max beerbohm the green carnation

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The Project Gutenberg eBook, The GreenCarnation, by Robert Smythe Hichens

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Title: The Green Carnation

Author: Robert Smythe Hichens

Release Date: February 2, 2008 [eoo! "2##$$%

&an'ua'e: (n'lish

Character set enco)in': *S+88-$.

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7

He sli55e) a 'reen carnation into his e6enin' coat, 7ie) it in its 5lace 9ith a 5in,an) loo!e) at himsel7 in the 'lass, the lon' 'lass that stoo) near the 9in)o9 o7 his

&on)on be)room The summer e6enin' 9as so bri'ht that he coul) see his )oubleclearly, e6en thou'h it 9as ;ust u5on se6en o


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ashame), to lo6e themsel6es, an) to e5ress that lo6e, i7 nee) be Re''ie Hastin's,

at least, 9as not ashame) The mantel5iece in his sittin'room bore only5hoto'ra5hs o7 himsel7, an) he e5laine) this 7act to in?uirers by sayin' that he

9orshi55e) beauty Re''ie 9as 6ery 7ran! hen he coul) not be 9itty, he o7ten

tol) the na!e) truth an) truth, 9ithout any clothes on, 7re?uently 5asses 7ore5i'ram *t is )arin', an) so it seems cle6er Re''ie 9as consi)ere) 6ery cle6er by

his 7rien)s, but more cle6er by himsel7 He !ne9 that he 9as 'reat, an) he sai) so

o7ten in Society An) Society smile) an) murmure) that it 9as a 5ose (6erythin'is a 5ose no9a)ays, es5ecially 'enius

This e6enin' Re''ie stoo) be7ore the mirror till the SE6res cloc! on thechimney5iece 'ently chime) se6en Then he )re9 out o7 their tissue 5a5er [' #%a

5air o7 la6en)er 'lo6es, an) 5resse) the electric bell

Call me a hansom, Flynn, he sai) to his 6alet

He thre9 a lon' bu77coloure) o6ercoat across his arm, an) 9ent slo9ly)o9nstairs A cab 9as at the )oor, an) he entere) it an) tol) the man to )ri6e to

el'ra6e S?uare As they turne) the corner o7 Hal7 oon Street into icca)illy, he

leant 7or9ar) o6er the 9oo)en a5ron an) la=ily sur6eye) the cro9) (6ery secon)

cab he 5asse) containe) an immaculate man 'oin' out to )inner, sittin' bolt

u5ri'ht, 9ith a se6ere e5ression o7 countenance, an) sur6eyin' the 9orl) 9ith

stea)y eyes o6er an unyiel)in' ram5art o7 starche) collar Re''ie echan'e) no)s9ith 6arious ac?uaintances resently he 5asse) an el)erly 'entleman 9ith a re)

7ace an) small si)e 9his!ers The el)erly 'entleman stare) him in the 7ace, an)

sni77e) ostentatiously

hat a 5ity my 5oor 7ather is so 5lain, Re''ie sai) to himsel7 9ith a ?uiet smile

+nly that mornin' he ha) recei6e) a lon' an) 6ehement )iatribe 7rom his 5arent,

sho9erin' abuse u5on him, an) ehortin' him to lea) a more re5utable li7e He ha)

re5lie) by 9ire

hat a 7unny little man you areRe''ie

The 7unny little man ha) e6i)ently recei6e) his messa'e

[' -%

As his cab )re9 u5 7or a moment at Hy)e ar! corner to allo9 a stream o7

5e)estrians to cross 7rom the ar!, he sa9 se6eral 5eo5le 5ointin' him out T9o

9ell)resse) 9omen loo!e) at him an) lau'he), an) he hear) one murmur hisname to the other He let his blue eyes rest u5on them calmly as they 5eacoc!e)

across to St Geor'e


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hisse) him, he only 5itie) them, an) 9on)ere) at their i'norance His social

5osition !e5t him in Society, ho9e6er much Society murmure) a'ainst him an),7ar 7rom 7earin' scan)al, he lo6e) it He chose his 7rien)s 5artly 7or their charm,

an) 5artly 7or their ba) re5utations an) the 9hite 7lo9er o7 a blameless li7e 9as

much too inartistic to ha6e any attraction 7or him He belie6e) that Art sho9e) the9ay to 3ature, an) 9orshi55e) the abnormal 9ith all the 5assion o7 his im5ure an)

subtle youth[' I%

&or) Re'inal) Hastin's, crie) rs in)sor


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+hK he has not chan'e), sai) r Amarinth That is so 9on)er7ul He ne6er

)e6elo5s at all He alone un)erstan)s the beauty o7 ri'i)ity, the e?uisite serenityo7 the statues?ue nature en al9ays 7all into the absur)ity o7 en)ea6ourin' to

)e6elo5 the min), to 5ush it 6iolently 7or9ar) in this )irection or in that The min)

shoul) be rece5ti6e, a har5 9aitin' to catch the 9in)s, a 5ool rea)y to be ru77le),not a bustlin' busybo)y, 7ore6er trottin' about on the 5a6ement loo!in' 7or a ne9

bun sho5 *t shoul) not )eliberately run to see! sensations, but it shoul) ne6er

a6oi) one it shoul) ne6er be a7rai) o7 one it shoul) ne6er 5ut one asi)e 7rom anabsur) sense o7 ri'ht an) 9ron' (6ery sensation is 6aluable Sensations are the

)etails that buil) u5 the stories o7 our li6es

ut i7 9e )o not choose our sensations care7ully, the stories may be sa), may e6en

en) tra'ically, sai) &a)y &oc!e

+hK * )on


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she )eci)e) not to )is5ute the )octrine o7 moo)s So she sai) nothin', an) allo9e)

rs in)sor to brea! in airily

Mes, moo)s are )eli'ht7ul * ha6e as many as * ha6e )resses, an) they cost me

nearly as much * su55ose they cost 1immy a 'oo)[' .B%)eal too, she a))e), 9ith

a )esultory 5ensi6eness but 7ortunately he is 9ell o77, so it )oesn Amarinth lita 'ol)ti55e) ci'arette, an) leane) bac! la=ily in his chair

Ho9 tirin' 9omen are, he sai) They al9ays let one !no9 that they are tryin' tobe u5 to the mar! *sn


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o5era * am tire), an) cannot 'o to my 5arties Come to my room, (mily, an) 9e

9ill )rin! some o6ril, an) ha6e a tal! * lo6e )rin!in' o6ril in secret *t seemsli!e a 6ice An) then it is 9holesome, an) 6ices al9ays )o somethin' to one

ma!e one


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oor )ear chil) Ho9 horri) * su55ose you ha6e har)ly seen chi77on *t must ha6e

been li!e )eath ut )o you really ob;ect to the 'reen carnation

That )e5en)s *s it a ba)'e

Ho9 )o you mean* only sa9 about a )o=en in the +5era House toni'ht, an) all the men 9ho 9ore

them loo!e) the same They ha) the same 9al!, or rather 9a''le, the same coylyconscious e5ression, the same 9a6y motion o7 the hea) hen they s5o!e to each

other, they calle) each other by Christian names *s it a ba)'e o7 some club or some

society, an) is r Amarinth their hi'h 5riest They all s5o!e to him, an) seeme)

to re6ol6e roun) him li!e satellites aroun) the sun[' .8%

y )ear (mily, it is not a ba)'e at all They 9ear it merely to be ori'inal

An) can they only be ori'inal in a buttonhole 9ay oor 7ello9s

Mou )on


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* see 9e are to aim at in)ucin' a 6iolent rash that all the 9orl) may stare at

Her cousin 'lance) at her 7or a moment 9ith a tin'e o7 uneasy in?uiry She 9as not6ery shar5, althou'h she 9as 6ery rece5ti6e o7 mo)ern 5hiloso5hy

ell, she sai), a little )oubt7ully, not ?uite that, * su55osee are to sin on the houseto5 an) in the street, instea) o7 in the 5ri6acy o7 a room

9ith the )oor loc!e) ut 9hat 9ill the &on)on County Council say

+h, they ha6e nothin' to )o 9ith our class They only concern themsel6es 9ith

acrobats, an) res5ectable el)erly 9omen 9ho are 7ire) 7rom cannons That is sori'ht Res5ectable el)erly 9omen )o so much harm r Amarinth sai) toni'ht

in the 'ar)en scene, i7 you rememberthat 5rolon'e) 5urity 9rin!le) the min) as

much as 5rolon'e) im5urity 9rin!le)[' 20%the 7ace 3ature 7orces us to choose

9hether 9e 9ill s5oil our 7aces 9ith our sins, or our min)s 9ith our 6irtues Ho9

true

An) ho9 ori'inal This o6ril is 6ery com7ortin', etty as re6i6in' asan

e5i'ram

Mes, my coo! un)erstan)s it That must be so s9eet 7or the o6rilto beun)erstoo)K Do you li!e &or) Re''ie

He has a beauti7ul 7ace Ho9 ol) is he T9enty

+h no, nearly t9enty7i6e Three years youn'er than you are That is all

He loo!s astonishin'ly youn'

Mes He says that his sins !ee5 him 7resh A sinner 9ith a youn' lamb


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Mes

They are both comin' )o9n to stay 9ith me in Surrey net 9ee!, an) * 9ant youto come too * al9ays s5en) a 9ee! in the country in 1une, a 9ee! o7 5er7ect

rusticity *t is li!e a )ear little )esert in the oasis, you !no9 e )o nothin', an) 9e

eat a 'reat )eal 3obo)y calls u5on us, an) 9e call u5on no one e 'o to acountry church on Sun)ay once, ;ust 7or the no6elty o7 it an) this year r

Amarinth an) &or) Re''ie are 'oin' to ha6e a school treat &ast year they 'ot u5 a

mothers< meetin' instea), an) r Amarinth rea) his last essay on


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777

r Amarinth an) &or) Re''ie )i) not 'o to be) so early A7ter the 5er7ormance o7

Faust 9as o6er they strolle) arm in arm to9ar)s a certain small club that they

much a77ecte), a little house tuc!e) into a corner not 7ar 7rom Co6ent Gar)en, 9itha narro9 5assa'e instea) o7 a hall, an) a lon' su55erroom 7ille) 9ith tiny tables

They ma)e their 9ay 'race7ully to their o9n 5articular table at the en) o7 the room,

9here they coul) con6erse unhear), an) see all that 9as to be seen An obse?uious

9aiterone o7 the restaurant race that has no nati6e lan'ua'erelie6e) them o7

their coats, an) they sat )o9n o55osite to each other, mechanically touchin' theirhair to 7eel i7 their hats ha) ru77le) its smooth sur7ace

hat )o you thin! about it, Re''ie Amarinth sai), as they be'an to )iscuss theiroysters Coul) you commit the ma)ness o7 matrimony 9ith &a)y &oc!e Mou are

so 9on)er7ul as you are, so com5lete in yoursel7, that * scarcely )are to 9ish it, oranythin' else[' 2-%7or you: an) you li6e so com7ortably u5on )ebts, that it mi'ht

be un9ise to ris! the 5ossible )iscom7ort o7 ha6in' money Still, i7 you e6er inten)

to 5ossess it, you ha) better not 9aste time Mou !no9 my theory about money

3o 9hat is it, (sm>

* belie6e that money is 'ra)ually becomin' etinct, li!e the Do)o or


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* hate o77erin' 5ayment to anybo)y, sai) Re''ie (6en 9hen * ha6e the money

There is somethin' so sor)i) about it To 'i6e is beauti7ul * sai) so to my tailoryester)ay He ans9ere), he as!e) Mou are so s5len)i) 9hen

you are )run!

