the secret places of the heart-第16章

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he　Baths　of　Caracalla　and　the　palaces　of　the　Caesars。　Just　the　same。　They　will　make　just　the　same　sort　of　ruins。　It　goes　on　and　goes　on。〃　〃AVE　ROMA　IMMORTALIS；〃　said　Dr。　Martineau。　〃This　Roman　empire　seems　to　be　Europe's　first　and　last　idea。　A　fixed　idea。　And　such　a　poor　idea！　。　。　。　America　never　came　out　of　that。　It's　no　good…telling　me　that　it　did。　It　escaped　from　it。　。　。　。　So　I　said　to　Belinda　here；　'Let's　burrow；　if　we　can；　under　all　this　marble　and　find　out　what　sort　of　people　we　were　before　this　Roman　empire　and　its　acanthus　weeds　got　hold　of　us。'〃　〃I　seem　to　remember　at　Washington；　something　faintly　Corinthian；　something　called　the　Capitol；〃　Sir　Richmond　reflected。　〃And　other　buildings。　A　Treasury。〃　〃That　is　different；〃　said　the　young　lady；　so　conclusively　that　it　seemed　to　leave　nothing　more　to　be　said　on　that　score。　〃A　last　twinge　of　Europeanism；〃　she　vouchsafed。　〃We　were　young　in　those　days。〃　〃You　are　well　beneath　the　marble　here。〃　She　assented　cheerfully。　〃A　thousand　years　before　it。〃　〃Happy　place！　Happy　people！〃　〃But　even　this　place　isn't　the　beginning　of　things　here。　Carnac　was　older　than　this。　And　older　still　is　Avebury。　Have　you　heard　in　America　of　Avebury？　It　may　have　predated　this　place；　they　think；　by　another　thousand　years。〃　〃Avebury？〃　said　the　lady　who　was　called　Belinda。　〃But　what　is　this　Avebury？〃　asked　V。V。　〃I've　never　heard　of　the　place。〃　〃I　thought　it　was　a　lord；〃　said　Belinda。　Sir　Richmond；　with　occasional　appeals　to　Dr。　Martineau；　embarked　upon　an　account　of　the　glory　and　wonder　of　Avebury。　Possibly　he　exaggerated　Avebury。　。　。　。　It　was　Dr。　Martineau　who　presently　brought　this　disquisition　upon　Avebury　to　a　stop　by　a　very　remarkable　gesture。　He　looked　at　his　watch。　He　drew　it　out　ostentatiously；　a　thick；　respectable　gold　watch；　for　the　doctor　was　not　the　sort　of　man　to　wear　his　watch　upon　his　wrist。　He　clicked　it　open　and　looked　at　it。　Thereby　he　would　have　proclaimed　his　belief　this　encounter　was　an　entirely　unnecessary　interruption　of　his　healing　duologue　with　Sir　Richmond；　which　must　now　be　resumed。　But　this　action　had　scarcely　the　effect　he　had　intended　it　to　have。　It　set　the　young　lady　who　was　called　Belinda　asking　about　ways　and　means　of　getting　to　Salisbury；　it　brought　to　light　the　distressing　fact　that　V。V。　had　the　beginnings　of　a　chafed　heel。　Once　he　had　set　things　going　they　moved　much　too　quickly　for　the　doctor　to　deflect　their　course。　He　found　himself　called　upon　to　make　personal　sacrifices　to　facilitate　the　painless　transport　of　the　two　ladies　to　Salisbury；　where　their　luggage　awaited　them　at　the　Old　George　Hotel。　In　some　way　too　elusive　to　trace；　it　became　evident　that　he　and　Sir　Richmond　were　to　stay　at　this　same　Old　George　Hotel。　The　luggage　was　to　be　shifted　to　the　top　of　the　coupe；　the　young　lady　called　V。V。　was　to　share　the　interior　of　the　car　with　Sir　Richmond；　while　the　lady　named　Belinda；　for　whom　Dr。　Martineau　was　already　developing　a　very　strong　dislike；　was　to　be　thrust　into　an　extreme　proximity　with　him　and　the　balance　of　the　luggage　in　the　dicky　seat　behind。　Sir　Richmond　had　never　met　with　a　young　woman　with　a　genuine　historical　imagination　before；　and　he　was　evidently　very　greatly　excited　and　resolved　to　get　the　utmost　that　there　was　to　be　got　out　of　this　encounter。　Section　3　Sir　Richmond　displayed　a　complete　disregard　of　the　sufferings　of　Dr。　Martineau；　shamefully　compressed　behind　him。　Of　these　he　was　to　hear　later。　He　ran　his　overcrowded　little　car；　overcrowded　so　far　as　the　dicky　went；　over　the　crest　of　the　Down　and　down　into　Amesbury　and　on　to　Salisbury；　stopping　to　alight　and　stretch　the　legs　of　the　party　when　they　came　in　sight　of　Old　Sarum。　〃Certainly　they　can　do　with　a　little　stretching；〃　said　Dr。　