登陆注册
5233600000104

第104章 XXXV(2)

It's dedicated to me--flat out--and you even crossed out the dedication and tidied me out of the introduction. Listen to me, Pembroke. You've done people all your life--I think without knowing it, but that won't comfort us. A wretched devil at your school once wrote to me, and he'd been done. Sham food, sham religion, sham straight talks--and when he broke down, you said it was the world in miniature." He snatched at him roughly. "But I'll show you the world." He twisted him round like a baby, and through the open door they saw only the quiet valley, but in it a rivulet that would in time bring its waters to the sea. "Look even at that--and up behind where the Plain begins and you get on the solid chalk--think of us riding some night when you're ordering your hot bottle--that's the world, and there's no miniature world. There's one world, Pembroke, and you can't tidy men out of it. They answer you back do you hear?--they answer back if you do them. If you tell a man this way that four sheep equal ten, he answers back you're a liar."Mr. Pembroke was speechless, and--such is human nature--he chiefly resented the allusion to the hot bottle; an unmanly luxury in which he never indulged; contenting himself with nightsocks. "Enough--there is no witness present--as you have doubtless observed." But there was. For a little voice cried, "Oh, mummy, they're fighting--such fun--" and feet went pattering up the stairs. "Enough. You talk of 'doing,' but what about the money out of which you 'did' my sister? What about this picture"--he pointed to a faded photograph of Stockholm--"which you caused to be filched from the walls of my house? What about--enough! Let us conclude this disheartening scene. You object to my terms. Name yours. I shall accept them.

It is futile to reason with one who is the worse for drink."Stephen was quiet at once. "Steady on!" he said gently. "Steady on in that direction. Take one-third for your four stories and the introduction, and I will keep two-thirds for myself." Then he went to harness the horse, while Mr. Pembroke, watching his broad back, desired to bury a knife in it. The desire passed, partly because it was unclerical, partly because he had no knife, and partly because he soon blurred over what had happened. To him all criticism was "rudeness": he never heeded it, for he never needed it: he was never wrong. All his life he had ordered little human beings about, and now he was equally magisterial to big ones: Stephen was a fifth-form lout whom, owing to some flaw in the regulations, he could not send up to the headmaster to be caned.

This attitude makes for tranquillity. Before long he felt merely an injured martyr. His brain cleared. He stood deep in thought before the only other picture that the bare room boasted--the Demeter of Cnidus. Outside the sun was sinking, and its last rays fell upon the immortal features and the shattered knees. Sweet-peas offered their fragrance, and with it there entered those more mysterious scents that come from no one flower or clod of earth, but from the whole bosom of evening.

He tried not to be cynical. But in his heart he could not regret that tragedy, already half-forgotten, conventionalized, indistinct. Of course death is a terrible thing. Yet death is merciful when it weeds out a failure. If we look deep enough, it is all for the best. He stared at the picture and nodded.

同类推荐
  • Desert Gold

    Desert Gold

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Damaged Goods

    Damaged Goods

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 台湾资料清高宗实录选辑

    台湾资料清高宗实录选辑

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 都城记胜

    都城记胜

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • THE YELLOW FAIRY BOOK

    THE YELLOW FAIRY BOOK

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 孩子究竟需要什么:探索教育的价值观

    孩子究竟需要什么:探索教育的价值观

    孩子究竟需要什么?由林格编写的《孩子究竟需要什么(探索教育的价值观)》一书告诉我们:生命最需要的是最精神的能量,亦即心灵温度;教育之道在于心灵,温暖心灵是教育的核心,因为如果一个人的心灵是温暖的,他的大脑潜能就会自然激发与拓展。《孩子究竟需要什么(探索教育的价值观)》所倡导的教育的首要原则就是:说有温度的话,做有温度的教育,上有温度的课……
  • 雪黎皇后2

    雪黎皇后2

    她5岁的时候被带到了皇宫,被独断霸道的皇帝喜欢上是幸还是不幸?长大的她看到了外面的世界,她喜欢上了那个穷苦却才华横溢的人,而皇上却百般阻拦。她该怎么办?
  • 冬季皇冠

    冬季皇冠

    阿悦与一万人来到了刀剑神域的游戏世界。这是他为了恢复男人身,为了回到现实世界,在包含无限流,系统流,变身流的世界里努力变强的故事。(嘛,其实也没多努力。)---------------(无限流,主世界为刀剑神域-艾恩葛朗特。)
  • 破幽梦孤雁汉宫秋

