When¡¡I¡¡have¡¡seen¡¡this¡¡enemy¡¡at¡¡my¡¡feet£»¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡start¡¡down¡¡town¡¡
£¨stopping¡¡on¡¡the¡¡way¡¡to¡¡brain¡¡the¡¡teller¡¡at¡¡my¡¡bank£»¡¡who¡¡is¡¡
perennially¡¡paring¡¡his¡¡nails£»¡¡and¡¡refuses¡¡to¡¡see¡¡me¡¡until¡¡that¡¡
operation¡¡is¡¡performed£©£»¡¡to¡¡the¡¡office¡¡of¡¡a¡¡night¡boat¡¡line£»¡¡where¡¡
the¡¡clerk¡¡has¡¡so¡¡often¡¡forced¡¡me£»¡¡with¡¡hundreds¡¡of¡¡other¡¡weary¡¡
victims£»¡¡to¡¡stand¡¡in¡¡line¡¡like¡¡convicts£»¡¡while¡¡he¡¡chats¡¡with¡¡a¡¡
¡¨lady¡¡friend£»¡¨¡¡his¡¡back¡¡turned¡¡to¡¡us¡¡and¡¡his¡¡leg¡¡comfortably¡¡thrown¡¡
over¡¡the¡¡arm¡¡of¡¡his¡¡chair¡£¡¡¡¡Then¡¡I¡¡will¡¡take¡¡my¡¡blood¡stained¡¡way¡¡¡¡¡
but£»¡¡no£¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡is¡¡better¡¡not¡¡to¡¡put¡¡my¡¡victims¡¡on¡¡their¡¡guard£»¡¡but¡¡to¡¡
abide¡¡my¡¡time¡¡in¡¡silence£¡¡¡¡¡Courage£»¡¡fellow¡slaves£»¡¡our¡¡day¡¡will¡¡
come£¡
CHAPTER¡¡40¡¡¡¡¡Introspection¡¡*
THE¡¡close¡¡of¡¡a¡¡year¡¡must¡¡bring¡¡even¡¡to¡¡the¡¡careless¡¡and¡¡the¡¡least¡¡
inclined¡¡toward¡¡self¡inspection£»¡¡an¡¡hour¡¡of¡¡thoughtfulness£»¡¡a¡¡
desire¡¡to¡¡glance¡¡back¡¡across¡¡the¡¡past£»¡¡and¡¡set¡¡one's¡¡mental¡¡house¡¡
in¡¡order£»¡¡before¡¡starting¡¡out¡¡on¡¡another¡¡stage¡¡of¡¡the¡¡journey¡¡for¡¡
that¡¡none¡¡too¡¡distant¡¡bourne¡¡toward¡¡which¡¡we¡¡all¡¡are¡¡moving¡£
*¡¡December¡¡thirty¡first£»¡¡1888¡£
Our¡¡minds¡¡are¡¡like¡¡solitary¡¡dwellers¡¡in¡¡a¡¡vast¡¡residence£»¡¡whom¡¡
habit¡¡has¡¡accustomed¡¡to¡¡live¡¡in¡¡a¡¡few¡¡only¡¡of¡¡the¡¡countless¡¡
chambers¡¡around¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¡We¡¡have¡¡collected¡¡from¡¡other¡¡parts¡¡of¡¡our¡¡
lives¡¡mental¡¡furniture¡¡and¡¡bric¡a¡brac¡¡that¡¡time¡¡and¡¡association¡¡
have¡¡endeared¡¡to¡¡us£»¡¡have¡¡installed¡¡these¡¡meagre¡¡belongings¡¡
convenient¡¡to¡¡our¡¡hand£»¡¡and¡¡contrived¡¡an¡¡entrance¡¡giving¡¡facile¡¡
access¡¡to¡¡our¡¡living¡rooms£»¡¡avoiding¡¡the¡¡effort¡¡of¡¡a¡¡long¡¡detour¡¡
through¡¡the¡¡echoing¡¡corridors¡¡and¡¡disused¡¡salons¡¡behind¡£¡¡¡¡No¡¡
acquaintances£»¡¡and¡¡but¡¡few¡¡friends£»¡¡penetrate¡¡into¡¡the¡¡private¡¡
chambers¡¡of¡¡our¡¡thoughts¡£¡¡¡¡We¡¡set¡¡aside¡¡a¡¡common¡¡room¡¡for¡¡the¡¡
