the secret places of the heart-第15章

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ine　personalities　produced　effects　of　movement　rather　than　of　individuality　as　they　flitted　among　the　stones。　〃Well；〃　said　the　lady　in　grey；　with　that　rising　intonation　of　humorous　conclusion　which　is　so　distinctively　American；　〃those　Druids　have　GOT　him。〃　〃He's　hiding；〃　said　the　automobilist；　in　a　voice　that　promised　chastisement　to　a　hidden　hearer。　〃That's　what　he　is　doing。　He　ought　not　to　play　tricks　like　this。　A　great　boy　who　is　almost　six。〃　〃If　you　are　looking　for　a　small；　resolute　boy　of　six；〃　said　Sir　Richmond；　addressing　himself　to　the　lady　on　the　rock　rather　than　to　the　angry　parent　below；　〃he's　perfectly　safe　and　happy。　The　Druids　haven't　got　him。　Indeed；　they've　failed　altogether　to　get　him。　'Stonehenge；'　he　says；　'is　no　good。'　So　he's　gone　back　to　clean　the　lamps　of　your　car。〃　〃Aa…oo。　So　THAT'S　it！　〃　said　Papa。　〃Winnie；　go　and　tell　Price　he's　gone　back　to　the　car。　。　。　。　They　oughtn't　to　have　let　him　out　of　the　enclosure。　。　。　。〃　The　excitement　about　Master　Anthony　collapsed。　The　rest　of　the　people　in　the　circles　crystallized　out　into　the　central　space　as　two　apparent　sisters　and　an　apparent　aunt　and　the　nurse；　who　was　packed　off　at　once　to　supervise　the　lamp　cleaning。　The　head　of　the　family　found　some　difficulty；　it　would　seem；　in　readjusting　his　mind　to　the　comparative　innocence　of　Anthony；　and　Sir　Richmond　and　the　young　lady　on　the　rock　sought　as　if　by　common　impulse　to　establish　a　general　conversation。　There　were　faint　traces　of　excitement　in　her　manner；　as　though　there　had　been　some　controversial　passage　between　herself　and　the　family　gentleman。　〃We　were　discussing　the　age　of　this　old　place；〃　she　said；　smiling　in　the　frankest　and　friendliest　way。　〃How　old　do　YOU　think　it　is？〃　The　father　of　Anthony　intervened；　also　with　a　shadow　of　controversy　in　his　manner。　〃I　was　explaining　to　the　young　lady　that　it　dates　from　the　early　bronze　age。　Before　chronology　existed。　。　。　。　But　she　insists　on　dates。〃　〃Nothing　of　bronze　has　ever　been　found　here；〃　said　Sir　Richmond。　〃Well；　when　was　this　early　bronze　age；　anyhow？〃　said　the　young　lady。　Sir　Richmond　sought　a　recognizable　datum。　〃Bronze　got　to　Britain　somewhere　between　the　times　of　Moses　and　Solomon。〃　〃Ah！　〃　said　the　young　lady；　as　who　should　say；　'This　man　at　least　talks　sense。'　〃But　these　stones　are　all　shaped；〃　said　the　father　of　the　family。　〃It　is　difficult　to　see　how　that　could　have　been　done　without　something　harder　than　stone。〃　〃I　don't　SEE　the　place；〃　said　the　young　lady　on　the　stone。　〃I　can't　imagine　how　they　did　it　upnot　one　bit。〃　〃Did　it　up！〃　exclaimed　the　father　of　the　family　in　the　tone　of　one　accustomed　to　find　a　gentle　sport　in　the　intellectual　frailties　of　his　womenkind。　〃It's　just　the　bones　of　a　place。　They　hung　things　round　it。　They　draped　it。〃　〃But　what　things？〃　asked　Sir　Richmond。　〃Oh！　they　had　things　all　right。　Skins　perhaps。　Mats　of　rushes。　Bast　cloth。　Fibre　of　all　sorts。　Wadded　stuff。〃　〃Stonehenge　draped！　It's　really　a　delightful　idea；〃　said　the　father　of　the　family；　enjoying　it。　〃It's　quite　a　possible　one；〃　said　Sir　Richmond。　〃Or　they　may　have　used　wicker；〃　the　young　lady　went　on；　undismayed。　She　seemed　to　concede　a　point。　〃Wicker　IS　likelier。〃　〃But　surely；〃　said　the　father　of　the　family　with　the　expostulatory　voice　and　gesture　of　one　who　would　recall　erring　wits　to　sanity；　〃it　is　far　more　impressive　standing　out　bare　and　noble　as　it　does。　In　lonely　splendour。〃　〃But　all　this　country　may　have　been　wooded　then；〃　said　Sir　Richmond。　〃In　which　case　it　wouldn't　have　stood　out。　It　doesn't　stand　out　so　very　much　even　now。〃　〃You　came　to　it　through　a　grove；〃　said　the　young　lady；　eagerly　picking　up　the　idea。　〃Probably　beech；〃　said　Sir　Richmond。　〃Which　may　have　pointed　to　the　midsummer　sunrise；〃　said　Dr。　