erewhon revisited-第38部分
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come round in the end。〃
Luncheon was now announced。 My father was feeling faint and ill；
more than once during the forenoon he had had a return of the
strange giddiness and momentary loss of memory which had already
twice attacked him； but he had recovered in each case so quickly
that no one had seen he was unwell。 He； poor man； did not yet know
what serious brain exhaustion these attacks betokened； and finding
himself in his usual health as soon as they passed away； set them
down as simply effects of fatigue and undue excitement。
George did not lunch with the others。 Yram explained that he had
to draw up a report which would occupy him till dinner time。 Her
three other sons； and her three lovely daughters； were there。 My
father was delighted with all of them； for they made friends with
him at once。 He had feared that he would have been disgraced in
their eyes； by his having just come from prison； but whatever they
may have thought； no trace of anything but a little engaging
timidity on the girls' part was to be seen。 The two elder boysor
rather young men； for they seemed fully grown； though； like George；
not yet beardedtreated him as already an old acquaintance； while
the youngest； a lad of fourteen； walked straight up to him； put out
his hand； and said； 〃How do you do； sir？〃 with a pretty blush that
went straight to my father's heart。
〃These boys；〃 he said to Yram aside； 〃who have nothing to blush
forsee how the blood mantles into their young cheeks； while I；
who should blush at being spoken to by them； cannot do so。〃
〃Do not talk nonsense；〃 said Yram； with mock severity。
But it was no nonsense to my poor father。 He was awed at the
goodness and beauty with which he found himself surrounded。 His
thoughts were too full of what had been； what was； and what was yet
to be； to let him devote himself to these young people as he would
dearly have liked to do。 He could only look at them； wonder at
them； fall in love with them； and thank heaven that George had been
brought up in such a household。
When luncheon was over； Yram said； 〃I will now send you to a room
where you can lie down and go to sleep for a few hours。 You will
be out late to…night； and had better rest while you can。 Do you
remember the drink you taught us to make of corn parched and
ground？ You used to say you liked it。 A cup shall be brought to
your room at about five； for you must try and sleep till then。 If
you notice a little box on the dressing…table of your room； you
will open it or no as you like。 About half…past five there will be
a visitor； whose name you can guess； but I shall not let her stay
long with you。 Here comes the servant to take you to your room。〃
On this she smiled； and turned somewhat hurriedly away。
My father on reaching his room went to the dressing…table； where he
saw a small unpretending box； which he immediately opened。 On the
top was a paper with the words； 〃Looksay nothingforget。〃
Beneath this was some cotton wool； and thenthe two buttons and
the lock of his own hair； that he had given Yram when he said good…
bye to her。
The ghost of the lock that Yram had then given him； rose from the
dead； and smote him as with a whip across the face。 On what dust…
heap had it not been thrown how many long years ago？ Then she had
never forgotten him？ to have been remembered all these years by
such a woman as that； and never to have heeded itnever to have
found out what she was though he had seen her day after day for
months。 Ah！ but she was then still budding。 That was no excuse。
If a loveable womanaye； or any womanhas loved a man； even
though he cannot marry her； or even wish to do so； at any rate let
him not forget herand he had forgotten Yram as completely until
the last few days； as though he had never seen her。 He took her
little missive； and under 〃Look；〃 he wrote； 〃I have；〃 under 〃Say
nothing；〃 〃I will；〃 under 〃forget；〃 〃never。〃 〃And I never shall；〃
he said to himself； as he replaced the box upon the table。 He then
lay down to rest upon the bed； but he could get no sleep。
When the servant brought him his imitation coffeean imitation so
successful that Yram made him a packet of it to replace the tea
that he must leave behind himhe rose and presently came
downstairs into the drawing…room； where he found Yram and Mrs。
Humdrum's grand…daughter； of whom I will say nothing； for I have
never seen her； and know nothing about her； except that my father
found her a sweet…looking girl； of graceful figure and very
attractive expression。 He was quite happy about her； but she was
too young and shy to make it possible for him to do more than
admire her appearance； and take Yram's word for it that she was as
good as she looked。
CHAPTER XXIV： AFTER DINNER； DR。 DOWNIE AND THE PROFESSORS WOULD BE
GLAD TO KNOW WHAT IS TO BE DONE ABOUT SUNCHILDISM
It was about six when George's fiancee left the house； and as soon
as she had done so； Yram began to see about the rug and the best
substitutes she could find for the billy and pannikin。 She had a