* ha6e not )eci)e) either 9ay * ne6er )o[' 28%* let it come i7 it 9ill To 'et

)run! )eliberately is as 7oolish as to 'et sober by acci)ent Do you !no9 my

brother hen he is not ti5sy, he is in6ariably blin) sober * o7ten 9on)er the5olice )o not run him in

Do they e6er run any one in * thou'ht they 9ere al9ays )ismisse) the 7orce i7they )i)

robably that is so The e5ecte) al9ays ha55ens, an) 5eo5le in authority are 6erye5ecte) +ne al9ays !no9s that they 9ill act in )e7iance o7 the la9 &a9s are

ma)e in or)er that 5eo5le in authority may not remember them, ;ust as marria'esare ma)e in or)er that the )i6orce court may not 5lay about i)ly Re''ie, are you

'oin' to ma!e this marria'e

* )on


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So 7e9[' 2$%5eo5le ha6e su77icient stren'th to resist the 5re5osterous claims o7

ortho)oy They 5romise an) 6o9 three thin'sis it three thin's you 5romise an)6o9 in matrimony, Re''iean) they !ee5 their 5romise 3othin' is so 7atal to a

5ersonality as the !ee5in' o7 5romises, unless it be tellin' the truth To lie 7inely is

an Art, to tell the truth is to act accor)in' to 3ature, an) 3ature is the 7irst o7hilistines 3othin' on earth is so absolutely mi))leclass as 3ature She al9ays

remin)s me o7 Clement Scott * shall not ma!e a 'oo) husban)

&a)y &oc!e 9oul) ma!e a 'oo) 9i7e

Mes, it is 9ritten in her 7ace That is the 9orst o7 6irtues They sho9 +ne cannotconceal them

Mes hen * 9as a boy at school, * remember so 9ell * ha) a 6irtue, an) * 9asterribly ashame) o7 it * 9as 7on) o7 'oin' to church * can


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is al9ays 6irtuous The min) o7 the moulin rougeis not his ic!e)ness )oes not

sit easily u5on him *t loo!s li!e a coat that has been 5ai) 7or

(sm>, you are 'ettin' )run!K

hat ma!es you thin! so, Re''ieecause you are so brilliant Go on The ni'ht is 'ro9in' late Soon the sil6er

)a9n 9ill steal alon' the ri6er, an) touch 9ith ra)iance those monstrosities u5onthe Thames (mban!ment 1ohn Stuart ill, 9hen you are )run!, * coul) listen to you 7or e6er Go on'o

onK[' B2%

Remember my e5i'rams then, )ear boy, an) re5eat them to me tomorro9 * am)inin' out 9ith +scar il)e, an) that is only to be )one 9ith 5rayer an) 7astin'aiter, o5en another bottle o7 cham5a'ne, an) brin' some more stra9berries Mes,

it is not easy to be 9ic!e), althou'h stu5i) 5eo5le thin! so To sin beauti7ully, asyou sin, Re''ie, an) as * ha6e sinne) 7or years, is one o7 the most com5licate) o7

the arts There are har)ly si 5eo5le in a century 9ho can master it Sin has its

techni?ue, ;ust as 5aintin' has its techni?ue Sin has its harmonies an) its

)issonances, as music has its harmonies an) its )issonances The amateur sinner,

the mere bun'ler 9hom 9e meet 9ith, alasK so 7re?uently, is 5er5etually

intro)ucin' consecuti6e 7i7ths an) octa6es into his music, 5er5etually brin'in'9ron' colour notes into his 5aintin' His sins are )aubs or 5ot boilers, not

master5ieces that 9ill )e7y the insi)ious action o7 time To commit a 5er7ect sin is

to be 'reat, Re''ie, ;ust as to 5ro)uce a 5er7ect 5icture, or to com5ose a 5er7ect

sym5hony, is to be 'reat Francesco Cenci shoul) ha6e been 9orshi55e) instea) o7

mur)ere) ut the 9orl) can no more un)erstan) the beauty o7 sin, than it can

un)erstan) the 5re7ace to


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ne9 human bein's s5rin'in' into li7e to commit it, an) to 7in) 5leasure in it

Re''ie, some )ay * 9ill 9rite a 'os5el o7 stran'e sins, an) * 9ill 5ersua)e theS C 4 Society to 5ublish it[' B#%in )ull, misty scarlet, 5o9)ere) 9ith 'ol)en

)e6ils

+h, (sm>, you are 'reatK

Ho9 true that isK An) ho9 sel)om 5eo5le tell the truths that are 9orth tellin' e

ou'ht to choose our truths as care7ully as 9e choose our lies, an) to select our

6irtues 9ith as much thou'ht as 9e besto9 u5on the selection o7 our enemies

Conceit is one o7 the 'reatest o7 the 6irtues, yet ho9 7e9 5eo5le reco'nise it as a

thin' to aim at an) to stri6e a7ter *n conceit many a man an) 9oman has 7oun)sal6ation, yet the a6era'e 5erson 'oes on all 7ours 'ro6ellin' a7ter mo)esty Mou

an) *, Re''ie, at least ha6e 7oun) that sal6ation e !no9 oursel6es as 9e are, an)un)erstan) our o9n 'reatness e )o not hoo)9in! oursel6es into the blin) belie7

that 9e are or)inary men, 9ith the intellects o7 Cabinet inisters, or the 5assions o7the 5roletariat 3o, 9eclosin' time, aiterK Ho9 absur)K hy, is it 7orbi))en in

(n'lan) to eat stra9berries a7ter mi)ni'ht, or to 'o to be) at one o


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in their a'es )i) not certainly ;usti7y A7ter all, he 9as nearly t9enty7i6e an) she

9as only t9entyei'ht, but then he loo!e) t9enty, an) she 7elt9ell, aconsi)erable a'e She ha) marrie) at se6enteen She ha) tra6elle), ha) seen

somethin' o7 rou'h li7e, ha) been in an im5ortant 5osition o77icially o9in' to her

)ea) husban)


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'oin' to sit un)er a tree an) 5lay ol) tunes by Scarlatti to the ho55ic!ers 9hile

they are at 9or! He says that more 'oo) can be )one in that sort o7 9ay, than byall the missionaries 9ho 9ere e6er eaten by sa6a'es * )on


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She 'a6e a little croa!in' lau'h 9ith a cle6erly ta!en 'irlish note at the en) o7 it,

an) 9al!e) 6ery slo9ly an) ?uietly out o7 the room

* am so 'la) she can come, sai) rs in)sor She ma!es our rustic 5arty

com5lete

e shall certainly be 6ery rustic, sai) &a)y &oc!e, 9ith a smile, as she leane)

bac! in her chair an) too! a cu5 o7 tea

Mes, )eliciously so a)ame Jaltesi 'oes e6ery9here She is one o7 the most

entertainin' 5eo5le in &on)on 3obo)y !no9s 9ho[' #2%she is * ha6e hear) that

she is a Russian s5y, an) that her husban) 9as a courier, or a che7, or 5erha5s both

She has 'ot some mar6ellous )iamon) earrin's that 9ere 'i6en to her by a Gran)

Du!e, an) she has lots o7 money She runs a theatre, because she li!es a certain

actor, an) she 5ays r Amarinth


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an) there 9as a lo6ely little or'an built by illis, 9ith a vox humanasto5 in it, that

9as li!e the most 5athetic shee5 that e6er bleate) to its lamb The church an) there) tile) schoolhouse stoo) u5on a )eli'ht7ul 'reen [' #-%common, co6ere) 9ith

'orse bushes There 9ere trees all o6er the 5lace, an) the bir)s al9ays san' in

them Roses bloome) in the neat little cotta'e 'ar)ens, an) cheery, rosy chil)ren5laye) ha55ily about in the li'ht san)y roa)s 3othin', in 7act, 9as 9antin' to

ma!e u5 a 5retty 5icture o7 com5lete an) (n'lish rusticity

ut rs in)sor


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eyes, an) a 6ery roun) hea), co6ere) 9ith ecee)in'ly short bro9n hair His a'e

9as nine, an) he 9ore )ar! blue !nic!erboc!ers an) a loose, bul'y sort o7 9hiteshirt, trimme) 9ith blue, an) ornamente) 9ith a 9i)e an) 7la55in' collar His blac!

stoc!in's co6ere) 7ris!y le's, an) his min) at 5resent 9as mainly occu5ie) 9ith

surmises as to the curate


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That


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mana'e it e shall soon be there no9 1ust loo! at TommyK * )o belie6e they are

lettin' him )ri6e

&ou) shouts o7 boyish trium5h 7rom in 7ront in 7act announce) this )i6ine

consummation o7 ha55iness, an) Tommy


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ori'inal As to r Amarinth, she coul) not ima'ine him in the country at all He

smac!e) essentially o7 cities hat he 9oul) )o in thisgalreshe !ne9 not Sheleane) bac! in her bas!etchair an) en;oye) hersel7 ?uietly The 'reen 5eace, a7ter

&on)on, 9as absolutely )elicious She coul) hear a hen cluc!in' intermittently

7rom the 7armyar) har) by, the t9itter o7 bir)s 7rom the ye9trees, the chir5in'6oices o7 Tommy an) the curate


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9ith hi'h turn)o9n collars, all roun) collars that someho9 su''este) babyhoo)

an) innocence, an) loosely !notte) ties They 9ore stra9 hats, suE)e 'lo6es, an)bro9n boots, an) in their buttonholes lar'e 'reen carnations bloome) sa6a'ely

They loo!e) 6ery cool, 6ery much at their ease, an) 6ery 9ell incline) 7or tea

Re''ie you too! it u5 out

o7 5ure lo6e o7 the thin'

The true artist 9ill al9ays be an amateur, sai) &or) Re''ie, )reamily, an) 'a=in'

to9ar)s &a)y &oc!e 9ith abstracte) blue eyes, ;ust as the true martyr 9ill al9ays

li6e 7or his 7aith (sm> is li!e the thrush He al9ays tells us his e5i'rams t9iceo6er, lest 9e shoul) 7ail to ca5ture their 7irst 7ine care7ul ra5ture Re5etition is one

o7 the secrets o7 success no9a)ays (sm> 9as the 7irst con6ersationalist in (n'lan)to )isco6er that 7act, an) so he 9on his 5resent unri6alle) 5osition, an) has !no9n

ho9 to !ee5 it

Con6ersational 5o9ers are sometimes 6ery )istressin', sai) a)ame Jaltesi&ast 9inter * 9as ha6in' my house in Crom9ell[' -$%Roa) 5ainte) an) 5a5ere)


26/104

* 9ent to li6e at a hotel, but the men 9ere so slo9, that at last * too! 5ossession

a'ain, ho5in' to turn them out *t 9as a most 7atal ste5 They li!e) me so much,an) 7oun) me so entertainin', that they ha6e ne6er 'one a9ay They are still

5aintin', an) * su55ose al9ays 9ill be hene6er * say anythin' 9itty they scream

9ith lau'hter, an) * belie6e that my name has become a househol) 9or) inhitecha5el or a55in', or 9here6er the ritish 9or!man li6es hat am * to

)o

Rea) them 1erome 4 1erome


27/104

hy are ol) men 9ho ha6e seen the 9orl) al9ays so 5ro5er as!e) &or) Re''ie

The other )ay * 9as stayin' 9ith an ol) 'eneral at alta, an) he too! Catulleen)e=< charmin' an) )elicate romance,


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eatin' a 'reat many stra9berries He )i) both mechanically, an) as i7 he )i)n


29/104

Mou ha6e 7inishe) the stra9berries a7ter all

Re''ie burst into an almost boyish lau'h

So * ha6e e none o7 us li6e u5 to our i)eals, * su55ose ut really * ha6e none *

a'ree 9ith (sm> that nothin' is so limite) as to ha6e an i)eal [' II%

An) yet you loo! sometimes as i7 you mi'ht ha6e many, she sai), as i7 hal7 to

hersel7 The curious motherly 7eelin' ha) come u5on her a'ain, a !in) o7ten)erness that o7ten lea)s to 5reachin'

Re''ie 'lance) u5 at her ?uic!ly, an) 9ith a 5lease) e5ression A 6eile) tribute tohis 'oo) loo!s )eli'hte) him, 9hether it came 7rom man or 9oman +nly an

un6eile) one sur5asse) it in his estimation

AhK but that means nothin', he sai) *t is ?uite a mista!e to belie6e, as many

5eo5le )o, that the min) sho9s itsel7 in the 7ace Jice may sometimes 9rite itsel7 inlines an) chan'es o7 contour, but that is all +ur 7aces are really mas!s 'i6en to us

to conceal our min)s 9ith +7 course occasionally the mas! sli5s 5artly o77,

'enerally 9hen 9e are stu5i) an) emotional ut that is an inartistic acci)ent

+ut9ar) re6elations o7 9hat is 'oin' on insi)e o7 us ta!e 5lace 7ar more sel)omthan silly 5eo5le su55ose 3o more 5re5osterous theory has e6er been 5ut 7or9ar)

than that o7 the artist re6ealin' himsel7 in his art The 9riter, 7or instance, has atleast three min)shis Society min), his 9ritin' min), an) his real min) They are

all ?uite se5arate an) )istinct, or they ou'ht to be hen his 9ritin' min) an) his

real min) 'et mie) u5 to'ether,[' IL%he ceases to be an artist That is 9hy

S9inburne has 'one o77 so much *7 you 9ant to 9rite really 7ine erotic 5oetry, youmust li6e an absolutely ri'i) an) entirely res5ectable li7e The


