madam how and lady why(豪夫人和怀女士)-第51章
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happenwhich happens to wicked kings and rulers； and all men； even the
greatest and cleverest； if they do not choose to reign by Lady Why's laws；
and decree justice according to her eternal ideas of what is just； but only
do what seems pleasant and profitable to themselves。 On them Lady
Why turns round； and saysfor she； too； can be awful； ay dreadful； when
she needs …
〃Because I have called； and ye refused； I have stretched out my hand；
and no man regarded； but ye have set at nought all my counsel； and would
have none of my reproof〃 And then come words so terrible； that I will
not speak them here in this happy place： but what they mean is this：…
That these foolish people are handed overas you and I shall be if we
do wrong wilfullyto Madam How and her terrible school… house； which
is called Nature and the Law； to be treated just as the plants and animals
are treated； because they did not choose to behave like men and children
of God。 And there they learn； whether they like or not； what they might
have learnt from Lady Why all along。 They learn the great law； that as
men sow so they will reap； as they make their bed so they will lie on it：
and Madam How can teach that as no one else can in earth or heaven： only；
unfortunately for her scholars； she is apt to hit so hard with her rod； which
is called Experience； that they never get over it； and therefore most of
those who will only be taught by Nature and Law are killed； poor creatures；
before they have learnt their lesson； as many a savage tribe is destroyed；
ay and great and mighty nations toothe old Roman Empire among them。
And the poor Jews； who were carried away captive to Babylon？
Yes； they would not listen to Lady Why； and so they were taken in
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MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
hand by Madam How； and were seventy years in her terrible school… house；
learning a lesson which； to do them justice； they never forgot again。 But
now we will talk of something pleasanter。 We will go back to Lady Why；
and listen to her voice。 It sounds gentle and cheerful enough just now。
Listen。
What？ is she speaking to us now？
Hush！ open your eyes and ears once more； for you are growing sleepy
with my long sermon。 Watch the sleepy shining water； and the sleepy
green mountains。 Listen to the sleepy lapping of the ripple； and the
sleepy sighing of the woods； and let Lady Why talk to you through them
in 〃songs without words；〃 because they are deeper than all words； till you；
too； fall asleep with your head upon my knee。
But what does she say？
She says〃Be still。 The fulness of joy is peace。〃 There； you are fast
asleep； and perhaps that is the best thing for you； for sleep will （so I am
informed； though I never saw it happen； nor any one else） put fresh gray
matter into your brain； or save the wear and tear of the old gray matter； or
something elsewhen they have settled what it is to do： and if so； you
will wake up with a fresh fiddle…string to your little fiddle of a brain； on
which you are playing new tunes all day long。 So much the better： but
when I believe that your brain is you； pretty boy； then I shall believe also
that the fiddler is his fiddle。
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MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
CHAPTER XII
HOMEWARD BOUND
Come： I suppose you consider yourself quite a good sailor by now？
Oh； yes。 I have never been ill yet； though it has been quite rough
again and again。
What you call rough； little man。 But as you are grown such a very
good sailor； and also as the sea is all but smooth； I think we will have a
sail in the yacht to…day； and that a tolerably long one。
Oh； how delightful！ but I thought we were going home； and the things
are all packed up。
And why should we not go homewards in the yacht； things and all？
What； all the way to England？
No； not so far as that； but these kind people； when they came into the
harbour last night； offered to take us up the coast to a town； where we will
sleep； and start comfortably home to…morrow morning。 So now you will
have a chance of seeing something of the great sea outside； and of seeing；
perhaps； the whale himself。
I hope we shall see the whale。 The men say he has been outside the
harbour every day this week after the fish。
Very good。 Now do you keep quiet； and out of the way； while we are
getting ready to go on board； and take a last look at this pretty place； and
all its dear kind people。
And the dear kind dogs too； and the cat and the kittens。
* * *
Now； come along； and bundle into the boat； if you have done bidding
every one good…bye； and take care you don't slip down in the ice…
groovings； as you did the other day。 There； we are off at last。
Oh； look at them all on the rock watching us and waving their
handkerchiefs； and Harper and Paddy too； and little Jimsy and Isy； with
their fat bare feet； and their arms round the dogs' necks。 I am so sorry to
leave them all。
Not sorry to go home？
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No； but They have been so kind； and the dogs were so kind。 I am
sure they knew we were going； and were sorry too。
Perhaps they were。 They knew we were going away； at all events。
They know what bringing out boxes and luggage means well enough。
Sam knew； I am sure； but he did not care for us。 He was only uneasy
because he thought Harper was going； and he should lose his shooting；
and as soon as he saw Harper was not getting into the boat； he sat down
and scratched himself； quite happy。 But do dogs think？
Of course they do； only they do not think in words； as we do。
But how can they think without words？
That is very difficult for you and me to imagine； because we always
think in words。 They must think in pictures； I suppose； by remembering
things which have happened to them。 You and I do that in our dreams。
I suspect that savages； who have very few words to express their thoughts
with； think in pictures； like their own dogs。 But that is a long story。 We
must see about getting on board now； and under way。
* * *
Well； and what have you been doing？
Oh； I looked all over the yacht； at the ropes and curious things； and
then I looked at the mountains； till I was tired； and then I heard you and
some gentleman talking about the land sinking； and I listened。 There was
no harm in that？
None at all。 But what did you hear him say？
That the land must be sinking here； because there were peat…bogs
everywhere below high…water mark。 Is that true？
Quite true； and that peat would never have been formed where the salt
water could get at it； as it does now every tide。
But what was it he said about that cliff over there？
He said that cliff on our right； a hundred feet high； was plainly once
joined on to that low island on our left。
What； that long bank of stones； with a house on it？
That is no house。 That is a square lump of mud； the last remaining
bit of earth which was onc
