按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
quite independently of his own book； and before he had himself been
in it many hours he gathered what the fate of these poor fellows
doubtless was。
Another reason that made it more easy for Erewhon to remain
unknown； was the fact that the more mountainous districts； though
repeatedly prospected for gold； had been pronounced non…auriferous；
and as there was no sheep or cattle country； save a few river…bed
flats above the upper gorges of any of the rivers； and no game to
tempt the sportsman； there was nothing to induce people to
penetrate into the fastnesses of the great snowy range。 No more；
therefore； being heard of Erewhon； my father's book came to be
regarded as a mere work of fiction； and I have heard quite recently
of its having been seen on a second…hand bookstall； marked 〃6d。
very readable。〃
Though there was no truth in the stories about my father's being
subject to attacks of alcoholic poisoning； yet； during the first
few years after his return to England； his occasional fits of
ungovernable excitement gave some colour to the opinion that much
of what he said he had seen and done might be only subjectively
true。 I refer more particularly to his interview with Chowbok in
the wool…shed； and his highly coloured description of the statues
on the top of the pass leading into Erewhon。 These were soon set
down as forgeries of delirium； and it was maliciously urged； that
though in his book he had only admitted having taken 〃two or three
bottles of brandy〃 with him； he had probably taken at least a
dozen； and that if on the night before he reached the statues he
had 〃only four ounces of brandy〃 left； he must have been drinking
heavily for the preceding fortnight or three weeks。 Those who read
the following pages will； I think； reject all idea that my father
was in a state of delirium； not without surprise that any one
should have ever entertained it。
It was Chowbok who； if he did not originate these calumnies； did
much to disseminate and gain credence for them。 He remained in
England for some years； and never tired of doing what he could to
disparage my father。 The cunning creature had ingratiated himself
with our leading religious societies； especially with the more
evangelical among them。 Whatever doubt there might be about his
sincerity； there was none about his colour； and a coloured convert
in those days was more than Exeter Hall could resist。 Chowbok saw
that there was no room for him and for my father； and declared my
poor father's story to be almost wholly false。 It was true； he
said； that he and my father had explored the head…waters of the
river described in his book； but he denied that my father had gone
on without him； and he named the river as one distant by many
thousands of miles from the one it really was。 He said that after
about a fortnight he had returned in company with my father； who by
that time had become incapacitated for further travel。 At this
point he would shrug his shoulders； look mysterious； and thus say
〃alcoholic poisoning〃 even more effectively than if he had uttered
the words themselves。 For a man's tongue lies often in his
shoulders。
Readers of my father's book will remember that Chowbok had given a
very different version when he had returned to his employer's
station； but Time and Distance afford cover under which falsehood
can often do truth to death securely。
I never understood why my father did not bring my mother forward to
confirm his story。 He may have done so while I was too young to
know anything about it。 But when people have made up their minds；
they are impatient of further evidence； my mother； moreover； was of
a very retiring disposition。 The Italians say：…
〃Chi lontano va ammogliare
Sara ingannato； o vorra ingannare。〃
〃If a man goes far afield for a wife； he will be deceivedor means
deceiving。〃 The proverb is as true for women as for men； and my
mother was never quite happy in her new surroundings。 Wilfully
deceived she assuredly was not； but she could not accustom herself
to English modes of thought； indeed she never even nearly mastered
our language； my father always talked with her in Erewhonian； and
so did I； for as a child she had taught me to do so； and I was as
fluent with her language as with my father's。 In this respect she
often told me I could pass myself off anywhere in Erewhon as a
native； I shared also her personal appearance； for though not
wholly unlike my father； I had taken more closely after my mother。
In mind； if I may venture to say so； I believe I was more like my
father。
I may as well here inform the reader that I was born at the end of
September 1871； and was christened John； after my grandfather。
From what I have said above he will readily believe that my
earliest experiences were somewhat squalid。 Memories of childhood
rush vividly upon me when I pass through a low London alley； and
catch the faint sickly smell that pervades ithalf paraffin； half
black…currants； but wholly something very different。 I have a
fancy that we lived in Blackmoor Street； off Drury Lane。 My
father； when first I knew of his doing anything at all； supported
my mother and myself by drawing pictures with coloured chalks upon
the pavement； I used sometimes to watch him； and marvel at the
skill with which he represented fogs； floods； and fires。 These
three 〃f's；〃 he would say； were his three best friends； for they
were easy to do and brought in halfpence freely。 The return of the
dove to the ark was his favourite subject。 Such a little ark； on
such a hazy morning； and such a little pigeonthe rest of the
picture being cheap sky； and still cheaper sea； nothing； I have
often heard him say； was more popular than this with his clients。
He held it to be his masterpiece； but would add with some naivete
that he considered himself a public benefactor for carrying it out
in such perishable fashion。 〃At any rate；〃 he would say； 〃no one
can bequeath one of my many replicas to the nation。〃
I never learned how much my father earned by his profession； but it
must have been something considerable； for we always had enough to
eat and drink； I imagine that he did better than many a struggling
artist with more ambitious aims。 He was strictly temperate during
all the time that I knew anything about him； but he was not a
teetotaler； I never saw any of the fits of nervous excitement which
in his earlier years had done so much to wreck him。 In the
evenings； and on days when the state of the pavement did not permit
him to work； he took great pains with my education； which he could
very well do； for as a boy he had been in the sixth form of one of
our foremost public schools。 I found him a patient； kindly
instructor； while to my mother he was a model husband。 Whatever
others may have said about him； I can never think of him without
very affectionate respect。
Things went on quietly enough； as above indicated； till I was about
fourteen； when by a freak of fortune my father became suddenly
affluent。 A brother of his father's had emigrated to Australia in
1851； and had amassed great wealth。 We knew of his existence； but
there had been no intercourse b