man and superman-第7章

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means。　Not　a　speck　of　dust　is　visible：　it　is　clear　that　there　are
at　least　two　housemaids　and　a　parlormaid　downstairs；　and　a
housekeeper　upstairs　who　does　not　let　them　spare　elbow…grease。
Even　the　top　of　Roebuck's　head　is　polished：　on　a　sunshiny　day　he
could　heliograph　his　orders　to　distant　camps　by　merely　nodding。
In　no　other　respect；　however；　does　he　suggest　the　military　man。
It　is　in　active　civil　life　that　men　get　his　broad　air　of
importance；　his　dignified　expectation　of　deference；　his
determinate　mouth　disarmed　and　refined　since　the　hour　of　his
success　by　the　withdrawal　of　opposition　and　the　concession　of
comfort　and　precedence　and　power。　He　is　more　than　a　highly
respectable　man：　he　is　marked　out　as　a　president　of　highly
respectable　men；　a　chairman　among　directors；　an　alderman　among
councillors；　a　mayor　among　aldermen。　Four　tufts　of　iron…grey
hair；　which　will　soon　be　as　white　as　isinglass；　and　are　in　other
respects　not　at　all　unlike　it；　grow　in　two　symmetrical　pairs
above　his　ears　and　at　the　angles　of　his　spreading　jaws。　He　wears
a　black　frock　coat；　a　white　waistcoat　（it　is　bright　spring
weather）；　and　trousers；　neither　black　nor　perceptibly　blue；　of
one　of　those　indefinitely　mixed　hues　which　the　modern　clothier
has　produced　to　harmonize　with　the　religions　of　respectable　men。
He　has　not　been　out　of　doors　yet　to…day；　so　he　still　wears　his
slippers；　his　boots　being　ready　for　him　on　the　hearthrug。
Surmising　that　he　has　no　valet；　and　seeing　that　he　has　no
secretary　with　a　shorthand　notebook　and　a　typewriter；　one
meditates　on　how　little　our　great　burgess　domesticity　has　been
disturbed　by　new　fashions　and　methods；　or　by　the　enterprise　of
the　railway　and　hotel　companies　which　sell　you　a　Saturday　to
Monday　of　life　at　Folkestone　as　a　real　gentleman　for　two　guineas；
first　class　fares　both　ways　included。

How　old　is　Roebuck？　The　question　is　important　on　the　threshold　of
a　drama　of　ideas；　for　under　such　circumstances　everything　depends
on　whether　his　adolescence　belonged　to　the　sixties　or　to　the
eighties。　He　was　born；　as　a　matter　of　fact；　in　1839；　and　was　a
Unitarian　and　Free　Trader　from　his　boyhood；　and　an　Evolutionist
from　the　publication　of　the　Origin　of　Species。　Consequently　he
has　always　classed　himself　as　an　advanced　thinker　and　fearlessly
outspoken　reformer。

Sitting　at　his　writing　table；　he　has　on　his　right　the　windows
giving　on　Portland　Place。　Through　these；　as　through　a　proscenium；
the　curious　spectator　may　contemplate　his　profile　as　well　as　the
blinds　will　permit。　On　his　left　is　the　inner　wall；　with　a　stately
bookcase；　and　the　door　not　quite　in　the　middle；　but　somewhat
further　from　him。　Against　the　wall　opposite　him　are　two　busts　on
pillars：　one；　to　his　left；　of　John　Bright；　the　other；　to　his
right；　of　Mr　Herbert　Spencer。　Between　them　hang　an　engraved
portrait　of　Richard　Cobden；　enlarged　photographs　of　Martineau；
Huxley；　and　George　Eliot；　autotypes　of　allegories　by　Mr　G。F。
Watts　（for　Roebuck　believed　in　the　fine　arts　with　all　the
earnestness　of　a　man　who　does　not　understand　them）；　and　an
impression　of　Dupont's　engraving　of　Delaroche's　Beaux　Artes
hemicycle；　representing　the　great　men　of　all　ages。　On　the　wall
behind　him；　above　the　mantelshelf；　is　a　family　portrait　of
impenetrable　obscurity。

A　chair　stands　near　the　writing　table　for　the　convenience　of
business　visitors。　Two　other　chairs　are　against　the　wall　between
the　busts。

A　parlormaid　enters　with　a　visitor's　card。　Roebuck　takes　it；　and
nods；　pleased。　Evidently　a　welcome　caller。

