I
next saw my teacher I told him that I did not at all like the sound
of what had been proposed for me； and that I would have nothing to
do with it。 For by my education and the example of my own parents；
and I trust also in some degree from inborn instinct； I have a very
genuine dislike for all unhandsome dealings in money matters；
though none can have a greater regard for money than I have； if it
be got fairly。
The interpreter was much surprised by my answer； and said that I
should be very foolish if I persisted in my refusal。
Mr。 Nosnibor； he continued； 〃is a man of at least 500；000 horse…
power〃 （for their way of reckoning and classifying men is by the
number of foot pounds which they have money enough to raise； or
more roughly by their horse…power）； 〃and keeps a capital table；
besides； his two daughters are among the most beautiful women in
Erewhon。〃
When I heard all this； I confess that I was much shaken； and
inquired whether he was favourably considered in the best society。
〃Certainly；〃 was the answer； 〃no man in the country stands higher。〃
He then went on to say that one would have thought from my manner
that my proposed host had had jaundice or pleurisy or been
generally unfortunate； and that I was in fear of infection。
〃I am not much afraid of infection；〃 said I； impatiently； 〃but I
have some regard for my character； and if I know a man to be an
embezzler of other people's money； be sure of it； I will give him
as wide a berth as I can。 If he were ill or poor〃
〃Ill or poor！〃 interrupted the interpreter； with a face of great
alarm。 〃So that's your notion of propriety！ You would consort
with the basest criminals； and yet deem simple embezzlement a bar
to friendly intercou