Martineau；　unheeded。　〃These　are　NOVEL　ideas；〃　said　the　father　of　the　family　in　the　reproving　tone　of　one　who　never　allows　a　novel　idea　inside　HIS　doors　if　he　can　prevent　it。　〃Well；〃　said　the　young　lady；　〃I　guess　there　was　some　sort　of　show　here　anyhow。　And　no　human　being　ever　had　a　show　yet　without　trying　to　shut　people　out　of　it　in　order　to　make　them　come　in。　I　guess　this　was　covered　in　all　right。　A　dark　hunched　old　place　in　a　wood。　Beech　stems；　smooth；　like　pillars。　And　they　came　to　it　at　night；　in　procession；　beating　drums；　and　scared　half　out　of　their　wits。　They　came　in　THERE　and　went　round　the　inner　circle　with　their　torches。　And　so　they　were　shown。　The　torches　were　put　out　and　the　priests　did　their　mysteries。　Until　dawn　broke。　That　is　how　they　worked　it。〃　〃But　even　you　can't　tell　what　the　show　was；　V。V。〃　said　the　lady　in　grey；　who　was　standing　now　at　Dr。　Martineau's　elbow。　〃Something　horrid；〃　said　Anthony's　younger　sister　to　her　elder　in　a　stage　whisper。　〃BLUGGY；〃　agreed　Anthony's　elder　sister　to　the　younger；　in　a　noiseless　voice　that　certainly　did　not　reach　father。　〃SQUEALS！　。　。　。　。〃　This　young　lady　who　was　addressed　as　〃V。V。〃　was　perhaps　one　or　two　and　twenty；　Dr。　Martineau　thought；he　was　not　very　good　at　feminine　ages。　She　had　a　clear　sun…browned　complexion；　with　dark　hair　and　smiling　lips。　Her　features　were　finely　modelled；　with　just　that　added　touch　of　breadth　in　the　brow　and　softness　in　the　cheek　bones；　that　faint　flavour　of　the　Amerindian；　one　sees　at　times　in　American　women。　Her　voice　was　a　very　soft　and　pleasing　voice；　and　she　spoke　persuasively　and　not　assertively　as　so　many　American　women　do。　Her　determination　to　make　the　dry　bones　of　Stonehenge　live　shamed　the　doctor's　disappointment　with　the　place。　And　when　she　had　spoken；　Dr。　Martineau　noted　that　she　looked　at　Sir　Richmond　as　if　she　expected　him　at　least　to　confirm　her　vision。　Sir　Richmond　was　evidently　prepared　to　confirm　it。　With　a　queer　little　twinge　of　infringed　proprietorship；　the　doctor　saw　Sir　Richmond　step　up　on　the　prostrate　megalith　and　stand　beside　her；　the　better　to　appreciate　her　point　of　view。　He　smiled　down　at　her。　〃Now　why　do　you　think　they　came　in　THERE？〃　he　asked。　The　young　lady　was　not　very　clear　about　her　directions。　She　did　not　know　of　the　roadway　running　to　the　Avon　river；　nor　of　the　alleged　race　course　to　the　north；　nor　had　she　ever　heard　that　the　stones　were　supposed　to　be　of　two　different　periods　and　that　some　of　them　might　possibly　have　been　brought　from　a　very　great　distance。　Section　2　Neither　Dr。　Martineau　nor　the　father　of　the　family　found　the　imaginative　reconstruction　of　the　Stonehenge　rituals　quite　so　exciting　as　the　two　principals。　The　father　of　the　family　endured　some　further　particulars　with　manifest　impatience；　no　longer　able；　now　that　Sir　Richmond　was　encouraging　the　girl；　to　keep　her　in　check　with　the　slightly　derisive　smile　proper　to　her　sex。　Then　he　proclaimed　in　a　fine　loud　tenor；　〃All　this　is　very　imaginative；　I'm　afraid。〃　And　to　his　family；　〃Time　we　were　pressing　on。　Turps；　we　must　go…o。　Come；　Phoebe！〃　As　he　led　his　little　flock　towards　the　exit　his　voice　came　floating　back。　〃Talking　wanton　nonsense。　。　。　。　Any　professional　archaeologist　would　laugh；　simply　laugh。　。　。　。〃　He　passed　out　of　the　world。　With　a　faint　intimation　of　dismay　Dr。　Martineau　realized　that　the　two　talkative　ladies　were　not　to　be　removed　in　the　family　automobile　with　the　rest　of　the　party。　Sir　Richmond　and　the　younger　lady　went　on　very　cheerfully　to　the　population；　agriculture；　housing　and　general　scenery　of　the　surrounding　Downland　during　the　later　Stone　Age。　The　shorter；　less　attractive　lady；　whose　accent　was　distinctly　American；　came　now　and　stood　at　the　doctor's　elbow。　She　seemed　moved　to　play　the　part　of　chorus　to　the　two　upon　the　stone。　〃When　V。V。　