phyllis of philistia-第10章

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〃A　woman！〃　said　he。

〃Not　yet。　She　has　never　met　a　man。　She　will　to…night；〃　said　Ella。　Then　she　turned　to　Phyllis；　who　was　walking　beside　Lord　Earlscourt。　〃Come　here；　Phyllis；〃　she　said；　〃you　are　the　only　person　in　London　who　doesn't　yet　know　Mr。　Herbert　Courtland。　This　is　Mr。　Courtland。〃

Thus　it　was　that　Phyllis　went　upon　the　stage　of　the　Parthenon　by　the　side　of　Herbert　Courtland　instead　of　by　the　side　of　George　Holland；　and　the　little　laugh　that　Mrs。　Linton　gave　was　due　to　her　careful　observation　of　the　latter's　face　when　he　perceived；　as　he　did　in　spite　of　the　engrossing　nature　of　his　conversation　with　his　friend　in　the　end　stall；　how　his　designs　had　been　defeated　by　her　tactics。　She　would　not　have　minded　having　Herbert　Courtland　with　her　for　the　hour　they　might　remain　at　the　theater；　but　she　had　made　up　her　mind　that　it　was　not　to　Phyllis'　advantage　that　Mr。　Holland　should　continue　by　her　side　in　public　after　she　had　given　him　his　dismissal。

She　also　perceived；　with　even　greater　gratification；　that　Herbert　Courtland　was　looking　nearly　as　dissatisfied　with　the　result　of　her　tactics　as　George　Holland。　If　he　had　looked　pleased　at　being　by　the　side　of　Phyllis　when　he　expected　to　be　with　herEllawhat　would　life　be　worth　to　her？

But　if　he　was　dissatisfied　at　being　with　Phyllis　instead　of　Mrs。　Linton；　he　did　not　consider　that　any　reason　for　neglecting　the　former。　He　wondered　if　she　had　any　choice　in　sandwichesof　course　she　had　in　champagne。　His　curiosity　was　satisfied；　and　Phyllis　was　amply　provided　for。

〃You　are　Mrs。　Linton's　dearest　friend；〃　he　remarked　casually；　as　they　leaned　up　against　the　profile　of　the　Church　scene　in　〃Cagliostro；〃　for　they　were　standing　in　the　〃wings〃to　be　exacton　the　O。　P。　side。

〃She　is　my　dearest　friend；　at　any　rate；〃　said　Phyllis。

〃You　were　not　at　school　together。　She　is　four　or　five　years　older　than　you。〃

〃Only　three。　When　she　got　married　she　seemed　to　me　to　be　almost　venerable。　Three　years　seemed　a　long　time　then。〃

〃But　now　you　fancy　that　you　have　formed　a　right　idea　of　what　is　meant　by　three　years？〃

〃Well；　a　better　idea；　at　any　rate。〃

〃You　are　still　a　good　way　off　it。　But　if　you　have　formed　a　right　estimate　of　a　woman's　friendship〃

〃That's　still　something；　you　mean　to　say？　But　why　did　you　stop　short；　Mr。　Courtland？〃

Phyllis　was　looking　up　to　his　face　with　a　smile　of　inquiry。

〃I　was　afraid　that　you　might　think　I　was　on　the　way　to　preach　a　sermon　on　the　text　of　woman's　friendship。　I　pulled　myself　up　just　in　time。　I'm　glad　that　I　didn't　frighten　you。〃

〃Oh；　no；　you　didn't　frighten　me；　Mr。　Courtland。　I　was　only　wondering　how　you　would　go　onwhether　you　would　treat　the　topic　sentimentally　or　cynically。〃

〃And　what　conclusion　did　you　come　to　on　the　subject？〃

〃I　know　that　you　are　a　brave　manperhaps　the　bravest　man　alive。　You　would；　I　think；　have　treated　the　question　seriouslyfeelingly。〃

He　laughed。

〃The　adoption　of　that　course　implies　courage　certainly。　All　the　men　of　sentimentalitywhich　is　something　quite　different　from　sentiment；　mind　youhave　taken　to　writing　melodrama　and　penny　novelettes。　You　didn't　hear　much　sentimentality　on　this　stage　to…night；　or　any　other　night；　for　that　matter。〃

〃No；　it　would　have　sounded　unreal。　A　Parthenon　audience　would　resent　what　they　believed　to　be　a　false　note　in　art；　and　a　Parthenon　audience　is　supposed　to　be　the　concentration　of　the　spirit　of　the　period　in　thought　and　art；　isn't　it？〃

〃I　don't　know。　I'm　half　a　savage。　But　I　like　to　think　the　best　of　a　Parthenon　audience；　you　and　I　formed　part　of　that　concentration　to…nightyes；　I　like　to　think　the　best　of　it。　I　suppose　we　knowwe；　the　Parthenon　audience；　I　meanwhat　our　feelings　are　on　the　art　of　actingthe　art　of　play…writing。〃