basket packed with all that my father and George would want to eat
and drink while on the preserves； and enough of everything； except
meat； to keep my father going till he could reach the shepherd's
hut of which I have already spoken。 Meat would not keep； and my
father could get plenty of flappersi。e。 ducks that cannot yet
flywhen he was on the river…bed down below。
The above preparations had not been made very long； before Mrs。
Humdrum arrived； followed presently by Dr。 Downie and in due course
by the Professors； who were still staying in the house。 My father
remembered Mrs。 Humdrum's good honest face； but could not bring Dr。
Downie to his recollection till the Doctor told him when and where
they had met； and then he could only very uncertainly recall him；
though he vowed that he could now do so perfectly well。
〃At any rate；〃 said Hanky； advancing towards him with his best
Bridgeford manner； 〃you will not have forgotten meeting my brother
Professor and myself。〃
〃It has been rather a forgetting sort of a morning；〃 said my father
demurely； 〃but I can remember that much； and am delighted to renew
my acquaintance with both of you。〃
As he spoke he shook hands with both Professors。
George was a little late； but when he came； dinner was announced。
My father sat on Yram's right…hand； Dr。 Downie on her left。 George
was next my father； with Mrs。 Humdrum opposite to him。 The
Professors sat one on either side of the Mayor。 During dinner the
conversation turned almost entirely on my father's flight； his
narrow escape from drowning； and his adventures on his return to
England； about these last my father was very reticent； for he said
nothing about his book； and antedated his accession of wealth by
some fifteen years； but as he walked up towards the statues with
George he told him everything。
My father repeatedly tried to turn the conversation from himself；
but Mrs。 Humdrum and Yram wanted to know about Nna Haras； as they
persisted in calling my motherhow she endured her terrible
experiences in the balloon； when she and my father were married；
all about my unworthy self； and England generally。 No matter how
often he began to ask questions about the Nosnibors and other old
acquaintances； both the ladies soon went back to his own
adventures。 He succeeded； however； in learning that Mr。 Nosnibor
was dead； and Zulora； an old maid of the most unattractive kind；
who had persistently refused to accept Sunchildism； while Mrs。
Nosnibor was the recipient of honours hardly inferior to those
conferred by the people at large on my father and mother； with
whom； indeed； she believed herself to have frequent interviews by
way of visionary revelations。 So intolerable were these
revelations to Zulora； that a separate establishment had been
provided for her。 George said to my father quietly〃Do you know I
begin to think that Zulora must be rather a nice person。〃
〃Perhaps；〃 said my father grimly； 〃but my wife and I did not find
it out。〃
When the ladies left the room； Dr。 Downie took Yram's seat； and
Hanky Dr。 Downie's； the Mayor took Mrs。 Humdrum's； leaving my
father； George； and Panky； in their old places。 Almost
immediately； Dr。 Downie said； 〃And now； Mr； Higgs； tell us； as a
man of the world； what we are to do about Sunchildism？〃
My father smiled at this。 〃You know； my dear sir； as well as I do；
that the proper thing would be to put me back in prison； and keep
me there till you can send me down to the capital。 You should eat
your oaths of this morning； as I would eat mine； tell every one
here who I am； let them see that my hair has been dyed； get all who
knew me when I was here before to come and see me； appoint an
unimpeachable committee to examine the record of my marks and
measurements； and compare it with those of my own body。 You should
let me be seen in every town at which I lodged on my way down； and
tell people that you had made a mistake。 When you get to the
capital； hand me over to the King's tender mercies and say that our
oaths were only taken this morning to prevent a ferment in the
town。 I will play my part very willingly。 The King can only kill
me； and I should die like a gentleman。〃
〃They will not do it；〃 said George quietly to my father； 〃and I am
glad of it。〃
He was right。 〃This；〃 said Dr。 Downie； 〃is a counsel of
perfection。 Things have gone too far； and we are flesh and blood。
What would those who in your country come nearest to us Musical
Bank Managers do； if they found they had made such a mistake as we
have； and dared not own it？〃
〃Do not ask me；〃 said my father； 〃the story is too long； and too
terrible。〃
〃At any rate； then； tell us what you would have us do that is
within our reach。〃
〃I have done you harm enough； and if I preach； as likely as not I
shall do more。〃
Seeing； however； that Dr。 Downie was anxious to hear what he
thought； my father said …
〃Then I must tell you。 Our religion sets before us an ideal which
we all cordially accept； but it also tells us of marvels like your
chariot and horses； which we most of us reject。 Our best teachers
insist on the ideal； and keep the marvels
