man and superman-第10章

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make　me　withdraw。　Say　the　word　and　I　will。

ANN。　But　I　haven't　read　your　book；　Jack。

TANNER。　＇diving　at　the　waste…paper　basket　and　fishing　the　book
out　for　her＇　Then　read　it　at　once　and　decide。

RAMSDEN。　If　I　am　to　be　your　guardian；　I　positively　forbid　you　to
read　that　book；　Annie。　＇He　smites　the　table　with　his　fist　and
rises＇。

ANN。　Of　course；　if　you　don't　wish　it。　＇She　puts　the　book　on　the
table＇。

TANNER。　If　one　guardian　is　to　forbid　you　to　read　the　other
guardian's　book；　how　are　we　to　settle　it？　Suppose　I　order　you　to
read　it！　What　about　your　duty　to　me？

ANN。　＇gently＇　I　am　sure　you　would　never　purposely　force　me　into　a
painful　dilemma；　Jack。

RAMSDEN。　＇irritably＇　Yes；　yes；　Annie：　this　is　all　very　well；　and；
as　I　said；　quite　natural　and　becoming。　But　you　must　make　a　choice
one　way　or　the　other。　We　are　as　much　in　a　dilemma　as　you。

ANN。　I　feel　that　I　am　too　young；　too　inexperienced；　to　decide。　My
father's　wishes　are　sacred　to　me。

MRS　WHITEFIELD。　If　you　two　men　won't　carry　them　out　I　must　say　it
is　rather　hard　that　you　should　put　the　responsibility　on　Ann。　It
seems　to　me　that　people　are　always　putting　things　on　other　people
in　this　world。

RAMSDEN。　　I　am　sorry　you　take　it　that　way。

ANN。　＇touchingly＇　Do　you　refuse　to　accept　me　as　your　ward；
Granny？

RAMSDEN。　No：　I　never　said　that。　I　greatly　object　to　act　with　Mr
Tanner：　that's　all。

MRS。　WHITEFIELD。　Why？　What's　the　matter　with　poor　Jack？

TANNER。　My　views　are　too　advanced　for　him。

RAMSDEN。　＇indignantly＇　They　are　not。　I　deny　it。

ANN。　Of　course　not。　What　nonsense！　Nobody　is　more　advanced　than
Granny。　I　am　sure　it　is　Jack　himself　who　has　made　all　the
difficulty。　Come；　Jack！　Be　kind　to　me　in　my　sorrow。　You　don't
refuse　to　accept　me　as　your　ward；　do　you？

TANNER。　＇gloomily＇　No。　I　let　myself　in　for　it；　so　I　suppose　I
must　face　it。　＇He　turns　away　to　the　bookcase；　and　stands　there；
moodily　studying　the　titles　of　the　volumes＇。

ANN。　＇rising　and　expanding　with　subdued　but　gushing　delight＇　Then
we　are　all　agreed；　and　my　dear　father's　will　is　to　be　carried
out。　You　don't　know　what　a　joy　that　is　to　me　and　to　my　mother！
＇She　goes　to　Ramsden　and　presses　both　his　hands；　saying＇　And　I
shall　have　my　dear　Granny　to　help　and　advise　me。　＇She　casts　a
glance　at　Tanner　over　her　shoulder＇。　And　Jack　the　Giant　Killer。
＇She　goes　past　her　mother　to　Octavius＇。　And　Jack's　inseparable
friend　Ricky…ticky…tavy　＇he　blushes　and　looks　inexpressibly
foolish＇。

MRS　WHITEFIELD。　＇rising　and　shaking　her　widow's　weeds　straight＇
Now　that　you　are　Ann's　guardian；　Mr　Ramsden；　I　wish　you　would
speak　to　her　about　her　habit　of　giving　people　nicknames。　They
can't　be　expected　to　like　it。　＇She　moves　towards　the　door＇。