RAMSDEN。　Show　him　up。

The　parlormaid　goes　out　and　returns　with　the　visitor。

THE　MAID。　Mr　Robinson。

Mr　Robinson　is　really　an　uncommonly　nice　looking　young　fellow。　He
must；　one　thinks；　be　the　jeune　premier；　for　it　is　not　in　reason
to　suppose　that　a　second　such　attractive　male　figure　should
appear　in　one　story。　The　slim　shapely　frame；　the　elegant　suit　of
new　mourning；　the　small　head　and　regular　features；　the　pretty
little　moustache；　the　frank　clear　eyes；　the　wholesome　bloom
and　the　youthful　complexion；　the　well　brushed　glossy　hair；　not
curly；　but　of　fine　texture　and　good　dark　color；　the　arch　of　good
nature　in　the　eyebrows；　the　erect　forehead　and　neatly　pointed
chin；　all　announce　the　man　who　will　love　and　suffer　later　on。
And　that　he　will　not　do　so　without　sympathy　is　guaranteed　by　an
engaging　sincerity　and　eager　modest　serviceableness　which　stamp
him　as　a　man　of　amiable　nature。　The　moment　he　appears；　Ramsden's
face　expands　into　fatherly　liking　and　welcome；　an　expression
which　drops　into　one　of　decorous　grief　as　the　young　man
approaches　him　with　sorrow　in　his　face　as　well　as　in　his　black
clothes。　Ramsden　seems　to　know　the　nature　of　the　bereavement。　As
the　visitor　advances　silently　to　the　writing　table；　the　old　man
rises　and　shakes　his　hand　across　it　without　a　word：　a　long；
affectionate　shake　which　tells　the　story　of　a　recent　sorrow
common　to　both。

RAMSDEN。　＇concluding　the　handshake　and　cheering　up＇　Well；　well；
Octavius；　it's　the　common　lot。　We　must　all　face　it　someday。　Sit
down。

Octavius　takes　the　visitor's　chair。　Ramsden　replaces　himself　in
his　own。

OCTAVIUS。　Yes：　we　must　face　it；　Mr　Ramsden。　But　I　owed　him　a
great　deal。　He　did　everything　for　me　that　my　father　could　have
done　if　he　had　lived。

RAMSDEN。　He　had　no　son　of　his　own；　you　see。

OCTAVIUS。　But　he　had　daughters；　and　yet　he　was　as　good　to　my
sister　as　to　me。　And　his　death　was　so　sudden！　I　always　intended
to　thank　himto　let　him　know　that　I　had　not　taken　all　his　care
of　me　as　a　matter　of　course；　as　any　boy　takes　his　father's　care。
But　I　waited　for　an　opportunity　and　now　he　is　deaddropped
without　a　moment's　warning。　He　will　never　know　what　I　felt。　＇He
takes　out　his　handkerchief　and　cries　unaffectedly＇。

RAMSDEN。　How　do　we　know　that；　Octavius？　He　may　know　it：　we
cannot　tell。　Come！　Don't　grieve。　＇Octavius　masters　himself　and
puts　up　his　handkerchief＇。　That's　right。　Now　let　me　tell　you
something　to　console　you。　The　last　time　I　saw　himit　was　in
this　very　roomhe　said　to　me：　〃Tavy　is　a　generous　lad　and　the
soul　of　honor；　and　when　I　see　how　little　consideration　other　men
get　from　their　sons；　I　realize　how　much　better　than　a　son　he's
been　to　me。〃　There！　Doesn't　that　do　you　good？

OCTAVIUS。　Mr　Ramsden：　he　used　to　say　to　me　that　he　had　met　only
one　man　in　the　world　who　was　the　soul　of　honor；　and　that　was
Roebuck　Ramsden。

RAMSDEN。　Oh；　that　was　his　partiality：　we　were　very　old　friends；
you　know。　But　there　was　something　else　he　used　to　say　about　you。
I　wonder　whether　I　ought　to　tell　you　or　not！

OCTAVIUS。　You　know　best。

RAMSDEN。　It　was　something　about　his　daughter。

OCTAVIUS。　＇eagerly＇　About　Ann！　Oh；　do　tell　me　that；　Mr　Ramsden。

RAMSDEN。　Well；　he　said　he　was　glad；　after　all；　you　were　not　his
son；　because　he　thought　that　someday　Annie　and　you＇Octavius
blushes　vividly＇。　Well；　perhaps　I　shouldn't　have　told　you。　But　he
was　in　earnest。

OCTAVIUS。　Oh；　if　only　I　thought　I　had　a　chance！　You　know；　Mr
Ramsden；　I　don't　care　about　money　or　about　what　people　call
position；　and　I　can't　bring　myself　to　take　an　interest　in　the
business　of　struggling　for　them。　Well；　Ann　has　a　most　exquisite
nature；　but　she　is　so　accustomed　to　be　in　the　thick　of　that　sort
of　thing　that　she　thinks　a　man's　character　incomplete　if　he　is
not　ambitious。　She　knows　that　if　she　married　me　she　would　have　to
reason　herself　out　of　being　ashamed　of　me　for　not　being　a　big
success　of　some　kind。