Martineau　grimly。　This　charming　young　woman　had　seized　upon　the　imagination　of　Sir　Richmond　to　the　temporary　exclusion　of　all　other　considerations。　The　long　Downland　gradients；　quivering　very　slightly　with　the　vibration　of　the　road；　came　swiftly　and　easily　to　meet　and　pass　the　throbbing　little　car　as　he　sat　beside　her　and　talked　to　her。　He　fell　into　that　expository　manner　which　comes　so　easily　to　the　native　entertaining　the　visitor　from　abroad。　〃In　England；　it　seems　to　me　there　are　four　main　phases　of　history。　Four。　Avebury；　which　I　would　love　to　take　you　to　see　to…morrow。　Stonehenge。　Old　Sarum；　which　we　shall　see　in　a　moment　as　a　great　grassy　mound　on　our　right　as　we　come　over　one　of　these　crests。　Each　of　them　represents　about　a　thousand　years。　Old　Sarum　was　Keltic；　it；　saw　the　Romans　and　the　Saxons　through；　and　for　a　time　it　was　a　Norman　city。　Now　it　is　pasture　for　sheep。　Latest　as　yet　is　Salisbury；English；　real　English。　It　may　last　a　few　centuries　still。　It　is　little　more　than　seven　hundred　years　old。　But　when　I　think　of　those　great　hangars　back　there　by　Stonehenge；　I　feel　that　the　next　phase　is　already　beginning。　Of　a　world　one　will　fly　to　the　ends　of；　in　a　week　or　so。　Our　world　still。　Our　people；　your　people　and　mine；　who　are　going　to　take　wing　so　soon　now；　were　made　in　all　these　places。　We　are　visiting　the　old　homes。　I　am　glad　I　came　back　to　it　just　when　you　were　doing　the　same　thing。〃　〃I'm　lucky　to　have　found　a　sympathetic　fellow　traveller；〃　she　said；　〃with　a　car。〃　〃You're　the　first　American　I've　ever　met　whose　interest　in　history　didn't　seem〃　He　sought　for　an　inoffensive　word。　〃Silly？　Oh！　I　admit　it。　It's　true　of　a　lot　of　us。　Most　of　us。　We　come　over　to　Europe　as　if　it　hadn't　anything　to　do　with　us　except　to　supply　us　with　old　pictures　and　curios　generally。　We　come　sight…seeing。　It's　romantic。　It's　picturesque。　We　stare　at　the　nativeslike　visitors　at　a　Zoo。　We　don't　realize　that　we　belong。　。　。　。　I　know　our　style。　。　。　。　But　we　aren't　all　like　that。　Some　of　us　are　learning　a　bit　better　than　that。　We　have　one　or　two　teachers　over　there　to　lighten　our　darkness。　There's　Professor　Breasted　for　instance。　He　comes　sometimes　to　my　father's　house。　And　there's　James　Harvey　Robinson　and　Professor　Hutton　Webster。　They've　been　trying　to　restore　our　memory。〃　〃I've　never　heard　of　any　of　them；〃　said　Sir　Richmond。　〃You　hear　so　little　of　America　over　here。　It's　quite　a　large　country　and　all　sorts　of　interesting　things　happen　there　nowadays。　And　we　are　waking　up　to　history。　Quite　fast。　We　shan't　always　be　the　most　ignorant　people　in　the　world。　We　are　beginning　to　realize　that　quite　a　lot　of　things　happened　between　Adam　and　the　Mayflower　that　we　ought　to　be　told　about。　I　allow　it's　a　recent　revival。　The　United　States　has　been　like　one　of　those　men　you　read　about　in　the　papers　who　go　away　from　home　and　turn　up　in　some　distant　place　with　their　memories　gone。　They've　forgotten　what　their　names　were　or　where　they　lived　or　what　they　did　for　a　living；　they've　forgotten　everything　that　matters。　Often　they　have　to　begin　again　and　settle　down　for　a　long　time　before　their　memories　come　back。　That's　how　it　has　been　with　us。　Our　memory　is　just　coming　back　to　us。〃　〃And　what　do　you　find　you　are？〃　〃Europeans。　Who　came　away　from　kings　and　churches…@…and　Corinthian　capitals。〃　〃You　feel　all　this　country　belongs　to　you？〃　〃As　much　as　it　does　to　you。〃　Sir　Richmond　smiled　radiantly　at　her。　〃But　if　I　say　that　America　belongs　to　me　as　much　as　it　does　to　you？〃　〃We　are　one　people；〃　she　said。　〃We〃　〃Europe。　These　parts　of　Europe　anyhow。　And　ourselves。〃　〃You　are　the　most　civilized　person　I've　met　for　weeks　and　weeks。〃　〃Well；　you　are　the　first　civilized　person　I've　met　in　Europe　for　a　long　time。　If　I　understand　you。〃　〃There　are　multitudes　of　reasonable；　civilized　people　in　Europe。