首页 >出版文学> The Works of Rudyard Kipling One>第87章
  Hekepthisunrequitedattachmentbyhimasmenkeepawell-smokedpipe——forcomfort’ssake,andbecauseithadgrowndearintheusingItbroughthimhappilythroughtheSimlaseason。
  HannasydewasnotlovelyTherewasacrudityinhismanners,andaroughnessinthewayinwhichhehelpedaladyontoherhorse,thatdidnotattracttheothersextohimEvenifhehadcastaboutfortheirfavor,whichhedidnotHekepthiswoundedheartalltohimselfforawhile。
  ThentroublecametohimAllwhogotoSimla,knowtheslopefromtheTelegraphtothePublicWorksOfficeHannasydewasloafingupthehill,oneSeptembermorningbetweencallinghours,whena’rickshawcamedowninahurry,andinthe’rickshawsattheliving,breathingimageofthegirlwhohadmadehimsohappilyunhappy。
  HannasydeleanedagainsttherailingandgaspedHewantedtorundownhillafterthe’rickshaw,butthatwasimpossible;sohewentforwardwithmostofhisbloodinhistemplesItwasimpossible,formanyreasons,thatthewomaninthe’rickshawcouldbethegirlhehadknownShewas,hediscoveredlater,thewifeofamanfromDindigul,orCoimbatore,orsomeout-of-the-wayplace,andshehadcomeuptoSimlaearlyintheseasonforthegoodofherhealth。
  ShewasgoingbacktoDindigul,orwhereveritwas,attheendoftheseason;andinalllikelihoodwouldneverreturntoSimlaagain,herproperHill-stationbeingOotacamundThatnight,Hannasyde,rawandsavagefromtherakingupofalloldfeelings,tookcounselwithhimselfforonemeasuredhourWhathedecideduponwasthis;
  andyoumustdecideforyourselfhowmuchgenuineaffectionfortheoldlove,andhowmuchaverynaturalinclinationtogoabroadandenjoyhimself,affectedthedecisionMrsLandys-HaggertwouldneverinallhumanlikelihoodcrosshispathagainSowhateverhediddidn’tmuchmatterShewasmarvellouslylikethegirlwho“tookadeepinterest“andtherestoftheformulaAllthingsconsidered,itwouldbepleasanttomaketheacquaintanceofMrs。
  Landys-Haggert,andforalittletime——onlyaverylittletime——tomakebelievethathewaswithAliceChisaneagainEveryoneismoreorlessmadononepointHannasyde’sparticularmonomaniawashisoldlove,AliceChisane。
  HemadeithisbusinesstogetintroducedtoMrsHaggert,andtheintroductionprosperedHealsomadeithisbusinesstoseeasmuchashecouldofthatladyWhenamanisinearnestastointerviews,thefacilitieswhichSimlaoffersarestartlingTherearegarden-parties,andtennis-parties,andpicnics,andluncheonsatAnnandale,andrifle-matches,anddinnersandballs;besidesridesandwalks,whicharemattersofprivatearrangement。
  Hannasydehadstartedwiththeintentionofseeingalikeness,andheendedbydoingmuchmoreHewantedtobedeceived,hemeanttobedeceived,andhedeceivedhimselfverythoroughlyNotonlywerethefaceandfigure,thefaceandfigureofAliceChisane,butthevoiceandlowertoneswereexactlythesame,andsoweretheturnsofspeech;andthelittlemannerisms,thateverywomanhas,ofgaitandgesticulation,wereabsolutelyandidenticallythesameTheturnoftheheadwasthesame;thetiredlookintheeyesattheendofalongwalkwasthesame;thesloopandwrenchoverthesaddletoholdinapullinghorsewasthesame;andonce,mostmarvellousofall,MrsLandys-Haggertsingingtoherselfinthenextroom,whileHannasydewaswaitingtotakeherforaride,hummed,notefornote,withathroatyquiverofthevoiceinthesecondline:——“PoorWanderingOne!”exactlyasAliceChisanehadhummeditforHannasydeintheduskofanEnglishdrawing-roomIntheactualwomanherself——inthesoulofher——therewasnottheleastlikeness;sheandAliceChisanebeingcastindifferentmouldsButallthatHannasydewantedtoknowandseeandthinkabout,wasthismaddeningandperplexinglikenessoffaceandvoiceandmannerHewasbentonmakingafoolofhimselfthatway;andhewasinnosortdisappointed。
  Openandobviousdevotionfromanysortofmanisalwayspleasanttoanysortofwoman;butMrsLandys-Haggert,beingawomanoftheworld,couldmakenothingofHannasyde’sadmiration。
  Hewouldtakeanyamountoftrouble——hewasaselfishmanhabitually——tomeetandforestall,ifpossible,herwishes。
  Anythingshetoldhimtodowaslaw;andhewas,therecouldbenodoubtingit,fondofhercompanysolongasshetalkedtohim,andkeptontalkingabouttrivialitiesButwhenshelaunchedintoexpressionofherpersonalviewsandherwrongs,thosesmallsocialdifferencesthatmakethespiceofSimlalife,HannasydewasneitherpleasednorinterestedHedidn’twanttoknowanythingaboutMrs。
  Landys-Haggert,orherexperiencesinthepast——shehadtravellednearlyallovertheworld,andcouldtalkcleverly——hewantedthelikenessofAliceChisanebeforehiseyesandhervoiceinhisears。
