“Butthisischildishandmediaevalnonsense！”
“Precisely；andfromyour，orratherour，pointofviewthepenismightierthantheswordInthiscountryit’sotherwiseThefaultliesinourIndianbalances，notyetadjustedtocivilizedweightsandmeasures。”
“Well，atallevents，thisliteraryclassrepresentthenaturalaspirationsandwishesofthepeopleatlarge，thoughitmaynotexactlyleadthem，and，inspiteofallyousay，Orde，IdefyyoutofindareallysoundEnglishRadicalwhowouldnotsympathizewiththoseaspirations。”
Pagettspokewithsomewarmth，andhehadscarcelyceasedwhenaweU
InthecaseoftheCongressmeetings，theonlynotablefactisthatthepriestsofthealtarareBritish，notBuddhist，JamorBrabmanical，andthatthewholethingisaBritishcontrivancekeptalivebytheeffortsofMessrsHume，Eardley，Norton，andDighy。”
“Youmeantosay，then，it’snotaspontaneousmovement？”
“Whatmovementwaseverspontaneousinanytruesenseoftheword？ThisseemstohemorefactitiousthanusualYouseemtoknowagreatdealaboutit；tryitbythetouchstoneofsubscriptions，acoarsebutfairlytrustworthycriterion，andthereisscarcelythecolorofmoneyinitThedelegateswritefromEnglandthattneyareoutofpocketforworkingexpenses，railwayfares，andstationery~themerepasteboardandscaffoldingoftheirshowItis，infact，collapsingfrommerefinancialinanition。”
“ButyoucannotdenythatthepeopleofIndia，whoare，perhaps，toopoortosubscribe，arementallyandmorallymovedbytheagitation。”Pagettinsisted。
“ThatispreciselywhatIdodenyThenativesideofthemovementistheworkofalimitedclass，amicroscopicminority，asLordDufferindescribedit’whencomparedwiththepeopleproper，h~itstillaveryinterestingclass，seeingthatitisofourowncreationItiscomposedalmostentirelyofthoseoftheliteraryorclerklycasteswhohavereceivedanEnglisheducation。”
“Surelythat’saveryimportantclassItsmembersmustbetheordainedleadersofpopularthought。”
“Anywhere-elsetheymightbeleaders，buttheyhavenosocialweight2~2
WORKSOFRUDYARDKIPLING
appointeddog-cartturnedintothecompoundgates，andOrderosesaying：
“HereisEdwards，theMasteroftheLodgeIneglectsodiligently，cometotalkaboutaccounts，I
suppose。”
AsthevehicledroveupundertheporchPagettalsorose，sayingwiththetrainedeffusionbornofmuchpractice：
“Butthisisalsomyfriend，myoldandvaluedfriendEdwardsI’mdelightedtoseeyouIknewyouwereinIndia，butnotexactlywhere。”
“Thenitisn’taccounts，MrEdwards。”saidOrde，cheerily。
“Why，no，sir；IheardMrPagettwascoming，andasourworkswereclosedfortheNewYearI
thoughtIwoulddriveoverandseehim。”
“AveryhappythoughtMrEd-wards，youmaynotknow，Orde，wasaleadingmemberofourRadicalClubatSwitebtonwhenIwasbeginningp0liticallife，andIowemuchtohisexertions。
There’snopleasurelikemeetinganoldfriend，except，perhaps，makinganewoneIsuppose，MrEdwards，yousticktothegoodoldcause？”
“Well，yousee，sir，thingsaredifferentouthereThere’spreciouslittleonecanfindtosayagainsttheGovernment，whichwasthemainofourtalkathome，andthemthatdosaythingsarenotthesort0’peopleamanwhorespectshimselfwouldliketobemixedupwithTherearenopolitics，inamannerofspeaking，inIndiaIt’sallwork。”
“Surelyyouaremistaken，mygoodfriendWhyIhavecomeallthewayfromEnglandjusttoseetheworkingofthisgreatNationalmovement。”
“Idon’tknowwhereyou’regoingtofindthenationasmovestobeginwith，andthenyou’llbehardputtoittofindwhattheyaremovingaboutIt’slikethis，sir。”saidEdwards，whohadnotquiterelishedbeingcalled“mygoodfriend。”“Theyhaven’tg~tanygrievanc~nothingtohitwith，don’tyousee，sir；andthenthere’snotmuchtohitagainst，becausetheGovernmentismorelikeakindofgeneralProvidence，directinganold-establishedstateofthings，thanthatathome，wherethere’ssomethingnewthrowndownforustofightabouteverythreemonths...完整阅读请扫描二维码下载丁香书院APP免费看：