第72章

“Well。”hecontinued，“therearealotofthingsthatwantsayingwhichnoonedarestosay，alotofshamswhichwantattacking，andyetnooneattacksthem。ItseemstomethatIcansaythingswhichnotanothermaninEnglandexceptmyselfwillventuretosay，andyetwhicharecryingtobesaid。”

Isaid：“Butwhowilllisten？Ifyousaythingswhichnobodyelsewoulddaretosayisnotthismuchthesameassayingwhateveryoneexceptyourselfknowstobebetterleftunsaidjustnow？”

“Perhaps。”saidhe，“butIdon’tknowit；Iamburstingwiththesethings，anditismyfatetosaythem。”

Iknewtherewouldbenostoppinghim，soIgaveinandaskedwhatquestionhefeltaspecialdesiretoburnhisfingerswithinthefirstinstance。

“Marriage。”herejoinedpromptly，“andthepowerofdisposingofhispropertyafteramanisdead。ThequestionofChristianityisvirtuallysettled，orifnotsettledthereisnolackofthoseengagedinsettlingit。Thequestionofthedaynowismarriageandthefamilysystem。”

“That。”saidIdrily，“isahornet’snestindeed。”

“Yes。”saidhenolessdrily，“buthornet’snestsareexactlywhatI

happentolike。Before，however，IbegintostirupthisparticularoneIproposetotravelforafewyears，withtheespecialobjectoffindingoutwhatnationsnowexistingarethebest，comeliestandmostlovable，andalsowhatnationshavebeensointimespast。I

wanttofindouthowthesepeoplelive，andhavelived，andwhattheircustomsare。

“Ihaveveryvaguenotionsuponthesubjectasyet，butthegeneralimpressionIhaveformedisthat，puttingourselvesononeside，themostvigorousandamiableofknownnationsarethemodernItalians，theoldGreeksandRomans，andtheSouthSeaIslanders。Ibelievethatthesenicepeopleshavenotasageneralrulebeenpurists，butIwanttoseethoseofthemwhocanyetbeseen；theyarethepracticalauthoritiesonthequestion——Whatisbestforman？andI

shouldliketoseethemandfindoutwhattheydo。Letussettlethefactfirstandfightaboutthemoraltendenciesafterwards。”

“Infact。”saidIlaughingly，“youmeantohavehigholdtimes。”

“Neitherhighernorlower。”wastheanswer，“thanthosepeoplewhomIcanfindtohavebeenthebestinallages。Butletuschangethesubject。”Heputhishandintohispocketandbroughtoutaletter。

“Myfather。”hesaid，“gavemethisletterthismorningwiththesealalreadybroken。”Hepasseditovertome，andIfoundittobetheonewhichChristinahadwrittenbeforethebirthofherlastchild，andwhichIhavegiveninanearlierchapter。

“Andyoudonotfindthisletter。”saidI，“affecttheconclusionwhichyouhavejusttoldmeyouhavecometoconcerningyourpresentplans？”

Hesmiled，andanswered：“No。Butifyoudowhatyouhavesometimestalkedaboutandturntheadventuresofmyunworthyselfintoanovel，mindyouprintthisletter。”

“Whyso？”saidI，feelingasthoughsuchaletterasthisshouldhavebeenheldsacredfromthepublicgaze。

“Becausemymotherwouldhavewisheditpublished；ifshehadknownyouwerewritingaboutmeandhadthisletterinyourpossession，shewouldaboveallthingshavedesiredthatyoushouldpublishit。

Thereforepublishitifyouwriteatall。”

ThisiswhyIhavedoneso。

WithinamonthErnestcarriedhisintentionintoeffect，andhavingmadea