RAMSDEN。　＇Getting　up　and　planting　himself　with　his　back　to　the
fireplace＇　Nonsense；　my　boy；　nonsense！　You're　too　modest。　What
does　she　know　about　the　real　value　of　men　at　her　age？　＇More
seriously＇　Besides；　she's　a　wonderfully　dutiful　girl。　Her
father's　wish　would　be　sacred　to　her。　Do　you　know　that　since　she
grew　up　to　years　of　discretion；　I　don't　believe　she　has　ever　once
given　her　own　wish　as　a　reason　for　doing　anything　or　not　doing
it。　It's　always　〃Father　wishes　me　to；〃　or　〃Mother　wouldn't　like
it。〃　It's　really　almost　a　fault　in　her。　I　have　often　told　her　she
must　learn　to　think　for　herself。

OCTAVIUS。　＇shaking　his　head＇　I　couldn't　ask　her　to　marry　me
because　her　father　wished　it；　Mr　Ramsden。

RAMSDEN。　Well；　perhaps　not。　No：　of　course　not。　I　see　that。　No：
you　certainly　couldn't。　But　when　you　win　her　on　your　own　merits；
it　will　be　a　great　happiness　to　her　to　fulfil　her　father's　desire
as　well　as　her　own。　Eh？　Come！　you'll　ask　her；　won't　you？

OCTAVIUS。　＇with　sad　gaiety＇　At　all　events　I　promise　you　I　shall
never　ask　anyone　else。

RAMSDEN。　Oh；　you　shan't　need　to。　She'll　accept　you；　my　boy
although　＇here　be　suddenly　becomes　very　serious　indeed＇　you　have
one　great　drawback。

OCTAVIUS。　＇anxiously＇　What　drawback　is　that；　Mr　Ramsden？　I　should
rather　say　which　of　my　many　drawbacks？

RAMSDEN。　I'll　tell　you；　Octavius。　＇He　takes　from　the　table　a　book
bound　in　red　cloth＇。　I　have　in　my　hand　a　copy　of　the　most
infamous；　the　most　scandalous；　the　most　mischievous；　the　most
blackguardly　book　that　ever　escaped　burning　at　the　hands　of　the
common　hangman。　I　have　not　read　it：　I　would　not　soil　my　mind　with
such　filth；　but　I　have　read　what　the　papers　say　of　it。　The　title
is　quite　enough　for　me。　＇He　reads　it＇。　The　Revolutionist's
Handbook　and　Pocket　Companion　by　John　Tanner；　M。I。R。C。；　Member　　of　the
Idle　Rich　Class。

OCTAVIUS。　＇smiling＇　But　Jack

RAMSDEN。　＇testily＇　For　goodness'　sake；　don't　call　him　Jack　under
my　roof　＇he　throws　the　book　violently　down　on　the　table；　Then；
somewhat　relieved；　he　comes　past　the　table　to　Octavius；　and
addresses　him　at　close　quarters　with　impressive　gravity＇。　Now；
Octavius；　I　know　that　my　dead　friend　was　right　when　he　said　you
were　a　generous　lad。　I　know　that　this　man　was　your　schoolfellow；
and　that　you　feel　bound　to　stand　by　him　because　there　was　a
boyish　friendship　between　you。　But　I　ask　you　to　consider　the
altered　circumstances。　You　were　treated　as　a　son　in　my　friend's
house。　You　lived　there；　and　your　friends　could　not　be　turned　from
the　door。　This　Tanner　was　in　and　out　there　on　your　account
almost　from　his　childhood。　He　addresses　Annie　by　her　Christian
name　as　freely　as　you　do。　Well；　while　her　father　was　alive；　that
was　her　father's　business；　not　mine。　This　man　Tanner　was　only　a
boy　to　him：　his　opinions　were　something　to　be　laughed　at；　like　a
man's　hat　on　a　child's　head。　But　now　Tanner　is　a　grown　man　and
Annie　a　grown　woman。　And　her　father　is　gone。　We　don't　as　yet　know
the　exact　terms　of　his　will；　but　he　often　talked　it　over　with　me；
and　I　have　no　more　doubt　than　I　have　that　you're　sitting　there
that　the　will　appoints　me　Annie's　trustee　and　guardian。
＇Forcibly＇　Now　I　tell　you；　once　for　all；　I　can't　and　I　won't　have
Annie　placed　in　such　a　position　that　she　must；　out　of　regard　for
you；　suffer　the　intimacy　of　this　fellow　Tanner。　It's　not　fair：
it's　not　right：　it's　not　kind。　What　are　you　going　to　do　about　it？

OCTAVIUS。　But　Ann　herself　has　told　Jack　that　whatever　his
opinions　are；　he　will　always　be　welcome　because　he　knew　her　dear
father。

RAMSDEN。　＇out　of　patience＇　That　girl's　mad　about　her　duty　to　her
parents。　＇He　starts　off　like　a　goaded　ox　in　the　direction　of　John
Bright；　in　whose　expression　there　is　no　sympathy　for　him。　As　he
speaks；　he　fumes　down　to　Herbert　Spencer；　who　receives　him　still
more　c