第12章

类别:其他 作者:佚名字数:9667更新时间:18/12/14 12:41:18
cannottellhowlongitwasthatheenduredthisdiscipline;butitwaslongenoughtoleaveagreatblackblotuponhismemory,longenoughtosendhim,tremblingforhisreason,tothedoorsofacertaindoctor;whereuponwithasimpledraughthewasrestoredtothecommonlotofman。 Thepoorgentlemanhassincebeentroubledbynothingofthesort; indeed,hisnightswereforsomewhilelikeothermen\'s,nowblank,nowchequeredwithdreams,andthesesometimescharming,sometimesappalling,butexceptforanoccasionalvividness,ofnoextraordinarykind。Iwilljustnoteoneoftheseoccasions,ereI passontowhatmakesmydreamertrulyinteresting。Itseemedtohimthathewasinthefirstfloorofaroughhill-farm。Theroomshowedsomepooreffortsatgentility,acarpetonthefloor,apiano,Ithink,againstthewall;but,foralltheserefinements,therewasnomistakinghewasinamoorlandplace,amonghillsidepeople,andsetinmilesofheather。Helookeddownfromthewindowuponabarefarmyard,thatseemedtohavebeenlongdisused。 Agreat,uneasystillnesslayupontheworld。Therewasnosignofthefarm-folkorofanylivestock,saveforanold,brown,curlydogoftheretrieverbreed,whosatcloseinagainstthewallofthehouseandseemedtobedozing。Somethingaboutthisdogdisquietedthedreamer;itwasquiteanamelessfeeling,forthebeastlookedrightenough-indeed,hewassooldanddullanddustyandbroken-down,thatheshouldratherhaveawakenedpity; andyettheconvictioncameandgrewuponthedreamerthatthiswasnoproperdogatall,butsomethinghellish。Agreatmanydozingsummerflieshummedabouttheyard;andpresentlythedogthrustforthhispaw,caughtaflyinhisopenpalm,carriedittohismouthlikeanape,andlookingsuddenlyupatthedreamerinthewindow,winkedtohimwithoneeye。Thedreamwenton,itmattersnothowitwent;itwasagooddreamasdreamsgo;buttherewasnothinginthesequelworthyofthatdevilishbrowndog。Andthepointofinterestformeliespartlyinthatveryfact:thathavingfoundsosingularanincident,myimperfectdreamershouldproveunabletocarrythetaletoafitendandfallbackonindescribablenoisesandindiscriminatehorrors。Itwouldbedifferentnow;heknowshisbusinessbetter! For,toapproachatlastthepoint:Thishonestfellowhadlongbeeninthecustomofsettinghimselftosleepwithtales,andsohadhisfatherbeforehim;butthesewereirresponsibleinventions,toldfortheteller\'spleasure,withnoeyetothecrasspublicorthethwartreviewer:taleswhereathreadmightbedropped,oroneadventurequittedforanother,onfancy\'sleastsuggestion。Sothatthelittlepeoplewhomanageman\'sinternaltheatrehadnotasyetreceivedaveryrigoroustraining;andplayedupontheirstagelikechildrenwhoshouldhaveslippedintothehouseandfounditempty,ratherthanlikedrilledactorsperformingasetpiecetoahugehalloffaces。Butpresentlymydreamerbegantoturnhisformeramusementofstory-tellingto(whatiscalled)account;bywhichImeanthathebegantowriteandsellhistales。Herewashe,andherewerethelittlepeoplewhodidthatpartofhisbusiness,inquitenewconditions。Thestoriesmustnowbetrimmedandparedandsetuponallfours,theymustrunfromabeginningtoanendandfit(afteramanner)withthelawsoflife;thepleasure,inoneword,hadbecomeabusiness;andthatnotonlyforthedreamer,butforthelittlepeopleofhistheatre。Theseunderstoodthechangeaswellashe。Whenhelaydowntopreparehimselfforsleep,henolongersoughtamusement,butprintableandprofitabletales;andafterhehaddozedoffinhisbox-seat,hislittlepeoplecontinuedtheirevolutionswiththesamemercantiledesigns。