phyllis of philistia-第13章

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　been　occupied　for　　　several　years　by　the　two　distinguished　ministers　whose　self　　　sacrifice　in　endeavoring　to　spread　the　Light　through　the　dark　　　places　of　the　tropical　forests　of　a　savage　land　is　well　known　to　　　the　subscribers　to　the　N。　E。　M。；　precludes　the　possibility　of　a　　　mistake　being　made　in　this　matter；　and　yet　they　declare　in　a　　　letter　which　we　publish　this　morning　that　the　manner　in　which　Mr。　　　Courtland　pursued　his　so…called　explorations　in　the　forests　which　　　line　the　banks　of　the　Fly　River　has　practically　made　impossible　　　all　attempts　at　mission　work　in　that　region。　In　several　directions　　　it　is　not　denied　that　Mr。　Courtland　entered　into　friendly　　　relations　with　some　native　tribes；　but　instead　of　endeavoring　to　　　make　the　poor　benighted　creatures　acquainted　with　the　Truth；　he　　　actually　purchased　as　slaves　over　a　hundred　of　them　to　aid　him　in　　　penetrating　the　Kallolu　forest；　where；　it　will　be　remembered；　he　　　succeeded　in　shooting　the　much　illustrated　meteor…bird；　as　well　as　　　several　other　specimens　which　will　delight　the　members　of　the　　　Ornithological　Association　rather　than　professing　Christians。　Our　　　distinguished　correspondents　state；　and　we　have　no　room　to　doubt　　　their　word；　that　Mr。　Courtland　purchased　his　slaves　by　a　promise　　　to　assist　the　head　man　of　their　tribe　against　his　enemies　　　belonging　to　another　tribea　promise　which　he　only　too　amply　　　fulfilled；　the　result　being　an　indiscriminate　slaughter　of　savages　　　who；　though　avowed　cannibals；　might　eventually　have　embraced　the　　　truths　of　Nonconformity。　The　elephant　rifles　of　the　explorer　did　　　their　deadly　work　only　too　efficiently；　but　we　trust　that；　for　his　　　own　sake；　Mr。　Courtland　will　be　able　to　bring　forward　trustworthy　　　evidence　to　rebut　the　suspicion　of　his　having　upon　at　least　one　　　occasion　induced　even　the　friendly　natives　to　believe　that　he　　　possessed　the　power　of　the　Deity　to　perform　miracles；　and　upon　　　another　occasion　of　having　used　dynamite　against　them　by　which　　　hundreds　were　destroyed　in　cold　blood。　It　is　the　evil　influences　　　of　such　irresponsible　men　as　Mr。　Courtland；　whose　ill…directed　　　enterprise　we　cannot　in　justice　to　him　refrain　from　acknowledging；　　　that　retard　the　efforts　of　those　noble　pioneers　of　Nonconformity　　　who　have　already　made　such　sacrifices　for　the　cause；　and　who　　　rejoice　at　the　difficulties　with　which　they　find　themselves　beset。　　　We　understand　that　a　question　will　be　put　to　the　Minister　for　the　　　Annexation　Department　in　the　House　of　Commons　toward　the　latter　　　end　of　the　week；　on　the　subject　of　the　alleged　excesses　of　the　　　most　recent　explorer　（so…called）　of　New　Guineaexcesses　which　if　　　committed　in　Bulgaria　or　Armenia；　or　even　Ireland；　would　have　　　called　for　an　expression　of　the　horror　of　Christian　Europe；　and　we　　　may　mention　that　subscriptions　on　behalf　of　the　Revs。　Joseph　　　Capper　and　Evans　Jones　will　be　received　at　the　office　of　this　　　paper　to　enable　them　to　substantiate　the　truth　of　their　　　statements。〃

〃It　is　quite　ridiculous；　besides　being　untrue；　papa；〃　cried　Phyllis；　〃and　I　hope　that　you　will　not　fail　to　take　his　part　and　show　the　falsehood　of　such　accusations。　Could　anything　be　more　absurd　than　that　about　the　slaves？　Slaves！　Dynamite！〃

〃Leading　up　to　subscriptionsdon't　forget　that；〃　said　her　father。　〃If　subscriptions　are　to　be　forthcoming；　they　must　be　got　up。　Traffic　in　human　flesh；　insults　to　aborigines；　Siberia；　the　conversion　of　the　Jewsall　these　appeal　directly　to　the　pockets　of　the　Great　English　People。　Any　one　of　them　will　constitute　an　excellent　peg　on　which　to　hang　an　appeal　to　the　pocket。　Those　two　distinguished　pioneers　of　well；　shall　we　say　civilization　or　Nonconformity？understand　their　business；　my　dear。〃

〃It　is　no　part　of　their　business　to　try　and　hold　a　brave　man　up　to　the　execration　of　everyone。〃

〃I'm　not　so　sure　of　that。　The　technicalities　of　the　mission　field　are　not　so　apparent　all　at　once。　The　Vineyardwell；　the　system　of　vine…　culture　of　some　of　the　organizations　is　a　trifle　obscure。〃