ANN。　How　can　you　say　such　a　thing；　Mamma！　＇Glowing　with
affectionate　remorse＇　Oh；　I　wonder　can　you　be　right！　Have　I　been
inconsiderate？　＇She　turns　to　Octavius；　who　is　sitting　astride
his　chair　with　his　elbows　on　the　back　of　it。　Putting　her　hand　on
his　forehead　the　turns　his　face　up　suddenly＇。　Do　you　want　to　be
treated　like　a　grown　up　man？　Must　I　call　you　Mr　Robinson　in
future？

OCTAVIUS。　＇earnestly＇　Oh　please　call　me　Ricky…tickytavy；　〃Mr
Robinson〃　would　hurt　me　cruelly。　She　laughs　and　pats　his　cheek
with　her　finger；　then　comes　back　to　Ramsden＇。　You　know　I'm
beginning　to　think　that　Granny　is　rather　a　piece　of　impertinence。
But　I　never　dreamt　of　its　hurting　you。

RAMSDEN。　＇breezily；　as　he　pats　her　affectionately　on　the　back＇　My
dear　Annie；　nonsense。　I　insist　on　Granny。　I　won't　answer　to　any
other　name　than　Annie's　Granny。

ANN。　＇gratefully＇　You　all　spoil　me；　except　Jack。

TANNER。　＇over　his　shoulder；　from　the　bookcase＇　I　think　you　ought
to　call　me　Mr　Tanner。

ANN。　＇gently＇　No　you　don't；　Jack。　That's　like　the　things　you　say
on　purpose　to　shock　people：　those　who　know　you　pay　no　attention
to　them。　But；　if　you　like；　I'll　call　you　after　your　famous
ancestor　Don　Juan。

RAMSDEN。　Don　Juan！

ANN。　＇innocently＇　Oh；　is　there　any　harm　in　it？　I　didn't　know。
Then　I　certainly　won't　call　you　that。　May　I　call　you　Jack　until
I　can　think　of　something　else？

TANKER。　Oh；　for　Heaven's　sake　don't　try　to　invent　anything　worse。
I　capitulate。　I　consent　to　Jack。　I　embrace　Jack。　Here　endeth　my
first　and　last　attempt　to　assert　my　authority。

ANN。　You　see；　Mamma；　they　all　really　like　to　have　pet　names。

MRS　WHITEFIELD。　Well；　I　think　you　might　at　least　drop　them　until
we　are　out　of　mourning。

ANN。　＇reproachfully；　stricken　to　the　soul＇　Oh；　how　could　you
remind　me；　mother？　＇She　hastily　leaves　the　room　to　conceal　her
emotion＇。

MRS　WHITEFIELD。　Of　course。　My　fault　as　usual！　＇She　follows　Ann＇。

TANNER。　＇coming　from　the　bockcase＇　Ramsden：　we're　beaten
smashednonentitized；　like　her　mother。

RAMSDEN。　Stuff；　Sir。　＇He　follows　Mrs　Whitefield　out　of　the　room＇。

TANNER。　＇left　alone　with　Octavius；　stares　whimsically　at　him＇
Tavy：　do　you　want　to　count　for　something　in　the　world？

OCTAVIUS。　I　want　to　count　for　something　as　a　poet：　I　want　to
write　a　great　play。

TANNER。　With　Ann　as　the　heroine？

OCTAVIUS。　Yes：　I　confess　it。

TANNER。　Take　care；　Tavy。　The　play　with　Ann　as　the　heroine　is　all
right；　but　if　you're　not　very　careful；　by　Heaven　she'll　marry
you。

OCTAVIUS。　＇sighing＇　No　such　luck；　Jack！

TANNER。　Why；　man；　your　head　is　in　the　lioness's　mouth：　you　are
half　swallowed　alreadyin　three　bitesBite　One；　Ricky；　Bite
Two；　Ticky；　Bite　Three；　Tavy；　and　down　you　go。