reception¡¡of¡¡visitors£»¡¡making¡¡it¡¡as¡¡cheerful¡¡as¡¡circumstances¡¡will¡¡
allow¡¡and¡¡take¡¡care¡¡that¡¡the¡¡conversation¡¡therein¡¡rarely¡¡turns¡¡on¡¡
any¡¡subject¡¡more¡¡personal¡¡than¡¡the¡¡view¡¡from¡¡the¡¡windows¡¡or¡¡the¡¡
prophecies¡¡of¡¡the¡¡barometer¡£
In¡¡the¡¡old¡fashioned¡¡brick¡¡palace¡¡at¡¡Kensington£»¡¡a¡¡little¡¡suite¡¡of¡¡
rooms¡¡is¡¡carefully¡¡guarded¡¡from¡¡the¡¡public¡¡gaze£»¡¡swept£»¡¡garnished¡¡
and¡¡tended¡¡as¡¡though¡¡the¡¡occupants¡¡of¡¡long¡¡ago¡¡were¡¡hourly¡¡expected¡¡
to¡¡return¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡early¡¡years¡¡of¡¡England's¡¡aged¡¡sovereign¡¡were¡¡passed¡¡
in¡¡these¡¡simple¡¡apartments¡¡and¡¡by¡¡her¡¡orders¡¡they¡¡have¡¡been¡¡kept¡¡
unchanged£»¡¡the¡¡furniture¡¡and¡¡decorations¡¡remaining¡¡to¡day¡¡as¡¡when¡¡
she¡¡inhabited¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡one¡¡corner£»¡¡is¡¡assembled¡¡a¡¡group¡¡of¡¡dolls£»¡¡
dressed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡quaint¡¡finery¡¡of¡¡1825¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡set¡¡of¡¡miniature¡¡cooking¡¡
utensils¡¡stands¡¡near¡¡by¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡child's¡¡scrap¡books¡¡and¡¡color¡boxes¡¡lie¡¡
on¡¡the¡¡tables¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡one¡¡sunny¡¡chamber¡¡stands¡¡the¡¡little¡¡white¡draped¡¡
bed¡¡where¡¡the¡¡heiress¡¡to¡¡the¡¡greatest¡¡crown¡¡on¡¡earth¡¡dreamed¡¡her¡¡
childish¡¡dreams£»¡¡and¡¡from¡¡which¡¡she¡¡was¡¡hastily¡¡aroused¡¡one¡¡June¡¡
morning¡¡to¡¡be¡¡saluted¡¡as¡¡Queen¡£¡¡¡¡So¡¡homelike¡¡and¡¡livable¡¡an¡¡air¡¡
pervades¡¡the¡¡place£»¡¡that¡¡one¡¡almost¡¡expects¡¡to¡¡see¡¡the¡¡lonely¡¡
little¡¡girl¡¡of¡¡seventy¡¡years¡¡ago¡¡playing¡¡about¡¡the¡¡unpretending¡¡
chambers¡£
Affection¡¡for¡¡the¡¡past¡¡and¡¡a¡¡reverence¡¡for¡¡the¡¡memory¡¡of¡¡the¡¡dead¡¡
have¡¡caused¡¡the¡¡royal¡¡wife¡¡and¡¡mother¡¡to¡¡preserve¡¡with¡¡the¡¡same¡¡
care¡¡souvenirs¡¡of¡¡her¡¡passage¡¡in¡¡other¡¡royal¡¡residences¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡
apartments¡¡that¡¡sheltered¡¡the¡¡first¡¡happy¡¡months¡¡of¡¡her¡¡wedded¡¡
