the water-babies-第27章

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〃That's　her　concern；　not　mine；〃　said　the　old　whale；　and　yawned　so　wide　（for　he　was　very　large）　that　there　swam　into　his　mouth　943　sea…moths；　13；846　jelly…fish　no　bigger　than　pins'　heads；　a　string　of　salpae　nine　yards　long；　and　forty…three　little　ice…crabs；　who　gave　each　other　a　parting　pinch　all　round；　tucked　their　legs　under　their　stomachs；　and　determined　to　die　decently；　like　Julius　Caesar。

〃I　suppose；〃　said　Tom；　〃she　cuts　up　a　great　whale　like　you　into　a　whole　shoal　of　porpoises？〃

At　which　the　old　whale　laughed　so　violently　that　he　coughed　up　all　the　creatures；　who　swam　away　again　very　thankful　at　having　escaped　out　of　that　terrible　whalebone　net　of　his；　from　which　bourne　no　traveller　returns；　and　Tom　went　on　to　the　iceberg；　wondering。

And；　when　he　came　near　it；　it　took　the　form　of　the　grandest　old　lady　he　had　ever　seen　…　a　white　marble　lady；　sitting　on　a　white　marble　throne。　　And　from　the　foot　of　the　throne　there　swum　away；　out　and　out　into　the　sea；　millions　of　new…born　creatures；　of　more　shapes　and　colours　than　man　ever　dreamed。　　And　they　were　Mother　Carey's　children；　whom　she　makes　out　of　the　sea…water　all　day　long。

He　expected；　of　course　…　like　some　grown　people　who　ought　to　know　better　…　to　find　her　snipping；　piecing；　fitting；　stitching；　cobbling；　basting；　filing；　planing；　hammering；　turning；　polishing；　moulding；　measuring；　chiselling；　clipping；　and　so　forth；　as　men　do　when　they　go　to　work　to　make　anything。

But；　instead　of　that；　she　sat　quite　still　with　her　chin　upon　her　hand；　looking　down　into　the　sea　with　two　great　grand　blue　eyes；　as　blue　as　the　sea　itself。　　Her　hair　was　as　white　as　the　snow　…　for　she　was　very　very　old　…　in　fact；　as　old　as　anything　which　you　are　likely　to　come　across；　except　the　difference　between　right　and　wrong。

And；　when　she　saw　Tom；　she　looked　at　him　very　kindly。

〃What　do　you　want；　my　little　man？　　It　is　long　since　I　have　seen　a　water…baby　here。〃

Tom　told　her　his　errand；　and　asked　the　way　to　the　Other…end…of…　Nowhere。

〃You　ought　to　know　yourself；　for　you　have　been　there　already。〃

〃Have　I；　ma'am？　　I'm　sure　I　forget　all　about　it。〃

〃Then　look　at　me。〃

And；　as　Tom　looked　into　her　great　blue　eyes；　he　recollected　the　way　perfectly。

Now；　was　not　that　strange？

〃Thank　you；　ma'am；〃　said　Tom。　　〃Then　I　won't　trouble　your　ladyship　any　more；　I　hear　you　are　very　busy。〃

〃I　am　never　more　busy　than　I　am　now；〃　she　said；　without　stirring　a　finger。

〃I　heard；　ma'am；　that　you　were　always　making　new　beasts　out　of　old。〃

〃So　people　fancy。　　But　I　am　not　going　to　trouble　myself　to　make　things；　my　little　dear。　　I　sit　here　and　make　them　make　themselves。〃

〃You　are　a　clever　fairy；　indeed；〃　thought　Tom。　　And　he　was　quite　right。

That　is　a　grand　trick　of　good　old　Mother　Carey's；　and　a　grand　answer；　which　she　has　had　occasion　to　make　several　times　to　impertinent　people。

There　was　once；　for　instance；　a　fairy　who　was　so　clever　that　she　found　out　how　to　make　butterflies。　　I　don't　mean　sham　ones；　no：　but　real　live　ones；　which　would　fly；　and　eat；　and　lay　eggs；　and　do　everything　that　they　ought；　and　she　was　so　proud　of　her　skill　that　she　went　flying　straight　off　to　the　North　Pole；　to　boast　to　Mother　Carey　how　she　could　make　butterflies。

But　Mother　Carey　laughed。

〃Know；　silly　child；〃　she　said；　〃that　any　one　can　make　things；　if　they　will　take　time　and　trouble　enough：　　but　it　is　not　every　one　who；　like　me；　can　make　things　make　themselves。〃

But　people　do　not　yet　believe　that　Mother　Carey　is　as　clever　as　all　that　comes　to；　and　they　will　not　till　they；　too；　go　the　journey　to　the　Other…end…of…Nowhere。

〃And　now；　my　pretty　little　man；〃　said　Mother　Carey；　〃you　are　sure　you　know　the　way　to　the　Other…end…of…Nowhere？〃