Allotherformsofdreamdesertedhimbuttwo:hestilloccasionallyreadsthemostdelightfulbooks,hestillvisitsattimesthemostdelightfulplaces;anditisperhapsworthyofnotethattothesesameplaces,andtooneinparticular,hereturnsatintervalsofmonthsandyears,findingnewfield-paths,visitingnewneighbours,beholdingthathappyvalleyunderneweffectsofnoonanddawnandsunset。Butalltherestofthefamilyofvisionsisquitelosttohim:thecommon,mangledversionofyesterday\'saffairs,theraw-head-and-bloody-bonesnightmare,rumouredtobethechildoftoastedcheese-theseandtheirlikearegone;and,forthemostpart,whetherawakeorasleep,heissimplyoccupied-heorhislittlepeople-inconsciouslymakingstoriesforthemarket。Thisdreamer(likemanyotherpersons)hasencounteredsometriflingvicissitudesoffortune。Whenthebankbeginstosendlettersandthebutchertolingeratthebackgate,hesetstobelabouringhisbrainsafterastory,forthatishisreadiestmoney-winner;and,behold!atoncethelittlepeoplebegintobestirthemselvesinthesamequest,andlabourallnightlong,andallnightlongsetbeforehimtruncheonsoftalesupontheirlightedtheatre。Nofearofhisbeingfrightenednow;theflyingheartandthefrozenscalparethingsby-gone;applause,growingapplause,growinginterest,growingexultationinhisowncleverness(forhetakesallthecredit),andatlastajubilantleaptowakefulness,withthecry,\" Ihaveit,that\'lldo!\"uponhislips:withsuchandsimilaremotionshesitsatthesenocturnaldramas,withsuchoutbreaks,likeClaudiusintheplay,hescatterstheperformanceinthemidst。Oftenenoughthewakingisadisappointment:hehasbeentoodeepasleep,asIexplainthething;drowsinesshasgainedhislittlepeople,theyhavegonestumblingandmaunderingthroughtheirparts;andtheplay,totheawakenedmind,isseentobeatissueofabsurdities。AndyethowoftenhavethesesleeplessBrowniesdonehimhonestservice,andgivenhim,ashesatidlytakinghispleasureintheboxes,bettertalesthanhecouldfashionforhimself。 Hereisone,exactlyasitcametohim。Itseemedhewasthesonofaveryrichandwickedman,theownerofbroadacresandamostdamnabletemper。Thedreamer(andthatwastheson)hadlivedmuchabroad,onpurposetoavoidhisparent;andwhenatlengthhereturnedtoEngland,itwastofindhimmarriedagaintoayoungwife,whowassupposedtosuffercruellyandtoloatheheryoke。 Becauseofthismarriage(asthedreamerindistinctlyunderstood) itwasdesirableforfatherandsontohaveameeting;andyetbothbeingproudandbothangry,neitherwouldcondescenduponavisit。 Meettheydidaccordingly,inadesolate,sandycountrybythesea; andtheretheyquarrelled,andtheson,stungbysomeintolerableinsult,struckdownthefatherdead。Nosuspicionwasaroused;thedeadmanwasfoundandburied,andthedreamersucceededtothebroadestates,andfoundhimselfinstalledunderthesameroofwithhisfather\'swidow,forwhomnoprovisionhadbeenmade。Thesetwolivedverymuchalone,aspeoplemayafterabereavement,satdowntotabletogether,sharedthelongevenings,andgrewdailybetterfriends;untilitseemedtohimofasuddenthatshewaspryingaboutdangerousmatters,thatshehadconceivedanotionofhisguilt,thatshewatchedhimandtriedhimwithquestions。Hedrewbackfromhercompanyasmendrawbackfromaprecipicesuddenlydiscovered;andyetsostrongwastheattractionthathewoulddriftagainandagainintotheoldintimacy,andagainandagainbestartledbackbysomesuggestivequestionorsomeinexplicablemeaninginhereye。