Phyllis　became　impatient。

〃The　House　of　Commonsa　question　is　to　be　asked　in　the　House。　Then　you　must　ask　another；　papa；　showing　the　nonsense　of　the　first。〃

〃Heavens　above！　Why　should　I　be　dragged　into　the　quarrel；　if　it　is　a　quarrel；　of　Herbert　Courtland　on　the　one　hand　and　the　Reverends　Joseph　Capper　and　what's　the　other；　Smithno；　JonesEvans　Jones？　I　shouldn't　wonder　if　he　is　of　Welsh　extraction。〃

〃You　will　surely　not　stand　passively　by　and　hear　a　brave　man　slandered。　That　would　be　unlike　you；　papa。　No；　you　are　bound　to　protest　against　the　falsehood。〃

〃Am　I　indeed？　Why？　Because　the　slandered　man；　if　he　is　slandered；　is　the　friend　of　my　daughter's　friend？〃

〃Exactlythat's　quite　sufficient　for　you　to　go　uponthat　and　the　falsehood。〃

〃If　it　is　a　falsehood。〃

〃Ifoh；　papaif？〃

〃If　I　have　your　personal　guarantee　that　the　statements　are　unsubstantiated〃

〃Now；　you　are　beginning　to　jest。　I　cannot　jest　on　so　serious　an　issue。　Think　of　itslavesdynamite！〃

〃Both　excellent　words　for　missionaries　to　send　home　to　Englandalmost　equal　to　opium　and　idols　from　the　standpoint　of　the　mission…box。〃

Phyllis　was　solemn　for　a　moment；　then　she　burst　into　a　merry　laugh　that　only　wanted　a　note　of　merriment　to　be　delightful。　Her　father　did　not　miss　that　note。　He　was　thinking　of　another　phrase。

〃Now；　why　shouldn't　you　say　that　or　something　like　that；　my　father？〃　cried　the　girl。　〃Something　to　set　the　House　laughing　before　the　Minister　of　the　Annexation　Department　has　had　time　to　reply？　You　can　do　it；　you　know。〃

〃I　believe　I　could；〃　said　Mr。　Ayrton　thoughtfully。　〃But　why；　my　child；　why？〃

〃Why！　Why！　Oh；　if　one　only　said　good　things　when　there　was　a　reason　for　saying　them；　how　dull　we　should　all　be！　Any　stick　for　a　dogany　jest　is　good　enough　for　the　House　of　Commons。〃

〃Yes；　but　suppose　it　is　inferred　that　I　am　not　on　the　side　of　the　missionaries？　What　about　Hazelborough？〃

Hazelborough　was　the　constituency　which　Mr。　Ayrton　represented　in　the　House　of　Commons。

〃My　dear　father；　where　would　you　be　if　you　couldn't　steer　through　the　Hazelborough　prejudices　now　and　again？　You　can　always　say　something　so　good　as　to　make　people　not　care　which　way　it　cuts。〃

〃What？　Oh；　Phyllis！　I　am　ashamed　of　you。　Besides；　the　people　of　Hazelborough　have　got　to　be　extremely　sensitive。　They　have　caught　the　Nonconformist　Conscience。　The　bacillus　of　the　Nonconformist　Conscience　was　rampant　a　short　time　ago；　and　it　has　not　yet　been　stamped　out。　I'm　afraid　that　I　must　have　principle　on　my　sidesome　show　of　principle；　at　any　ratenot　so　wide　as　a　church　door　or　so　deep　as　a　well；　but　still〃

〃And　you　will；　too；　papa。　I'll　see　Ella　and　get　her　to　find　out　from　Mr。　Courtland　what　is　the　truth。〃

〃Well；　perhaps　it　mightn't　be　wise　to　rush　into　extremes　all　at　once！　I　wouldn't　insist　on　the　truth；　if　I　were　you。　What's　the　House　of　Commons　that　it　should　be　cockered　up　with　the　truth？　All　that　is　needed　is　enough　to　go　on　with。　An　electro…plating　of　veracity　is　in　keeping　with　the　economic　tendencies　of　the　age。〃

〃I　am　not　afraid　of　the　truth；〃　cried　Phyllis；　without　giving　the　cynicism　of　her　father　the　tribute　of　a　smile。　〃Mr。　Courtland　would；　I　know；　be　incapable　of　doing　anything　unworthy　ofof〃

〃Let　us　say　an　explorer；〃　suggested　her　father。　He　knew　that　the　word　which　was　in　her　mind　was　/Englishman/。　She　only　checked　herself　when　her　imagination　caused　her　to　perceive　the　average　silk…hatted　man　with　his　tongue　in　his　cheek　at　the　utterance　of　the　phrase。　〃Let　us　say　'unworthy　of　an　explorer；'　〃　repeated　her　father；　〃that　is　an　elastic　phrase。〃

