English
I
Shetried,morefromloyaltythanfromdesire,tocalluponthePerrysonaNovembereveningwhenKennicottwasaway.Theywerenotathome.
Likeachildwhohasnoonetoplaywithsheloiteredthroughthedarkhall.Shesawalightunderanofficedoor.Sheknocked.
Tothepersonwhoopenedshemurmured,"DoyouhappentoknowwherethePerrysare?"SherealizedthatitwasGuyPollock.
"I'mawfullysorry,Mrs.Kennicott,butIdon'tknow.Won'tyoucomeinandwaitforthem?"
"W–why—"sheobserved,asshereflectedthatinGopherPrairieitisnotdecenttocallonaman;asshedecidedthatno,really,shewouldn'tgoin;andasshewentin.
"Ididn'tknowyourofficewasuphere."
"Yes,office,town–house,andchateauinPicardy.
Butyoucan'tseethechateauandtown–house(nexttotheDukeofSutherland's).They'rebeyondthatinnerdoor.
Theyareacotandawash–standandmyothersuitandthebluecrepetieyousaidyouliked."
"Youremembermysayingthat?"
"Ofcourse.Ialwaysshall.Pleasetrythischair."
Sheglancedabouttherustyoffice—gauntstove,shelvesoftanlaw–books,desk–chairfilledwithnewspaperssolongsatuponthattheywereinholesandsmudgedtograyness.
TherewereonlytwothingswhichsuggestedGuyPollock.
Onthegreenfeltofthetable–desk,betweenlegalblanksandaclottedinkwell,wasacloissonevase.
OnaswingshelfwasarowofbooksunfamiliartoGopherPrairie:Moshereditionsofthepoets,blackandredGermannovels,aCharlesLambincrushedlevant.
Guydidnotsitdown.Hequarteredtheoffice,agrayhoundonthescent;agrayhoundwithglassestiltedforwardonhisthinnose,andasilkyindecisivebrownmustache.
Hehadagolfjacketofjersey,wornthroughatthecreasesinthesleeves.
Shenotedthathedidnotapologizeforit,asKennicottwouldhavedone.
Hemadeconversation:"Ididn'tknowyouwereabosomfriendofthePerrys.
ChampisthesaltoftheearthbutsomehowIcan'timaginehimjoiningyouinsymbolicdancing,ormakingimprovementsontheDieselengine."
"No.He'sadearsoul,blesshim,buthebelongsintheNationalMuseum,alongwithGeneralGrant'ssword,andI'm—Oh,IsupposeI'mseekingforagospelthatwillevangelizeGopherPrairie."
"Really?Evangelizeittowhat?"
"Toanythingthat'sdefinite.Seriousnessorfrivolousnessorboth.
Iwouldn'tcarewhetheritwasalaboratoryoracarnival.Butit'smerelysafe.
Tellme,Mr.Pollock,whatisthematterwithGopherPrairie?"
"Isanythingthematterwithit?Isn'tthereperhapssomethingthematterwithyouandme?(MayIjoinyouinthehonorofhavingsomethingthematter?)"
"(Yes,thanks.)No,Ithinkit'sthetown."
"Becausetheyenjoyskatingmorethanbiology?"
"ButI'mnotonlymoreinterestedinbiologythantheJollySeventeen,butalsoinskating!I'llskatewiththem,orslide,orthrowsnowballs,justasgladlyastalkwithyou."
("Ohno!")
("Yes!)Buttheywanttostayhomeandembroider."
"Perhaps.I'mnotdefendingthetown.
It'smerely—I'maconfirmeddoubterofmyself.
(ProbablyI'mconceitedaboutmylackofconceit!)
Anyway,GopherPrairieisn'tparticularlybad.
It'slikeallvillagesinallcountries.
Mostplacesthathavelostthesmellofearthbutnotyetacquiredthesmellofpatchouli—oroffactory–smoke—arejustassuspiciousandrighteous.
Iwonderifthesmalltownisn't,withsomelovelyexceptions,asocialappendix?
Somedaythesedullmarket–townsmaybeasobsoleteasmonasteries.
Icanimaginethefarmerandhislocalstore–managergoingbymonorail,attheendoftheday,intoacitymorecharmingthananyWilliamMorrisUtopia—music,auniversity,clubsforloaferslikeme.
(Lord,howI'dliketohavearealclub!)"
Sheaskedimpulsively,"You,whydoyoustayhere?"
"IhavetheVillageVirus."