OCTAVIUS。　She　is　the　same　to　everybody；　Jack：　you　know　her　ways。

TANNER。　Yes：　she　breaks　everybody's　back　with　the　stroke　of　her
paw；　but　the　question　is；　which　of　us　will　she　eat？　My　own
opinion　is　that　she　means　to　eat　you。

OCTAVIUS。　＇rising；　pettishly＇　It's　horrible　to　talk　like　that
about　her　when　she　is　upstairs　crying　for　her　father。　But　I　do　so
want　her　to　eat　me　that　I　can　bear　your　brutalities　because　they
give　me　hope。

TANNER。　Tavy；　that's　the　devilish　side　of　a　woman's　fascination：
she　makes　you　will　your　own　destruction。

OCTAVIUS。　But　it's　not　destruction：　it's　fulfilment。

TANNER。　Yes；　of　HER　purpose；　and　that　purpose　is　neither　her
happiness　nor　yours；　but　Nature's。　Vitality　in　a　woman　is　a　blind
fury　of　creation。　She　sacrifices　herself　to　it：　do　you　think　she
will　hesitate　to　sacrifice　you？

OCTAVIUS。　Why；　it　is　just　because　she　is　self…sacrificing　that
she　will　not　sacrifice　those　she　loves。

TANNER。　That　is　the　profoundest　of　mistakes；　Tavy。　It　is　the
self…sacrificing　women　that　sacrifice　others　most　recklessly。
Because　they　are　unselfish；　they　are　kind　in　little　things。
Because　they　have　a　purpose　which　is　not　their　own　purpose；　but
that　of　the　whole　universe；　a　man　is　nothing　to　them　but　an
instrument　of　that　purpose。

OCTAVIUS。　Don't　be　ungenerous；　Jack。　They　take　the　tenderest　care
of　us。

TANNER。　Yes；　as　a　soldier　takes　care　of　his　rifle　or　a　musician
of　his　violin。　But　do　they　allow　us　any　purpose　or　freedom　of　our
own？　Will　they　lend　us　to　one　another？　Can　the　strongest　man
escape　from　them　when　once　he　is　appropriated？　They　tremble　when
we　are　in　danger；　and　weep　when　we　die；　but　the　tears　are　not　for
us；　but　for　a　father　wasted；　a　son's　breeding　thrown　away。　They
accuse　us　of　treating　them　as　a　mere　means　to　our　pleasure；　but
how　can　so　feeble　and　transient　a　folly　as　a　man's　selfish
pleasure　enslave　a　woman　as　the　whole　purpose　of　Nature　embodied
in　a　woman　can　enslave　a　man？

OCTAVIUS。　What　matter；　if　the　slavery　makes　us　happy？

TANNER。　No　matter　at　all　if　you　have　no　purpose　of　your　own；　and
are；　like　most　men；　a　mere　breadwinner。　But　you；　Tavy；　are　an
artist：　that　is；　you　have　a　purpose　as　absorbing　and　as
unscrupulous　as　a　woman's　purpose。

