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Philistines； Bourgeois； Mrs。 Grundy； Rebels； Anarchists； and
Ne'er…do…weels。 So we go on！ And so； as each of us is born to go
his journey； he finds himself in time ranged on one side or on the
other； and joins the choruses of name…slingers。
But now and thenah！ very seldomwe find ourselves so near that
thing which has no breadth； the middle line； that we can watch them
both； and positively smile to see the fun。
When this book was published first； many of its critics found that
Shelton was the only Pharisee； and a most unsatisfactory young man
and so； no doubt； he is。 Belonging to the comfortable ninety； they
felt； in fact； the need of slinging names at one who obviously was of
the ten。 Others of its critics； belonging to the ten； wielded their
epithets upon Antonia； and the serried ranks behind her； and called
them Pharisees； as dull as ditch…waterand so； I fear； they are。
One of the greatest charms of authorship is the privilege it gives
the author of studying the secret springs of many unseen persons； of
analysing human nature through the criticism that his work evokes
criticism welling out of the instinctive likings or aversions； out of
the very fibre of the human being who delivers it； criticism that
often seems to leap out against the critic's will； startled like a
fawn from some deep bed； of sympathy or of antipathy。 And so； all
authors love to be abusedas any man can see。
In the little matter of the title of this book； we are all Pharisees；
whether of the ninety or the ten； and we certainly do live upon an
Island。
JOHN GALSWORTHY。
January 1； 1908
PART I
THE TOWN
CHAPTER I
SOCIETY
A quiet； well…dressed man named Shelton； with a brown face and a
short； fair beard； stood by the bookstall at Dover Station。 He was
about to journey up to London； and had placed his bag in the corner
of a third…class carriage。
After his long travel； the flat…vowelled voice of the bookstall clerk
offering the latest novel sounded pleasantpleasant the independent
answers of a bearded guard； and the stodgy farewell sayings of a man
and wife。 The limber porters trundling their barrows； the greyness
of the station and the good stolid humour clinging to the people；
air； and voices； all brought to him the sense of home。 Meanwhile he
wavered between purchasing a book called Market Hayborough； which he
had read and would ；certainly enjoy a second time； and Carlyle's
French Revolution； which he had not read and was doubtful of
enjoying； he felt that he ought to buy the latter； but he did not
relish giving up the former。 While he hesitated thus； his carriage
was beginning to fill up； so； quickly buying both； he took up a
position from which he could defend his rights。 〃Nothing；〃 he
thought； 〃shows people up like travelling。〃
The carriage was almost full； and； putting his bag； up in the rack；
he took his seat。 At the moment of starting yet another passenger； a
girl with a pale face； scrambled in。
〃I was a fool to go third；〃 thought Shelton； taking in his neighbours
from behind his journal。
They were seven。 A grizzled rustic sat in the far corner； his empty
pipe； bowl downwards； jutted like a handle from his face； all bleared
with the smear of nothingness that grows on those who pass their
lives in the current of hard facts。 Next to him； a ruddy； heavy…
shouldered man was discussing with a grey…haired； hatchet…visaged
person the condition of their gardens； and Shelton watched their eyes
till it occurred to him how curious a look was in thema watchful
friendliness； an allied distrustand that their voices； cheerful；
even jovial； seemed to be cautious all the time。 His glance strayed
off； and almost rebounded from the semi…Roman； slightly cross； and
wholly self…complacent face of a stout lady in a black…and…white
costume； who was reading the Strand Magazine； while her other； sleek；
plump hand； freed from its black glove； and ornamented with a thick
watch…bracelet； rested on her lap。 A younger； bright…cheeked； and
self…conscious female was sitting next her； looking at the pale girl
who had just got in。
〃There's something about that girl；〃 thought Shelton； 〃they don't
like。〃 Her brown eyes certainly looked frightened； her clothes were
of a foreign cut。 Suddenly he met the glance of another pair of
eyes； these eyes； prominent and blue； stared with a sort of subtle
roguery from above a thin； lopsided nose； and were at once averted。
They gave Shelton the impression that he was being judged； and
mocked； enticed； initiated。 His own gaze did not fall； this sanguine
face； with its two…day growth of reddish beard； long nose； full lips；
and irony； puzzled him。 〃A cynical face！〃 he thought； and then； 〃but
sensitive！〃 and then； 〃too cynical；〃 again。
The young man who owned it sat with his legs parted at the knees； his
dusty trouser…ends and boots slanting back beneath the seat； his
yellow finger…tips crisped as if rolling cigarettes。 A strange air
of detachment was about that youthful； shabby figure； and not a scrap
of luggage filled the rack above his head。
The frightened girl was sitting next this pagan personality； it was
possibly the lack of fashion in his looks that caused； her to select
him for her confidence。
〃Monsieur；〃 she asked； 〃do you speak French？〃
〃Perfectly。〃
〃Then can you tell me where they take the tickets？
〃The young man shook his head。
〃No；〃 said he； 〃I am a foreigner。〃
The girl sighed。
〃But what is the matter； ma'moiselle？〃
The girl did not reply； twisting her hands on an old bag in her lap。
Silence had stolen on the carriagea silence such as steals on
animals at the first approach of danger； all eyes were turned towards
the figures of the foreigners。
〃Yes；〃 broke out the red…faced man； 〃he was a bit squiffy that
eveningold Tom。〃
〃Ah！〃 replied his neighbour； 〃he would be。〃
Something seemed to have destroyed their look of mutual distrust。
The plump； sleek hand of the lady with the Roman nose curved
convulsively； and this movement corresponded to the feeling agitating
Shelton's heart。 It was almost as if hand and heart feared to be
asked for something。
〃Monsieur；〃 said the girl； with a tremble in her voice； 〃I am very
unhappy； can you tell me what to do？ I had no money for a ticket。〃
The foreign youth's face flickered。
〃Yes？〃 he said； 〃that might happen to anyone； of course。〃
〃What will they do to me？〃 sighed the girl。
〃Don't lose courage； ma'moiselle。〃 The young man slid his eyes from
left to right； and rested them on Shelton。 〃Although I don't as yet
see your way out。〃
〃Oh； monsieur！〃 sighed the girl； and； though it was clear that none
but Shelton understood what they were saying； there was a chilly
feeling in the carriage。
〃I wish I could assist you；〃 said the foreign youth； 〃unfortunately
〃 he shrugged his shoul