life£»¡¡the¡¡rooms¡¡where¡¡she¡¡knew¡¡the¡¡joys¡¡and¡¡anxieties¡¡of¡¡maternity£»¡¡
have¡¡become¡¡for¡¡her¡¡consecrated¡¡sanctuaries£»¡¡where¡¡the¡¡widowed£»¡¡
broken¡¡old¡¡lady¡¡comes¡¡on¡¡certain¡¡anniversaries¡¡to¡¡evoke¡¡the¡¡
unforgotten¡¡past£»¡¡to¡¡meditate¡¡and¡¡to¡¡pray¡£
Who£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡year¡¡is¡¡drawing¡¡to¡¡its¡¡close£»¡¡does¡¡not¡¡open¡¡in¡¡memory¡¡
some¡¡such¡¡sacred¡¡portal£»¡¡and¡¡sit¡¡down¡¡in¡¡the¡¡familiar¡¡rooms¡¡to¡¡live¡¡
over¡¡again¡¡the¡¡old¡¡hopes¡¡and¡¡fears£»¡¡thrilling¡¡anew¡¡with¡¡the¡¡joys¡¡
and¡¡temptations¡¡of¡¡other¡¡days£¿¡¡¡¡Yet£»¡¡each¡¡year¡¡these¡¡pilgrimages¡¡
into¡¡the¡¡past¡¡must¡¡become¡¡more¡¡and¡¡more¡¡lonely¡¡journeys£»¡¡the¡¡
friends¡¡whom¡¡we¡¡can¡¡take¡¡by¡¡the¡¡hand¡¡and¡¡lead¡¡back¡¡to¡¡our¡¡old¡¡homes¡¡
become¡¡fewer¡¡with¡¡each¡¡decade¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡would¡¡be¡¡a¡¡useless¡¡sacrilege¡¡to¡¡
force¡¡some¡¡listless¡¡acquaintance¡¡to¡¡accompany¡¡us¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡would¡¡not¡¡
hear¡¡the¡¡voices¡¡that¡¡call¡¡to¡¡us£»¡¡or¡¡see¡¡the¡¡loved¡¡faces¡¡that¡¡people¡¡
the¡¡silent¡¡passages£»¡¡and¡¡would¡¡wonder¡¡what¡¡attraction¡¡we¡¡could¡¡find¡¡
in¡¡the¡¡stuffy£»¡¡old¡fashioned¡¡quarters¡£
Many¡¡people¡¡have¡¡such¡¡a¡¡dislike¡¡for¡¡any¡¡mental¡¡privacy¡¡that¡¡they¡¡
pass¡¡their¡¡lives¡¡in¡¡public£»¡¡or¡¡surrounded¡¡only¡¡by¡¡sporting¡¡trophies¡¡
and¡¡games¡£¡¡¡¡Some¡¡enjoy¡¡living¡¡in¡¡their¡¡pantries£»¡¡composing¡¡for¡¡
themselves¡¡succulent¡¡dishes£»¡¡and¡¡interested¡¡in¡¡the¡¡doings¡¡of¡¡the¡¡
servants£»¡¡their¡¡companions¡£¡¡¡¡Others¡¡have¡¡turned¡¡their¡¡salons¡¡into¡¡
nurseries£»¡¡or¡¡feel¡¡a¡¡predilection¡¡for¡¡the¡¡stable¡¡and¡¡the¡¡dog¡
kennels¡£¡¡¡¡Such¡¡people¡¡soon¡¡weary¡¡of¡¡their¡¡surroundings£»¡¡and¡¡move¡¡
constantly£»¡¡destroying£»¡¡when¡¡they¡¡leave¡¡old¡¡quarters£»¡¡all¡¡the¡¡
objects¡¡they¡¡had¡¡collected¡£
The¡¡men¡¡and¡¡women¡¡who¡¡have¡¡thus¡¡curtailed¡¡their¡¡belongings¡¡are£»¡¡
however£»¡¡quite¡¡contented¡¡with¡¡themselves¡£¡¡¡¡No¡¡doubts¡¡ever¡¡harass¡¡
them¡¡as¡¡to¡¡the¡¡commodity¡¡or¡¡appropriateness¡¡of¡¡their¡¡lodgements¡¡and¡¡