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ut surely habit ma!es nothin' en)urable +ther9ise 9e shoul) li!e 5olitics, an)

'et accustome) to the 5resence o7 solicitors in Society

* )o li!e 5olitics, &a)y &oc!e sai), lau'hin' Ho9 beauti7ul these roses areK Ah,

there is Tommy Mou )on


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im5ulse Their min) has no 9hy or 9here7ore 9ith 9hich to bolster u5 their heart

She 9ent slo9ly to9ar)s the cotta'e to )ress 7or )inner, an) all the time that she9as 9al!in', she continue), rather strenuously, to li!e &or) Re''ie

That e6enin', a7ter )inner, there 9as music in the small )ra9in'room, 9hich 9as

e?uisitely )one u5 in (astern style, 9ith an arche) roo7, screens o7 9on)er7ullycar6e) 9oo) brou'ht 7rom 55er ('y5t, ersian han'in's an) embroi)eries,

)i6ans an) 5rayer ru's, on 9hich nobo)y e6er 5raye) &or) Re''ie an) r

Amarinth both 5laye) the 5iano in an easy, tentati6e sort o7 9ay, ma!in' ecess o7e5ression )o )uty 7or )e7iciencies o7 eecution, an) co6erin' occasional mista!es

9ith the so7t[' L.%rather than 9ith the lou) 5e)al &or) Re''ie 5laye) a hymn o7his o9n, 9hich he 7ran!ly ac!no9le)'e) 9as 6ery beauti7ul He )escribe) it as a

hymn 9ithout 9or)s, 9hich, he sai) so7tly, all hymns shoul) be There 9as archaic

sim5licity, not to say bal)ness, about it 9hich sent rs in)sor into eotic

ra5tures, an), as it 9as ecee)in'ly short, it ma)e its )e7inite mar!There 9as a moon in the ni'ht, 7ull, roun), an) serene, an) the French 9in)o9s

stoo) o5en to the ?uiet 'ar)en The )ra9in'room 9as 6ery )imly li'hte), an) as

Re''ie 5laye), he 9as in sha)o9 His 9hite, sensiti6e 7ace 9as only 7aintly to be

seen *t loo!e) 5ure an) youn', &a)y &oc!e thou'ht, as she 9atche) him He 9asso enamoure) o7 his hymn that he 5laye) it o6er an) o6er a'ain, an), 7rom his

touch, it seeme) as i7 he 9ere tryin' to ma!e the Stein9ay 'ran) soun) as muchli!e a s5inet as 5ossible

a)ame Jaltesi sat on a so7a 9ith her lon', slim 7eet su55orte) u5on an

embroi)ere) cushion She 9as smo!in' a ci'arette 9ith all the com5lete mastery o7custom rs in)sor stoo) near the 9in)o9, i)ly 7ollo9in' 9ith her eyes the

5erambulations o7 un', 9ho 9as 7littin' about the 'ar)en li!e a 'host 9ith a

curle) tail an) a turne)u5 nose r Amarinth [' L2%leane) lar'ely u5on the 5iano,in an attitu)e o7 ra5t attention His cle6er, cleansha6e) 7ace 9ore an e5ression o7

sera5hic sensuality

&a)y &oc!e listene) ?uietly She ha) ne6er hear) any hymn so o7ten be7ore, an)

yet she )i) not 7eel bore)

At last &or) Re''ie sto55e), an) sai), (sm>, the curate comes to )ine tomorro9Remember to be 6ery s9eet to him * 9ant to 5lay the or'an on Sun)ay mornin',an) he must let us )o an anthem * 9ill com5ose one e can 'et u5 a choir

5ractice on Fri)ay ni'ht, i7 rs in)sor )oes not min)

+h, charmin'K rs in)sor crie) 7rom the 9in)o9 * lo6e a choir 5ractice

abo6e all thin's Choir boys are so 5retty They must come to the 5ractice in their

ni'ht'o9ns, o7 course * am sure r Smith 9ill be )eli'hte) ut you must

remember to be 6ery hi'h church tomorro9 ni'ht r Smith is terribly 5articular

about that


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* )on Go out into the 'ar)en all o7

you, an) * 9ill sin' to you a son' o7 the moon *t is 6ery beauti7ul * shall 'i6e it to1ean )e Res=!e, * thin! y 6oice 9ill soun) better 7rom a )istance Goo) 6oicesal9ays )o

He sat )o9n at the 5iano, an) they strolle) out throu'h the French 9in)o9s intothe 'reen an) silent 5leasaunce

His 6oice 9as clear an) o5en, an) he s5o!e rather than san' the 7ollo9in' 6erses,9hile they stoo) listenin' till the ri55lin' accom5animent tric!le) a9ay into

silence:

+hK beauti7ul moon 9ith the 'hostly 7ace,+hK moon 9ith the bro9s o7 sno9,


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Rise u5, rise u5 7rom your slumberin' 5lace,[' L-%An) )ra9 7rom your eyes the 6eil,&est my 9ay9ar) heart shoul) 7ail

*n the homa'e it 7ain 9oul) besto9

+hK beauti7ul moon 9ith the 'hostly 7ace,+hK moon 9ith the bro9s o7 sno9

+hK beauti7ul mouth li!e a scarlet 7lo9


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877

ell, 9hat 9oul) you all li!e to )o 9ith yoursel6es to)ay as!e) rs in)sor

on the 7ollo9in' mornin' a7ter brea!7ast, 9hich 9as o6er at hal75ast ten, 7or they

all 'ot u5 early as a mar! o7 res5ect to the country air an) in)ee), r Amarinth

)eclare) that he ha) been a9a!e be7ore 7i6e, re6ellin' in the 7lamecoloure) music

o7 the 7armyar) coc!s

* shoul) li!e to 'o out sho55in', remar!e) a)ame Jaltesi, 9ho 9as )resse) in

a 9hite ser'e )ress, 7i'ure) 9ith innocent 5in! 7lo9ers

ut, my )ear, there are no sho5sK

There is al9ays a linen)ra5er


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be'un to com5ose his anthem, an) a)ame Jaltesi an) &a)y &oc!e 9ere

mountin' into the 'o6erness cart, 9hich 9as rather li!e a lar'e hi5 bath on 9heelsThey sat o55osite to each other u5on t9o lo9 seats, an) &a)y &oc!e )ro6e

si)e9ays

As they ;o''e) alon' )o9n the )usty country roa), bet9een the s9eet smellin'7lo9ery ban!s, a)ame Jaltesi sai)

Do 'o6ernesses al9ays )ri6e in tubs *s it 5art o7 the system

* )on


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9orl) +ne must al9ays locate a truth i7 one 9ishes to be un)erstoo) hat is true

in &on)on is o7ten a lie in the country * belie6e that there are still many 'oo)Christians in the country, but they are only 'oo) Christians because they are in the

countrymost o7 them +ur 6irtues are 'enerally a 7ortunate, or un7ortunate,

acci)ent, an) the same may be sai) o7 our 6ices 3o9, thin! o7 &or) Re''ie He isone o7 the most utterly 6icious youn' men o7 the )ay hy ecause, li!e the

chameleon, he ta!es his colour 7rom 9hate6er he rests u5on, or is 5ut near An) he

has been 5ut near scarlet instea) o7 9hite

&a)y &oc!e 7elt a stran'e thrill o7 5ain at her heart

* am sure &or) Re''ie has a 'reat )eal o7 'oo) in himK she eclaime)

3ot enou'h to s5oil his charm, sai) a)ame Jaltesi He has no real intention o7

bein' either ba) or 'oo) He li6es li!e (sm> Amarinth, merely to be artistic

ut 9hat in Hea6en, an) 9hose husban) once tol) me that she ha) 7oun)e) her

style u5on r Rus!in an) the better 5arts o7 the ible She brin's out about se6en

boo!s e6ery year, * am tol), an) they are all about sailors, o7 9hom she !no9sabsolutely nothin' * am 5er5etually meetin' her, an) she al9ays as!s me to lunch,

an) says she !no9s my brother She seems to connect my 5oor brother 9ith lunch

in some curious 9ay * shall ne6er lunch 9ith her, but she 9ill al9ays as! me


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Ho5e s5rin's eternal in the human breast, rs in)sor sai), 9ith a little air o7

a5tness

That is one o7 the 'reatest 7allacies o7 a melancholy a'e, (sm> ans9ere),

arran'in' the hu'e moonstone in his tie 9ith a 5lum5 han) suici)e 9oul) be the

better 9or)


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in the 'ar)ens o7 &ambeth alace, 9ith un)erneath him the motto,


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*n)ee)K * am so 'la) r Smith has bro!en u5 the i)le corners, a)ame Jaltesi

*s it not a mercy

a)ame Jaltesi loo!e) eni'matical, as in)ee) she al9ays )i) 9hen she 9as

i'norant She ha) not the smallest i)ea 9hat an i)le corner mi'ht be, nor ho9 it

coul) be bro!en u5 She there7ore 5eere) throu'h her eye'lasses an) sai) nothin'r Amarinth 9as less )iscreet

An i)le corner, he sai) hat a )elicious name *t mi'ht ha6e been in6ente) by

*=aac alton *t su''ests a 5icture by Geor'e orlan) * lo6e his can6ases, rustics

carousin'

ut be7ore he coul) 'et any 7urther, Re''ie cau'ht his eye an) 7orme) silently 9ith

his li5s the 9or)s, Remember my anthem

He i)ealises so much, Amarinth 9ent on easily +7 course a real carouse is

horribly inartistic (cess al9ays is, althou'h +scar il)e has sai) that nothin'succee)s li!e it

(cess is 6ery e6il, r Smith sai) rather ri'i)ly (cess in e6erythin' seems to

be characteristic o7 our a'e * coul) 9ish that[' 8$%many 9oul) return to theascetic li7e 3o 9ine, than! you

*n)ee), yes, sai) rs in)sor, that is 9hat * al9ays thin! There is somethin'so beauti7ul in not eatin' an) )rin!in', an) not marryin', an) all that but at least

9e must ac!no9le)'e that celibacy is ?uite comin' into 7ashion +ur youn' men

alto'ether re7use to marry no9a)ays &et us ho5e that is a ste5 in the ri'ht)irection

*7 they marrie) more an) )ran! less, * )on


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* be' your 5ar)on, sai) r Smith, 9ho ha) been listenin' to these remar!s 9ith

ac?uiescence, but 9ho no9 mani7este) some ob6ious con7usion

A bro9n Gre'orian, r Amarinth re5eate) All combinations o7 soun)s con6ey

a sense o7 colour to the min) Gre'orians are ob6iously o7 a rich an) sombre

bro9n, ;ust as a Sal6ation Army hymn is a 6iolent ma'enta

* thin! the isho5s are be'innin' to un)erstan) Gre'orian music a little better 3o

5lo6ere 9ith a 'entle 9a6e o7 his han)

The cler'yman * sit un)er, sai) rs in)sor, al9ays sto5s 7or se6eral minutes

be7ore his sermon, so that the 5eo5le can 'o out i7 they 9ant to

Ho9 inconsi)erate, sai) r Amarinth o7 course no one )ares to mo6e (n'lish

5eo5le ne6er )are to mo6e, ece5t at the 9ron' time They thin! it is less

noticeable to 'o out at a concert )urin' a son' than )urin' an inter6al The (n'lishlabour un)er so many curious )elusions They thin! they are res5ectable, 7or


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instance, i7 they are not notice), an) that to be tal!e) about is to be 7ast +7 course

the really 7ast 5eo5le are ne6er tal!e) about at all Hal7 the youn' men in &on)on,9hose names are by9or)s, are intensely an) ho5elessly 6irtuous They !no9 it,

an) that is 9hy they loo! so 5ale The consciousness o7 6irtue is a terrible thin', is

it not, r Smith* am a7rai) * har)ly cau'ht 9hat you 9ere sayin' 3o 5u))in', than! you, sai)

that 'entleman

* 9as sayin' that 9e mo)erns are really[' $B%all much better than 9e seem

There is 7ar more hy5ocrisy o7 6ice no9a)ays than hy5ocrisy o7 6irtue The amount

o7 ecellence 'oin' about is 5ositi6ely ?uite ama=in', i7 one only !no9s 9here toloo! 7or it but 'oo) 5eo5le in Society are so terribly a7rai) o7 bein' 7oun) out

