marm lisa-第9部分

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nce　than　they　will　for　reformed　diet；　though　goodness　knows　they're　fond　enough　of　drinking。　　The　Edenites　number　about　sixty…seven　in　this　city；　and　nine　is　the　largest　number　of　gentlemen　that　we've　been　able　to　interest。　　Those　nine　are　the　husbands　and　sons　of　the　lady　members；　and　at　the　next　meeting　two　of　them　are　going　to　be　expelled　for　backsliding。　　I　declare；　if　I　was　a　man；　I'd　be　ashamed　to　confess　that　I　was　all　stomach；　but　that's　what　most　of　them　are。　　Not　that　it's　easy　work　to　be　an　Edenite：　　it's　impossible　to　any　but　a　highly　spiritual　nature。　　I　have　been　on　the　diet　for　six　months；　and　nothing　but　my　position　as　vice…president　of　the　society；　and　my　desire　to　crush　the　body　and　release　the　spirit；　could　have　kept　me　faithful。　　I　don't　pretend　to　like　it；　but　that　doesn't　make　me　disloyal。　　There's　nothing　I　enjoy　better　than　a　good　cut　of　underdone　beef；　with　plenty　of　dish　gravy；　I　love　nice　tender　porter…　house　steaks　with　mushrooms；　I　love　thick　mutton…chops　broiled　over　a　hot　fire：　　but　I　can't　believe　in　them；　and　my　conscience　won't　allow　me　to　eat　them。　　Do　you　believe　in　meat？'

'Certainly。'

'I　don't　see　why　you　say　〃certainly。〃　　You　would　be　a　good　deal　better　off　without　it。　　You　are　filling　yourself　full　of　carnal；　brutal；　murderous　passions　every　time　you　eat　it。　　The　people　who　eat　meat　are　not　half　so　elevated　nor　half　so　teachable　as　the　Edenites。'

'The　Edenites　are　possibly　too　weak　and　hungry　to　resist　instruction；'　said　Mary。

'They　are　neither　weak　nor　hungry；'　replied　their　vice…president；　with　dignity。　　'They　eat　milk；　and　stewed　fruit；　and　all　the　edible　grains　nicely　boiled。　　It　stands　to　reason　that　if　you　can　subdue　your　earthly；　devilish；　sensual　instincts　on　anything；　you　can　do　it　on　a　diet　like　that。　　You　can't　fancy　an　angel　or　a　Mahatma　devouring　underdone　beef。'

'No；'　agreed　Mistress　Mary；　'but　for　that　matter；　the　spectacle　of　an　angel　eating　dried…apple　sauce　doesn't　appeal　to　my　imagination。'

'It's　no　joking　matter；'　said　Mrs。　Grubb；　with　real　tears　in　her　eyes。　　'It　was　my　interest　in　Theosophy　that　brought　me　to　the　Edenic　diet。　　I　have　good　and　sufficient　motives　for　denying　my　appetite；　for　I've　got　a　certain　goal　to　reach；　and　I'm　in　earnest。'

'Then　here's　my　hand；　and　I　respect　you　for　it。　　Oh；　how　I　should　like　a　hot　mutton…chop　at　this　moment！Do　forgive　me。'

'I　forgive　you；　because　I　can　see　you　act　up　to　all　the　light　that　has　been　revealed　to　you。　　I　don't　know　as　I　ought　to　be　proud　because　I　see　so　much　truth。　　My　classes　tell　me　I　get　these　marvellous　revelations　because　I'm　so　open…minded。　　Now　Mr。　Grubb　wouldn't　and　couldn't　bear　discussion　of　any　sort。　　His　soul　never　grew；　for　he　wouldn't　open　a　clink　where　a　new　idea　might　creep　in。　He'd　always　accompany　me　to　all　my　meetings　（such　advantages　as　that　man　had　and　missed！）；　and　sometimes　he'd　take　the　admission　tickets；　but　when　the　speaking　began；　he'd　shut　the　door　and　stay　out　in　the　entry　by　himself　till　it　was　time　to　wait　upon　me　home。　　Do　you　believe　in　vaccination？'

'Certainly。'