look¡¡with¡¡pity¡¡and¡¡contempt¡¡on¡¡friends¡¡who¡¡remain¡¡faithful¡¡to¡¡old¡¡
habitations¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡drawback¡¡to¡¡a¡¡migratory¡¡existence£»¡¡however£»¡¡is¡¡
the¡¡fact¡¡that£»¡¡as¡¡a¡¡French¡¡saying¡¡has¡¡put¡¡it£»¡¡CEUX¡¡QUI¡¡SE¡¡REFUSENT¡¡
LES¡¡PENSEES¡¡SERIEUSES¡¡TOMBENT¡¡DANS¡¡LES¡¡IDEES¡¡NOIRES¡£¡¡¡¡These¡¡people¡¡
are¡¡surprised¡¡to¡¡find¡¡as¡¡the¡¡years¡¡go¡¡by¡¡that¡¡the¡¡futile¡¡amusements¡¡
to¡¡which¡¡they¡¡have¡¡devoted¡¡themselves¡¡do¡¡not¡¡fill¡¡to¡¡their¡¡
satisfaction¡¡all¡¡the¡¡hours¡¡of¡¡a¡¡lifetime¡£¡¡¡¡Having¡¡provided¡¡no¡¡books¡¡
nor¡¡learned¡¡to¡¡practise¡¡any¡¡art£»¡¡the¡¡time¡¡hangs¡¡heavily¡¡on¡¡their¡¡
hands¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡dare¡¡not¡¡look¡¡forward¡¡into¡¡the¡¡future£»¡¡so¡¡blank¡¡and¡¡
cheerless¡¡does¡¡it¡¡appear¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡past¡¡is¡¡even¡¡more¡¡distasteful¡¡to¡¡
them¡£¡¡¡¡So£»¡¡to¡¡fill¡¡the¡¡void¡¡in¡¡their¡¡hearts£»¡¡they¡¡hurry¡¡out¡¡into¡¡
the¡¡crowd¡¡as¡¡a¡¡refuge¡¡from¡¡their¡¡own¡¡thoughts¡£
Happy¡¡those¡¡who¡¡care¡¡to¡¡revisit¡¡old¡¡abodes£»¡¡childhood's¡¡remote¡¡
wing£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡moonlit¡¡porches¡¡where¡¡they¡¡knew¡¡the¡¡rapture¡¡of¡¡a¡¡
first¡love¡¡whisper¡£¡¡¡¡Who¡¡can¡¡enter¡¡the¡¡chapel¡¡where¡¡their¡¡dead¡¡lie£»¡¡
and¡¡feel¡¡no¡¡blush¡¡of¡¡self¡reproach£»¡¡nor¡¡burning¡¡consciousness¡¡of¡¡
broken¡¡faith¡¡nor¡¡wasted¡¡opportunities£¿¡¡¡¡The¡¡new¡¡year¡¡will¡¡bring¡¡to¡¡
them¡¡as¡¡near¡¡an¡¡approach¡¡to¡¡perfect¡¡happiness¡¡as¡¡can¡¡be¡¡attained¡¡in¡¡
life's¡¡journey¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡fortunate¡¡mortals¡¡are¡¡rare¡¡who¡¡can£»¡¡without¡¡a¡¡
heartache¡¡or¡¡regret£»¡¡pass¡¡through¡¡their¡¡disused¡¡and¡¡abandoned¡¡
dwellings£»¡¡who¡¡dare¡¡to¡¡open¡¡every¡¡door¡¡and¡¡enter¡¡all¡¡the¡¡silent¡¡
rooms£»¡¡who¡¡do¡¡not¡¡hurry¡¡shudderingly¡¡by¡¡some¡¡obscure¡¡corners£»¡¡and¡¡
return¡¡with¡¡a¡¡sigh¡¡of¡¡relief¡¡to¡¡the¡¡cheerful¡¡sunlight¡¡and¡¡murmurs¡¡
of¡¡the¡¡present¡£
Sleepless¡¡midnight¡¡hours¡¡come¡¡inevitably¡¡to¡¡each¡¡of¡¡us£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡
creaking¡¡gates¡¡of¡¡subterranean¡¡passages¡¡far¡¡down¡¡in¡¡our¡¡
consciousness¡¡open¡¡of¡¡themselves£»¡¡and¡¡ghostly¡¡inhabitants¡¡steal¡¡out¡¡
of¡¡awful¡¡vaults¡¡and¡¡force¡¡us¡¡to¡¡look¡¡again¡¡into¡¡their¡¡faces¡¡and¡¡
touch¡¡their¡¡unhealed¡¡wounds¡£
An¡¡old¡¡lady¡¡whose¡¡cheerfulness¡¡under¡¡a¡¡hundred¡¡griefs¡¡and¡¡
tribulations¡¡was¡¡a¡¡marvel¡¡and¡¡an¡¡example£»¡¡once¡¡told¡¡a¡¡man¡¡who¡¡had¡¡
come¡¡to¡¡her¡¡for¡¡counsel¡¡in¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡of¡¡bitter¡¡trouble£»¡¡that¡¡she¡¡had¡¡
derived¡¡comfort¡¡when¡¡difficulties¡¡loomed¡¡big¡¡around¡¡her¡¡by¡¡writing¡¡
down¡¡all¡¡her¡¡cares¡¡and¡¡worries£»¡¡making¡¡a¡¡list¡¡of¡¡the¡¡subjects¡¡that¡¡
harassed¡¡her£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡always¡¡found¡¡that£»¡¡when¡¡reduced¡¡to¡¡material¡¡
written¡¡words£»¡¡the¡¡dimensions¡¡of¡¡her¡¡troubles¡¡were¡¡astonishingly¡¡
diminished¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡recommended¡¡her¡¡procedure¡¡to¡¡the¡¡troubled¡¡youth£»¡¡
and¡¡prophesied¡¡that¡¡his¡¡anxieties¡¡would¡¡dwindle¡¡away¡¡in¡¡the¡¡clear¡¡
atmosphere¡¡of¡¡pen¡¡and¡¡paper¡£
Introspection£»¡¡the¡¡deliberate¡¡unlatching¡¡of¡¡closed¡¡wickets£»¡¡has¡¡the¡¡
same¡¡effect¡¡of¡¡stealing¡¡away¡¡the¡¡bitterness¡¡from¡¡thoughts¡¡that£»¡¡if¡¡
left¡¡in¡¡the¡¡gloom¡¡of¡¡semi¡oblivion£»¡¡will¡¡grow¡¡until¡¡they¡¡overshadow¡¡
a¡¡whole¡¡life¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡is¡¡better¡¡to¡¡follow¡¡the¡¡example¡¡of¡¡England's¡¡pure¡¡
Queen£»¡¡visiting¡¡on¡¡certain¡¡anniversaries¡¡our¡¡secret¡¡places¡¡and¡¡
holding¡¡communion¡¡with¡¡the¡¡past£»¡¡for¡¡it¡¡is¡¡by¡¡such¡¡scrutiny¡¡only
THAT¡¡MEN¡¡MAY¡¡RISE¡¡ON¡¡STEPPING¡STONES
OF¡¡THEIR¡¡DEAD¡¡SELVES¡¡TO¡¡HIGHER¡¡THINGS¡£
Those¡¡who¡¡have¡¡courage¡¡to¡¡perform¡¡thoroughly¡¡this¡¡task¡¡will¡¡come¡¡
out¡¡from¡¡the¡¡silent¡¡chambers¡¡purified¡¡and¡¡chastened£»¡¡more¡¡lenient¡¡
to¡¡the¡¡faults¡¡and¡¡shortcomings¡¡of¡¡others£»¡¡and¡¡better¡¡fitted¡¡to¡¡take¡¡
up¡¡cheerfully¡¡the¡¡burdens¡¡of¡¡a¡¡new¡¡year¡£
End¡¡
СÌáʾ£º°´ »Ø³µ [Enter] ¼ü ·µ»ØÊéÄ¿£¬°´ ¡û ¼ü ·µ»ØÉÏÒ»Ò³£¬ °´ ¡ú ¼ü ½øÈëÏÂÒ»Ò³¡£
ÔÞÒ»ÏÂ
Ìí¼ÓÊéÇ©¼ÓÈëÊé¼Ü