ReallyK Can that be the case

*n)ee), it can Society is absolutely 7ran! about its sins, but absolutely secreti6eabout its la5ses into 'oo)ness, i7 * may so 5hrase it * once !ne9 a youn' nobleman9ho 9ent t9ice to church on Sun)ayin the mornin' an) the a7ternoon He

mana'e) to conceal it 7or nearly 7i6e years, but one )ay, to his horror, he sa9 a5ara'ra5h in the Starthe Staris a small e6enin' 5a5er 9hich circulates chie7ly

amon' members o7 the Conser6ati6e 5arty 9ho )esire to !no9 9hat the aristocracy

are )oin're6ealin' his e?uisite secret He 7le) the country imme)iately, an) is

no9 li6in' in retirement in uenos Ayres, 9hich is, * am tol), the mo)ern

e?ui6alent o7 the ol)7ashione) 5ur'atory

Goo) 'raciousK &on)on must be in a 6ery sa) con)ition, sai) r Smith, inconsi)erable ecitement 3o, than! you, * ne6er touch 7ruit Thin's use) to be

6ery )i77erent, * ima'ine, althou'h * ha6e ne6er been in to9n e [' $#%ce5t 7or the)ay, an) then merely to call u5on my )entist

Mes, this is an era o7 chan'e, murmure) &or) Re''ie, 9ho ha) s5o!en little an)eaten much Goo) 9omen ha6e ta!en to tal!in' about 6ice, an), in no lon' time,

ba) men 9ill ta!e to tal!in' about 6irtue

* thin! you are 9ron'in' 'oo) 9omen, &or) Re''ie, sai) &a)y &oc!e rather

'ra6ely

*t is almost im5ossible to 9ron' a 9oman no9, he ans9ere) 5ensi6ely omen

are so busy in 9ron'in' men, that they ha6e no time 7or anythin' else Sarah Gran)

has inau'urate) the (ra o7 9omen


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* must say * 5re7er them to &a)y 1eune


43/104

'oo) 9omen are to 7in) blas5hemy 9here it is not, an) to con7use reasonin' 9ith

ribal)ry

AhK sai) the curate, loo!in' the more ascetic because he 9as sli'htly con7use) in

min)

3o9 you s5o!e o7 music oustin' )octrine Do you not thin! that the truest, the

most 5oi'nant )octrine, s5ea!s, utters itsel7 throu'h the arts usic has its reli'ion

an) its atheism, 5aintin' its holiness an) its sin A statue, in its 9hite an) marble

stillness, may su''est to us )reams in 9hich the an'els 9al!, or 6i[' $8%sions that *

9ill not characterise in the 5resence o7 an or)aine) 5riest (6en architecture may

incline us to 9orshi5, an) a 7e9 bro!en 7ra'ments o7 stone to 7aith Ha6e you e6erbeen in Greece

* ha6e ne6er been out o7 my o9n country, sai) r Smith, ece5t once, 9hen *

s5ent a 9ee! in ales* ha6e ne6er ma)e an ehausti6e stu)y o7 elsh art, sai) Amarinth, but * belie6er Gla)stone thin!s it 'allant, 9hile others 5re7er to call it little ut the 5oint *

9ante) to su''est 9as merely this, that 9e can )ra9 )octrine 7rom the music an)the 5aintin' o7 men, as 9ell as 7rom literature an) sermons

* ha6e ne6er thou'ht o7 it be7ore, sai) r Smith )oubt7ully

o=art an) ach ha6e 'i6en me belie7 that not e6en the sub6ersi6e im5otencies o7

Sir Arthur Sulli6an, an) the terribly ob6ious


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* see much 'oo) in Rome, sai) r Smith solemnly, althou'h it is min'le) 9ith

many errors 3o, not any nuts, than! you * ne6er touch nuts * shoul) li!e to hearthis anthem

* coul) 5lay it to you 9ith 5leasure, Re''ie sai), )roo5in' his 7air hea) sli'htly,

[' .00%but o7 course it is all 9ron' on a 5iano *t re?uires the or'an an) s9eetboys< 6oices

e ha6e anthems in the church here, sai) r Smith e ha6e e6en )one

masses

Ho9 e?uisiteK sai) Amarinth A 6illa'e mass There is somethin' beauti7ully

ori'inal in the notion AhK r Smith, i7 your boys coul) ha6e )one &or) Re''ie Amarinth san! )o9n into a chair by &a)y &oc!e an) si'he) hea6ily

hat is the matter she as!e)Mou ha6e a beauti7ul soul, he sai) so7tly, an) * ha6e a beauti7ul soul too hy

shoul) there not be a sym5athy bet9een us &a)y &oc!e, * am the 6ictim o7

)e5ression * am su77erin' 7rom the mala)y o7 li7e * usually ha6e an attac! o7 it in

the mornin', but it 7lies 9hen the stars come out an) lea6es me brilliant hat canbe the matter 9ith me toni'ht * as! mysel7 the ?uestion 9ith the most 5oi'nant

aniety, * can assure you

She 'lance) at his lar'e an) solemn 7ace, at his am5le chee!s an) loose mouth, an)

smile) sli'htly

Some circumstances ha6e been un!in) to you, 5erha5s she sai)


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That coul) not hurt me, he ans9ere), 7or, than! Hea6enK * am no 5hiloso5her,

an) ne6er ta!e 7acts seriously Circumstances, my[' .02%)ear &a)y &oc!e, are thelashes lai) into us by li7e Some o7 us ha6e to recei6e them 9ith bare) i6ory bac!s,

an) others are 5ermitte) to !ee5 on a coatthat is the only )i77erence

Are you a 5essimist she as!e)

* ho5e so * loo! u5on o5timism as a most ?uaint )isease, an eru5tion that brea!s

out u5on the soul, an) )estroys all its interest, all its beauty The o5timist )resses

u5 the ama=in' 7i'ures o7 li7e li!e Dres)en she5her)s an) she5her)esses, an) 5i5es

a 7oolish tunethe +l) Hun)re)th or some such thin'7or them to )ance to e

cannot all re7use to see anythin' but comic o5era 5easants aroun) us

Met 9e nee) not re5lace them 9ith 5antomime )emons

Demons, as you call them, are much more interestin' 3othin' is so unattracti6e

as 'oo)ness, ece5t, 5erha5s, a sane min) in a sane bo)y (6en the chil)ren 7in)the 7airies monotonous, * belie6e An eternal smile is much more 9earisome than a

5er5etual 7ro9n The one s9ee5s a9ay all 5ossibilities, the other su''ests a

thousan)

(6ery one o7 them sinister

hy not here 9oul) be the )rama 9ithout the crime The clash o7 s9or)s isthe music o7 the 9orl) eo5le tal! so much to[' .0B%me about the beauty o7

con7i)ence They seem to entirely i'nore the much more subtle beauty o7 )oubt To

belie6e is 6ery )ull To )oubt is intensely en'rossin' The A5ostle Thomas 9asartistic u5 to a certain 5oint He a55reciate) the 6alue o7 sha)o9s in a 5icture To

be on the alert is to li6e To be lulle) in security is to )ie

ut i7 you 5ushe) that amusin' theory to its limits you 9oul) arri6e at the

contra)iction in termsto be ha55y is to be miserable

Certainly To be 9hat is commonly calle) ha55y is a mental com5laint )eman)in'

care7ul treatment The ha55y 5eo5le o7 the 9orl) ha6e their 6alue, but only the

ne'ati6e 6alue o7 7oils They thro9 u5 an) em5hasise the beauty, an) the7ascination o7 the unha55y Scarlet an) blac! are the 7inest o7 all the colours An)

to cease to )oubt is to )es5air7or a really talente) man or 9oman That is 9hy5eo5le become sce5tics They )esire to sa6e themsel6es 7rom intellectual

annihilation

Met the mental 5leasure o7 5ro6in' a case may be !een

ut it cannot be lastin' Mou )o not see the )eli'ht that must atten) u5on

con;ecture &et me 5ut it to you in another 9ay Can you concei6e lo6in' a man

9hom you 7elt you un)erstoo)[' .0#%

Certainly (s5ecially i7 he 9ere )i77icult 7or other 5eo5le to un)erstan)


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AhK you be'in to a55reciate the 6alue o7 )oubt e o7ten be'in by )esirin' others

to en;oy 9hat 9e shall e6entually 9ant 7or oursel6es The moment 9e un)erstan) ahuman bein', our lo6e 7or that human bein' s5rea)s his 9in's 5re5aratory to 7lyin'

out o7 the 9in)o9

&a)y &oc!e, 9ho ha) be'un to loo! earnest, seeme) to recollect hersel7 9ith ane77ort, an) )is5elle) the 'ra6ity that 9as settlin' o6er her 7ace 9ith a smile

Mou 'o 6ery 7ar in your a)mirable )esire to amuse, she sai)

* thin! not, he ans9ere), 5uttin' )o9n her cu5 9ith an elaborate serenity +ne

must 5er5etually )oubt to be 7aith7ul er5leity an) mistrust 7an a77ection into

5assion, an) so brin' about those beauti7ul tra'e)ies that alone ma!e li7e 9orth

li6in' omen once 7elt this 9hile men )i) not, an) so 9omen once rule) the

9orl) ut men are a9a!enin' 7rom their mental slumber, an) are becomin'

incom5rehensible &or) Re''ie is an instance o7 9hat * mean The a6era'e 5erson7in)s him e?uisitely )i77icult to com5rehen) He 7ascinates by bein' se)ulouslyune5ecte) &isten to his anthem He is be'innin' to 5lay it[' .0-%Ho9

une5ecte) it is *t al9ays )oes 9hat the ear 9ants, an) all mo)ern music )oes

9hat the ear )oes not 9ant There7ore the ear al9ays e5ects to be )isa55ointe),

an) &or) Re''ie astonishes it by ne6er )isa55ointin' it

The 7aint music o7 the 5iano no9 tin!le) out into the ni'ht, an) numerous sim5le

harmonies an) 7ull closes 7ell melo)iously u5on their hearin'

&or) Re''ie is certainly 6ery unli!e his anthem, sai) &a)y &oc!e, listenin' a

little sa)ly

Re''ie is unli!e e6erythin' ece5t himsel7 He is com5letely 9on)er7ul, an),

9on)er7ully com5lete He li6es 7or sensations, 9hile other 5eo5le li6e 7or 7aiths, or7or con6ictions, or 7or 5re;u)ices He 9oul) ma!e any 9oman unha55y Ho9

beauti7ulK

*s it al9ays a si'n o7 intelli'ence to be 9hat others are not

ut she recei6e) no )irect ans9er to her ?uestion, 7or at this moment a)ameJaltesi an) rs in)sor came to them across the la9n They ha) 7inishe) tryin'

the )i6orce case

hat is that about intelli'ence a)ame Jaltesi as!e) croa!ily

Dear &a)yK sai) (sm>, 'ettin' u5 out o7 his chair slo9ly, intelli'ence is the)emon[' .0I%o7 our a'e ine bores me horribly * am al9ays tryin' to 7in) a

reme)y 7or it * ha6e e5erimente) 9ith absinthe, but 'aine) no result * ha6e rea)

the collecte) 9or!s o7 alter esant They are sai) to sa5 the mental 5o9ers They

)i) not sa5 mine +5ium has 5ro6e) useless, an) 'reen tea ci'arettes lea6e me

5ositi6ely brilliant hat am * to )o * so lon' 7or the lethar'y, the s9eet 5eace o7

stu5i)ity *7 only * 9ere &e9is orrisK


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n7ortunate manK Mou shoul) treat your com5laint 9ith the !ni7e ecome a

5o5ular author

She lau'he) 9ithout smilin', an uncanny habit o7 hers, an) turne) to the 9in)o9

* hear r Smith sayin' that he must 'o, she sai)rs in)sor rustle) 7or9ar) to s5ee) the 5artin' 'uest

That ni'ht (sm> sai) to Re''ie in the smo!in' room

Re''ie, &a)y &oc!e 9ill marry you i7 you as! her

* su55ose so, the boy sai)

Shall you as! her

* su55ose so r Smith is 'oin' to )o my anthem on Sun)ayThey lit their ci'arettes[' .0L%

79

other, sai) Tommy 9ith ecee)in' 'reat 7ran!ness, * lo6e &or) Re''ie

y )ear boy, &a)y &oc!e sai), 9hat a su))en a77ectionK hy, to)ay is onlyFri)ay, an) you ne6er met him until e)nes)ay That is ?uic! 9or!