〃　〃I've　heard　or　seen　very　little　of　them。　〃They're　scattered；　I　admit。〃　〃And　hard　to　find。〃　〃So　ours　is　a　lucky　meeting。　I've　wanted　a　serious　talk　to　an　American　for　some　time。　I　want　to　know　very　badly　what　you　think　you　are　up　to　with　the　world；our　world。　〃　〃I'm　equally　anxious　to　know　what　England　thinks　she　is　doing。　Her　ways　recently　have　been　a　little　difficult　to　understand。　On　any　hypothesis…that　is　honourable　to　her。〃　〃H'm；〃　said　Sir　Richmond。　〃I　assure　you　we　don't　like　it。　This　Irish　business。　We　feel　a　sort　of　ownership　in　England。　It's　like　finding　your　dearest　aunt　torturing　the　cat。〃　〃We　must　talk　of　that；〃　said　Sir　Richmond。　〃I　wish　you　would。〃　〃It　is　a　cat　and　a　dogand　they　have　been　very　naughty　animals。　And　poor　Aunt　Britannia　almost　deliberately　lost　her　temper。　But　I　admit　she　hits　about　in　a　very　nasty　fashion。〃　〃And　favours　the　dog。〃　〃She　does。〃　〃I　want　to　know　all　you　admit。〃　〃You　shall。　And　incidentally　my　friend　and　I　may　have　the　pleasure　of　showing　you　Salisbury　and　Avebury。　If　you　are　free？〃　〃We're　travelling　together；　just　we　two。　We　are　wandering　about　the　south　of　England　on　our　way　to　Falmouth。　Where　I　join　a　father　in　a　few　days'　time；　and　I　go　on　with　him　to　Paris。　And　if　you　and　your　friend　are　coming　to　the　Old　George〃　〃We　are；〃　said　Sir　Richmond。　〃I　see　no　great　scandal　in　talking　right　on　to　bedtime。　And　seeing　Avebury　to…morrow。　Why　not？　Perhaps　if　we　did　as　the　Germans　do　and　gave　our　names　now；　it　might　mitigate　something　of　the　extreme　informality　of　our　behaviour。〃　〃My　name　is　Hardy。　I've　been　a　munition　manufacturer。　I　was　slightly　wounded　by　a　stray　shell　near　Arras　while　I　was　inspecting　some　plant　I　had　set　up；　and　also　I　was　hit　by　a　stray　knighthood。　So　my　name　is　now　Sir　Richmond　Hardy。　My　friend　is　a　very　distinguished　Harley　Street　physician。　Chiefly　nervous　and　mental　cases。　His　name　is　Dr。　Martineau。　He　is　quite　as　civilized　as　I　am。　He　is　also　a　philosophical　writer。　He　is　really　a　very　wise　and　learned　man　indeed。　He　is　full　of　ideas。　He's　stimulated　me　tremendously。　You　must　talk　to　him。〃　Sir　Richmond　glanced　over　his　shoulder　at　the　subject　of　these　commendations。　Through　the　oval　window　glared　an　expression　of　malignity　that　made　no　impression　whatever　on　his　preoccupied　mind。　〃My　name；〃　said　the　young　lady；　〃is　Grammont。　The　war　whirled　me　over　to　Europe　on　Red　Cross　work　and　since　the　peace　I've　been　settling　up　things　and　travelling　about　Europe。　My　father　is　rather　a　big　business　man　in　New　York。〃　〃The　oil　Grammont？〃　〃He　is　rather　deep　in　oil；　I　believe。　He　is　coming　over　to　Europe　because　he　does　not　like　the　way　your　people　are　behaving　in　Mesopotamia。　He　is　on　his　way　to　Paris　now。　Paris　it　seems　is　where　everything　is　to　be　settled　against　you。　Belinda　is　a　sort　of　companion　I　have　acquired　for　the　purposes　of　independent　travel。　She　was　Red　Cross　too。　I　must　have　somebody　and　I　cannot　bear　a　maid。　Her　name　is　Belinda　Seyffert。　From　Philadelphia　originally。　You　have　that？　Seyffert；　Grammont？〃　〃And　Hardy？〃　〃Sir　Richmond　and　Dr。　Martineau。〃　〃And…Ah！That　great　green　bank　there　just　coming　into　sight　must　be　Old　Sarum。　The　little　ancient　city　that　faded　away　when　Salisbury　lifted　its　spire　into　the　world。　We　will　stop　here　for　a　little　while。　。　。　。　〃　Then　it　was　that　Dr。　Martineau　was　grim　about　the　stretching　of　his　legs。　Section　4　The　sudden　prospect　which　now　opened　out　before　Sir　Richmond　of　talking　about　history　and　suchlike　topics　with　a　charming　companion　for　perhaps　two　whole　days　instead　of　going　on　with　this　tiresome；　shamefaced；　egotistical　business　of　self…　examination　was　so　attractive　to　him　that　it　took　immediate　possession　of　his　mind；　to　the　entire　exclusion　and　disregard　of　Dr。　Martineau's　possible　objections　to　any　such　modification　of　their　original　programme。　When　they　arr