the island pharisees- 第7部分

busy　with　the　catching　of　some　kind　of　fox。　　The　other's　goggling

eyes　rested　on　Shelton　with　a　chaffing　smile；　his　thick；　sleek　hair；

brushed　with　water　and　parted　in　the　middle；　his　neat　moustache　and

admirable　waistcoat；　suggested　the　sort　of　dandyism　that　despises

women。　　From　his　recognition　of　these　old　schoolfellows　Shelton

turned　to　look　at　Halidome；　who；　having　cleared　his　throat；　was

staring　straight　before　him　at　the　curtain。　　Antonia's　words　kept

running　in　her　lover's　head；　〃I　don't　like　unhealthy　people。〃　　Well；

all　these　people；　anyway；　were　healthy；　they　looked　as　if　they　had

defied　the　elements　to　endow　them　with　a　spark　of　anything　but

health。　　Just　then　the　curtain　rose。



Slowly；　unwillingly；　for　he　was　of　a　trustful　disposition；　Shelton

recognised　that　this　play　was　one　of　those　masterpieces　of　the　modern

drama　whose　characters　were　drawn　on　the　principle　that　men　were　made

for　morals　rather　than　morals　made　by　men；　and　he　watched　the　play

unfold　with　all　its　careful　sandwiching　of　grave　and　gay。



A　married　woman　anxious　to　be　ridded　of　her　husband　was　the　pivot　of

the　story；　and　a　number　of　scenes；　ingeniously　contrived；　with　a

hundred　reasons　why　this　desire　was　wrong　and　inexpedient；　were

revealed　to　Shelton's　eyes。　　These　reasons　issued　mainly　from　the

mouth　of　a　well…preserved　old　gentleman　who　seemed　to　play　the　part

of　a　sort　of　Moral　Salesman。　　He　turned　to　Halidome　and　whispered：



〃Can　you　stand　that　old　woman？〃



His　friend　fixed　his　fine　eyes　on　him　wonderingly。



〃What　old　woman？〃



〃Why；　the　old　ass　with　the　platitudes！〃



Halidome's　countenance　grew　cold；　a　little　shocked；　as　though　he　had

been　assailed　in　person。



〃Do　you　mean　Pirbright？〃　he　said。　　〃I　think　he's　ripping。〃



Shelton　turned　to　the　play　rebuffed；　he　felt　guilty　of　a　breach　of

manners；　sitting　as　he　was　in　one　of　his　friend's　stalls；　and　he

naturally　set　to　work　to　watch　the　play　more　critically　than　ever。

Antonia's　words　again　recurred　to　him；　〃I　don't　like　unhealthy

people；〃　and　they　seemed　to　throw　a　sudden　light　upon　this　play。　　It

was　healthy！



The　scene　was　a　drawing…room；　softly　lighted　by　electric　lamps；　with

a　cat　（Shelton　could　not　decide　whether　she　was　real　or　not）　asleep

upon　the　mat。



The　husband；　a　thick…set；　healthy　man　in　evening　dress；　was　drinking

off　neat　whisky。　　He　put　down　his　tumbler；　and　deliberately　struck　a

match；　then　with　even　greater　deliberation　he　lit　a　gold…tipped

cigarette。。。。



Shelton　was　no　inexperienced　play…goer。　　He　shifted　his　elbows；　for

he　felt　that　something　was　about　to　happen；　and　when　the　match　was

pitched　into　the　fire；　he　leaned　forward　in　his　seat。　　The　husband

poured　more　whisky　out；　drank　it　at　a　draught；　and　walked　towards　the

door；　then；　turning　to　the　audience　as　if　to　admit　them　to　the　secret

of　some　tremendous　resolution；　he　puffed　at　them　a　puff　of　smoke。　　He

left　the　room；　returned；　and　once　more　filled　his　glass。　　A　lady　now

entered；　pale　of　face　and　dark　of　eyehis　wife。　　The　husband　crossed

the　stage；　and　stood　before　the　fire；　his　legs　astride；　in　the

attitude　which　somehow　Shelton　had　felt　sure　he　would　assume。　　He

spoke：



〃Come　in；　and　shut　the　door。〃



Shelton　suddenly　perceived　that　he　was　face　to　face　with　one　of　those