*t


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here )oes he 'et those 9or)s thou'ht &a)y &oc!e to hersel7, 5re5arin' to 'o

to her o9n brea!7ast

She 7oun) &or) Re''ie alone in the room rea)in' his letters He 9as )resse) in

loose 9hite 7lannel, an) in the buttonhole o7 his thin ;ac!et a bi' 'reen carnation

9as stuc! *t loo!e) 5er7ectly 7resh

Ho9 )o you mana'e to !ee5 that 7lo9er ali6e so lon' as!e) &a)y &oc!e, as they

sat )o9n o55osite to one another For there 9as no 7ormality at this meal, an)

5eo5le be'an ;ust 9hen they 7elt incline)

* )on


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Do * loo! at you stran'ely she as!e), 9ith a su))en curious ner6ousness

erha5s it is because you are so stran'e, so unli!e the men 9hom * ha6e beenaccustome) to Mour aims are )i77erent 7rom theirs

That is im5ossible, &a)y &oc!e

*m5ossibleK hy

ecause * ha6e no aims * ha6e only emotions *7 9e li6e 7or aims 9e blunt ouremotions *7 9e li6e 7or aims, 9e li6e 7or one minute, 7or one )ay, 7or one year,

instea) o7 7or e6ery minute, e6ery )ay, e6ery year The moo)s o7 one


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ean9hile &a)y &oc!e ha) 'one into the 'ar)en The 9eather 9as ?uite 5er7ect

(n'lan) seeme) to ha6e ma)e a s5ecial e77ort, an) to ha6e )etermine) to sho99hat she coul) )o in the 9ay o7 a summer The s!y ha) been 9ell s9e5t o7 clou)s,

an) shimmere) in the heat almost as i7 it ha) been 6arnishe) The 'ar)en 9as

re6ellin' in the 'ro9in' luury o7 9armth *t ne6er loo!e) 5arche) rs in)sor


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combine) 9ith )arin' that )re9 her to him She coul) not tell She only !ne9, as

she 9al!e) amon' the shy roses, that the casual touch o7 his han)a han), too,that 9as 6ery li!e a 'irl


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su55er *t is to be 5aro)y, or, as he calls it, an ele6ation o7


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roun) chee!s that seeme) to 7ocus the )yin' rays o7 the settin' sun, an) hair

brushe) 5er7ectly 7lat to their little bulletsha5e) hea)s, in 9hich the brains 9or!e)9ith much ecitement an) antici5ation Their eyes 9ere mostly blue an) innocent,

an) they 9ere[' .20%all a77licte) 9ith a sort o7 s5rin'y shyness 9hich le) them at

one moment to ;um5s o7 ;oy, an) at another to blushes an) smilin' s5eechlessnessThey 9ere alto'ether naQ6e an) in6i'oratin', an) e6en a)ame Jaltesi, 5eerin' at

them throu'h her tortoise shell eye'lass, 9as mo6e) to a )ry a55robation She

no))e) her hea) at them t9o or three times, an) remar!e)

oys are much nicer than 'irls They 'i''le less, an) smile more *n sur5lices

these 9oul) be ?uite 7etchin'?uite

rs in)sor, too, 9as ?uite )esolate) by the 7act that they ha) not come in 9hat

she 5ersiste) in callin' their little ni'ht'o9ns She e5resse) her sorro9 to the hea)boy, 9ho occasionally san' +hK 7or the 9in's o7 a )o6eK as a solo at e6enson',

an) 9as conse?uently loo!e) u5 to 9ith )ee5 res5ect by all the 6illa'e

* thou'ht you al9ays 9ore them 9hen you san'K she sai) 5lainti6ely *t ma!es it

so much more im5ressi6e Coul)n


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hene6er it mo6e) his eyes mo6e) too, an) he e6en 7or'ot to blush as he lost

himsel7 in its astonishin' 'reen 7ascinations

Ho9 e?uisite rosecoloure) youth is, Amarinth sai) so7tly to rs in)sor, as

&or) Re''ie ran'e) the little boys be7ore him, an) 5re5are) to stri!e a chor) u5on

the 5iano There is nothin' in the 9orl) 9orth ha6in' ece5t youth, youth 9ith its5er7ect sins, sins 9ith the )e9 u5on them li!e re) rosesyouth 9ith its 5ur5le

5assions an) its 9il) an) 9on)er7ul tears The 9orl) 9orshi5s youth, 7or the 9orl)

is 6ery ol) an) 'rey an) 9eary, an) the 9orl) is becomin' 6ery res5ectable, li!e aman 9ho is too )ecre5it to sin Ah, )ear 7rien), let us sin 9hile 9e may, 7or the

time 9ill come 9hen 9e shall be able to sin no more hy, 9hy )o the youn'ne'lect their 5assionate 5ulsatin' o55ortunities

He si'he), as the 9in) si'hs throu'h the 'ol)en strin's o7 a har5, musically,5athetically These little chorister boys ma)e him 7eel[' .2B%that his youth ha)

sli55e) 7rom him, an) le7t him alone 9ith his intellect an) his e5i'rams Sometimeshe shi6ere) 9ith col) amon' those e5i'rams He 9as tire) o7 them He !ne9 them

so 9ell, an) then so many o7 them ha) 7orei'n bloo) in their 6eins, an) 9ere

incline) to taunt him 9ith bein' (n'lish AhK youth 9ith its sim5le 5uns an) its

7ullbloo)e) 5leasures, 9hen there is no 'ol) )ust in the hair an) no 9rin!les aboutthe eyes, 9hen the sources o7 an e5i'ram, li!e the sources o7 the 3ile, are

un)isco6erable, an) the ;oy o7 bein' le) into sin has not lost its 5early 7reshnessKAhK youthyouthK He si'he), an) si'he) a'ain, 7or he thou'ht his si'h as beauti7ul

as the 7ace o7 a youn' Gree! 'o)K

Sin' it )aintilyK crie) &or) Re''ie, 5layin' the s5inetli!e 5relu)e 9ith the so7t5e)al )o9n &et it tin!le

An) the little rosy boys trie) to let it, s?uea!in' 9ron' notes 9ith all their mi'ht

an) main, an) 7iin' their eyes u5on &or) Re''ie an) his carnation, rather than

u5on their sheets o7 music

Thy li5s are li!e a threa), li!e a three)a oo7 scarlet, an) thy s5eech, thy s5ee

eech iis comely, they s?ueale) at the to5 o7 their 6illa'e 6oices, stron' in the

5ossession o7 com5lete unmusicalness An) &or) Re''ie 9an[' .2#%)ere) about

o6er the 5iano, hol)in' his 7air hea) on one si)e, an) smilin' u5on them 9ith his5ale blue eyes He truste) rather in re5etition than in correction, an) eliminate) the9ron' notes 'ra)ually by )int o7 5layin' the ri'ht ones himsel7 o6er an) o6er

a'ain

A7ter hearin' his anthem about 7i6e times, rs in)sor an) her 'uests a);ourne)

to the 'ar)en, lea6in' Tommy &oc!e seate) on the music stool by &or) Re''ie


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Thy li5s are li!e a threa) o7 scarlet, he murmure), li!e a threa) o7 scarlet

Solomon must ha6e li6e) a 6ery beauti7ul li7e He un)erstoo) the art o7 li7e, thema'ic o7 moo)s hy )o 9e not all li6e 7or our o9n sensations, instea) o7 7or other

5eo5le hy )o 9e consi)er the 9orl) at all The 9orl) ta!en en masseis a

monster, cramme) 9ith 5re;u)ices, 5ac!e) 9ith 5re5ossessions, can!ere) 9ith9hat it calls 6irtues, a 5uritan, a 5ri' An) the art o7 li7e is the art o7 )e7iance To

)e7y That is 9hat 9e ou'ht to li6e 7or, instea) o7 li6in', as 9e )o, to ac?uiesce

The 9orl) )i6i)es actions into three classes: 'oo) actions, ba) actions that you may)o, an) ba) actions that you may not )o *7 you stic! to the 'oo) actions, you are ['

.2-%res5ecte) by the 'oo) *7 you stic! to the ba) actions that you may )o, you are

res5ecte) by the ba) ut i7 you 5er7orm the ba) actions that no one may )o, then

the 'oo) an) the ba) set u5on you, an) you are lost in)ee) Ho9 * hate that 9or)

natural

hy * thin! it is one o7 the most beauti7ul o7 9or)sHo9 stran'eK To me it means all that is mi))leclass, all that is o7 the essence o7

;in'oism, all that is colourless, an) 9ithout 7orm, an) 6oi) *t mi'ht be a beauti7ul

9or), but it is the most )ebase) coin in the currency o7 lan'ua'e Certain thin's are

classe) as natural, an) certain thin's are classe) as unnatural7or all the 5eo5leborn into the 9orl) *n)i6i)ualism is not allo9e) to enter into the matter A chil) is

unnatural i7 it hates its mother A mother is unnatural i7 she )oes not 9ish to ha6echil)ren A man is unnatural i7 he ne6er 7alls in lo6e 9ith a 9oman A boy is

unnatural i7 he 5re7ers loo!in' at 5ictures to 5layin' cric!et, or )reamin' o6er the

9hite na!e) beauty o7 a Gree! statue to a 'ame o7 7ootball un)er Ru'by rules *7our 6irtues are not cut on a 5attern, they are unnatural *7 our 6ices are not

accor)in' to rule, they are unnatural e must be 'oo) naturally e must sin

naturally e must li6e naturally, an) )ie[' .2I%naturally ran9ell rontN )ie)stan)in' u5, an) the 9orl) has loo!e) u5on him as a blas5hemer e6er since hy

must 9e stan) u5 to li6e, an) lie )o9n to )ie yron ha) a club 7oot in his min),an) so yron is a by9or) Met t9iste) min)s are as natural to some 5eo5le as

t9iste) bo)ies *t is natural to one man to li6e li!e Charles 4in'sley, to 5reach

'entleness, an) lo6e s5ort it is natural to another to )ream a9ay his li7e on the

narro9 couch o7 an o5ium )en, 9ith his hea) bet9een a 7ello9sinner


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Mes The 5erson 9ho is calle) a


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&a)y &oc!e loo!e) at him 9ith a )istaste that she coul) scarcely conceal

Mou are 6ery amusin', she sai) bluntly ut you are not 6ery satis7actory *9on)er i7 you ha6e a 5hiloso5hy o7 li7e

* ha6e, he sai), a beauti7ul onehat is it

Ta!e e6erythin'an) nothin' seriously An) in your career o7 )ece5tion al9ays,i7 5ossible, inclu)e yoursel7 amon' those 9hom you )ecei6e

(sm>K (sm>K crie) &or) Re''ie Amarinth sat amon' the boys at the en)so7 the t9o si)es o7 the horseshoe Tommy 9as on &or) Re''ie


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e6en more out o7 5lace than she )i), althou'h he 9as, as al9ays, tremen)ously at

his ease His lar'e an) slee! bo)y to9ere) u5 at the en) o7 the lon' table Hiscare7ully crim5e) hea) 9as smilin'ly bo9e) to catch the 9his5ere) con7i)ences o7

1immy San)s, an) the 'reen carnation, starin' 7rom the la5el o7 his e6enin' coat,

seeme) to 9atch 9ith a bristlin' ama=ement the homely )i6ersions o7 anunaccustome) rusticity

The little boys 9ere all ho5elessly in lo6e 9ith &or) Re''ie, to 9hom they ha)

learnt, o6er the anthem, to )ra9 near 9ith a certain con7i)ence, but they 'a=e)u5on Amarinth 9ith an a9e that ma)e their bosoms hea6e, an) coul) not re5ly to

his remar!s 9ithout )ra9in' in their breath at the same timea circumstance9hich ren)ere) their artless communications less luci)ly au)ible than mi'ht ha6e

been )esire) Amarinth, ho9e6er, 9as serenely 'racious, an) mi'ht be hear)

con6ersin' about rustic ;oys an) the charms o7 the country in a 9ay that 9oul)

ha6e )one e6ery cre)it to Jir'il &a)y &oc!e coul) not resist listenin' to his ratherlou) 6oice, an) the 7ra'ments she hear) amuse) her 'reatly At one moment he 9as

hymnin' the ra5tures o7 bee!ee5in', at another lettin' o77 e5i'rams on the7ascinatin' sub;ect o7 hayma!in'

