madam how and lady why(豪夫人和怀女士)-第58章
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wise enough to ask a geologist of those parts how far he thought it was
down to the water。 The geologist made his calculations； and said：
〃You will go through so many feet of Bagshot sand； and so many feet
of London clay； and so many feet of the Thanet beds between them and
the chalk： and then you will win water； at about 412 feet； but not； I think；
till then。〃
The well…sinker laughed at that； and said； 〃He had no opinion of
geologists； and such…like。 He never found any clay in England but what
he could get through in 150 feet。〃
So he began to bore150 feet； 200； 300： and then he began to look
rather silly； at last； at 405only seven feet short of what the geologist had
foretoldup came the water in a regular spout。 But； lo and behold； not
expecting to have to bore so deep； he had made his bore much too small；
and the sand out of the Thanet beds 〃blew up〃 into the bore； and closed it。
The poor manufacturer spent hundreds of pounds more in trying to get the
sand out； but in vain； and he had at last to make a fresh and much larger
well by the side of the old one； bewailing the day when he listened to the
well…sinker and not to the geologist； and so threw away more than a
thousand pounds。 And there is an answer to what you asked on board the
yachtWhat use was there in learning little matters of natural history and
science； which seemed of no use at all？ And now； look out again。 Do you
see any change in the country？
What？
Why； there to the left。
There are high hills there now； as well as to the right。 What are they？
Chalk hills too。 The chalk is on both sides of us now。 These are the
Chilterns； all away to Ipsden and Nettlebed； and so on across Oxfordshire
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and Buckinghamshire； and into Hertfordshire； and on again to Royston
and Cambridge； while below them lies the Vale of Aylesbury； you can just
see the beginning of it on their left。 A pleasant land are those hills； and
wealthy； full of noble houses buried in the deep beech…woods； which once
were a great forest； stretching in a ring round the north of London； full of
deer and boar； and of wild bulls too； even as late as the twelfth century；
according to the old legend of Thomas e Becket's father and the fair
Saracen； which you have often heard。
I know。 But how are you going to get through the chalk hills？ Is
there a tunnel as there is at Box and at Micheldever？
No。 Something much prettier than a tunnel and something which
took a great many years longer in making。 We shall soon meet with a
very remarkable and famous old gentleman； who is a great adept at
digging； and at landscape gardening likewise； and he has dug out a path
for himself through the chalk； which we shall take the liberty of using also。
And his name； if you wish to know it； is Father Thames。
I see him。 What a great river！
Yes。 Here he comes； gleaming and winding down from Oxford； over
the lowlands； past Wallingford； but where he is going to it is not so easy to
see。
Ah； here is chalk in the cutting at last。 And what a high bridge。 And
the river far under our feet。 Why we are crossing him again！
Yes； he winds more sharply than a railroad can。 But is not this
prettier than a tunnel？
Oh； what hanging…woods； and churches； and such great houses； and
pretty cottages and gardensall in this narrow crack of a valley！
Ay。 Old Father Thames is a good landscape gardener； as I said。 There
is Basildonand Hurleyand Pangbourne； with its roaring lasher。 Father
Thames has had to work hard for many an age before he could cut this
trench right through the chalk； and drain the water out of the flat vale
behind us。 But I suspect the sea helped him somewhat； or perhaps a great
deal； just where we are now。
The sea？
Yes。 The sea was onceand that not so very long agoright up here；
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MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
beyond Reading。 This is the uppermost end of the great Thames valley；
which must have been an estuarya tide flat； like the mouth of the Severn；
with the sea eating along at the foot of all the hills。 And if the land sunk
only some fifty feet；which is a very little indeed； child； in this huge；
ever…changing world；then the tide would come up to Reading again； and
the greater part of London and the county of Middlesex be drowned in salt
water。
How dreadful that would be！
Dreadful indeed。 God grant that it may never happen。 More terrible
changes of land and water have happened； and are happening still in the
world： but none； I think； could happen which would destroy so much
civilisation and be such a loss to mankind； as that the Thames valley
should become again what it was； geologically speaking； only the other
day； when these gravel banks； over which we are running to Reading； were
being washed out of the chalk cliffs up above at every tide； and rolled on a
beach； as you have seen them rolling still at Ramsgate。
Now here we are at Reading。 There is the carriage waiting； and away
we are off home； and when we get home； and have seen everybody and
everything； we will look over our section once more。
But remember； that when you ran through the chalk hills to Reading；
you passed from the bottom of the chalk to the top of it； on to the Thames
gravels； which lie there on the chalk； and on to the London clay； which lies
on the chalk also； with the Thames gravels always over it。 So that； you
see； the newest layers； the London clay and the gravels； are lower in height
than the limestone cliffs at Bristol； and much lower than the old mountain
ranges of Devonshire and Wales； though in geological order they are far
higher； and there are whole worlds of strata； rocks and clays； one on the
other； between the Thames gravels and the Devonshire hills。
But how about our moors？ They are newer still； you said； than the
London clay； because they lie upon it： and yet they are much higher than
we are here at Reading。
Very well said： so they are； two or three hundred feet higher。 But our
part of them was left behind； standing up in banks； while the valley of the
Thames was being cut out by the sea。 Once they spread all over where
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we stand now； and away behind us beyond Newbury in Berkshire； and
away in front of us； all over where London now stands。
How can you tell that？
Because there are little capslittle patchesof them left on the tops of
many hills to the north of London； just remnants which the sea； and the
Thames； and the rain have not eaten down。 Probably they once stretched
right out to sea； sloping slowly under the waves； where the mouth of the
Thames is now。 You know the sand… cliffs at Bournemouth？
Of course。
Then those are of the same age as the Bagshot sands； and lie on the
London clay； and slope down off the New Forest into the sea； which eats
them up； as you know； year by year