'Well；　it　passes　my　comprehension　how　you　can　be　so　sure　of　your　beliefs。　　You'd　better　come　and　hear　some　of　the　arguments　on　the　opposite　side。　　I　am　the　secretary　of　the　Anti…Vaccination　League。'　（Mrs。　Grubb　was　especially　happy　in　her　anti…societies；　negatives　seemed　to　give　her　more　scope　for　argument。）　　'I　say　to　my　classes；　〃You　must　not　blame　those　to　whom　higher　truths　do　not　appeal；　for　refusing　to　believe　in　that　which　they　cannot　understand；　but　you　may　reprove　them　for　decrying　or　ridiculing　those　laws　or　facts　of　nature　which　they　have　never　investigated　with　an　unprejudiced　mind。〃　　Well；　I　must　be　going。　　I've　sat　longer　than　I　meant　to；　this　room　is　so　peaceful　and　comfortable。'

'But　what　about　Lisa's　future？　　We　haven't　settled　that；　although　we've　had　a　most　interesting　and　illuminating　conversation。'

'Why；　I've　told　you　how　I　feel　about　her；　and　you　must　respect　my　feeling。　　The　world　can　only　grow　when　each　person　allows　his　fellow…　man　complete　liberty　of　thought　and　action。　　I've　kept　the　child　four　years；　and　now　when　my　good　care　and　feeding；　together　with　the　regular　work　and　early　hours　I've　always　prescribed；　have　begun　to　show　their　fruits　in　her　improved　condition；　you　want　she　should　be　put　in　some　institution。　　Why；　isn't　she　doing　well　enough　as　she　is？　I'm　sure　you've　had　a　wonderful　influence　over　her。'

'Nothing　could　induce　me　to　lose　sight　of　her　entirely；'　said　Mistress　Mary；　'but　we　feel　now　that　she　is　ready　to　take　the　next　step。　　She　needs　a　skilled　physician　who　is　master　both　of　body　and　mind；　as　well　as　a　teacher　who　is　capable　of　following　out　his　principles。　　I　will　see　to　all　that；　if　you　will　only　give　me　the　privilege。'

Mrs。　Grubb　sank　down　in　the　rocking…chair　in　despair。　　'Don't　I　need　some　consideration　as　well　as　that　little　imbecile？　　Am　I；　with　my　ambitions　and　aspirations；　to　be　for　ever　hampered　by　these　three　nightmares　of　children？　　Oh；　if　I　could　once　get　an　astral　body；　I　would　stay　in　it；　you　may　be　sure！'

'You　do　not　absolutely　need　Lisa　yourself；'　argued　Mary。　　'It　is　the　twins　to　whom　she　has　been　indispensable。　　Provide　for　them　in　some　way；　and　she　is　freed　from　a　responsibility　for　which　she　is　not；　and　never　was；　fit。　　It　is　a　miracle　that　some　tragedy　has　not　come　out　of　this　daily　companionship　of　three　such　passionate；　irresponsible　creatures。'

'Some　tragedy　will　come　out　of　it　yet；'　said　Mrs。　Grubb　gloomily；　'if　I　am　not　freed　from　the　shackles　that　keep　me　in　daily　slavery。　　The　twins　are　as　likely　to　go　to　the　gallows　as　anywhere；　and　as　for　Lisa；　she　would　be　a　good　deal　better　off　dead　than　alive；　as　Mrs。　Sylvester　says。'

'That　isn't　for　us　to　decide；'　said　Mistress　Mary　soberly。　　'I　might　have　been　careless　and　impertinent　enough　to　say　it　a　year　ago；　but　not　now。　　Lisa　has　all　along　been　the　victim　of　cruel　circumstances。　Wherever　she　has　been　sinned　against　through　ignorance；　it　is　possible；　barely　possible；　that　the　fault　may　be　atoned　for；　but　any　neglect　of　duty　now　would　be　a　criminal　offence。　　It　does　not　behove　us　to　be　too　scornful　when　we　remember　that　the　taint　（fortunately　a　slight　one）　transmitted　to　poor　little　Lisa　existed　in　greater　or　less　degree　in　Handel　and　Moliere；　Julius　Caesar；　Napoleon；　Petrarch；　and　Mohammed。　　The　world　is　a　good　deal　richer　for　them；　certainly。'

Mrs。　Grubb　elevated　her　head；　the　light　of　interest　dawned　in　her　eye；　and　she　whipped　her　notebook　out　of　her　pocket。

'Is　that　a　fact？'　she　asked　excitedly。

'It　is　a　fact。'

'Is　it　generally　known？'

'It　must　be　known　by　all　who　have　any　interest　in　the　education　of　defective　persons；　since　it　touches　one　of　the　bug…bears　which　they　have　to　fight。'

'Is　there　any　society　in　this　city　devoted　to　the　study　of　such　problems？'