Sotheylivedatcrosspurposes,alifefullofbrokendialogue,challengingglances,andsuppressedpassion; until,oneday,hesawthewomanslippingfromthehouseinaveil,followedhertothestation,followedherinthetraintotheseasidecountry,andoutoverthesandhillstotheveryplacewherethemurderwasdone。Thereshebegantogropeamongthebents,hewatchingher,flatuponhisface;andpresentlyshehadsomethinginherhand-Icannotrememberwhatitwas,butitwasdeadlyevidenceagainstthedreamer-andassheheldituptolookatit,perhapsfromtheshockofthediscovery,herfootslipped,andshehungatsomeperilonthebrinkofthetallsand-wreaths。Hehadnothoughtbuttospringupandrescueher;andtheretheystoodfacetoface,shewiththatdeadlymatteropenlyinherhand-hisverypresenceonthespotanotherlinkofproof。Itwasplainshewasabouttospeak,butthiswasmorethanhecouldbear-hecouldbeartobelost,butnottotalkofitwithhisdestroyer;andhecuthershortwithtrivialconversation。Arminarm,theyreturnedtogethertothetrain,talkingheknewnotwhat,madethejourneybackinthesamecarriage,satdowntodinner,andpassedtheeveninginthedrawing-roomasinthepast。Butsuspenseandfeardrummedinthedreamer\'sbosom。\"Shehasnotdenouncedmeyet\"- sohisthoughtsran-\"whenwillshedenounceme?Willitbeto- morrow?\"Anditwasnotto-morrow,northenextday,northenext; andtheirlifesettledbackontheoldterms,onlythatsheseemedkinderthanbefore,andthat,asforhim,theburthenofhissuspenseandwondergrewdailymoreunbearable,sothathewastedawaylikeamanwithadisease。Once,indeed,hebrokeallboundsofdecency,seizedanoccasionwhenshewasabroad,ransackedherroom,andatlast,hiddenawayamongherjewels,foundthedamningevidence。Therehestood,holdingthisthing,whichwashislife,inthehollowofhishand,andmarvellingatherinconsequentbehaviour,thatsheshouldseek,andkeep,andyetnotuseit;andthenthedooropened,andbeholdherself。So,oncemore,theystood,eyetoeye,withtheevidencebetweenthem;andoncemoresheraisedtohimafacebrimmingwithsomecommunication;andoncemoreheshiedawayfromspeechandcutheroff。Butbeforehelefttheroom,whichhehadturnedupsidedown,helaidbackhisdeath- warrantwherehehadfoundit;andatthat,herfacelightedup。 Thenextthingheheard,shewasexplainingtohermaid,withsomeingeniousfalsehood,thedisorderofherthings。Fleshandbloodcouldbearthestrainnolonger;andIthinkitwasthenextmorning(thoughchronologyisalwayshazyinthetheatreofthemind)thatheburstfromhisreserve。Theyhadbeenbreakfastingtogetherinonecornerofagreat,parqueted,sparely-furnishedroomofmanywindows;allthetimeofthemealshehadtorturedhimwithslyallusions;andnosoonerweretheservantsgone,andthesetwoprotagonistsalonetogether,thanheleapedtohisfeet。Shetoosprangup,withapaleface;withapaleface,sheheardhimasheravedouthiscomplaint:Whydidshetorturehimso?sheknewall,sheknewhewasnoenemytoher;whydidshenotdenouncehimatonce?whatsignifiedherwholebehaviour?whydidshetorturehim?andyetagain,whydidshetorturehim?Andwhenhehaddone,shefelluponherknees,andwithoutstretchedhands:\"Doyounotunderstand?\"shecried。\"Iloveyou!\" Hereupon,withapangofwonderandmercantiledelight,thedreamerawoke。Hismercantiledelightwasnotoflongendurance;foritsoonbecameplainthatinthisspiritedtaletherewereunmarketableelements;whichisjustthereasonwhyyouhaveitheresobrieflytold。Buthiswonderhasstillkeptgrowing;andI thinkthereader\'swillalso,ifheconsideritripely。FornowheseeswhyIspeakofthelittlepeopleasofsubstantiveinventorsandperformers。