selected prose of oscar wilde-第15章
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round them； and she felt something pulling at her dress。 'Quick；
quick；' cried the Ghost； 'or it will be too late；' and； in a moment；
the wainscoting had closed behind them； and the Tapestry Chamber was
empty。The Canterville Ghost
AN ETON KIT…CAT
〃Well；〃 said Erskine； lighting a cigarette； 〃I must begin by telling
you about Cyril Graham himself。 He and I were at the same house at
Eton。 I was a year or two older than he was； but we were immense
friends； and did all our work and all our play together。 There was；
of course； a good deal more play than work； but I cannot say that I
am sorry for that。 It is always an advantage not to have received a
sound commercial education； and what I learned in the playing fields
at Eton has been quite as useful to me as anything I was taught at
Cambridge。 I should tell you that Cyril's father and mother were
both dead。 They had been drowned in a horrible yachting accident
off the Isle of Wight。 His father had been in the diplomatic
service； and had married a daughter； the only daughter； in fact； of
old Lord Crediton； who became Cyril's guardian after the death of
his parents。 I don't think that Lord Crediton cared very much for
Cyril。 He had never really forgiven his daughter for marrying a man
who had not a title。 He was an extraordinary old aristocrat； who
swore like a costermonger； and had the manners of a farmer。 I
remember seeing him once on Speech…day。 He growled at me； gave me a
sovereign； and told me not to grow up 〃a damned Radical〃 like my
father。 Cyril had very little affection for him； and was only too
glad to spend most of his holidays with us in Scotland。 They never
really got on together at all。 Cyril thought him a bear； and he
thought Cyril effeminate。 He was effeminate； I suppose； in some
things； though he was a very good rider and a capital fencer。 In
fact he got the foils before he left Eton。 But he was very languid
in his manner； and not a little vain of his good looks； and had a
strong objection to football。 The two things that really gave him
pleasure were poetry and acting。 At Eton he was always dressing up
and reciting Shakespeare； and when he went up to Trinity he became a
member of the A。D。C。 his first term。 I remember I was always very
jealous of his acting。 I was absurdly devoted to him； I suppose
because we were so different in some things。 I was a rather
awkward； weakly lad； with huge feet； and horribly freckled。
Freckles run in Scotch families just as gout does in English
families。 Cyril used to say that of the two he preferred the gout；
but he always set an absurdly high value on personal appearance； and
once read a paper before our debating society to prove that it was
better to be good…looking than to be good。 He certainly was
wonderfully handsome。 People who did not like him； Philistines and
college tutors； and young men reading for the Church； used to say
that he was merely pretty； but there was a great deal more in his
face than mere prettiness。 I think he was the most splendid
creature I ever saw； and nothing could exceed the grace of his
movements； the charm of his manner。 He fascinated everybody who was
worth fascinating； and a great many people who were not。 He was
often wilful and petulant； and I used to think him dreadfully
insincere。 It was due； I think； chiefly to his inordinate desire to
please。 Poor Cyril！ I told him once that he was contented with
very cheap triumphs； but he only laughed。 He was horribly spoiled。
All charming people； I fancy； are spoiled。 It is the secret of
their attraction。
〃However； I must tell you about Cyril's acting。 You know that no
actresses are allowed to play at the A。D。C。 At least they were not
in my time。 I don't know how it is now。 Well； of course； Cyril was
always cast for the girls' parts； and when As You Like It was
produced he played Rosalind。 It was a marvellous performance。 In
fact； Cyril Graham was the only perfect Rosalind I have ever seen。
It would be impossible to describe to you the beauty； the delicacy；
the refinement of the whole thing。 It made an immense sensation；
and the horrid little theatre； as it was then； was crowded every
night。 Even when I read the play now I can't help thinking of
Cyril。 It might have been written for him。 The next term he took
his degree； and came to London to read for the diplomatic。 But he
never did any work。 He spent his days in reading Shakespeare's
Sonnets； and his evenings at the theatre。 He was； of course； wild
to go on the stage。 It was all that I and Lord Crediton could do to
prevent him。 Perhaps if he had gone on the stage he would be alive
now。 It is always a silly thing to give advice； but to give good
advice is absolutely fatal。 I hope you will never fall into that
error。 If you do； you will be sorry for it。〃The Portrait of Mr。
W。 H。
MRS。 ERLYNNE EXERCISES THE PREROGATIVE OF A GRANDMOTHER
Lady Windermere； before Heaven your husband is guiltless of all
offence towards you！ And II tell you that had it ever occurred to
me that such a monstrous suspicion would have entered your mind； I
would have died rather than have crossed your life or hisoh！ died；
gladly died！ Believe what you choose about me。 I am not worth a
moment's sorrow。 But don't spoil your beautiful young life on my
account！ You don't know what may be in store for you； unless you
leave this house at once。 You don't know what it is to fall into
the pit； to be despised； mocked； abandoned； sneered atto be an
outcast！ to find the door shut against one； to have to creep in by
hideous byways； afraid every moment lest the mask should be stripped
from one's face； and all the while to hear the laughter； the
horrible laughter of the world； a thing more tragic than all the
tears the world has ever shed。 You don't know what it is。 One pays
for one's sin； and then one pays again； and all one's life one pays。
You must never know that。As for me； if suffering be an expiation；
then at this moment I have expiated all my faults； whatever they
have been； for to…night you have made a heart in one who had it not；
made it and broken it。But let that pass。 I may have wrecked my
own life； but I will not let you wreck yours。 Youwhy； you are a
mere girl； you would be lost。 You haven't got the kind of brains
that enables a woman to get back。 You have neither the wit nor the
courage。 You couldn't stand dishonour！ No！ Go back； Lady
Windermere； to the husband who loves you； whom you love。 You have a
child； Lady Windermere。 Go back to that child who even now； in pain
or in joy； may be calling to you。 God gave you that child。 He will
require from you that you make his life fine； that you watch over
him。 What answer will you make to God if his life is ruined through
you？ Back to your house； Lady Windermereyour husband loves you！
He has never swerved for a moment from the love he bears you。 But
even if he had a thousand loves； you must stay with your child。 If
he was harsh to you； you must stay with your child。 If he ill…
treated you； you must stay with your child。 If he abandoned you；
your place is with your child。Lady Windermere's Fan
MOTHERHOOD MORE THAN MARRIAGE
Men don't understand what mothers are。 I am no different from other
women except in the wrong done me and the wrong I did； and my very
heavy punishments and great disgrace。 And yet； to bear you I had to
look on death。 To nurture you I had to wrestle with it。 Death
fought with me for you。 All women have to fight with death to keep
their children。 Death； being childless； wants our children from us。
Gerald； when you were naked I clothed you； when you were hungry I
gave you food。 Night and day all that long winter I tended you。 No
office is too mean； no care too lowly for the thing we women love
and oh！ how I loved YOU。 Not Hannah； Samuel more。 And you needed
love； for y