    破幽梦孤雁汉宫秋

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 打好手中的坏牌

    打好手中的坏牌

    当困境来临时,我们除了坚持还应当如何应对?怎样才能利用自身优势,突破困境的重重包围?如何抓住转机,扭转牌局?如何将手中的坏牌变成一副好牌,改变自己的命运?本书告诉你如何出奇制胜、反输为赢,在逆境中成就自己理想的事业,开创出生活的另一番局面。
  • 征战诸天从斗罗开始

    征战诸天从斗罗开始

    重生成了日月帝国九皇子,这时唐三还在准备安排女儿的未来,霍挂也在戴华斌的欺压下艰难成长,圣灵教宛如一柄利刃高悬头顶,大皇子徐天然也还未残废,正雄心勃勃地准备大展宏图。[独创同人异界征战流;反派有脑文]徐烽:“这…咋整?”“叮,系统已启动,请选择斗罗主线任务:一,干死主角戴雨浩;二,搞死主角唐三!若对选项有异议,请参考系统守则第一条:管杀不管埋,只发任务不问过程!徐烽把整个系统守则一直扒拉到最底下,最后找到了一行微不可查的小字“最终解释权归本系统所有!”…斗罗主线任务已选择完毕,系统已成功激活,请宿主选择武魂及附带的血脉:昊天锤(血脉修罗神);大脑(血脉盘古);光明圣龙(血脉银龙王)以及…一截残碑!选择后所产生的任何问题均由宿主自行负责!徐烽暗暗咂舌,不愧是高冷型系统的风格,出手就是阔绰。不过,这一截残碑是什么鬼?凑数的吗?!!斗罗、斗破、武动…未来还有自创世界PS:第一卷看不下去建议跳到第二卷,第1卷后来写崩了。第二卷卡在高XX潮……希望大家建议能让本书更加好,有什么建议提出来都会积极采纳!Q群771244856[QQ阅读第三编辑组签约作品][日双更]
  • 女英记

    女英记

    再后来,东方传来了鲧的消息——我还是习惯叫他姬熙,他发奋治水,成为夏后氏,乃至整个天下的英雄。再然后,他终于死在了一次险恶的洪水里。据说,他的遗言是:只愿归葬祖墓羽山,与心爱之人同穴。而舜却落井下石,历数他的罪状,砍下了他的头颅,丢进南海之中,让他永世不能再回到羽山。舜似乎取得了最后的胜利,然而,我却已经看穿了他的命数——龙气毕竟不在,他的帝王命格,只有短短的八年。而下一代的天下之主,乃是鲧的儿子禹。
  • 繁星灿絮尽

    繁星灿絮尽

    我一直以为真正的世界就是我所存在的世界。在这个世界上渺小的我会努力拼搏,会百折不挠,但是我终究是平凡的。如果哪天我真的死去了,就像大海少了一滴水,无波无涟。事实告诉我,不要妄自菲薄,不要轻视自己的重要性。也许你就像那蝴蝶,历史的走向也许就是因为你。
  • 落英缤纷谁细数

    落英缤纷谁细数

    本小说故事主要讲新文化运动期间,民国时期的中国青年慢慢把旧思想、旧文化摈弃,很多人为提升女性的地位而不懈努力,很多青年女性有了自主意识、越来越独立自信,努力提升自我价值,不再任人摆布,把“女子无才便是德”视为错误思想,努力学习新文化,传播新思想。本故事重点讲长辈与晚辈们相互关心,无论年轻人怎么折腾总有最温暖的的港湾为他们遮风挡雨,长辈总是无条件赋予晚辈们力量,教会他们做人处事,让谈他们切身体会和谐的家庭关系更有利于成事。小说的背景是1921年至1923年间旧上海几大家受新文化思潮的青年一代与老年一代斗智斗勇,在“争斗”的过程中,晚辈逐渐体会到家的温暖。本文情节纯属虚构,背景不偏离历史,带有一定教育意义;以芩菥两人的爱情故事为主要线索,主要讲述民国上海滩江·陆·苏三大家兴衰。主人公是一位弱小的女子,身为商贾千金,却要面临和商品一样因利益而被置换的命运,她深受新文化运动的影响,她心有不甘想要反抗命运,可自己的力量很渺小,充满商业味道的婚姻,两家人该如何宛转?
  • 碣石调幽兰

    碣石调幽兰

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。