〃I　shouldn't　like　to　have　to　define　my　feelings　at　a　moment's　notice。〃

〃One　must　make　a　beginning；　and　then　work　up　gradually　to　the　definition。〃

〃For　instance〃

〃Well；　for　instance；　there's　something　that　people　call　realism　nowadays。〃

〃My　father　has　his　ideas　on　what's　called　realism；〃　Phyllis　laughed。　〃　'Realism　in　painting　is　the　ideal　with　a　smudge。'　〃

〃I　should　like　to　hear　what　you　think　of　it？〃

He　also　laughed　sympathetically。

〃Oh；　I　only　venture　to　think　that　realism　is　the　opposite　to　reality。〃

〃And；　so　far　as　I　can　gather；　your　definition　is　not　wanting　in　breadthno；　nor　in　accuracy。　Sentimentality　is　the　opposite　to　sentiment。〃

〃That　is　a　point　on　which　we　agreed　a　moment　ago。　My　father　says　that　sentiment　is　a　strong　man's　concealment　of　what　he　feels；　while　sentimentality　is　a　weak　man's　expression　of　what　he　doesn't　feel。〃

〃And　the　Parthenon　audienceyou　and　Ilaugh　at　the　latterthat　is；　because　we　have　practiced　some　form　of　athletics。　The　bicycle　has　given　its　/coup　de　grace/　to　sentimentality。　That　man　over　there　with　the　head　and　face　like　a　lion's；　and　that　woman　whose　face　is　nature　illuminated；　have　long　ago　recognized　the　shallowness　of　sentimentalitythe　depths　of　sentiment。　We　could　not　imagine　either　of　them　striking　a　false　note。　They　have　been　the　teachers　of　this　generationthe　generation　to　which　you　belong。　Great　Heavens！　to　think　that　for　so　many　years　human　passion　should　be　banished　from　art；　though　every　line　of　Shakspere　is　tremulous　with　passion！　Why；　the　word　was　absolutely　banished；　it　was　regarded　as　impure。〃

〃I　know　thatI　was　at　a　boarding　school。　The　preceptresses　regarded　as　impure　everything　that　is　human。〃

〃Whereas；　just　the　opposite　is　the　case？〃

〃I　didn't　say　that；　Mr。　Courtland。〃

〃You　could　scarcely　say　it。　I　am　only　beginning　to　think　it；　and　I　have　lived　among　savages　for　years。　That　man　with　the　lion's　face　has　not　feared　to　deal　with　passion。　All　actors　who　have　lived　since　Garrick　have　never　gone　further　than　to　illustrate　passion　in　the　hands　of　a　man；　but　that　lion…man；　whose　stage　we　are　now　standing　on；　shows　us　not　the　passion　in　the　hands　of　a　man；　but　the　man　in　the　hands　of　the　passion。　The　man　who　tears　the　passion　to　tatters　is　the　robustious　periwig…pated　fellow；　the　actor；　who　shows　us　the　man　torn　in　tatters　by　the　passion；　is　the　supreme　artist。　I　am　no　authority　on　modern　literature；　but　I　must　confess　that　I　was　astonished　at　the　change　that　a　few　years　have　brought　about。　I　was　in　a　proper　position　for　noticing　it；　having　been　practically　without　books　for　two　years。〃

〃Is　it　a　change　for　the　better；　do　you　think；　Mr。　Courtland？〃

〃I　feel　certain　that　it　is　for　the　better。　I　refer；　of　course；　only　to　the　books　of　those　real　investigatorsreal　artists。　I　refer　to　the　fountain…heads；　not　to　the　hydrants　laid　down　by　the　water　companies　at　the　end　of　about　ten　miles　of　foul　piping。　I　don't　like　the　product　of　the　hydrants。　I　like　the　springs；　and；　however　natural　they　may　be；　I　don't　find　anything　impure　in　them。　Why　I　love　the　Bible　is　because　it　is　so　very　modern。〃

〃You　don't　think；　then；　that　it　is　yet　obsolete；　Mr。　Courtland？〃

〃No　book　that　deals　so　truly　with　men　and　women　can　ever　be　obsolete；　the　fact　being　that　men　and　women　are　the　same　to…day　as　they　were　ten　thousand　years　ago；　perhaps　ten　million　years　ago；　though　I'm　not　quite　so　sure　of　that。　The　Bible；　and　Shakspere；　and　Rofudingding；　a　New　Guinea　poet；　who　ate　men　for　his　dinner　when　he　had　a　chance；　and；　when　he　had　finished；　sang　lyrics　that　stir　the　hearts　of　all　his　fellow…islanders　to　this　day；he　lived　a　hundred　years　ago；dealt　with　men　and　women；　that　is　why　all　are　as　impressive　to…day　as　they　were　when　originally　composed。　Men　and　women　like　reading　about　men　and　women；　and　it　is　becoming　understood；　nowadays；　that　the　truth　about　men　and　women　can　never　be　contemptible。〃

