登陆注册
5140700000082

第82章 At Shaston(17)

'I know hardly any poetry,'he replied mournfully.

'Don't you?These are some of them:

There was a Being whom my spirit oft Met on its visioned wanderings far aloft......A seraph of Heaven,too gentle to be human,Veiling beneath that radiant form of woman....Oh it is too flattering,so I won't go on!But say it's me!Say it's me!'

'It is you,dear;exactly like you!'

'Now I forgive you!And you shall kiss me just once there -not very long.'She put the tip of her finger gingerly to her cheek;and he did as commanded.'You do care for me very much,don't you,in spite of my not -you know?'

'Yes,sweet!'he said with a sigh;and bade her good-night.

In returning to his native town of Shaston as schoolmaster Phillotson had won the interest and awakened the memories of the inhabitants,who,though they did not honour him for his miscellaneous aquirements as he would have been honoured elsewhere,retained for him a sincere regard.When,shortly after his arrival,he brought home a pretty wife -awkwardly pretty for him,if he did not take care,they said -they were glad to have her settle among them.

For some time after her flight from that home Sue's absence did not excite comment.Her place as monitor in the school was taken by another young woman within a few days of her vacating it,which substitution also passed without remark,Sue's services having been of a provisional nature only.When,however,a month had passed,and Phillotson casually admitted to an acquaintance that he did not know where his wife was staying,curiosity began to be aroused;till,jumping to conclusions,people ventured to affirm that Sue had played him false and run away from him.The schoolmaster's growing languor and listlessness over his work gave countenance to the idea.

Though Phillotson had held his tongue as long as he could,except to his friend Gillingham,his honesty and directness would not allow him to do so when misapprehensions as to Sue's conduct spread abroad.On a Monday morning the chairman of the school committee called,and after attending to the business of the school drew Phillotson aside out of earshot of the children.

'You'll excuse my asking,Phillotson,since everybody is talking of it:is this true as to your domestic affairs -that your wife's going away was on no visit,but a secret elopement with a lover?If so,I condole with you.'

'Don't,'said Phillotson.'There was no secret about it.'

'She has gone to visit friends?'

'No.'

'Then what has happened?'

'She has gone away under circumstances that usually call for condolence with the husband.But I gave my consent.'

The chairman looked as if he had not apprehended the remark.

'What I say is quite true,'Phillotson continued testily.'She asked leave to go away with her lover,and I let her.Why shouldn't I?

A woman of full age,it was a question of her own conscience -not for me.I was not her gaoler.I can't explain any further.I don't wish to be questioned.'

The children observed that much seriousness marked the faces of the two men,and went home and told their parents that something new had happened about Mrs.Phillotson.Then Phillotson's little maidservant,who was a schoolgirl just out of her standards,said that Mr.Phillotson had helped in his wife's packing,had offered her what money she required,and had written a friendly letter to her young man,telling him to take care of her.The chairman of committee thought the matter over,and talked to the other managers of the school,till a request came to Phillotson to meet them privately.The meeting lasted a long time,and at the end the school-master came home,looking as usual pale and worn.Gillingham was sitting in his house awaiting him.

'Well;it is as you said,'observed Phillotson,flinging himself down wearily in a chair.'They have requested me to send in my resignation on account of my scandalous conduct in giving my tortured wife her liberty -or,as they call it,condoning her adultery.But I shan't resign!'

'I think I would.'

'I won't.It is no business of theirs.It doesn't affect me in my public capacity at all.They may expel me if they like.'

'If you make a fuss it will get into the papers,and you'll never get appointed to another school.You see,they have to consider what you did as done by a teacher of youth -and its effects as such upon the morals of the town;and,to ordinary opinion,your position is indefensible.You must let me say that.'

To this good advice,however,Phillotson would not listen.

'I don't care,'he said.'I don't go unless I am turned out.And for this reason;that by resigning I acknowledge I have acted wrongly by her;when I am more and more convinced every day that in the sight of Heaven and by all natural,straightforward humanity,I have acted rightly.'

Gillingham saw that his rather headstrong friend would not be able to maintain such a position as this;but he said nothing further,and in due time -indeed,in a quarter of an hour -the formal letter of dismissal arrived,the managers having remained behind to write it after Phillotson's withdrawal.The latter replied that he should not accept dismissal;and called a public meeting,which he attended,although he looked so weak and ill that his friend implored him to stay at home.When he stood up to give his reasons for contesting the decision of the managers he advanced them firmly,as he had done to his friend,and contended,moreover,that the matter was a domestic theory which did not concern them.This they over-ruled,insisting that the private eccentricities of a teacher came quite within their sphere of control,as it touched the morals of those he taught.Phillotson replied that he did not see how an act of natural charity could injure morals.