"Itsoundsdangerous."
"Itis.MoredangerousthanthecancerthatwillcertainlygetmeatfiftyunlessIstopthissmoking.
TheVillageVirusisthegermwhich—it'sextraordinarilylikethehook–worm—itinfectsambitiouspeoplewhostaytoolongintheprovinces.
You'llfinditepidemicamonglawyersanddoctorsandministersandcollege–bredmerchants—allthesepeoplewhohavehadaglimpseoftheworldthatthinksandlaughs,buthavereturnedtotheirswamp.I'maperfectexample.
ButIsha'n'tpesteryouwithmydolors."
"Youwon't.Anddositdown,soIcanseeyou."
Hedroppedintotheshriekingdesk–chair.
Helookedsquarelyather;shewasconsciousofthepupilsofhiseyes;ofthefactthathewasaman,andlonely.Theywereembarrassed.
Theyelaboratelyglancedaway,andwererelievedashewenton:
"ThediagnosisofmyVillageVirusissimpleenough.
IwasborninanOhiotownaboutthesamesizeasGopherPrairie,andmuchlessfriendly.
It'dhadmoregenerationsinwhichtoformanoligarchyofrespectability.
Here,astrangeristakeninifheiscorrect,ifhelikeshuntingandmotoringandGodandourSenator.
There,wedidn'ttakeinevenourowntillwehadcontemptuouslygotusedtothem.
Itwasared–brickOhiotown,andthetreesmadeitdamp,anditsmelledofrottenapples.
Thecountrywasn'tlikeourlakesandprairie.
Thereweresmallstuffycorn–fieldsandbrick–yardsandgreasyoil–wells.
"IwenttoadenominationalcollegeandlearnedthatsincedictatingtheBible,andhiringaperfectraceofministerstoexplainit,Godhasneverdonemuchbutcreeparoundandtrytocatchusdisobeyingit.
FromcollegeIwenttoNewYork,totheColumbiaLawSchool.AndforfouryearsIlived.Oh,Iwon'trhapsodizeaboutNewYork.
Itwasdirtyandnoisyandbreathlessandghastlyexpensive.
ButcomparedwiththemoldyacademyinwhichIhadbeensmothered—!Iwenttosymphoniestwiceaweek.
IsawIrvingandTerryandDuseandBernhardt,fromthetopgallery.IwalkedinGramercyPark.AndIread,oh,everything.
"ThroughacousinIlearnedthatJuliusFlickerbaughwassickandneededapartner.Icamehere.Juliusgotwell.
Hedidn'tlikemywayofloafingfivehoursandthendoingmywork(reallynotsobadly)inone.Weparted.
"WhenIfirstcamehereIsworeI'd'keepupmyinterests.'Verylofty!
IreadBrowning,andwenttoMinneapolisforthetheaters.IthoughtIwas'keepingup.'
ButIguesstheVillageVirushadmealready.
Iwasreadingfourcopiesofcheapfiction–magazinestoonepoem.
I'dputofftheMinneapolistripstillIsimplyhadtogothereonalotoflegalmatters.
"AfewyearsagoIwastalkingtoapatentlawyerfromChicago,andIrealizedthat—I'dalwaysfeltsosuperiortopeoplelikeJuliusFlickerbaugh,butIsawthatIwasasprovincialandbehind–the–timesasJulius.(Worse!
JuliusplowsthroughtheLiteraryDigestandtheOutlookfaithfully,whileI'mturningoverpagesofabookbyCharlesFlandrauthatIalreadyknowbyheart.)
"Idecidedtoleavehere.Sternresolution.Grasptheworld.
ThenIfoundthattheVillageVirushadme,absolute:Ididn'twanttofacenewstreetsandyoungermen—realcompetition.
Itwastooeasytogoonmakingoutconveyancesandarguingditchingcases.
So—That'sallofthebiographyofalivingdeadman,exceptthedivertinglastchapter,theliesaboutmyhavingbeen'atowerofstrengthandlegalwisdom'whichsomedayapreacherwillspinovermyleandrybody."
Helookeddownathistable–desk,fingeringthestarryenameledvase.
Shecouldnotcomment.Shepicturedherselfrunningacrosstheroomtopathishair.
Shesawthathislipswerefirm,underhissoftfadedmustache.Shesatstillandmaundered,"Iknow.TheVillageVirus.Perhapsitwillgetme.SomedayI'mgoing—Oh,nomatter.Atleast,Iammakingyoutalk!