Totheendtheyhadkepttheirsecret。Iwillgobailforthedreamer(havingexcellentgroundsforvaluinghiscandour)thathehadnoguesswhateveratthemotiveofthewoman- thehingeofthewholewell-inventedplot-untiltheinstantofthathighlydramaticdeclaration。Itwasnothistale;itwasthelittlepeople\'s!Andobserve:notonlywasthesecretkept,thestorywastoldwithreallyguilefulcraftsmanship。Theconductofbothactorsis(inthecantphrase)psychologicallycorrect,andtheemotionaptlygraduateduptothesurprisingclimax。Iamawakenow,andIknowthistrade;andyetIcannotbetterit。Iamawake,andIlivebythisbusiness;andyetIcouldnotoutdo- couldnotperhapsequal-thatcraftyartifice(asofsomeold,experiencedcarpenterofplays,someDenneryorSardou)bywhichthesamesituationistwicepresentedandthetwoactorstwicebroughtfacetofaceovertheevidence,onlyonceitisinherhand,onceinhis-andtheseintheirdueorder,theleastdramaticfirst。ThemoreIthinkofit,themoreIammovedtopressupontheworldmyquestion:WhoaretheLittlePeople?Theyarenearconnectionsofthedreamer\'s,beyonddoubt;theyshareinhisfinancialworriesandhaveaneyetothebank-book;theyshareplainlyinhistraining;theyhaveplainlylearnedlikehimtobuildtheschemeofaconsideratestoryandtoarrangeemotioninprogressiveorder;onlyIthinktheyhavemoretalent;andonethingisbeyonddoubt,theycantellhimastorypiecebypiece,likeaserial,andkeephimallthewhileinignoranceofwheretheyaim。Whoarethey,then?andwhoisthedreamer? Well,asregardsthedreamer,Icananswerthat,forheisnolessapersonthanmyself;-asImighthavetoldyoufromthebeginning,onlythatthecriticsmurmurovermyconsistentegotism;- andasIampositivelyforcedtotellyounow,orIcouldadvancebutlittlefartherwithmystory。AndfortheLittlePeople,whatshallIsaytheyarebutjustmyBrownies,Godblessthem!whodoone-halfmyworkformewhileIamfastasleep,andinallhumanlikelihood,dotherestformeaswell,whenIamwideawakeandfondlysupposeIdoitformyself。ThatpartwhichisdonewhileI amsleepingistheBrownies\'partbeyondcontention;butthatwhichisdonewhenIamupandaboutisbynomeansnecessarilymine,sinceallgoestoshowtheBrownieshaveahandiniteventhen。 Hereisadoubtthatmuchconcernsmyconscience。Formyself- whatIcallI,myconsciousego,thedenizenofthepinealglandunlesshehaschangedhisresidencesinceDescartes,themanwiththeconscienceandthevariablebank-account,themanwiththehatandtheboots,andtheprivilegeofvotingandnotcarryinghiscandidateatthegeneralelections-Iamsometimestemptedtosupposeheisnostory-telleratall,butacreatureasmatteroffactasanycheesemongeroranycheese,andarealistbemireduptotheearsinactuality;sothat,bythataccount,thewholeofmypublishedfictionshouldbethesingle-handedproductofsomeBrownie,someFamiliar,someunseencollaborator,whomIkeeplockedinabackgarret,whileIgetallthepraiseandhebutashare(whichIcannotpreventhimgetting)ofthepudding。Iamanexcellentadviser,somethinglikeMoliere\'sservant;IpullbackandIcutdown;andIdressthewholeinthebestwordsandsentencesthatIcanfindandmake;Iholdthepen,too;andIdothesittingatthetable,whichisabouttheworstofit;andwhenallisdone,Imakeupthemanuscriptandpayfortheregistration; sothat,onthewhole,Ihavesomeclaimtoshare,thoughnotsolargelyasIdo,intheprofitsofourcommonenterprise。 