〃Ah；　but　how　do　we　know　that　it　is　the　truth？〃

〃Therein　the　metaphysician　must　minister　to　himself。　I　cannot　suggest　to　you　any　test　of　the　truth；　if　you　have　none　with　you。　Everyone　capable　of　pronouncing　a　judgment　on　any　matter　must　feel　how　truthfully　the　personages　in　the　Bible　have　been　drawn。〃

〃Yes；　the　Bible　is　the　Word　of　God。〃

〃I　believe　that　it　is；　most　certainly。　That　profound　wisdom；　that　toleration　of　the　weaknesses　of　men；　that　sympathy　with　men；　who　cannot　fathom　the　mysteries　of　life；　and　the　struggle　for　life　of　all　things　that　love　life；　that　spirit　I　call　God；　and　I　don't　think　that　a　better　name　has　been　found　for　it。〃

〃Itfor　/it/？　You　think　of　God　as　merely　a　force　of　nature？〃

〃Just　the　contrary。　God　is　the　spirit　that　lives　in　warfare　with　nature。　Great　Heavens！　isn't　that　the　truth　of　which　the　whole　Bible　is　the　allegory？　Nature　and　nature's　laws　constitute　the　Devil。　God　is　the　opposing　Force。　It　is　a　law　of　nature　to　kill　off　the　weak；　to　crush　that　which　has　fallen　in　the　struggle。　It　is　God　who　helps　the　weakwho　helps　the　feeble。〃

〃But　merely　a　force？〃

〃Oh；　I　have　no　private　opinion　on　that　part　of　the　question。　I　am　not　like　that　modern　philosopher　who　fancied　he　had　solved　the　whole　problem　by　spelling　God　with　a　small　g。　But　don't　you　think　that　we　have　gone　quite　far　enough　in　our　exchange　of　confidence　for　a　first　meeting？　You　are　what　the　Italians　call　/simpatica/that　is；　more　than　merely　sympathetic。　You　look　at　one；　and　lead　one　on　to　confide　in　you　as　one　does　not　confide　in　most　girls。　You　are　a　thoroughly　dangerous　young　woman；　Miss　Ayrton；　though　you　are　Mrs。　Linton's　dearest　friend。　By　the　way；　can　you　make　her　confide　in　you？〃

There　seemed　to　be　a　measure　of　curiosity；　not　to　say　anxiety；　in　the　tone　of　this　inquiry。

〃Well；　she　makes　me　confide　in　her。　I　wonder　if　that　is　just　the　same　thing；〃　said　Phyllis。

〃It's　not　exactly　the　same　thing；〃　said　he。　〃But　it's　the　proper　course　for　dearest　friends　to　adopt　toward　each　other。　For　the　maintenance　of　a　firm　friendship　between　any　two　persons；　only　one　should　confide；　the　other　should　be　strictly　the　confidante。　By　the　way；　I　wonder　what　is　the　average　duration　of　the　dearest　friendship　between　two　women。〃

〃Why　should　it　have　any　limits？〃　said　Phyllis　gravely。　〃What　is　the　duration　of　the　friendship　between　two　men？〃

〃It　mostly　depends　on　when　the　woman　makes　her　appearance；〃　said　he；　with　a　laugh。

〃Ah！　So　that　Ah；　never　mind。　Ella　was　my　dearest　friend　before　Mr。　Linton　put　in　an　appearance。〃

〃And　he　was　mine　before　she　put　in　an　appearance；〃　said　he。

〃I　didn't　know　that；〃　said　Phyllis。

〃There；　you　see；　is　my　contention　borne　out；〃　said　he。　〃You　are　the　one　who　confides；　she　is　the　one　who　receives　the　confidences；　and　respects　them；　I'm　sure。　I　hope　that　you　will　do　the　same；　Miss　Ayrton。　Don't　let　anyone　know　that　I　confided　in　you　all　that　I　think　on　the　subject　of　the　old　Adam　and　the　new　Eve。〃

〃No　one　except　Ella　Linton；　and　you　know　that　I　can　keep　nothing　from　her　if　we　are　to　remain　dearest　friends。　Perhaps　she　knows　already　the　limits　of　your　belief；　Mr。　Courtland。〃

〃She　doesshe　does。〃

At　that　moment　Ella　Linton　came　up　with　Lord　Earlscourt。

〃Has　Mr。　Courtland　been　telling　you　all　about　the　bird　of　paradise？〃　she　asked　of　Phyllis；　while　she　waved　the　tail　feathers　of　the　loveliest　of　the　birds　of　paradise　before　her　face。

〃The　bird？not　the　/bird/；〃　laughed　Phyllis。

〃But　the　topic　was　paradise？〃　Ella　joined　in　the　laughyes；　to　some　extent。

〃I　talked　of　Adamthe　old　one　of　that　name；〃　said　Mr。　Courtland。

〃And　Evethe　new　one　of　that　name；