按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
treasures of the last four years； and as he carefully placed each one；
building up at once a firm and cunning structure； he gave a little groan；
thinking of the intoxications of the past； and all the glorious thoughts
embodied in that literature。 Underneath； in the heart of the pile； he
reserved a space for the most inflammable material； which he selected
from a special file of a special journal； and round the circumference of
the lofty and tapering mound he carefully deposited the two hundred and
four war numbers of a certain weekly； so that a ring of flame might lick
well up the sides and permeate the more solid matter on which he would be
sitting。 For two hours he worked in the waning moonlight till he had
completed this weird and heroic erection； and just before the dawn； sat
down by the light of the candle with which he meant to apply the
finishing touch； to compose that interview with himself whereby he
intended to convey to the world the message of his act。
〃I found him；〃 he began； in the words of the interviewer； 〃sitting upon a
journalistic pile of lovely leaves of thought； which in the dawning of a
new day glowed with a certain restrained flamboyance； as though the
passion stored within those exotic pages gave itself willingly to the
'eclaircissement' of the situation； and of his lineaments on which
suffering had already set their stamp。
〃'I should like you；' I said； approaching as near as I could； for the
sparks； like little fireflies on a Riviera evening； were playing
profoundly round my trousers； 'I should like to hear from your own lips
the reasons which have caused you to resign。'
〃'Certainly；' he replied； with the courtesy which I have always found
characteristic of him in moments which would try the suavity of more
ordinary men； and with the utmost calm and clarity he began to tell me
the inner workings of his mind； while the growing dawn…light irradiated
his wasted and expressive features； and the flames slowly roasted his
left boot。
〃'Yes；' he said quietly； and his eyes turned inwards； 'I have at last
seen the problem clearly； and seen it whole。 It is largely because of
this that I have elected to seek the seclusion of another world。 What
that world contains for me I know not； though so many public men have
tried to tell me； but it has never been my way to recoil from the
Unknown； and I am ready for my journey beyond the wide world's end。'
〃I was greatly struck by the large…hearted way in which he spoke those
words； and I interrupted him to ask whether he did not think that there
was something fundamental in the British character which would leap as
one man at such an act of daring sacrifice and great adventure。
〃'As regards that；' he replied fearlessly； while in the light of the
ever…brightening dawn I could； see the suspender on his right leg
gradually charring； so that he must already have been in great pain； 'as
regards that； it is largely the proneness of the modern British to leap
to verbal extremity which is inducing me to afford them this object…
lesson in restraint and commonsense。 Ouch ！'
〃This momentary ejaculation seemed to escape him in spite of all his iron
control； and the smell of burning flesh brought home to me as nothing
else； perhaps； could have done the tortures he must have been suffering。
〃'I feel；' he went on very gravely； 'that extravagance of word and
conduct is fatal to my country； and having so profoundly experienced its
effects upon myself； I am now endeavouring by a shining example to supply
a remedy for a disease which is corroding the vitals and impairing the
sanity of my countrymen and making them a race of second…hand spiritual
drunkards。 Ouch！'
〃I confess that at this moment the tears started to my eyes； for a more
sublime show than the spectacle of this devoted man slowly roasting
himself to death before my eyes for the good of his country I had seldom
seen。 It had a strange； an appalling interest； and for nothing on earth
could I have torn my gaze away。 I now realized to the full for the first
time the will…power and heroism of the human species； and I rejoiced with
a glorious new feeling that I was of the same breed as this man； made of
such stern stuff that not even a tear rolled down his cheeks to quench
the flames that leaped around him ever higher and higher。 And the dawn
came up in the eastern sky； and I knew that a great day was preparing for
mankind； and with my eyes fixed upon him as he turned blacker and blacker
I let my heart loose in a great thanksgiving that I had lived to see this
moment。 It was then that he cried out in a loud voice：
〃'I call Aurora to witness that I have died without a falter； grasping a
burning spear； to tilt at the malpractice which has sent me mad！' And I
saw that he held in his fast…consuming hand a long roll of journals
sharpened to a point of burning flame。
〃'Aurora！' he cried again； and with that enigmatic word on his lips was
incinerated in the vast and towering belch of the devouring element。
〃It was among the most inspiring sights I have ever witnessed。〃
When Mr。 Lavender had completed that record； whose actuality and wealth
of moving detail had greatly affected him； and marked it 〃For the Press…
Immediate；〃 he felt very cold。 It was； in fact； that hour of dawn when a
shiver goes through the world； and； almost with pleasurable anticipation
he took up his lighted candle and stole shivering out to his pile； rising
ghostly to the height of some five feet in the middle of the dim lawn
whereon a faint green tinge was coming with the return of daylight。
Having reached it； he walked round it twice； and readjusted four volumes
of the history of the war as stepping…stones to the top； then lowering
the candle； whose flame burned steadily in the stillness； he knelt down
in the grey dew and set fire to an article in a Sunday paper。 Then；
sighing deeply； he returned to his little ladder and； with some
difficulty preserving his balance； mounted to the top； and sat down with
his legs towards the house and his eyes fixed on Aurora's bedroom…window。
He had been there perhaps ten minutes before he realized that nothing was
happening below him； and； climbing down again； proceeded to the aperture
where he had inserted the burning print。 There； by the now considerable
daylight； he saw that the flame had gone out at the words 〃The Stage is
now set for the last act of this colossal world drama。〃 And convinced
that Providence had intended that heartening sentence to revive his
somewhat drooping courage； he thought； 〃I； too； shall be making history
this morning；〃 and relighting the journal； went on his hands and knees
and began manfully to blow the flames。 。 。 。 。 。
Now the young lady in the adjoining castle； who had got out of bed；
happened； as she sometimes did； to go to the window for a look at the sun
rising over Parliament Hill。 Attracted by the smell of burning paper she
saw Mr。 Lavender in this act of blowing up the flames。
〃What on earth is the poor dear doing now？〃 she thought。 〃This is
really the limit！〃 And slipping on her slippers and blue dressing…gown
she ensconced herself behind the curtain to await developments。
Mr。 Lavender had now backed away from the flames at which he had been
blowing； and remained on his hands and knees； apparently assuring himself
that they had really obtained hold。 He then rose； and to her intense
surprise began climbing up on to the pile。 She watched him at first with
an amused astonishment； so ludicrous was his light little figure； crowned
by stivered…up white hair； and the expression of eager melancholy on his
thin； high…cheekboned face upturned towards her window。 Then； to her
dismay； she saw that the flame had really caught； and； suddenly persuaded
that he had some crazy intention of injuring himself with the view；
perhaps； of attracting her attention； she ran out of her room and down
the stairs； and emerging from the back door just as she was； circled her
garden； so that she might enter Mr。 Lavender's garden from behind him；
ready for any eventuality。 She arrived within arm's reach of him without
his having heard her； for Blink； whose anxious face as she watched her
master wasting； could be discerned at the bedroom…window； was whining；
and Mr。 Lavender himself had now broken into a strange and lamentable
chantey； which； in combination with the creeping flutter of the flames in
the weekly journals encircling the base of the funeral pyre； well…nigh
made her blood curdle。
〃Aurora；〃 sang Mr。 Lavender； in that most dolorous voice；
〃Aurora； my heart I bring；
For I know well it will not burn；
Oh！ when the leaves puff out in Spring
And when the leaves in Autumn turn
Think； think of me！
Aurora； I pass away！
Upon my horse of air I ride；
Here let my grizzled ash