'There　is　a　society　which　is　just　on　the　point　of　opening　an　institution　for　the　training　of　defective　children。'

Mrs。　Grubb's　face　fell；　and　her　hand　relaxed　its　grasp　upon　the　pencil。　　（If　there　was　anything　she　enjoyed；　it　was　the　sensation　of　being　a　pioneer　in　any　movement。）　　Presently　she　brightened　again。

'If　it　is　just　starting；'　she　said；　'then　it　must　need　more　members；　and　speakers　to　stir　up　the　community。　　Now；　I　am　calculated；　by　constant　association　with　a　child　of　this　character；　to　be　of　signal　service　to　the　cause。　　Not　many　persons　have　had　my　chance　to　observe　phenomena。　　Just　give　me　a　letter　to　the　president；have　they　elected　officers　yet？where　do　they　meet？and　tell　him　I'll　call　on　him　and　throw　all　the　weight　of　my　influence　on　his　side。　　It's　wonderful！　　Handel；　Moliere；　Buddha；　was　itBuddha？Caesar；　Petrarch；　and　Wellington；no；　not　Wellington。　　Never　mind；　I'll　get　a　list　from　you　to…morrow　and　look　it　all　up；it's　perfectly　marvellous！　　And　I　have　one　of　this　great；　unhappy；　suffering　class　in　my　own　family；　one　who　may　yet　be　transformed　into　an　Elizabeth　Browning　or　a　Joan　of　Arc！'

Mistress　Mary　sighed　in　her　heart。　　She　learned　more　of　Mrs。　Grubb　with　every　interview；　and　she　knew　that　her　enthusiasms　were　as　discouraging　as　her　apathies。

'How　unlucky　that　I　mentioned　Napoleon；　Caesar；　and　Mohammed！'　she　thought。　　'I　shall　be　haunted　now　by　the　fear　that　she　will　go　on　a　lecturing…tour　through　the　country；　and　exhibit　poor　Lisa　as　an　interesting　example。　　Mrs。　Grubb's　mind　is　like　nothing　so　much　as　a　crazy…quilt。'



CHAPTER　VIIITHE　YOUNG　MINISTER'S　PSYCHOLOGICAL　OBSERVATIONS



Mrs。　Grubb's　interest　in　the　education　of　the　defective　classes　was　as　short…lived　as　it　was　ardent。　　One　interview　with　the　president　of　the　society　convinced　her　that　he　was　not　a　person　to　be　'helped'　according　to　her　understanding　of　the　term。　　She　thought　him　a　self…　sufficient　gentleman；　inflexible　in　demeanour；　and　inhospitable　to　anybody's　ideas　or　anybody's　hobbies　but　his　own。　　She　resented　his　praise　of　Mistress　Mary　and　Rhoda；　and　regarded　it　fulsome　flattery　when　he　alluded　to　their　experiment　with　Marm　Lisa　as　one　of　the　most　interesting　and　valuable　in　his　whole　experience；　saying　that　he　hardly　knew　which　to　admire　and　venerate　the　morethe　genius　of　the　teachers；　or　the　devotion；　courage；　and　docility　of　the　pupil。

In　the　summer　months　Lisa　had　gone　to　the　country　with　Mistress　Mary　and　Edith；　who　were　determined　never　to　lose　sight　of　her　until　the　end　they　sought　was　actually　attained。　　There；　in　the　verdant　freshness　of　that　new　world；　Lisa　experienced　a　strange　exaltation　of　the　senses。　　Every　wooded　path　unfolded　treasures　of　leafy　bud；　blossom；　and　brier；　and　of　beautiful　winged　things　that　crept　and　rustled　among　the　grasses。　　There　was　the　ever　new　surprise　of　the　first　wild…flowers；　the　abounding　mystery　of　the　bird's　note　and　the　brook's　song；　the　daily　greeting　of　bees　and　butterflies；　frogs　and　fishes；　field…mice　and　squirrels；　so　that　the　universe；　which　in　the　dead　past　had　been　dreary　and　without　meaning；　suddenly　became　warm　and　friendly；　and　she；　the　alien；　felt　a　sense　of　kinship　with　all　created　things。

Helen　had　crossed　the　continent　to　imbibe　the　wisdom　of　the　East；　and　had　brought　back　stores　of　knowledge　to　spend　in　Lisa's　service；　but　Rhoda's　sacrifice　was　perhaps　the　most　complete；　for　Mrs。　Grubb　having　at　first　absolutely