Phyllis　was　irritated。

〃I　have　talked　with　him；〃　she　said　a　trifle　coldly。

〃Yes；〃　said　her　father；　〃once。〃

〃I　should　have　said　that　I　know　Ella。〃

〃And　yet　Ella　is　a　woman！〃

〃Oh；　the　charges　are　too　ridiculous！　Slaves！　What　nonsense！　We　all　know　what　slavery　is。　Well；　where　are　his　slaves　now？　If　he　only　hired　the　natives　for　a　month　or　two　they　were　only　servants；　not　slaves。　The　thing　is　manifestly　ridiculous。〃

〃Then　why　should　we　trouble　ourselves　with　the　attempt　to　rebut　it？〃

〃Because　so　many　people　are　idiots　nowadays；〃　cried　Phyllis　warmly。　〃Because；　no　matter　how　ridiculous　a　charge　which　is　brought　against　a　distinguished　person　may　be；　some　people　will　be　found　ready　to　believe　in　its　truth。　Never　mind；　I'll　find　out　the　truth；　I'll　go　to　Ella。〃

〃The　fountain…head　indeed；〃　said　Mr。　Ayrton。　〃When　in　search　of　the　truth；　go　to　a　woman。〃

〃I　will；　at　any　rate；〃　said　Phyllis。

And　she　went　thither。



CHAPTER　XII。

DYNAMITESLAVE…DEALINGMASSACRESARMENIA！

Phyllis；　of　course；　knew　when　to　go　to　Ella　with　the　certainty　of　finding　her　at　home。　At　the　luncheon　hour　Mrs。　Linton　was　always　visible　to　the　three　friends　whom　she　had　within　the　confines　of　Mayfair。　She　considered　herself　blessed　among　women　in　the　numerical　strength　of　her　friendships；　and　so　perhaps　she　was；　she　had　three。

She　was　in　one　of　her　drawing　roomsthe　one　that　was　decorated　with　water　colors　set　in　fluted　panels　of　yellow　silknot　the　one　with　the　pink　blinds　so　beloved　by　those　of　her　visitors　who　had　reached　an　age　to　regard　a　pink　light　as　a　woman's　best　friend。　She　was　wearing　a　new　gown　which　Phyllis；　in　spite　of　her　enthusiasm　on　behalf　of　a　brave　man　maligned；　found　admirable　both　as　regards　fabric；　fit；　and　fashion。

Then　followed　a　word　or　two　of　commendation　of　the　artists　who　had　been　concerned　in　its　production。　They　had　not　been　absurd　about　the　sleeves；　and　they　had　not　vetoed　the　sweep　of　laceit　was　about　half　a　yard　widewhich　the　person　who　occupied　so　insignificant　a　position　as　is　usually　allocated　to　the　mere　wearer　of　the　gown　had　suggested　for　the　bodice。　The　gown　was　an　unequivocal　success；　and　had　Ella　seen　the　disgraceful　article　which　had　appeared　in　the　/Spiritual　Aneroid/　on　the　subject　of　Mr。　Courtland's　explorations？

Ella　smiled　a　slow　smile；　as　the　question　joined　the　congratulation　without　the　lapse　of　a　breath。

〃The　/Spiritual　Aneroid/？　Who　is　the　/Spiritual　Aneroid/？　What　is　the　/Spiritual　Aneroid/？〃　she　asked。　〃Oh；　a　newspaper。　What　could　a　newspaper　with　such　a　funny　name　have　to　say　about　Mr。　Courtland？〃

〃I　have　brought　it　with　me；〃　said　Phyllis。　〃It　is　quite　disgraceful。　I'm　sure　you'll　agree　with　me。〃

〃I'm　certain　of　it。〃

Ella　accepted　the　proffered　paper　and　glanced　down　the　article　pointed　out　to　her　by　Phyllis。　Phyllis'　eyes　were　gleaming　as　she　placed　her　finger　on　the　words；　〃Dynamite　/versus/　Evangelization；〃　but　Ella's　eyes　did　not　gleam　while　she　was　reading　all　the　words　printed　beneath　the　heading。　She　folded　the　paper　and　glanced　carelessly　at　the　name　at　the　top　of　the　outside　page　and　said；　〃Well？〃

〃Was　there　ever　anything　so　disgraceful？〃　cried　the　girl。　〃Was　there　every　anything　so　false？〃

〃Is　it　false？〃　asked　Ella。

〃How　can　you　doubt　it？　Do　you　fancy　that　Mr。　Courtland　would　be　a　slave…dealer？〃

〃I　wonder　how　he'd　look　in　the　broad　flat　hat　which　appears　in　all　the　pictures　of　the　slave…dealers？　Rather　well；　I　fancy；〃　said　Mrs。　Linton。

〃Oh；　how　can　you　talk　of　his　looking　well　or　ill　when　you　read　such　an　attack　upon　him？〃　said　Phyllis；　jumping　up　with　a　charmingly　rosy　face。　〃Surely　it　is　something　to　you　when　so　distinguished　a　manyour　friend　as　wellis　attac