AhK )ear boy, she hear) him sayin' to the in'enuous 1immy, clin' to youryouthK Clin' to the haytime o7 your li7e, ere the 7iel)s are bare, an) all the emotions

are stac!e) a9ay 7or 7ear o7 the rain There is nothin' li!e rose5ure youth, 1immy+ne )ay your roun) chee!s 9ill 'ro9 ra))le), the li'ht 9ill 7a)e 7rom your bro9n

eyes, an) the scarlet 7rom your li5s Mou 9ill become 7eeble an) bloate) an) inane

a shi6erin' satyr 9ith a[' .BB%soul o7 lea) The sirens 9ill sin' to you, an) you9ill not hear them The she5her)s 9ill 5i5e to you, an) you 9ill not )ance The

7loc!s 9ill 'o 7orth to 7ee), an) the har6ests 9ill be so9n an) 'athere) in, an) the

6oice o7 the 'reen summer 9ill chant amon' the re) an) the yello9 roses, an) theserena)es o7 the bees 9ill ma!e musical the scente) air y the ruine), moss

clothe) barn the o9l 9ill buil) her nest, an) the t9ili'ht 9ill trea) a measure 9iththe ni'ht An) the rustic mai)ens 9ill 'ather the shell5in! honeysuc!le 9ith their

lo6ers, an) the amorous clou)s 9ill slumber abo6e the e?uisite 5lou'hboy 9ith

his 5rimrose loc!s, as he 9an)ers, 9histlin', on his 9ay 3ature, inartistic,

monotonous 3ature, 9ill rene9 the sa5 o7 her youth, an) the )e9y 7reshness o7 her

7irst 5ale s5rin'time, but the sa5 o7 your youth 9ill ha6e run )ry 7or e6er, an) the6oice o7 your s5rin'time 9ill be mute an) toneless Ah, 1immy, 1immyK clin' toyour youthK

1immy loo!e) 5ain7ully embarrasse), an) hel5e) himsel7 to some 5ic!le) 9alnuts9hich one o7 the tall 7ootmen han)e) to him at that moment rs in)sor ha) a

6a'ue i)ea that all 5oor 5eo5le li6e) u5on 5ic!les, an) she ha) comman)e) her

house!ee5er to lay in a lar'e store o7 them 7or this occasion Ha6in' lan)e) ['

.B#%them sa7ely u5on his 5late, 1immy 5rocee)e) to )e6our them, hel5in' himsel7

to some col) bee7 as a s5ecies o7 con)iment, an) !ee5in' an ama=e) eye all the

time u5on Amarinth, 9ho sur6eye) the horseshoe table 9ith a 'lance o7com7ortable an) 9itty su5eriority


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* ha6e com5ose) a catch, 1immy, he 5rocee)e), a beauti7ul rainbo9 catch,

9hich 9e 9ill 7lute 5resently in the moonli'ht Do you !no9


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rs in)sor rose, an) sai), as she 9ent out, to r Amarinth

Do teach them your catch no9 e 9ill 'o into the 'ar)en *7 only they ha) ontheir ni'ht'o9ns *t is such a )isa55ointment

*n the 'ar)en, 9hich 9as rather )ar!, 7or the moon ha) not yet 7ully risen, &a)y&oc!e 7oun) &or) Re''ie stan)in' by her si)e 9ith Tommy, 9ho ha) 7orme) a

5assionate attachment to him, an) sho9e) it 6iolently both in 9or)s an) )ee)s

&et us sit )o9n here, he sai), )ra9in'[' .BL%7or9ar) a chair 7or her (sm>

9ants me to hear his music 7rom a )istance Tommy, you 'o in an) sin' e 9ant

to listen to you

Tommy ran o77 ecite)ly

&a)y &oc!e an) &or) Re''ie sat )o9n silently A 7e9 yar)s a9ay rs in)sor,

a)ame Jaltesi, an) r Smith 7orme) a hetero'eneous an) sin'ularlyina55ro5riate 'rou5 Throu'h the li'hte) 9in)o9s o7 the )ra9in'room a multitu)e

o7 bobbin' small hea)s mi'ht be )iscerne), an) the lar'e 7orm o7 (sm> Amarinth

in the act o7 recitin' the 9or)s o7 his catch

&or) Re''ie loo!e) at &a)y &oc!e, an) si'he) so7tly

hy are beauti7ul thin's so sa) he sai) This ni'ht is li!e some e?uisite )ar!

youth 7ull o7 sorro9 *7 you listen, you can hear the murmur o7 his 'rie7 in the 9in)*t is as i7 he ha) she) tears, an) !no9n renunciations

e all !no9 renunciations, she ans9ere) An) they are sa), but they are 'reattoo e are o7ten 'reatest 9hen 9e 'i6e somethin' u5

* thin! renunciations are 7oolish, he sai) * only once 'a6e u5 a 5leasure, an) theremembrance o7 it has haunte) me li!e a 'rey 'host e6er since hy )o 5eo5le

thin! it an[' .B8%act o7 holiness to star6e their souls e are here to e5ressoursel6es, not to 7ast t9ice in a 9ee! Met ho9 7e9 men an) 9omen e6er )are to

e5ress themsel6es 7ully

&a)y &oc!e loo!e) u5, an) seeme) to come to a su))en resolution

Do you e6er e5ress your real sel7 by 9hat you say or )o she as!e)

Mes, al9ays nearly

(6en by 9earin' that 'reen carnation

There 9as a rin' o7 earnestness in her 6oice that e6i)ently sur5rise) him a little

ecause, she 9ent on, s5ea!in' more ra5i)ly, * ta!e that as a symbol * cannothel5 it *t seems li!e the motto o7 your li7e, an) it is a tainte) motto hy

ut at this moment a )elicate soun) o7 ShshK came 7rom rs in)sor, an) the6oice o7 1immie San)s, an uncertain treble 9ith a ?ua6er in it, 9as hear) sin'in'


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(sm> Amarinth Amarinth o7ten sai), an) there7ore a contract that can beentere) into 9ithout searchin' o7 heart or loss o7 5er7ect liberty To him it sim5ly

meant that a 'oo)nature) 9oman, 9ho li!e) to !iss him, 9oul) o5en an account

7or him at her ban!er


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So you are to be a ca5italist, Re''ie, he sai) ill you sin' in the 9oo)s near

(sher[' .#.%ill you 7lute to the 'reat 'o) 9hom stoc!bro!ers 6ul'arly9orshi5 * 9on)er 9hat a stoc!bro!er is li!e * )on


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(sm>, he sai), 9hat )o 5eo5le )o be7ore they 5ro5ose * su55ose they lea) u5 to

it in some absur) 9ay *7 * 9ere a rustic * coul) 'o an) sit u5on a stile 9ith a stra9in my mouth, an) 9histle at &a)y &oc!e, 9hile she stoo) starin' at me an)

'i''lin' ut * am not a rustic* am an artist Really, * )on, ;ust as there are no such thin's as ri'ht

an) 9ron' There are only art an) imbecility ut ho9 shall * 5re5are 7or my5ro5osal hat )i) you )o

* )i) nothin' y 9i7e 5ro5ose) to me,[' .#-%an) * re7use) her Then she 9entan) 5ut u5 some thin's calle) banns, * belie6e A7ter9ar)s she sent me a 9hite

9aistcoat in a bro9n 5a5er 5arcel, an) tol) me to meet her at a certain church on a

certain )ay * )ecline) She came in a hire) carria'ea thin' li!e a lar'e )ee5 bath,

9ith t9o enormously 7at 5articoloure) horsesto 7etch me To a6oi) a scene *

9ent 9ith her, an) * un)erstan) that 9e 9ere marrie) ut the colour o7 the

9in)o9 behin) the altar 9as so atrocious, an) the )esi'no7 Hero)ias carryin'

about the hea) o7 1ohn the a5tist on a )ishso inartistically true to li7e, that *coul) not 5ossibly atten) to the ser6ice

oor (sm>, sai) &or) Re''ie, in a tone char'e) 9ith 5athos, * must trust in my

intuitions, then

That is li!e trustin' in one


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* ne6er su55ose * lea6e that to the hea)s o7 )e5artments 9hen they are ans9erin'

?uestions in the House *t is the 5ri6ile'e o7 incom5etence to su55ose The artist9ill al9ays !no9 ut there is &a)y &oc!e,[' .#I%Re''ie, bein' sensible in the

rose 'ar)en hat must the roses thin! o7 her Go to her, Re''ie, tell her that you

)o not lo6e her, an) 9ill marry her That is 9hat a true 9oman lo6es to hearAs &or) Re''ie 9ent a9ay, 9al!in' 6ery )elicately, 9ith his hea) )roo5in'

to9ar)s his le7t shoul)er, an) his han)s )an'lin' in a )ilettante manner at his si)es,

a)ame Jaltesi a55eare) at the French 9in)o9 o7 the )ra9in'room, re7usin' to;oin Tommy in some boyish 'ame A7ter a 5arleyin', 9hich she con)ucte) in

5ro7ile, she turne) her 7ull 7ace roun), an) ha6in' sha!en her tormentor o77, she5rocee)e) slo9ly to9ar)s Amarinth, 9ith an e5ression o7 etreme an) illimitable

irritability

Chil)ren are more lac!in' in )iscernment than the beasts o7 the 7iel), she sai), as

she came u5 to him That boy is actually 6ee) because * 9ill not 'o an) 5lay atTom Ti))ler


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&i!e r Henry 1ames * al9ays !no9 9hen he has thou'ht o7 a cle6er thin' at a

5arty

Ho9

y his lea6in' it imme)iately, an) in total silence He rushes home to 9rite histhou'ht )o9n His memory is treacherous

An) )oes he o7ten ha6e to lea6e a 5arty

retty o7ten About once a year, * belie6e

*t must be 6ery tryin' socially to be so cle6er So &or) Re''ie is actually serious

* ho5e he is ne6er that He 9ill marry, as he sins, 5rettily, 9ith the 'aiety o7 a

youn' Gree! 'o)

arry an) not settle )o9n, as 9e all )o no9 e ha6e im5ro6e) u5on the ol)co)e

e ha6e 5ractically abolishe) co)es in &on)on *n the country * 7ancy they

continue to thin! o7 the comman)ments Ho9 many comman)ments are there

* 7or'etK Se6en, * thin!, or is it se6enteen robably se6enteen * !no9 there are a

'reat many * hear) o7 a cler'yman in a 3orthern 5arish 9ho too! t9enty minutesto rea) them, althou'h he le7t out all the h


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about her, &a)y &oc!e coul) not tell nor coul) she 5recisely tell either ho9 she

thou'ht about him He be'an to mean somethin' to her That 9as all she coul) saye6en to hersel7 She )resse) 7or )inner 6ery slo9ly that e6enin' Her 9in)o9 9as

o5en, an) as she 9as 5innin' some yello9 roses in the 7ront o7 her 'o9n, ha6in'

)ismisse) her mai), she hear) the 5i5in', ecite) 6oice o7 Tommy as!in' a?uestion o7 some hi))en com5anion in the 'ar)en belo9

Ho9 )oes it 'et li!e that he eclaime), 9ith the 5enetratin' s?uea! o7 a 6ery

youn' chil) * )on


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Tire) or not, you must 'o 9hen * say it, ans9ere) &a)y &oc!e, 9ith a harshness

such as she ha) ne6er )is5laye) be7ore Don Amarinth sai), 9ith a 'racious smile that illuminate) hislar'e 7eatures 9ith slo9 com5leteness *t is only 9hen 9e ha6e learne) to lo6e

7or'et7ulness that 9e ha6e learne) the art o7 li6in' * 9ish 5eo5le 9oul) 7or'et me

but someho9 they ne6er )o &on' a7ter * ha6e com5letely 7or'otten them they

remember me Then * ha6e to 5reten) that * remember them, an) that is so

7ati'uin'

(sm>, sai) rs in)sor, )o sin' us your son' o7 the 5asserby That is all

about rememberin' an) 7or'ettin', an) all that sort o7 thin' So s9eet * rememberit ma)e me cry 9hen * hear) itor 9as it lau'h hich )i) you mean it to )o

* )i) not mean it to )o anythin' The[' .-#%5oet 9ho means much is little o7 a

5oet * 9ill sin' you the son' but it is )rea)7ully )irect in e5ression * 9rote it oneni'ht at +7or) 9hen * 9as su5remely )run! * remember * 9e5t as * 9rote, 'reat,