Icanbutgiveaninstanceorsoofwhatpartisdonesleepingandwhatpartawake,andleavethereadertosharewhatlaurelsthereare,athisownnod,betweenmyselfandmycollaborators;andtodothisIwillfirsttakeabookthatanumberofpersonshavebeenpoliteenoughtoread,theSTRANGECASEOFDR。JEKYLLANDMR。HYDE。 Ihadlongbeentryingtowriteastoryonthissubject,tofindabody,avehicle,forthatstrongsenseofman\'sdoublebeingwhichmustattimescomeinuponandoverwhelmthemindofeverythinkingcreature。Ihadevenwrittenone,THETRAVELLINGCOMPANION,whichwasreturnedbyaneditoronthepleathatitwasaworkofgeniusandindecent,andwhichIburnedtheotherdayonthegroundthatitwasnotaworkofgenius,andthatJEKYLLhadsupplantedit。 Thencameoneofthosefinancialfluctuationstowhich(withanelegantmodesty)Ihavehithertoreferredinthethirdperson。FortwodaysIwentaboutrackingmybrainsforaplotofanysort;andonthesecondnightIdreamedthesceneatthewindow,andasceneafterwardsplitintwo,inwhichHyde,pursuedforsomecrime,tookthepowderandunderwentthechangeinthepresenceofhispursuers。Alltherestwasmadeawake,andconsciously,althoughI thinkIcantraceinmuchofitthemannerofmyBrownies。Themeaningofthetaleisthereforemine,andhadlongpre-existedinmygardenofAdonis,andtriedonebodyafteranotherinvain; indeed,Idomostofthemorality,worseluck!andmyBrownieshavenotarudimentofwhatwecallaconscience。Mine,too,isthesetting,minethecharacters。Allthatwasgivenmewasthematterofthreescenes,andthecentralideaofavoluntarychangebecominginvoluntary。Willitbethoughtungenerous,afterIhavebeensoliberallyladlingoutpraisetomyunseencollaborators,ifIheretossthemover,boundhandandfoot,intothearenaofthecritics?Forthebusinessofthepowders,whichsomanyhavecensured,is,Iamrelievedtosay,notmineatallbuttheBrownies\'。Ofanothertale,incasethereadershouldhaveglancedatit,Imaysayaword:thenotverydefensiblestoryofOLALLA。 Herethecourt,themother,themother\'sniche,Olalla,Olalla\'schamber,themeetingsonthestair,thebrokenwindow,theuglysceneofthebite,wereallgivenmeinbulkanddetailasIhavetriedtowritethem;tothisIaddedonlytheexternalscenery(forinmydreamIneverwasbeyondthecourt),theportrait,thecharactersofFelipeandthepriest,themoral,suchasitis,andthelastpages,suchas,alas!theyare。AndImayevensaythatinthiscasethemoralitselfwasgivenme;foritaroseimmediatelyonacomparisonofthemotherandthedaughter,andfromthehideoustrickofatavisminthefirst。Sometimesaparabolicsenseisstillmoreundeniablypresentinadream; sometimesIcannotbutsupposemyBrownieshavebeenapingBunyan,andyetinnocasewithwhatwouldpossiblybecalledamoralinatract;neverwiththeethicalnarrowness;conveyinghintsinsteadoflife\'slargerlimitationsandthatsortofsensewhichweseemtoperceiveinthearabesqueoftimeandspace。 Forthemostpart,itwillbeseen,myBrowniesaresomewhatfantastic,liketheirstorieshotandhot,fullofpassionandthepicturesque,alivewithanimatingincident;andtheyhavenoprejudiceagainstthesupernatural。Buttheotherdaytheygavemeasurprise,entertainingmewithalove-story,alittleAprilcomedy,whichIoughtcertainlytohandovertotheauthorofA CHANCEACQUAINTANCE,forhecouldwriteitasitshouldbewritten,andIamsure(althoughImeantotry)thatIcannot-ButwhowouldhavesupposedthataBrownieofmineshouldinventataleforMr。Howells? CHAPTERIX-BEGGARS INapleasant,airy,up-hillcountry,itwasmyfortunewhenIwasyoungtomaketheacquaintanceofacertainbeggar。Icallhimbeggar,thoughheusuallyallowedhiscoatandhisshoes(whichwereopen-mouthed,indeed)tobegforhim。