Tom　thought；　and　behold；　he　had　forgotten　it　utterly。

〃That　is　because　you　took　your　eyes　off　me。〃

Tom　looked　at　her　again；　and　recollected；　and　then　looked　away；　and　forgot　in　an　instant。

〃But　what　am　I　to　do；　ma'am？　　For　I　can't　keep　looking　at　you　when　I　am　somewhere　else。〃

〃You　must　do　without　me；　as　most　people　have　to　do；　for　nine　hundred　and　ninety…nine　thousandths　of　their　lives；　and　look　at　the　dog　instead；　for　he　knows　the　way　well　enough；　and　will　not　forget　it。　　Besides；　you　may　meet　some　very　queer…tempered　people　there；　who　will　not　let　you　pass　without　this　passport　of　mine；　which　you　must　hang　round　your　neck　and　take　care　of；　and；　of　course；　as　the　dog　will　always　go　behind　you；　you　must　go　the　whole　way　backward。〃

〃Backward！〃　cried　Tom。　　〃Then　I　shall　not　be　able　to　see　my　way。〃

〃On　the　contrary；　if　you　look　forward；　you　will　not　see　a　step　before　you；　and　be　certain　to　go　wrong；　but；　if　you　look　behind　you；　and　watch　carefully　whatever　you　have　passed；　and　especially　keep　your　eye　on　the　dog；　who　goes　by　instinct；　and　therefore　can't　go　wrong；　then　you　will　know　what　is　coming　next；　as　plainly　as　if　you　saw　it　in　a　looking…glass。〃

Tom　was　very　much　astonished：　　but　he　obeyed　her；　for　he　had　learnt　always　to　believe　what　the　fairies　told　him。

〃So　it　is；　my　dear　child；〃　said　Mother　Carey；　〃and　I　will　tell　you　a　story；　which　will　show　you　that　I　am　perfectly　right；　as　it　is　my　custom　to　be。

〃Once　on　a　time；　there　were　two　brothers。　　One　was　called　Prometheus；　because　he　always　looked　before　him；　and　boasted　that　he　was　wise　beforehand。　　The　other　was　called　Epimetheus；　because　he　always　looked　behind　him；　and　did　not　boast　at　all；　but　said　humbly；　like　the　Irishman；　that　he　had　sooner　prophesy　after　the　event。

〃Well；　Prometheus　was　a　very　clever　fellow；　of　course；　and　invented　all　sorts　of　wonderful　things。　　But；　unfortunately；　when　they　were　set　to　work；　to　work　was　just　what　they　would　not　do：　　wherefore　very　little　has　come　of　them；　and　very　little　is　left　of　them；　and　now　nobody　knows　what　they　were；　save　a　few　archaeological　old　gentlemen　who　scratch　in　queer　corners；　and　find　little　there　save　Ptinum　Furem；　Blaptem　Mortisagam；　Acarum　Horridum；　and　Tineam　Laciniarum。

〃But　Epimetheus　was　a　very　slow　fellow；　certainly；　and　went　among　men　for　a　clod；　and　a　muff；　and　a　milksop；　and　a　slowcoach；　and　a　bloke；　and　a　boodle；　and　so　forth。　　And　very　little　he　did；　for　many　years：　　but　what　he　did；　he　never　had　to　do　over　again。

〃And　what　happened　at　last？　　There　came　to　the　two　brothers　the　most　beautiful　creature　that　ever　was　seen；　Pandora　by　name；　which　means；　All　the　gifts　of　the　Gods。　　But　because　she　had　a　strange　box　in　her　hand；　this　fanciful；　forecasting；　suspicious；　prudential；　theoretical；　deductive；　prophesying　Prometheus；　who　was　always　settling　what　was　going　to　happen；　would　have　nothing　to　do　with　pretty　Pandora　and　her　box。

〃But　Epimetheus　took　her　and　it；　as　he　took　everything　that　came；　and　married　her　for　better　for　worse；　as　every　man　ought；　whenever　he　has　even　the　chance　of　a　good　wife。　　And　they　opened　the　box　between　them；　of　course；　to　see　what　was　inside：　　for；　else；　of　what　possible　use　could　it　have　been　to　them？

〃And　out　flew　all　the　ills　which　flesh　is　heir　to；　all　the　children　of　the　four　great　bogies；　Self…will；　Ignorance；　Fear；　and　Dirt　…　for　instance：


Measles；　　　　　　　　Famines；　Monks；　　　　　　　　　　Quacks；　Scarlatina；　　　　　Unpaid　bills；　Idols；　　　　　　　　　　Tight　stays；　Hooping…coughs；　Potatoes；　Popes；　　　　　　　　　　Bad　Wine；　Wars；　　　　　　　　　　　Despots；　Peacemongers；　　　Demagogues；　And；　worst　of　all；　Naughty　Boys　and　Girls。