OCTAVIUS。　Not　unscrupulous。

TANNER。　Quite　unscrupulous。　The　true　artist　will　let　his　wife
starve；　his　children　go　barefoot；　his　mother　drudge　for　his
living　at　seventy；　sooner　than　work　at　anything　but　his　art。　To
women　he　is　half　vivisector；　half　vampire。　He　gets　into　intimate
relations　with　them　to　study　them；　to　strip　the　mask　of
convention　from　them；　to　surprise　their　inmost　secrets；　knowing
that　they　have　the　power　to　rouse　his　deepest　creative　energies；
to　rescue　him　from　his　cold　reason；　to　make　him　see　visions　and
dream　dreams；　to　inspire　him；　as　he　calls　it。　He　persuades　women
that　they　may　do　this　for　their　own　purpose　whilst　he　really
means　them　to　do　it　for　his。　He　steals　the　mother's　milk　and
blackens　it　to　make　printer's　ink　to　scoff　at　her　and　glorify
ideal　women　with。　He　pretends　to　spare　her　the　pangs　of
childbearing　so　that　he　may　have　for　himself　the　tenderness　and
fostering　that　belong　of　right　to　her　children。　Since　marriage
began；　the　great　artist　has　been　known　as　a　bad　husband。　But　he
is　worse：　he　is　a　child…robber；　a　bloodsucker；　a　hypocrite　and　a
cheat。　Perish　the　race　and　wither　a　thousand　women　if　only　the
sacrifice　of　them　enable　him　to　act　Hamlet　better；　to　paint　a
finer　picture；　to　write　a　deeper　poem；　a　greater　play；　a
profounder　philosophy！　For　mark　you；　Tavy；　the　artist's　work　is
to　show　us　ourselves　as　we　really　are。　Our　minds　are　nothing　but
this　knowledge　of　ourselves；　and　he　who　adds　a　jot　to　such
knowledge　creates　new　mind　as　surely　as　any　woman　creates　new
men。　In　the　rage　of　that　creation　he　is　as　ruthless　as　the　woman；
as　dangerous　to　her　as　she　to　him；　and　as　horribly　fascinating。
Of　all　human　struggles　there　is　none　so　treacherous　and
remorseless　as　the　struggle　between　the　artist　man　and　the　mother
woman。　Which　shall　use　up　the　other？　that　is　the　issue　between
them。　And　it　is　all　the　deadlier　because；　in　your　romanticist
cant；　they　love　one　another。

OCTAVIUS。　Even　if　it　were　soand　I　don't　admit　it　for　a　moment
it　is　out　of　the　deadliest　struggles　that　we　get　the　noblest
characters。

TANNER。　Remember　that　the　next　time　you　meet　a　grizzly　bear　or　a
Bengal　tiger；　Tavy。

OCTAVIUS。　I　meant　where　there　is　love；　Jack。

TANNER。　Oh；　the　tiger　will　love　you。　There　is　no　love　sincerer
than　the　love　of　food。　I　think　Ann　loves　you　that　way：　she　patted
your　cheek　as　if　it　were　a　nicely　underdone　chop。

OCTAVIUS。　You　know；　Jack；　I　should　have　to　run　away　from　you　if　I
did　not　make　it　a　fixed　rule　not　to　mind　anything　you　say。　You
come　out　with　perfectly　revolting　things　sometimes。

Ramsden　returns；　followed　by　Ann。　They　come　in　quickly；　with
their　former　leisurely　air　of　decorous　grief　changed　to　one　of
genuine　concern；　and；　on　Ramsden's　part；　of　worry。　He　comes
between　the　two　men；　intending　to　address　Octavius；　but　pulls
himself　up　abruptly　as　he　sees　Tanner。

RAMSDEN。　I　hardly　expected　to　find　you　still　here；　Mr　Tanner。

TANNER。　Am　I　in　the　way？　Good　morning；　fellow　guardian　＇he　goes
towards　the　door＇。

ANN。　Stop；　Jack。　Granny：　he　must　know；　sooner　or　later。

RAMSDEN。　Octavius：　I　have　a　very　serious　piece　of　news　for　you。
It　is　of　the　most　private　and　delicate　natureof　the　most
painful　nature　too；　I　am　sorry　to　say。　Do　you　wish　Mr　Tanner　to
be　present　whilst　I　explain？

OCTAVIUS。　＇turning　pale＇　I　have　no　secrets　from　Jack。

RAMSDEN。　Before　you　decide　that　finally；　let　me　say　that　the　news
concerns　your　sister；　and　that　it　is　terrible　news。

OCTAVIUS。　Violet！　What　has　happened？　Is　shedead？

RAMSDEN。　I　am　not　sure　that　it　is　not　even　worse　than　that。