Hewasthewreckofanathleticman,tall,gaunt,andbronzed;fargoneinconsumption,withthatdisquietingsmileofthemortallystrickenonhisface; butstillactiveafoot,stillwiththebriskmilitarycarriage,thereadymilitarysalute。Threewaysledthroughthispieceofcountry;andasIwasinconstantinmychoice,Ibelievehemustoftenhaveawaitedmeinvain。Butoftenenough,hecaughtme; oftenenough,fromsomeplaceofambushbytheroadside,hewouldspringsuddenlyforthintheregulationattitude,andlaunchingatonceintohisinconsequentialtalk,fallintostepwithmeuponmyfarthercourse。\"Afinemorning,sir,thoughperhapsatrifleincliningtorain。IhopeIseeyouwell,sir。Why,no,sir,I don\'tfeelasheartymyselfasIcouldwish,butIamkeepingaboutmyordinary。Iampleasedtomeetyouontheroad,sir。IassureyouIquitelookforwardtooneofourlittleconversations。\"Helovedthesoundofhisownvoiceinordinately,andthough(withsomethingtoooff-handtocallservility)hewouldalwayshastentoagreewithanythingyousaid,yethecouldneversufferyoutosayittoanend。BywhattransitionheslidtohisfavouritesubjectIhavenomemory;butwehadneverbeenlongtogetheronthewaybeforehewasdealing,inaverymilitarymanner,withtheEnglishpoets。\"Shelleywasafinepoet,sir,thoughatrifleatheisticalinhisopinions。HisQueenMab,sir,isquiteanatheisticalwork。 Scott,sir,isnotsopoeticalawriter。WiththeworksofShakespeareIamnotsowellacquainted,buthewasafinepoet。 Keats-JohnKeats,sir-hewasaveryfinepoet。\"Withsuchreferences,suchtrivialcriticism,suchlovingparadeofhisownknowledge,hewouldbeguiletheroad,stridingforwarduphill,hisstaffnowclappedtotheribsofhisdeep,resonantchest,nowswingingintheairwiththerememberedjauntinessoftheprivatesoldier;andallthewhilehistoeslookingoutofhisboots,andhisshirtlookingoutofhiselbows,anddeathlookingoutofhissmile,andhisbig,crazyframeshakenbyaccessesofcough。 Hewouldoftengothewholewayhomewithme:oftentoborrowabook,andthatbookalwaysapoet。Offhewouldmarch,tocontinuehismendicantrounds,withthevolumeslippedintothepocketofhisraggedcoat;andalthoughhewouldsometimeskeepitquiteawhile,yetitcamealwaysbackagainatlast,notmuchtheworseforitstravelsintobeggardom。Andinthisway,doubtless,hisknowledgegrewandhisglib,randomcriticismtookawiderrange。 Butmylibrarywasnotthefirsthehaddrawnupon:atourfirstencounter,hewasalreadybrimfulofShelleyandtheatheisticalQueenMab,and\"Keats-JohnKeats,sir。\"AndIhaveoftenwonderedhowhecamebytheseacquirements;justasIoftenwonderedhowhefelltobeabeggar。HehadservedthroughtheMutiny-ofwhich(likesomanypeople)hecouldtellpracticallynothingbeyondthenamesofplaces,andthatitwas\"difficultwork,sir,\"andveryhot,orthatso-and-sowas\"averyfinecommander,sir。\"Hewasfartoosmartamantohaveremainedaprivate;inthenatureofthings,hemusthavewonhisstripes。 Andyetherehewaswithoutapension。WhenItouchedonthisproblem,hewouldcontenthimselfwithdiffidentlyofferingmeadvice。\"Amanshouldbeverycarefulwhenheisyoung,sir。Ifyou\'llexcusemesayingso,aspiritedyounggentlemanlikeyourself,sir,shouldbeverycareful。Iwasperhapsatrifleinclinedtoatheisticalopinionsmyself。\"For(perhapswithadeeperwisdomthanweareinclinedinthesedaystoadmit)heplainlybracketedagnosticismwithbeerandskittles。 Keats-JohnKeats,sir-andShelleywerehisfavouritebards。I cannotrememberifItriedhimwithRossetti;butIknowhistastetoahair,andifeverIdid,hemusthavedotedonthatauthor。