But　one　thing　remained　at　the　bottom　of　the　box；　and　that　was；　Hope。

〃So　Epimetheus　got　a　great　deal　of　trouble；　as　most　men　do　in　this　world：　　but　he　got　the　three　best　things　in　the　world　into　the　bargain　…　a　good　wife；　and　experience；　and　hope：　　while　Prometheus　had　just　as　much　trouble；　and　a　great　deal　more　（as　you　will　hear）；　of　his　own　making；　with　nothing　beside；　save　fancies　spun　out　of　his　own　brain；　as　a　spider　spins　her　web　out　of　her　stomach。

〃And　Prometheus　kept　on　looking　before　him　so　far　ahead；　that　as　he　was　running　about　with　a　box　of　lucifers　（which　were　the　only　useful　things　he　ever　invented；　and　do　as　much　harm　as　good）；　he　trod　on　his　own　nose；　and　tumbled　down　（as　most　deductive　philosophers　do）；　whereby　he　set　the　Thames　on　fire；　and　they　have　hardly　put　it　out　again　yet。　　So　he　had　to　be　chained　to　the　top　of　a　mountain；　with　a　vulture　by　him　to　give　him　a　peck　whenever　he　stirred；　lest　he　should　turn　the　whole　world　upside　down　with　his　prophecies　and　his　theories。

〃But　stupid　old　Epimetheus　went　working　and　grubbing　on；　with　the　help　of　his　wife　Pandora；　always　looking　behind　him　to　see　what　had　happened；　till　he　really　learnt　to　know　now　and　then　what　would　happen　next；　and　understood　so　well　which　side　his　bread　was　buttered；　and　which　way　the　cat　jumped；　that　he　began　to　make　things　which　would　work；　and　go　on　working；　too；　to　till　and　drain　the　ground；　and　to　make　looms；　and　ships；　and　railroads；　and　steam　ploughs；　and　electric　telegraphs；　and　all　the　things　which　you　see　in　the　Great　Exhibition；　and　to　foretell　famine；　and　bad　weather；　and　the　price　of　stocks　and　（what　is　hardest　of　all）　the　next　vagary　of　the　great　idol　Whirligig；　which　some　call　Public　Opinion；　till　at　last　he　grew　as　rich　as　a　Jew；　and　as　fat　as　a　farmer；　and　people　thought　twice　before　they　meddled　with　him；　but　only　once　before　they　asked　him　to　help　them；　for；　because　he　earned　his　money　well；　he　could　afford　to　spend　it　well　likewise。

〃And　his　children　are　the　men　of　science；　who　get　good　lasting　work　done　in　the　world；　but　the　children　of　Prometheus　are　the　fanatics；　and　the　theorists；　and　the　bigots；　and　the　bores；　and　the　noisy　windy　people；　who　go　telling　silly　folk　what　will　happen；　instead　of　looking　to　see　what　has　happened　already。〃

Now；　was　not　Mother　Carey's　a　wonderful　story？　　And；　I　am　happy　to　say；　Tom　believed　it　every　word。

For　so　it　happened　to　Tom　likewise。　　He　was　very　sorely　tried；　for　though；　by　keeping　the　dog　to　heels　（or　rather　to　toes；　for　he　had　to　walk　backward）；　he　could　see　pretty　well　which　way　the　dog　was　hunting；　yet　it　was　much　slower　work　to　go　backwards　than　to　go　forwards。　　But；　what　was　more　trying　still；　no　sooner　had　he　got　out　of　Peacepool；　than　there　came　running　to　him　all　the　conjurors；　fortune…tellers；　astrologers；　prophesiers；　projectors；　prestigiators；　as　many　as　were　in　those　parts　（and　there　are　too　many　of　them　everywhere）；　Old　Mother　Shipton　on　her　broomstick；　with　Merlin；　Thomas　the　Rhymer；　Gerbertus；　Rabanus　Maurus；　Nostradamus；　Zadkiel；　Raphael；　Moore；　Old　Nixon；　and　a　good　many　in　black　coats　and　white　ties　who　might　have　known　better；　considering　in　what　century　they　were　born；　all　bawling　and　screaming　at　him；　〃Look　a…head；　only　look　a…head；　and　we　will　show　you　what　man　never　saw　before；　and　right　away　to　the　end　of　the　world！〃

But　I　am　proud　to　say　that；　though　Tom　had　not　been　to　Cambridge　…　for；　if　he　had；　he　would　have　certainly　been　senior　wrangler　…　he　was　such　a　little　dogged；　hard；　gnarly；　foursquare　brick　of　an　English　boy；　that　he　never　turned　his　head　round　once　all　the　way　from　Peacepool　to　the　Other…end…of…Nowhere：　　but　kept　his　eye　on　the　dog；　and　let　him　pick　out　the　scent；　hot　or　cold；　straight　or　crooked；　wet　or　dry；　up　hill　or　down　dale；　by　which　means　he　never　made　a　single　mistake；　and　saw　all　the　wonderful　and　hitherto　by…　no…mortal…man…imagined　things；　which　it　is　my　duty　to　relate