gets　going；〃　she　remarked；　〃she　makes　things　come　alive。〃　Dr。　Martineau　hated　to　be　addressed　suddenly　by　strange　ladies。　He　started；　and　his　face　assumed　the　distressed　politeness　of　the　moon　at　its　full。　〃Your　friend；〃　he　said；　〃interested　in　archaeology？　〃　〃Interested！〃　said　the　stouter　lady。　〃Why！　She's　a　fiend　at　it。　Ever　since　we　came　on　Carnac。　〃　〃You've　visited　Carnac？〃　〃That's　where　the　bug　bit　her。〃　said　the　stout　lady　with　a　note　of　querulous　humour。　〃Directly　V。V。　set　eyes　on　Carnac；　she　just　turned　against　all　her　up…bringing。　'Why　wasn't　I　told　of　this　before？'　she　said。　'What's　Notre　Dame　to　this？　This　is　where　we　came　from。　This　is　the　real　starting　point　of　the　MAYFLOWER。　Belinda；'　she　said；　'we've　got　to　see　all　we　can　of　this　sort　of　thing　before　we　go　back　to　America。　They've　been　keeping　this　from　us。'　And　that's　why　we're　here　right　now　instead　of　being　shopping　in　Paris　or　London　like　decent　American　women。〃　The　younger　lady　looked　down　on　her　companion　with　something　of　the　calm　expert　attention　that　a　plumber　gives　to　a　tap　that　is　misbehaving；　and　like　a　plumber　refrained　from　precipitate　action。　She　stood　with　the　backs　of　her　hands　resting　on　her　hips。　〃Well；〃　she　said　slowly；　giving　most　of　the　remark　to　Sir　Richmond　and　the　rest　to　the　doctor。　〃it　is　nearer　the　beginnings　of　things　than　London　or　Paris。〃　〃And　nearer　to　us；　〃　said　Sir　Richmond。　〃I　call　that　justparadoxical；〃　said　the　shorter　lady；　who　appeared　to　be　called　Belinda。　〃Not　paradoxical；〃　Dr。　Martineau　contradicted　gently。　〃Life　is　always　beginning　again。　And　this　is　a　time　of　fresh　beginnings。〃　〃Now　that's　after　V。V。's　own　heart；〃　cried　the　stout　lady　in　grey。　〃She'll　agree　to　all　that。　She's　been　saying　it　right　across　Europe。　Rome；　Paris；　London；　they're　simply　just　done。　They　don't　signify　any　more。　They've　got　to　be　cleared　away。〃　〃You　let　me　tell　my　own　opinions；　Belinda；〃　said　the　young　lady　who　was　called　V。V。　〃I　said　that　if　people　went　on　building　with　fluted　pillars　and　Corinthian　capitals　for　two　thousand　years；　it　was　time　they　were　cleared　up　and　taken　away。〃　〃Corinthian　capitals？〃　Sir　Richmond　considered　it　and　laughed　cheerfully。　〃I　suppose　Europe　does　rather　overdo　that　sort　of　thing。〃　〃The　way　she　went　on　about　the　Victor　Emmanuele　Monument！　〃　said　the　lady　who　answered　to　the　name　of　Belinda。　〃It　gave　me　cold　shivers　to　think　that　those　Italian　officers　might　understand　English。　〃　The　lady　who　was　called　V。V。　smiled　as　if　she　smiled　at　herself；　and　explained　herself　to　Sir　Richmond。　〃When　one　is　travelling　about；　one　gets　to　think　of　history　and　politics　in　terms　of　architecture。　I　do　anyhow。　And　those　columns　with　Corinthian　capitals　have　got　to　be　a　sort　of　symbol　for　me　for　everything　in　Europe　that　I　don't　want　and　have　no　sort　of　use　for。　It　isn't　a　bad　sort　of　capital　in　its　way；　florid　and　pretty；　but　not　a　patch　on　the　Doric；and　that　a　whole　continent　should　come　up　to　it　and　stick　at　it　and　never　get　past　it！　。　。　。〃　〃It's　the　classical　tradition。〃　〃It　puzzles　me。〃　〃It's　the　Roman　Empire。　That　Corinthian　column　is　a　weed　spread　by　the　Romans　all　over　western　Europe。〃　〃And　it　smothers　the　history　of　Europe。　You　can't　see　Europe　because　of　it。　Europe　is　obsessed　by　Rome。　Everywhere　Marble　Arches　and　ARCS　DE　TRIOMPHE。　You　never　get　away　from　it。　It　is　like　some　old　gentleman　who　has　lost　his　way　in　a　speech　and　keeps　on　repeating　the　same　thing。　And　can't　sit　down。　'The　empire；　gentlementhe　Empire。　Empire。'　Rome　itself　is　perfectly　frightful。　It　stares　at　you　with　its　great　round　stupid　arches　as　though　it　couldn't　imagine　that　you　could　possibly　want　anything　else　for　ever。　Saint　Peter's　and　that　frightful　Monument　are　just　the　same　stuff　as　the　Baths　of　Caracalla　and　the　palaces　of　the　Caesars。　Just　the　same。　They　will　make　just　the　same　so