  Anythingoutsidethat,remindinghimofanotherpersonalityjarred,andheshowedthatitdid。
  UnderthenewPostOffice,oneevening,MrsLandys-Haggertturnedonhim,andspokehermindshortlyandwithoutwarning“Mr。
  Hannasyde。”saidshe,“willyoubegoodenoughtoexplainwhyyouhaveappointedyourselfmyspecialcavalierservente?Idon’tunderstanditButIamperfectlycertain,somehoworother,thatyoudon’tcaretheleastlittlebitintheworldforME。”Thisseemstosupport,bytheway,thetheorythatnomancanactortellliestoawomanwithoutbeingfoundoutHannasydewastakenoffhisguardHisdefenceneverwasastrongone,becausehewasalwaysthinkingofhimself,andheblurtedout,beforeheknewwhathewassaying,thisinexpedientanswer:——“NomoreIdo。”
  Thequeernessofthesituationandthereply,madeMrsLandys-
  HaggertlaughThenitallcameout;andattheendofHannasyde’slucidexplanation,MrsHaggertsaid,withtheleastlittletouchofscorninhervoice:——“SoI’mtoactasthelay-figureforyoutohangtheragsofyourtatteredaffectionson,amI?”
  Hannasydedidn’tseewhatanswerwasrequired,andhedevotedhimselfgenerallyandvaguelytothepraiseofAliceChisane,whichwasunsatisfactoryNowitistobethoroughlymadeclearthatMrs。
  HaggerthadnottheshadowofaghostofaninterestinHannasyde。
  Onlyonlynowomanlikesbeingmadelovethroughinsteadofto——speciallyonbehalfofamustydivinityoffouryears’standing。
  HannasydedidnotseethathehadmadeanyveryparticularexhibitionofhimselfHewasgladtofindasympatheticsoulinthearidwastesofSimla。
  Whentheseasonended,HannasydewentdowntohisownplaceandMrs。
  Haggerttohers“Itwaslikemakinglovetoaghost。”saidHannasydetohimself,“anditdoesn’tmatter;andnowI’llgettomywork。”ButhefoundhimselfthinkingsteadilyoftheHaggert-
  Chisaneghost;andhecouldnotbecertainwhetheritwasHaggertorChisanethatmadeupthegreaterpartoftheprettyphantom……
  Hegotunderstandingamonthlater。
  ApeculiarpointofthispeculiarcountryisthewayinwhichaheartlessGovernmenttransfersmenfromoneendoftheEmpiretotheotherYoucanneverbesureofgettingridofafriendoranenemytillheorshediesTherewasacaseonce——butthat’sanotherstory。
  Haggert’sDepartmentorderedhimupfromDindigultotheFrontierattwodays’notice,andhewentthrough,losingmoneyateverystep,fromDindigultohisstationHedroppedMrsHaggertatLucknow,tostaywithsomefriendsthere,totakepartinabigballattheChutterMunzil,andtocomeonwhenhehadmadethenewhomealittlecomfortableLucknowwasHannasyde’sstation,andMrs。
  HaggertstayedaweekthereHannasydewenttomeetherAndthetraincamein,hediscoveredwhichhehadbeenthinkingofforthepastmonthTheunwisdomofhisconductalsostruckhimTheLucknowweek,withtwodances,andanunlimitedquantityofridestogether,clinchedmatters;andHannasydefoundhimselfpacingthiscircleofthought:——HeadoredAliceChisane——atleastheHAD
  adoredherANDheadmiredMrsLandys-HaggertbecauseshewaslikeAliceChisaneBUTMrsLandys-HaggertwasnotintheleastlikeAliceChisane,beingathousandtimesmoreadorableNOWAliceChisanewas“thebrideofanother。”andsowasMrsLandys-Haggert,andagoodandhonestwifetooTHEREFORE,he,Hannasyde,was。
  herehecalledhimselfseveralhardnames,andwishedthathehadbeenwiseinthebeginning。
  WhetherMrsLandys-Haggertsawwhatwasgoingoninhismind,shealoneknowsHeseemedtotakeanunqualifiedinterestineverythingconnectedwithherself,asdistinguishedfromtheAlice-
  Chisanelikeness,andhesaidoneortwothingswhich,ifAliceChisanehadbeenstillbetrothedtohim,couldscarcelyhavebeenexcused,evenonthegroundsofthelikenessButMrsHaggertturnedtheremarksaside,andspentalongtimeinmakingHannasydeseewhatacomfortandapleasureshehadbeentohimbecauseofherstrangeresemblancetohisoldloveHannasydegroanedinhissaddleandsaid,“Yes,indeed。”andbusiedhimselfwithpreparationsforherdeparturetotheFrontier,feelingverysmallandmiserable。
  ThelastdayofherstayatLucknowcame,andHannasydesawheroffattheRailwayStationShewasverygratefulforhiskindnessandthetroublehehadtaken,andsmiledpleasantlyandsympatheticallyasonewhoknewtheAlice-ChisanereasonofthatkindnessAndHannasydeabusedthecoolieswiththeluggage,andhustledthepeopleontheplatform,andprayedthattheroofmightfallinandslayhim。
  Asthetrainwentoutslowly,MrsLandys-Haggertleanedoutofthewindowtosaygoodbye:——“Onsecondthoughtsaurevoir,Mr。
  HannasydeIgoHomeintheSpring,andperhapsImaymeetyouinTown。”
  Hannasydeshookhands,andsaidveryearnestlyandadoringly:——“I
  hopetoHeavenIshallneverseeyourfaceagain!”
