the moon and sixpence(月球和六便士)-第7章
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because I thought no one was in the least concerned with me； examined
Strickland at my ease。 He was bigger than I expected： I do not know
why I had imagined him slender and of insignificant appearance； in point
of fact he was broad and heavy； with large hands and feet； and he wore his
evening clothes clumsily。 He gave you somewhat the idea of a coachman
dressed up for the occasion。 He was a man of forty； not good…looking；
and yet not ugly； for his features were rather good； but they were all a little
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The Moon and Sixpence
larger than life…size； and the effect was ungainly。 He was clean shaven；
and his large face looked uncomfortably naked。 His hair was reddish； cut
very short； and his eyes were small； blue or grey。 He looked
commonplace。 I no longer wondered that Mrs。 Strickland felt a certain
embarrassment about him； he was scarcely a credit to a woman who
wanted to make herself a position in the world of art and letters。 It was
obvious that he had no social gifts； but these a man can do without； he had
no eccentricity even； to take him out of the common run； he was just a
good； dull； honest； plain man。 One would admire his excellent qualities；
but avoid his company。 He was null。 He was probably a worthy member
of society； a good husband and father； an honest broker； but there was no
reason to waste one's time over him。
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The Moon and Sixpence
Chapter VII
The season was drawing to its dusty end； and everyone I knew was
arranging to go away。 Mrs。 Strickland was taking her family to the coast
of Norfolk； so that the children might have the sea and her husband golf。
We said good…bye to one another； and arranged to meet in the autumn。
But on my last day in town； coming out of the Stores； I met her with her
son and daughter； like myself； she had been making her final purchases
before leaving London； and we were both hot and tired。 I proposed that we
should all go and eat ices in the park。
I think Mrs。 Strickland was glad to show me her children； and she
accepted my invitation with alacrity。 They were even more attractive
than their photographs had suggested； and she was right to be proud of
them。 I was young enough for them not to feel shy； and they chattered
merrily about one thing and another。 They were extraordinarily nice；
healthy young children。 It was very agreeable under the trees。
When in an hour they crowded into a cab to go home； I strolled idly to
my club。 I was perhaps a little lonely； and it was with a touch of envy
that I thought of the pleasant family life of which I had had a glimpse。
They seemed devoted to one another。 They had little private jokes of
their own which； unintelligible to the outsider； amused them enormously。
Perhaps Charles Strickland was dull judged by a standard that demanded
above all things verbal scintillation； but his intelligence was adequate to
his surroundings； and that is a passport； not only to reasonable success； but
still more to happiness。 Mrs。 Strickland was a charming woman； and she
loved him。 I pictured their lives； troubled by no untoward adventure；
honest； decent； and； by reason of those two upstanding； pleasant children；
so obviously destined to carry on the normal traditions of their race and
station； not without significance。 They would grow old insensibly； they
would see their son and daughter come to years of reason； marry in due
course the one a pretty girl； future mother of healthy children； the other
a handsome； manly fellow； obviously a soldier； and at last； prosperous in
their dignified retirement； beloved by their descendants； after a happy； not
unuseful life； in the fullness of their age they would sink into the grave。
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The Moon and Sixpence
That must be the story of innumerable couples； and the pattern of life
it offers has a homely grace。 It reminds you of a placid rivulet；
meandering smoothly through green pastures and shaded by pleasant trees；
till at last it falls into the vasty sea； but the sea is so calm； so silent； so
indifferent； that you are troubled suddenly by a vague uneasiness。
Perhaps it is only by a kink in my nature； strong in me even in those days；
that I felt in such an existence； the share of the great majority； something
amiss。 I recognised its social values； I saw its ordered happiness； but a
fever in my blood asked for a wilder course。 There seemed to me
something alarming in such easy delights。 In my heart was a desire to
live more dangerously。 I was not unprepared for jagged rocks and
treacherous shoals if I could only have change change and the
excitement of the unforeseen。
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The Moon and Sixpence
Chapter VIII
On reading over what I have written of the Stricklands； I am conscious
that they must seem shadowy。 I have been able to invest them with none
of those characteristics which make the persons of a book exist with a real
life of their own； and； wondering if the fault is mine； I rack my brains to
remember idiosyncrasies which might lend them vividness。 I feel that by
dwelling on some trick of speech or some queer habit I should be able to
give them a significance peculiar to themselves。 As they stand they are
like the figures in an old tapestry； they do not separate themselves from
the background； and at a distance seem to lose their pattern； so that you
have little but a pleasing piece of colour。 My only excuse is that the
impression they made on me was no other。 There was just that
shadowiness about them which you find in people whose lives are part of
the social organism； so that they exist in it and by it only。 They are like
cells in the body； essential； but； so long as they remain healthy； engulfed in
the momentous whole。 The Stricklands were an average family in the
middle class。 A pleasant； hospitable woman； with a harmless craze for
the small lions of literary society； a rather dull man； doing his duty in that
state of life in which a merciful Providence had placed him； two nice…
looking； healthy children。 Nothing could be more ordinary。 I do not
know that there was anything about them to excite the attention of the
curious。
When I reflect on all that happened later； I ask myself if I was thick…
witted not to see that there was in Charles Strickland at least something
out of the common。 Perhaps。 I think that I have gathered in the years that
intervene between then and now a fair knowledge of mankind； but even if
when I first met the Stricklands I had the experience which I have now； I
do not believe that I should have judged them differently。 But because I
have learnt that man is incalculable
