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！
〃nor has it any value。 Therefore take thy half of the treasure and
go from my city。〃
'〃Nay；〃 I answered； 〃but I will take nought but that leaden ring；
for I know what is written within it； and for what purpose。〃
'And the Emperor trembled； and besought me and said； 〃Take all the
treasure and go from my city。 The half that is mine shall be thine
also。〃
'And I did a strange thing； but what I did matters not； for in a
cave that is but a day's journey from this place have； I hidden the
Ring of Riches。 It is but a day's journey from this place； and it
waits for thy coming。 He who has this Ring is richer than all the
kings of the world。 Come therefore and take it； and the world's
riches shall be thine。'The Fisherman and His Soul
COVENT GARDEN
Where he went he hardly knew。 He had a dim memory of wandering
through a labyrinth of sordid houses； of being lost in a giant web
of sombre streets； and it was bright dawn when he found himself at
last in Piccadilly Circus。 As he strolled home towards Belgrave
Square； he met the great waggons on their way to Covent Garden。 The
white…smocked carters； with their pleasant sunburnt faces and coarse
curly hair； strode sturdily on； cracking their whips； and calling
out now and then to each other； on the back of a huge grey horse；
the leader of a jangling team； sat a chubby boy； with a bunch of
primroses in his battered hat； keeping tight hold of the mane with
his little hands； and laughing； and the great piles of vegetables
looked like masses of jade against the morning sky； like masses of
green jade against the pink petals of some marvellous rose。 Lord
Arthur felt curiously affected； he could not tell why。 There was
something in the dawn's delicate loveliness that seemed to him
inexpressibly pathetic； and he thought of all the days that break in
beauty； and that set in storm。 These rustics； too； with their
rough； good…humoured voices； and their nonchalant ways； what a
strange London they saw！ A London free from the sin of night and
the smoke of day； a pallid； ghost…like city； a desolate town of
tombs！ He wondered what they thought of it； and whether they knew
anything of its splendour and its shame； of its fierce； fiery…
coloured joys； and its horrible hunger； of all it makes and mars
from morn to eve。 Probably it was to them merely a mart where they
brought their fruits to sell； and where they tarried for a few hours
at most； leaving the streets still silent； the houses still asleep。
It gave him pleasure to watch them as they went by。 Rude as they
were； with their heavy； hob…nailed shoes； and their awkward gait；
they brought a little of a ready with them。 He felt that they had
lived with Nature； and that she had taught them peace。 He envied
them all that they did not know。
By the time he had reached Belgrave Square the sky was a faint blue；
and the birds were beginning to twitter in the gardens。Lord Arthur
Savile's Crime
A LETTER FROM MISS JANE PERCY TO HER AUNT
THE DEANERY； CHICHESTER；
27th May。
My Dearest Aunt；
Thank you so much for the flannel for the Dorcas Society； and also
for the gingham。 I quite agree with you that it is nonsense their
wanting to wear pretty things； but everybody is so Radical and
irreligious nowadays； that it is difficult to make them see that
they should not try and dress like the upper classes。 I am sure I
don't know what we are coming to。 As papa has often said in his
sermons； we live in an age of unbelief。
We have had great fun over a clock that an unknown admirer sent papa
last Thursday。 It arrived in a wooden box from London； carriage
paid； and papa feels it must have been sent by some one who had read
his remarkable sermon； 'Is Licence Liberty？' for on the top of the
clock was a figure of a woman； with what papa said was the cap of
Liberty on her head。 I didn't think it very becoming myself； but
papa said it was historical； so I suppose it is all right。 Parker
unpacked it； and papa put it on the mantelpiece in the library； and
we were all sitting there on Friday morning； when just as the clock
struck twelve； we heard a whirring noise； a little puff of smoke
came from the pedestal of the figure； and the goddess of Liberty
fell off； and broke her nose on the fender！ Maria was quite
alarmed； but it looked so ridiculous； that James and I went off into
fits of laughter； and even papa was amused。 When we examined it； we
found it was a sort of alarum clock； and that； if you set it to a
particular hour； and put some gunpowder and a cap under a little
hammer； it went off whenever you wanted。 Papa said it must not
remain in the library； as it made a noise； so Reggie carried it away
to the schoolroom； and does nothing but have small explosions all
day long。 Do you think Arthur would like one for a wedding present？
I suppose they are quite fashionable in London。 Papa says they
should do a great deal of good； as they show that Liberty can't
last； but must fall down。 Papa says Liberty was invented at the
time of the French Revolution。 How awful it seems！
I have now to go to the Dorcas； where I will read them your most
instructive letter。 How true； dear aunt； your idea is； that in
their rank of life they should wear what is unbecoming。 I must say
it is absurd； their anxiety about dress； when there are so many more
important things in this world； and in the next。 I am so glad your
flowered poplin turned out so well； and that your lace was not torn。
I am wearing my yellow satin； that you so kindly gave me； at the
Bishop's on Wednesday； and think it will look all right。 Would you
have bows or not？ Jennings says that every one wears bows now； and
that the underskirt should be frilled。 Reggie has just had another
explosion； and papa has ordered the clock to be sent to the stables。
I don't think papa likes it so much as he did at first； though he is
very flattered at being sent such a pretty and ingenious toy。 It
shows that people read his sermons； and profit by them。
Papa sends his love； in which James； and Reggie； and Maria all
unite； and； hoping that Uncle Cecil's gout is better； believe me；
dear aunt； ever your affectionate niece；
JANE PERCY。
PS。Do tell me about the bows。 Jennings insists they are the
fashion。Lord Arthur Savile's Crime
THE TRIUMPH OF AMERICAN 'HUMOR'
At half…past ten he heard the family going to bed。 For some time he
was disturbed by wild shrieks of laughter from the twins； who； with
the light…hearted gaiety of schoolboys； were evidently amusing
themselves before they retired to rest； but at a quarter past eleven
all was still； and； as midnight sounded； he sallied forth。 The owl
beat against the window panes； the raven croaked from the old yew…
tree； and the wind wandered moaning round the house like a lost
soul； but the Otis family slept unconscious of their doom； and high
above the ra