  AndMrsHaggertunderstood。
  WRESSLEYOFTHEFOREIGNOFFICE。
  Iclosedanddrewformylove’ssake,Thatnowisfalsetome,AndIslewtheRieverofTarrantMoss,AndsetDumenyfree。
  Andevertheygivemepraiseandgold,AndeverImoanmyloss,ForIstrucktheblowformyfalselove’ssake,AndnotforthemenattheMoss。
  TarrantMoss。
  Oneofthemanycursesofourlifeouthereisthewantofatmosphereinthepainter’ssenseTherearenohalf-tintsworthnoticingMenstandoutallcrudeandraw,withnothingtotonethemdown,andnothingtoscalethemagainstTheydotheirwork,andgrowtothinkthatthereisnothingbuttheirwork,andnothingliketheirwork,andthattheyaretherealpivotsonwhichtheadministrationturnsHereisaninstanceofthisfeelingAhalf-
  casteclerkwasrulingformsinaPayOfficeHesaidtome:——“DoyouknowwhatwouldhappenifIaddedortookawayonesinglelineonthissheet?”Then,withtheairofaconspirator:——“ItwoulddisorganizethewholeoftheTreasurypaymentsthroughoutthewholeofthePresidencyCircle!Thinkofthat?”
  Ifmenhadnotthisdelusionastotheultra-importanceoftheirownparticularemployments,IsupposethattheywouldsitdownandkillthemselvesButtheirweaknessiswearisome,particularlywhenthelistenerknowsthathehimselfcommitsexactlythesamesin。
  EventheSecretariatbelievesthatitdoesgoodwhenitasksanover-drivenExecutiveOfficertotakecensusofwheat-weevilsthroughadistrictoffivethousandsquaremiles。
  TherewasamanonceintheForeignOffice——amanwhohadgrownmiddle-agedinthedepartment,andwascommonlysaid,byirreverentjuniors,tobeabletorepeatAitchison’s“TreatiesandSunnuds“
  backwards,inhissleepWhathedidwithhisstoredknowledgeonlytheSecretaryknew;andhe,naturally,wouldnotpublishthenewsabroadThisman’snamewasWressley,anditwastheShibboleth,inthosedays,tosay:——“WressleyknowsmoreabouttheCentralIndianStatesthananylivingman。”Ifyoudidnotsaythis,youwereconsideredoneofmeanundertanding。
  Now-a-days,themanwhosaysthatheknowstheraveloftheinter-
  tribalcomplicationsacrosstheBorderisofmoreuse;butinWressley’stime,muchattentionwaspaidtotheCentralIndianStatesTheywerecalled“foci“and“factors。”andallmannerofimposingnames。
  AndherethecurseofAnglo-IndianlifefellheavilyWhenWressleylifteduphisvoice,andspokeaboutsuch-and-suchasuccessiontosuch-and-suchathrone,theForeignOfficeweresilent,andHeadsofDepartmentsrepeatedthelasttwoorthreewordsofWressley’ssentences,andtacked“yes,yes。”onthem,andknewthattheywere“assistingtheEmpiretograpplewithseriouspoliticalcontingencies。”Inmostbigundertakings,oneortwomendotheworkwhiletherestsitnearandtalktilltheripedecorationsbegintofall。
  Wressleywastheworking-memberoftheForeignOfficefirm,and,tokeephimuptohisdutieswhenheshowedsignsofflagging,hewasmademuchofbyhissuperiorsandtoldwhatafinefellowhewas。
  Hedidnotrequirecoaxing,becausehewasoftoughbuild,butwhathereceivedconfirmedhiminthebeliefthattherewasnoonequitesoabsolutelyandimperativelynecessarytothestabilityofIndiaasWressleyoftheForeignOfficeTheremightbeothergoodmen,buttheknown,honoredandtrustedmanamongmenwasWressleyoftheForeignOfficeWehadaViceroyinthosedayswhoknewexactlywhento“gentle“afractiousbigmanandtoheartenupacollar-
  galledlittleone,andsokeepallhisteamlevelHeconveyedtoWressleytheimpressionwhichIhavejustsetdown;andeventoughmenareapttobedisorganizedbyaViceroy’spraiseTherewasacaseonce——butthatisanotherstory。