9on)er7ul tears Mes, * 9ill sin' it *t is 7ull o7 the sorro9, the 9hite burnishe)

sorro9 o7 youth Ho9 )i6ine the melancholies o7 youth areK ith a'e comes 7olly,

an) 9ith 7olly comes the a55allin' merriment o7 e5erience (5erience) men are

al9ays merry They see thin's as they really are Ho9 terribleK until 9e can see

thin's as they really are not 9e ne6er truly li6e


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He 9ent slo9ly to the 5iano, sat )o9n, an) 5laye) a 5lainti6e, 7leetin' airan air

that 9as li!e a 9an)erin' moonbeam, the 6eritable 5hantom o7 a melo)y Then hesan' this son', in a lo9 an) almost toneless 6oice, utterin' the notes rather than

6ocalisin' them

THE S%.G %: THE P!SSER-B0

assin', 5assin'ahK sa) heart, sin'

ut you cannot !ee5 me beyon) to)ay,

For * am a 9ay9ar) bir) on the 9in' A 9ay9ar) 9ai7, 9ho 9ill ne6er stay

The i6ory morn, an) the 5rimrose e6e,An) the t9ili'ht, 9his5erin' late an) lo9,

They !iss the hem o7 the s5ell * 9ea6e

[' .--%They tremble, an) as! me 9here * 'o

assin', 5assin'ahK s9eet soul, si'h

ut you cannot !ee5 me beyon) toni'ht,For * am a 9il7ul 9an)erer by

A 9il7ul 9ai7 on a 7anci7ul 7li'htThe sha)o9y moon, an) the crimson star,

An) the 9in) that steals 7rom the estern 9a6e,

They 9atch the 9ays 9here my 9il) 9in's are

They murmur an) mar6el 9hat * cra6e

assin', 5assin'ahK 5assion 'lo9ut you cannot li'ht me a lastin' 7lame,

y 9hich * may lin'er, lin'er an) !no9y s5ar! an) yours 7rom one 7urnace came

Mou 9his5er an) 9ee5, an) your 9or)s are tears,

An) your tears are 9or)s * remember yet

ut the 7lame )ies )o9n 9ith the )yin' years,

An) nothin' li6es that 7or'ets to 7or'et

assin', 5assin'ahK 9hither hy

Does the heart !no9 9hy Can the soul say 9here* 5ass, but * 5ause to catch e6


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Mes, sai) a)ame Jaltesi, as )ismal as a 9et Derby or a )ay at the seasi)e *

ho5e your anthem 9ill be more li6ely, &or) Re''ie [' .-I%ut o7 course it 9ille al9ays !ee5 our sorro9s 7or the )ra9in'room, an) our chir5iness 7or church

For sheer 'o)less merriment commen) me to the 'ran) chant *t al9ays remin)s me

o7 the cons5irators< chorus in the , 'ettin' u5 7rom the 5iano An) maturity is one lon' career o7sayin' 9hat one ou'ht not to say That is the art o7 con6ersation +nly one must

al9ays say it 9ith intention, other9ise 5eo5le thin! one 'rossly im5ro5er *ntentionis e6erythin' Artless im5ro5riety is ?uite 5laye) out M6ette Guilbert 'a6e it its

)eathblo9 *t only lin'ers no9 in the 9ritin's o7 +ui)a an) the 5oems o7 Arthur

Symon)s hy are minor 5oets so artless, an) 9hy )o they 7ancy they are so

9ic!e) hat curious 7ancies e6en unintelli'ent 5eo5le ha6e 3o minor 5oet hase6er been 9ic!e), ;ust as no real artist has e6er been 'oo) *7 one inten)s to be

'oo), one must ta!e it u5 as a 5ro7ession *t is ?uite the most en'rossin' one in the9orl) Ha6e you e6er been 9ith a 'oo) 5erson 9ho is ta!in' a holi)ay 7rom bein'

'oo) *t is li!e[' .-L%7allin' into the aelstrom They carry you o77 your 7eetTheir en;oyment terri7ies the ima'ination They are li!e a Sun)ay school let loose

in the oulin Rou'e, or r Toole 9hen he has ma)e a 5unK Sometimes * 9ish that

* coul) be 'oo) too, in or)er to ha6e such a holi)ay Are you really 'oin' to be),

&a)y &oc!e (le6enK * ha) no i)ea it 9as so early * am 'oin' to sit u5 all ni'ht

9ith Re''ie, sayin' ma) scarlet thin's, such as alter ater lo6es, an) 9a!in' the

ni'ht 9ith sil6er silences Goo)ni'ht Come, Re''ie, let us 'o to the smo!in'room, since 9e are le7t alone * 9ill be brilliant 7or you as * ha6e ne6er been

brilliant 7or my 5ublishers * 9ill tal! to you as no character in my 5lays has e6ertal!e) ComeK The youn' (n)ymion stirs in his )reams, an) the 5alesoul Selene

9atches him 7rom her 5early car The sha)o9s on the la9ns are 6iolet, an) the stars

9ash the s5aces o7 the s!y 9ith 5rimrose an) 9ith crimson The ni'ht is ol) yet

&et me be brilliant, )ear boy, or * 7eel that * shall 9ee5 7or sheer 9ittiness, an) )ie,

as so many ha6e )ie), 9ith all my e5i'rams still in me [' .-8%

977

The cotta'e 9as 7ull o7 the curious su55resse) rustlin' that seems to be inse5arable

7rom church'oin' in (n'lan) Goo) 5eo5le in6ariably rustle, an) so ba) 5eo5le,

tryin' to be 'oo), are incline) to rustle too At least that 9as 9hat a)ame Jaltesi

sai) as she stoo) in the tiny, sa'e'reen hall hun' 9ith 7ans, an) 7inishe) buttonin'her lon' Sue)e 'lo6es She still 9ore her bi' an) sha)y hat She )eclare) it ma)e

her 7eel reli'ious, an) nobo)y 9as 5re5are) to )is5ute the assertion Tommy 9as

clamourin' 7or his 5romise) 'reen carnation but &or) Re''ie, in obe)ience to&a)y &oc!e


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a9ay in the ni'ht, ha) 7a)e) e?uisitely, as the 9ic!e) 7a)e a7ter 7lourishin' li!e

'reen bay trees an) Tommy, thou'h incline) to tears, 9as soothe) by a 5romisethat he shoul) sit on the or'an seat an) turn o6er in the anthem &a)y &oc!e loo!e)

rather serious, an) rs in)sor stran'ely )issi5ate) She al9ays )i) loo! 5ar['

.-$%ticularly )issi5ate) on Sun)ay mornin's, althou'h she 9as not a9are o7 it an)to)ay she 9as intent on bein' )ecisi6ely rustic, an) as countri7ie) in her 5iety as

5ossible She 9ore an innocent 'o9n 5o9)ere) 9ith 5im5ernels, an) a little bonnet

that she thou'ht holiness itsel7, consistin' as it )i) o7 a 6ery small bo9 an) a 6erylar'e s5i!e &or) Re''ie an) (sm> Amarinth honoure) the )ay 9ith 7roc! coats

an) tall hats an) the 7ormer 9as in a state o7 consi)erable ecitement about his

anthem

Throu'h the )ro9sy summer air the 7i6e bells o7 Chenecote Church chime)

)elicately, an) 5rayerboo!s 9ere at a 5remium (6erybo)y ece5t &a)y &oc!e ha)

come )o9n 9ithout one, an) rs in)sor 9as in )es5aire must ha6e them, she sai) 5iteously, or the con're'ation 9ill be )rea)7ully

shoc!e) Con're'ations are so easily shoc!e) in the country * 9on)er i7 the

ser6ants ha6e any Ser6ants al9ays ha6e 5rayerboo!s an) that !in) o7 thin', )on


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There 9as, in 7act, a Sun)ay air in the ?uiet country roa) The 'eese ha) cease)

7rom their mun)ane 5rocee)in's in the 5on), an) 9ere me)itatin' o6er their sins insome cloistere) noo! o7 the 7armyar) The 7iel)s loo!e) 'reenly 5ious, em5tie) as

they 9ere o7 labourers *n the 7lo9ery he)'ero9s the bir)s chir5e) 9ith a chastene)

note an) e6en the summer 9in) touche) the 9al!ers as a bisho5 touches the hea)so7 !neelin' can)i)ates at Con7irmation +r so, at least, &a)y &oc!e thou'ht 9ith a

5leasant 7anci7ulness that she !e5t entirely to hersel7 The bells chime) on

monotonously an) no9 an) then, as they 9al!e), they cau'ht si'ht o7 neatly)resse) rustics in 7ront o7 them, strollin' mil)ly to the church, tric!e) out in all the

blac! bra6ery o7 broa)cloth, or )ec!e) in s5ri''e) muslins an) chi5 hats

rs in)sor 9as ?uite )eli'hte)

*s not this no6el she eclaime), settin' her 9hite 6eil strai'ht, an) s5rea)in' ahu'e 5arasol to the sun * 7eel so ri'hteous *t is 5leasant to 7eel ri'hteous, isn


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* 9ill sit )o9n certainly, sai) &a)y &oc!e, i7 you 9ish it but * coul) listen

e?ually 9ell stan)in' * )o ho5e 1immy San)s 9ill sin' his little bit o7 solocorrectly * shall 7eel ?uite ner6ous till it is o6er

&or) Re''ie loo!e) at her 9ith earnest 5leasure, an) e6en 9ith a momentary

a77ection He ha) ne6er li!e) her so much be7ore

Don


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5salms, to the un)oin' o7 the men in the choir, an) the etreme astonishment o7 the

unuse) con're'a[' .II%tion At the be'innin' o7 the secon) lesson, too, &or)Re''ie ma)e his 5resence !no9n by the 5er7ormance o7 a tumultuous an)

une5ecte) obli'ato, 9hich com5letely )ro9ne) the o5enin' 6erses o7 the 7ourth

cha5ter o7 the Gos5el accor)in' to St atthe9, an) cause) the 5ainte) 9in)o9s atthe etreme en) o7 the church to crac!le in a manner that su''este) earth?ua!es

an) the last 'reat )ay

hat is he )oin' 9his5ere) a)ame Jaltesi to Amarinth *s it in the thirtynine articles

3o, re5lie) (sm> he is only 'ettin' u5 7rom his seat Ho9 9on)er7ul he isK *ne6er hear) anythin' more im5ressi6e in my li7e A7ter all, un5reme)itate) art is

the 'reatest art Such an e77ect as that coul) ne6er ha6e been 5ro)uce) ece5tim5rom5tu

The anthem 5asse) o77 7airly 9ell, althou'h 1immy San)s 9ent rather 7lat, 5erha5so9in' to the 7act that none o7 the 5arty 7rom the cotta'e so much as 'lance) at him

)urin' his 5er7ormance

He e6i)ently ma)e allo9ance 7or our starin', a)ame Jaltesi sai) a7ter9ar)s

Ho9e6er, it can


74/104

They 9ere 9al!in' home across the common as he sai) this, an) &a)y &oc!e

turne) to &or) Re''ie, 9ho 9as by her si)e, still rather 7lushe) by his eertions

Are you one o7 those 9ho ma!e a 'o) o7 their tem5erament she sai) hat r

Smith says seems to me rather true

* thin! one says that to !no9 ho9 to be le) isa much 'reater art than to !no9 ho9 to lea)

* )on


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nmelo)ious 5ersons are almost throttle) by a )esire to 9histle but the true sin'er

7eels as )umb as a tree &unch 5er6a)es the human consciousness, an) the 5ros5ecto7 tea en'a'es the min) to an etent 9hich is neither ?uite normal nor entirely 7ree

7rom a sus5icion o7 'ree)iness Do's snore much lou)er than usual, an) the

con7irme) su77erer 7rom insomnia slee5s 9ith an in)ecent soun)ness ne6er attaine)by the beauty in the 7airy tale n)oubte)ly, Sun)ay thro9s the 9orl) entirely out

o7 'ear, an) that is one o7 its chie7 9orl)ly charms *t is 9ell to be out o7 'ear at

least once in the 9ee!