All the respectable inhabitants and well-to-do fellow-natives of the town were against Phillotson to a man.But,somewhat to his surprise,some dozen or more champions rose up in his defence as from the ground.

同类推荐
  • 破迷正道歌

    破迷正道歌

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Confidence

    Confidence

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • The Chessmen of Mars

    The Chessmen of Mars

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 宝王三昧念佛直指

    宝王三昧念佛直指

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Study of a Woman

    Study of a Woman

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 妇产科女博士

    妇产科女博士

    协和医学院医药双博士学位的天才女医生李晓鸥,丈夫贪腐出轨被判刑,李晓鸥叱咤风云,成为一名民营妇产医院的院长。并收获新的爱情。
  • 如此京华

    如此京华

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 美元上的小红点

    美元上的小红点

    退一万步讲,如果不是遇到了莫会计,不是听从了她的蛊惑,宋德志绝不会丧心病狂,对儿子下狠手的。可是,把责任全都推到莫会计身上,也有些牵强。宋德志不是没脑子的人,怎能轻易听了人家的摆布?说来说去,还得从自身找原因,还得从灵魂深处下刀子。宋德志为人要强,平生只羡慕成功人士。也有一个例外——老战友南方。过得好,他就不羡慕,偶尔说起来,嘴角也是往下撇的。自从南方上了福布斯排行榜,宋德志就更不提他了。这边,推崇成功人士,那边,就见不得混日子的人,尤其鄙视宋文科这号的。你可以平庸,可就是不能游手好闲。人一旦游手好闲了,就容易走歪路,就容易惹是生非。宋文科嫌烦,不爱听。
  • 青少年创新教育故事全集

    青少年创新教育故事全集

    本书以挖掘和激活青少年创新潜能和创新思维为主线,以培育青少年精心挑选了200多个寓意深刻、耐人寻味的创新故事,每个故事前面配有一则精练的名人名言,后面配有精彩独到的智慧点拨,挖掘故事深层的内涵,揭示创新的内涵和方法。
  • 叶先生你老婆又穿了

    叶先生你老婆又穿了

    新书《快穿之炮灰上线了》,希望多多支持 叶双双机缘巧合成为神秘编外小导游。可以带团穿,感觉美滋滋。可是自己不能放肆买买买,还得兼职当保镖。还有个身份不明,不知道是警察是军人还是个无业游民,每次都死缠烂打跟着她。“你要去哪里,我也要去。”“……”“你想买什么,放着我来。”“……”“你想要什么,全都给你”“你。”
  • 特殊的活死人

    特殊的活死人

    半夜,加油站发生了一件诡异的事情,一辆纸车来加油。看过这段监控视频的人,接二连三离奇死亡。而我,正是最后一个死亡目标。为了活命,我找了懂行的瞎子婆婆给我驱邪,却不料她因此而死。我身中邪术,成了一名特殊的活死人。然而这一切并未结束,只是一场诡谲阴谋的开始。
  • 中国历史名人之九

    中国历史名人之九

    清代文学与发展的标志主要表现了在小说领域上。《聊斋志异》《儒林外史》和《红楼梦》等作品,对封建社会作了深刻的揭露和批判,无愧为传统的文言小说和通俗小说的集大成者,而其作者蒲松龄、吴敬梓、曹雪芹也是本卷所要重点评介的人物。
  • 龙舟魂

    龙舟魂

    榕树头辟成公园,树根洞雕成树根景观。成群结队的鸟儿从四面八方飞来榕树梢栖枝歇息,形成“百鸟归巢”奇景。河边栏杆有若玉石雕砌,熠熠生辉。临江一座《龙舟魂》塑像,艺术家塑造一位赤膊擂鼓的龙舟手,底座四面龙舟竞渡浮雕场面相呼应,仿佛奏响《赛龙夺锦》乐章。
  • 末日魔神传

    末日魔神传

    当你一无所有之时?你会怎样选择?放弃?忍受?又或者?将这一切打得粉碎。弱小的人感谢我吧,强大的人畏惧我吧。我给予你们希望,给予你们力量,给予你们想要拥有的一切。且看楚凡如何披荆斩棘,在末世之中,踏出属于自己的一条路。
  • 永济融禅师语录

    永济融禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。