for the term of his natural life-第99章
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ne of these little ones it were better for him that a millstone be hanged about his neck and that he be cast into the sea。〃 Yet truth is truth； and should be spokenshould it not； malignant monitor； who remindest me how often I fail to speak it？ Surely among all his army of black…coats our worthy Bishop must have some men like me； who cannot bring their reason to believe in things contrary to the experience of mankind and the laws of nature。
March 22nd。This unromantic Captain Frere had had some romantic incidents in his life； and he is fond of dilating upon them。 It seems that in early life he expected to have been left a large fortune by an uncle who had quarrelled with his heir。 But the uncle dies on the day fixed for the altering of the will； the son disappears； and is thought to be drowned。 The widow； however； steadfastly refuses to believe in any report of the young man's death； and having a life…interest in the property； holds it against all comers。 My poor host in consequence comes out here on his pay； and； three years ago； just as he is hoping that the death of his aunt may give him opportunity to enforce a claim as next of kin to some portion of the property； the long…lost son returns； is recognized by his mother and the trustees； and installed in due heirship！ The other romantic story is connected with Frere's marriage。 He told me after dinner to…night how his wife had been wrecked when a child； and how he had saved her life； and defended her from the rude hands of an escaped convictone of the monsters our monstrous system breeds。 〃That was how we fell in love；〃 said he； tossing off his wine complacently。
〃An auspicious opportunity；〃 said I。 To which he nodded。 He is not overburdened with brains； I fancy。 Let me see if I can set down some account of this lovely place and its people。
A long low white house； surrounded by a blooming garden。 Wide windows opening on a lawn。 The ever glorious； ever changing sea beneath。 It is evening。 I am talking with Mrs。 Frere； of theories of social reform； of picture galleries； of sunsets； and new books。 There comes a sound of wheels on the gravel。 It is the magistrate returned from his convict…discipline。 We hear him come briskly up the steps； but we go on talking。 （I fancy there was a time when the lady would have run to meet him。） He enters； coldly kisses his wife； and disturbs at once the current of our thoughts。 〃It has been hot to…day。 What； still no letter from head…quarters； Mr。 North！ I saw Mrs。 Golightly in town； Sylvia； and she asked for you。 There is to be a ball at Government House。 We must go。〃 Then he departs； and is heard in the distance indistinctly cursing because the water is not hot enough； or because Dawkins； his convict servant； has not brushed his trousers sufficiently。 We resume our chat； but he returns all hungry； and bluff； and whisker…brushed。 〃Dinner。 Ha…ha！ I'm ready for it。 North； take Mrs。 Frere。〃 By and by it is； 〃North； some sherry？ Sylvia； the soup is spoilt again。 Did you go out to…day？ No？〃 His eyebrows contract here； and I know he says inwardly； 〃Reading some trashy novel； I suppose。〃 However； he grins； and obligingly relates how the police have captured Cockatoo Bill； the noted bushranger。
After dinner the disciplinarian and I converseof dogs and horses； gamecocks； convicts； and moving accidents by flood and field。 I remember old college feats； and strive to keep pace with him in the relation of athletics。 What hypocrites we are！for all the time I am longing to get to the drawing…room； and finish my criticism of the new poet； Mr。 Tennyson； to Mrs。 Frere。 Frere does not read Tennyson nor anybody else。 Adjourned to the drawing…room； we chatMrs。 Frere and I until supper。 （He eats supper。） She is a charming companion； and when I talk my bestI can talk； you must admit； O Familiar her face lightens up with an interest I rarely see upon it at other times。 I feel cooled and soothed by this companionship。 The quiet refinement of this house； after bullocks and Bathurst； is like the shadow of a great rock in a weary land。
Mrs。 Frere is about five…and…twenty。 She is rather beneath the middle height； with a slight； girlish figure。 This girlish appearance is enhanced by the fact that she has bright fair hair and blue eyes。 Upon conversation with her； however； one sees that her face has lost much of the delicate plumpness which it probably owned in youth。 She has had one child； born only to die。 Her cheeks are thin； and her eyes have a tinge of sadness； which speak of physical pain or mental grief。 This thinness of face makes the eyes appear larger and the brow broader than they really are。 Her hands are white and painfully thin。 They must have been plump and pretty once。 Her lips are red with perpetual fever。
Captain Frere seems to have absorbed all his wife's vitality。 （Who quotes the story of Lucius Claudius Hermippus； who lived to a great age by being constantly breathed on by young girls？ I suppose Burton who quotes everything。） In proportion as she has lost her vigour and youth； he has gained strength and heartiness。 Though he is at least forty years of age； he does not look more than thirty。 His face is ruddy； his eyes bright； his voice firm and ringing。 He must be a man of considerable strength andI should sayof more than ordinary animal courage and animal appetite。 There is not a nerve in his body which does not twang like a piano wire。 In appearance； he is tall； broad； and bluff； with red whiskers and reddish hair slightly touched with grey。 His manner is loud； coarse； and imperious； his talk of dogs； horses； and convicts。 What a strangely…mated pair！
March 30th。A letter from Van Diemen's Land。 〃There is a row in the pantry；〃 said Frere； with his accustomed slang。 It seems that the Comptroller…General of Convicts has appointed a Mr。 Pounce to go down and make a report on the state of Norfolk Island。 I am to go down with him； and shall receive instructions to that effect from the Comptroller…General。 I have informed Frere of this； and he has written to Pounce to come and stay on his way down。 There has been nothing but convict discipline talked since。 Frere is great upon this point； and wearies me with his explanations of convict tricks and wickedness。 He is celebrated for his knowledge of such matters。 Detestable wisdom！ His servants hate him； but they obey him without a murmur。 I have observed that habitual criminalslike all savage beastscower before the man who has once mastered them。 I should not be surprised if the Van Diemen's Land Government selected Frere as their 〃disciplinarian〃。 I hope they won't and yet I hope they will。
April 4th。Nothing worth recording until to…day。 Eating； drinking； and sleeping。 Despite my forty…seven years； I begin to feel almost like the James North who fought the bargee and took the gold medal。 What a drink water is！ The fons Bandusiae splendidior vitreo was better than all the Massic； Master Horace！ I doubt if your celebrated liquor； bottled when Manlius was consul； could compare with it。
But to my notable facts。 I have found out to…night two things which surprise me。 One is that the convict who attempted the life of Mrs。 Frere is none other than the unhappy man whom my fatal weakness caused to be flogged at Port Arthur； and whose face comes before me to reproach me even now。 The other that Mrs。 Carr is an old acquaintance of Frere's。 The latter piece of information I obtained in a curious way。 One night； while Mrs。 Frere was not there； we were talking of clever women。 I broached my theory； that strong intellect in women went far to destroy their womanly nature。
〃Desire in man；〃 said I； 〃should be Volition in women： Reason； Intuition； Reverence； Devotion； Passion； Love。 The woman should strike a lower key…note； but a sharper sound。 Man has vigour of reason； woman quickness of feeling。 The woman who possesses masculine force of intellect is abnormal。〃 He did not half comprehend me； I could see； but he agreed with the broad view of the case。 〃I only knew one woman who was really 'strong…minded'； as they call it；〃 he said； 〃and she was a regular bad one。〃
〃It does not follow that she should be bad；〃 said I。
〃This one was； thoughstoc