This 5articular Sun)ay a7ternoon ha) not le7t the 5arty at the cotta'e unscathe), as

the[' .L2%acute obser6er 9oul) ha6e imme)iately seen on 5enetratin' into the5retty sha)y 'ar)en, 9ith its 7ormal rose 9al!s, an) its )eli'ht7ul missha5en ye9

trees a)ame Jaltesi, 7or instance, 9as !nittin', a thin' she ha) scarcely e6er

been notice) to )o 9ithin the memory o7 man rs in)sor 9as 'oin' about in

'ar)en 'lo6es, 9ith a s5u) an) a 5air o7 cli55ers, )ama'in' the 7lo9erbe)s, 9ithan air o7 )uty an) almost sacre) res5onsibility r Amarinth 9as rea)in' the

ne9s5a5er li!e a marrie) man an) &or) Re''ie 9as lyin' in a hammoc!, tryin' to!ill 7lies by cla55in' his han)s to'ether &a)y &oc!e 9as in)oors, 9ritin' the

unnecessary letter to 3e9 Pealan), 9hich has alrea)y been re7erre) to an)Tommy, 7ati'ue) to tears by luncheon, ha) 'one to be), an) 9as )reamin' in an

an'ry manner about blac! beetles, unable ?uite to attain the )i'nity o7 a ni'htmare,

an) yet )e5ri6e) o7 the s9eet re5ose 9hich is 5o5ularly belie6e) to shut the )oor

on the nose o7 the )octor

Mes, )eci)e)ly, it 9as Sun)ay a7ternoonKThe 9eather 9as 6ery hot an) lan'ui), an) the bees !e5t on bu==in' all the time

un' 9as en'a'e) in in6esti'atin' the coalhole, a55arently un)er the im5ression

that hi))en treasure 9as not 7orei'n to its soil an) con6ersation entirelylan'uishe) a)ame Jal[' .LB%tesi )ro55e) her stitches, &or) Re''ie 7aile) to !ill

his 7lies, an) r Amarinth misun)erstoo) the )ri7t o7 lea)in' articles The Sabbathmin) 9as 6ery much in e6i)ence, an) the Sabbath min) 6er'es on imbecility The

bells chimin' 7or a7ternoon ser6ice rose on the still air, an) )ie) a9ay but nobo)y

mo6e) (6i)ently enthusiasm 7or rusticity combine) 9ith reli'ion 9as 7a)in' a9ay

A silence rei'ne), an) the hour 7or tea )re9 slo9ly on ut 5resently Amarinth,a7ter rea)in' all the a)6ertisements on the co6er o7 his ne9s5a5er, 5ut it )o9n

slo9ly an) 'lance) aroun), 9ith the 5u77y e5ression o7 a 5erson su55ressin' a'ro9nu5 ya9n

His eyes 9an)ere) about, to rs in)sor immerse) in amateur 'ar)enin' o7 the)estructi6e !in), to &or) Re''ie in his hammoc!, to a)ame Jaltesi )ro55in'

stitches in her lo9 chair He si'he) an) s5o!e

3e9s5a5ers are 6ery ener6atin', he sai) * 9on)er 9hat a ;ournalist is li!e *

al9ays ima'ine him a 5erson 9ith a 6ery lar'e hea)9ith the 5articular sort o7

lar'e hea), you !no9, that is lar'e because it contains absolutely nothin'


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* thou'ht ;ournalists 9ere the 5eo5le 9ho sell ne9s5a5ers at the street corners,

sai) &or) Re''ie[' .L#%

+hK * )on, a'ain su55ressin' a

ya9n a)ame Jaltesi, you ou'ht to !no9 you run a theatre, an) 5eo5le 9ho run

theatres al9ays !no9 ;ournalists *t seems to be in the bloo)

Ho9 can * tal! she re5lie) Don, you are tal!in' nonsenseK a)ame Jaltesi sai), )ro55in' t9o more

stitches 9ith an air o7 5ur5ose

* ho5e * am eo5le 9ho tal! sense are li!e 5eo5le 9ho brea! stones in the roa):

they co6er one 9ith )ust an) s5linters hat is rs in)sor )oin'

&oo!in' 7or slu's, sai) &or) Re''ie

hy

To !ill them

Ho9 )rea)7ulK They li6e such 'entle li6es amon' the roses Do let us tal! about

reli'ion * 9ant to try an) 7eel a55ro5riate AhK here is &a)y &oc!e &a)y &oc!e,

9e 9ere ;ust 'oin' to be'in tal!in' about reli'ion

*n)ee)K she sai), comin' 7or9ar) slo9ly, an) loo!in' a little colonial a7ter the

com5letion o7 her tas! Do you !no9 anythin' about the sub;ect

3o That is 9hy * 9ant to tal! about it Ji6acious i'norance is so artistic

*t is too common to be that, sai) a)ame Jaltesi *'norant 5eo5le are al9ays

6i6acious, ;ust as really cle6er men ne6er 9ear s5ectacles earin' s5ectacles is

the most 5laye)out 5ose * !no9 * 9on)er the Germans still !ee5 it u5

A nation that !ee5s u5 their army 9oul)[' .LI%!ee5 u5 anythin', sai) (sm>

Germans al9ays tal! about 7orei'n 5olitics an) nati6e beer +hK rs in)sor has;ust 5ermitte) a slu' to li6e * can see that by the 9ay in 9hich she is ta!in' o77 her


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'lo6es an) tryin' not to loo! ma'nanimous *s it nearly teatime, rs in)sor

he a))e), as she came u5, a little 7lushe) 9ith un)er eertion * only as! because *am not thirsty Tea is one o7 those )eli'ht7ul thin's that one ta!es because one )oes

not 9ant it That is 9hy 9e are all so 5assionately 7on) o7 it *t is li!e )eath,

e?uisitely unnecessary* ha6e 7oun) se6eral slu's, she ans9ere) trium5hantly but * can,

musin' o6er his teacu5

Are you e6er ecite) as!e) &a)y &oc!e

Sometimes, 9hen * ha6e in6ente) a 5er7ect 5ara)o A 5er7ect 5ara)o is so

terribly 'reat *t ma!es one 7eel li!e a trustee Can you un)erstan) the sensationHa6e you e6er 7elt li!e a trustee

* )on

because he )oes not !no9 ho9 to ma!e a 5un, an) because he )ares to sho9 theFrench 9hat can be )one 9ith their )rama The 9orl) is sur5rise) at me because *


78/104

ne6er 'o to Hurlin'ham, an) because * ha6e ne6er rea) rs Hum5hrey ar) *t is so

s5len)i) to ha6e some one al9ays near to hate *t is li!e s5en)in' the )ay 9ith ahurricane, or bein' born an or5han * once !ne9 a man 9ho ha) been born an

or5han He ha) been so 7ortu[' .80%nate as ne6er to ha6e e5erience) the ten)ercare o7 a mother, or the 7osterin' aniety o7 a 7ather There 9as somethin' 'reat

about him, the 'reatness o7 a man 9ho has ne6er !no9n trouble hy are 9e not

all born or5hans

* )are say it is a 5ity, rs in)sor sai) rather slee5ily *t 9oul) sa6e our

5arents a lot o7 trouble

An) our chil)ren a 'reat )eal o7 aniety, sai) (sm> * ha6e t9o boys, an) theiruneasiness about my 5ast is as !een as my uneasiness about their 7uture * am a7rai)

they 9ill be 'oo) boys They are 7on) o7 cric!et, an) loathe rea)in' 5oetry That is

9hat (n'lishmen consi)er 'oo)ness in boys

An) 9hat )o they consi)er 'oo)ness in 'irls as!e) &a)y &oc!e

+h, 'irls are al9ays 'oo) till they are marrie), sai) a)ame Jaltesi An) a7ter

that it isn7resh That is all one can say

about them


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An) that is sayin' a 'oo) )eal, sai) &a)y &oc!e

* )on ans9ere) *n (n'lan)

9e ha6e no art, ;ust because 9e )o reco'nise 'oo) an) e6il Glas'o9 thin!s it is

shame7ul to be na!e) yet e6en the ible )eclares that the i)eal con)ition is to be

na!e) an) unashame) an) Glas'o9, bein' in Scotlan), naturally 'i6es the lea) to

(n'lan) e ha6e no art e ha6e only the Royal Aca)emy, 9hich is remar!ablemerely 7or the ba)ness o7 its cuisine, an) the coi77ure o7 its 9ellmeanin' resi)ent+ur artists, as they call themsel6es, are li!e r Grant Allen: they say that all their

7ailures are , * am?uite sti77 7rom !nittin' so lon' Ta!e me to the )ra9in'room an) sin' to me a

son' o7 France &et us try to 7or'et (n'lan)

&a)y &oc!e, 9ill you come 7or a stroll in the ye9 tree 9al! sai) Re''ie * see

rs in)sor is tryin' to rea) b>K< She al9ays rea)s that

on Sun)ayK

&a)y &oc!e assente)[' .8B%

978


80/104

hen &or) Re''ie as!e) &a)y &oc!e to come 9ith him into the ye9 tree 9al! that

Sun)ay a7ternoon, he 7ully inten)e) to tell her that he 9oul) be 'la) to marry her *tseeme) to him that Sun)ay 9as a 6ery a55ro5riate )ay 7or such a con7ession, an)

9oul) 'i6e to his remar!s a solemnity that they mi'ht other9ise lac! ut

someho9 the con6ersation became imme)iately unmana'eable, as con6ersationsha6e a !nac! o7 )oin', an) turne) into channels 9hich ha) less than nothin' to )o

9ith marria'e y a series o7 in'enious mo)ulations &or) Re''ie mi'ht )oubtless

ha6e contri6e) e6entually to arri6e at the !ey in 9hich he 9ante) to breathe out hislo6e son' but the a7ternoon 9as too sultry 7or in'enuities, an) so they tal!e) about

the in7luence o7 Art on 3ature, an) his anthem, until it 9as time to )ress 7or )inner

&a)y &oc!e 9as a 9oman, an) so it may be ta!en 7or 'rante) that she )i6ine) her

com5anion


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ut he sai) nothin' that ni'ht, an) she ha) to 9ait 7or a 9hile The 9eather, 9hich

ha) certainly sho9n the most 'race7ul 5oliteness to the Surrey 9ee!, 9as still in acom5laisant[' .8I%7rame o7 min) 9hen on)ay mornin' )a9ne), an) the tents

9ere 5ut u5 7or the school chil)ren, an) the Aunt Sallies an) other instruments o7

amusement 9ere 5ose) in their 5laces about the 'ar)en, 9ithout any 7ear arisin'lest the rain shoul) 5re6ent their bein' use) (sm> Amarinth s5ent the mornin' in

re7lectin' u5on his a))ress, an) constructin' 5ale 5ara)oes an) the rest o7 the

5arty at the Retreat )i) nothin' 9ith all the ?uiet in'enuity that seems inbre) inthe (n'lish race

At 7our o

Amarinth


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one 5lace to another, simmerin' in 5er7ect en;oyment An) the central 7i'ure o7 all

9as (sm> Amarinth, 9ho stoo) leanin' u5on an ebony stic! 9ith a sil6er !nob,sur6eyin' his au)ience 9ith the 5eculiar smile o7 humourous sel7satis7action that

9as so characteristic o7 his lar'e7eature) 7ace

1ust be7ore he be'an his a))ress rs in)sor 7luttere) u5 to him, an) 9his5ere)in his ear

Don * 5romise) r Smith there

shoul) be nothin' o7 that !in) He thin!s classical allusions corru5tin' +7 course

he assente) 9ith a 'race7ul ben) o7 his crim5le) hea), an) in a clear an)

)eliberate 6oice be'an to s5ea!

The art o7 7olly, he sai), that is to say, the art o7 bein' consciously 7oolishbeauti7ully, has been 5ractise) to some etent in all a'es, an) amon' all 5eo5les,7rom the 5ale, clear )a9n o7 creation, 9hen, as 9e are tol), the man A)am, in

'lorious nu)ity, 9al!e) 5er7ectly amon' the 5er7ect 'la)es o7 ()en, )o9n to the'ol)en noonti)e o7 this nineteenth century, in 9hich 9e subtly li6e an) subtly

su77er Al9ays throu'hout the circlin' a'es the soul o7 man has to some sli'ht

etent as5ire) a7ter 7olly, as 3ature as5ires a7ter Art, an) as the ol) an) learne)

as5ire a7ter the 9on)er7ul i'norance that lies hi))en bet9een the scarlet co6ers o7

the 5assionate boo! o7 youth Al9ays there ha6e been in the 9orl) earnest men an)

earnest 9omen stri6in' 9ith a sacre) 9is)om to com5ass the hi'hest 7orms o77olly, see!in' 9ith a mani7ol) 5ersistence to soun) the )e5ths o7 that 6iolet main in

9hich the souls o7 the elect roc! to an) 7ro eternally ut althou'h, e6en in the

mornin' o7 the 9orl), there 9ere earnest see!ers a7ter lies, the 5ursuit o7 i'norance

has ne6er been carrie) on 9ith such uns9er6in' 7i)elity an) 9ith so much lo6ely

unreason as is the case to)ay[' .$0%e are b

max beerbohm the green carnation

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