dumb　moments　in　which　two　people　declare　their　inextinguishable

hatred　the　hatred　underlying　the　sexual　intimacy　of　two　ill…

assorted　creaturesand　he　was　suddenly　reminded　of　a　scene　he　had

once　witnessed　in　a　restaurant。　　He　remembered　with　extreme

minuteness　how　the　woman　and　the　man　had　sat　facing　each　other　across

the　narrow　patch　of　white；　emblazoned　by　a　candle　with　cheap　shades

and　a　thin　green　vase　with　yellow　flowers。　　He　remembered　the　curious

scornful　anger　of　their　voices；　subdued　so　that　only　a　few　words

reached　him。　　He　remembered　the　cold　loathing　in　their　eyes。　　And；

above　all；　he　remembered　his　impression　that　this　sort　of　scene

happened　between　them　every　other　day；　and　would　continue　so　to

happen；　and　as　he　put　on　his　overcoat　and　paid　his　bill　he　had　asked

himself；　〃Why　in　the　name　of　decency　do　they　go　on　living　together？〃

And　now　he　thought；　as　he　listened　to　the　two　players　wrangling　on

the　stage：　〃What　's　the　good　of　all　this　talk？　　There's　something

here　past　words。〃



The　curtain　came　down　upon　the　act；　and　he　looked　at　the　lady　next

him。　　She　was　shrugging　her　shoulders　at　her　husband；　whose　face　was

healthy　and　offended。



〃I　do　dislike　these　unhealthy　women；〃　he　was　saying；　but　catching

Shelton's　eye　he　turned　square　in　his　seat　and　sniffed　ironically。



The　face　of　Shelton's　friend　beyond；　composed；　satirical　as　ever；　was

clothed　with　a　mask　of　scornful　curiosity；　as　if　he　had　been

listening　to　something　that　had　displeased　him　not　a　little。　　The

goggle…eyed　man　was　yawning。　　Shelton　turned　to　Halidome：



〃Can　you　stand　this　sort　of　thing？〃　said　he。



〃No；　I　call　that　scene　a　bit　too　hot；〃　replied　his　friend。



Shelton　wriggled；　he　had　meant　to　say　it　was　not　hot　enough。



〃I'll　bet　you　anything；〃　he　said；　〃I　know　what's　going　to　happen　now。

You'll　have　that　old　asswhat's　his　name？lunching　off　cutlets　and

champagne　to　fortify　himselffor　a　lecture　to　the　wife。　　He'll　show

her　how　unhealthy　her　feelings　areI　know　himand　he'll　take　her

hand　and　say；　'Dear　lady；　is　there　anything　in　this　poor　world　but

the　good　opinion　of　Society？'　and　he'll　pretend　to　laugh　at　himself

for　saying　it；　but　you'll　see　perfectly　well　that　the　old　woman　means

it。　　And　then　he'll　put　her　into　a　set　of　circumstances　that　are　n't

her　own　but　his　version　of　them；　and　show　her　the　only　way　of

salvation　is　to　kiss　her　husband〃；　and　Shelton　grinned。　　〃Anyway；

I'll　bet　you　anything　he　takes　her　hand　and　says；　'Dear　lady。'〃



Halidome　turned　on　him　the　disapproval　of　his　eyes；　and　again　he

said；



〃I　think　Pirbright　's　ripping！〃



But　as　Shelton　had　predicted；　so　it　turned　out；　amidst　great

applause。









CHAPTER　V



THE　GOOD　CITIZEN



Leaving　the　theatre；　they　paused　a　moment　in　the　hall　to　don　their

coats；　a　stream　of　people　with　spotless　bosoms　eddied　round　the

doors；　as　if　in　momentary　dread　of　leaving　this　hothouse　of　false

morals　and　emotions　for　the　wet；　gusty　streets；　where　human　plants

thrive　and　die；　human　weeds　flourish　and　fade　under　the　fresh；

impartial　skies。　　The　lights　revealed　innumerable　solemn　faces；

gleamed　innumerably　on　jewels；　on　the　silk　of　hats；　then　passed　to

whiten　a　pavement　wet　with　newly…fallen　rain；　to　flare　on　horses；　on

the　visages　of　cabmen；　and　stray；　queer　objects　that　do　not　bear　the

light。



〃Shall　we　walk？〃　asked　Halidome。



〃Has　it　ever　struck　you；〃　answered　Shelton；　〃that　in　a　play　nowadays

there's　always　a　'Chorus　of　Scandalmongers'　which　seems　to　have

acquired　the　attitude　of　God？〃



Halidome　cleared　his　throat；　and　there　was　something　portentous　in

the　sound。



〃You're　so　d…d　fastidious；〃　was　his　answer。



〃I've　a　prejudice　for　keeping　the　two　things　separate；〃　went　on

Shelton。　　〃That　ending　makes　me　sick。〃



〃Why？〃　replied　Halidome。　　〃What　other　end　is　possible？　　You　don't

want　a　play　to　leave　you　with　a　bad　taste　in　your　mouth。〃



〃But　this　does。〃



Halidome　increased　his　stride；　already　much　too　long；　for　in　his

walk；　as　in　all　other　phases　of　his　life；　he　found　it　necessary　to　be

in　front。



〃How　do　you　mean？〃　he　asked　urbanely；　〃it's　better　than　the　woman

making　a　fool　of　herself。〃



〃I'm　thinking　of　the　man。〃



〃What　man？〃



〃The　husband。〃



〃What　's　the　matter　with　him？　　He　was　a　bit　of　a　bounder；　certainly。〃



〃I　can't　understand　any　man　wanting　to　live　with　a　woman　who　doesn't

want　him。〃



Some　note　of　battle　in　Shelton's　voice；　rather　than　the　sentiment

itself；　caused　his　friend　to　reply　with　dignity：



〃There's　a　lot　of　nonsense　talked　about　that　sort　of　thing。　　Women

don't　really　care；　it's　only　what's　put　into　their　heads。〃



〃That's　much　the　same　as　saying　to　a　starving　man：　'You　don't　really

want　anything；　it's　only　what's　put　into　your　head！'　　You　are　begging

the　question；　my　friend。〃



But　nothing　was　more　calculated　to　annoy　Halidome　than　to　tell　him　he

was　〃begging　the　question；〃　for　he　prided　himself　on　being　strong　in

logic。



〃That　be　d…d；〃　he　said。



〃Not　at　all；　old　chap。　　Here　is　a　case　where　a　woman　wants　her

freedom；　and　you　merely　answer　that　she　dogs　n't　want　it。〃



〃Women　like　that　are　impossible；　better　leave　them　out　of　court。〃



Shelton　pondered　this　and　smiled；　he　had　recollected　an　acquaintance

of　his　own；　who；　when　his　wife　had　left　him；　invented　the　theory　that

she　was　mad；　and　this　struck　him　now　as　funny。　　But　then　he　thought：

〃Poor　devil！　　he　was　bound　to　call　her　mad！　　If　he　didn't；　it　would

be　confessing　himself　distasteful；　however　true；　you　can't　expect　a

man　to　consider　himself　that。〃　　But　a　glance　at　his　friend's　eye

warned　him　that　he；　too；　might　think　his　wife　mad　in　such　a　case。



〃Surely；〃　he　said；　〃even　if　she's　his　wife；　a　man's　bound　to　behave

like　a　gentleman。〃



〃Depends　on　whether　she　behaves　like　a　lady。〃



〃Does　it？　　I　don't　see　the　connection。〃



Halidome　paused　in　the　act　of　turning　the　latch…key　in　his　door；

there　was　a　rather　angry　smile　in　his　fine　eyes。



〃My　dear　chap；〃　he　said；　〃you're　too　sentimental　altogether。〃



The　word　〃sentimental〃　nettled　Shelton。　　〃A　gentleman　either　is　a

gentleman　or　he　is　n't；　what　has　it　to　do　with　the　way　other　people

behave？〃



Halidome　turned　the　key　in　the　lock　and　opened　the　door　into　his

hall；　where　the　firelight　fell　on　the　decanters　and　huge　chairs　drawn

towards　the　blaze。



〃No；　Bird；〃　he　said；　resuming　his　urbanity；　and　gathering　his　coat…

tails　in　his　hands；　〃it's　all　very　well　to　talk；　but　wait　until

you're　married。　　A　man　must　be　master；　and　show　it；　too。〃



An　idea　occurred　to　Shelton。