Usuallyyouhavetobepolitetomygarrulousness,butnowI'msittingatyourfeet."
"Itwouldberathernicetohaveyouliterallysittingatmyfeet,byafire."
"Wouldyouhaveafireplaceforme?"
"Naturally!Pleasedon'tsnubmenow!Lettheoldmanrave.Howoldareyou,Carol?"
"Twenty–six,Guy."
"Twenty–six!IwasjustleavingNewYork,attwenty–six.IheardPattising,attwenty–six.AndnowI'mforty–seven.
Ifeellikeachild,yetI'moldenoughtobeyourfather.
Soit'sdecentlypaternaltoimagineyoucurledatmyfeet....OfcourseIhopeitisn't,butwe'llreflectthemoralsofGopherPrairiebyofficiallyannouncingthatitis!
...ThesestandardsthatyouandIliveupto!
There'sonethingthat'sthematterwithGopherPrairie,atleastwiththeruling–class(thereisaruling–class,despiteallourprofessionsofdemocracy).
Andthepenaltywetribalrulerspayisthatoursubjectswatchuseveryminute.
Wecan'tgetwholesomelydrunkandrelax.
Wehavetobesocorrectaboutsexmorals,andinconspicuousclothes,anddoingourcommercialtrickeryonlyinthetraditionalways,thatnoneofuscanliveuptoit,andwebecomehorriblyhypocritical.Unavoidably.
Thewidow–robbingdeaconoffictioncan'thelpbeinghypocritical.Thewidowsthemselvesdemandit!Theyadmirehisunctuousness.Andlookatme.
SupposeIdiddaretomakeloveto—someexquisitemarriedwoman.Iwouldn'tadmitittomyself.
IgigglewiththemostrevoltingsalaciousnessoverLaVieParisienne,whenIgetholdofoneinChicago,yetIshouldn'teventrytoholdyourhand.I'mbroken.
It'sthehistoricalAnglo–Saxonwayofmakinglifemiserable....Oh,mydear,Ihaven'ttalkedtoanybodyaboutmyselfandallourselvesforyears."
"Guy!Can'twedosomethingwiththetown?Really?"
"No,wecan't!"Hedisposedofitlikeajudgerulingoutanimproperobjection;returnedtomatterslessuncomfortablyenergetic:"Curious.Mosttroublesareunnecessary.
WehaveNaturebeaten;wecanmakehergrowwheat;wecankeepwarmwhenshesendsblizzards.
Soweraisethedeviljustforpleasure—wars,politics,race–hatreds,labor–disputes.
HereinGopherPrairiewe'veclearedthefields,andbecomesoft,sowemakeourselvesunhappyartificially,atgreatexpenseandexertion:MethodistsdislikingEpiscopalians,themanwiththeHudsonlaughingatthemanwiththeflivver.
Theworstisthecommercialhatred—thegrocerfeelingthatanymanwhodoesn'tdealwithhimisrobbinghim.
Whathurtsmeisthatitappliestolawyersanddoctors(anddecidedlytotheirwives!)asmuchastogrocers.
Thedoctors—youknowaboutthat—howyourhusbandandWestlakeandGoulddislikeoneanother."
"No!Iwon'tadmitit!"
Hegrinned.
"Oh,maybeonceortwice,whenWillhaspositivelyknownofacasewhereDoctor—whereoneoftheothershascontinuedtocallonpatientslongerthannecessary,hehaslaughedaboutit,but—"
Hestillgrinned.
"No,REALLY!Andwhenyousaythewivesofthedoctorssharethesejealousies—Mrs.McGanumandIhaven'tanyparticularcrushoneachother;she'ssostolid.
Buthermother,Mrs.Westlake—nobodycouldbesweeter."
"Yes,I'msureshe'sverybland.ButIwouldn'ttellhermyheart'ssecretsifIwereyou,mydear.
Iinsistthatthere'sonlyoneprofessional–man'swifeinthistownwhodoesn'tplot,andthatisyou,youblessed,credulousoutsider!"
"Iwon'tbecajoled!Iwon'tbelievethatmedicine,thepriesthoodofhealing,canbeturnedintoapenny–pickingbusiness."
"Seehere:Hasn'tKennicotteverhintedtoyouthatyou'dbetterbenicetosomeoldwomanbecauseshetellsherfriendswhichdoctortocallin?ButIoughtn'tto—"
SherememberedcertainremarkswhichKennicotthadofferedregardingtheWidowBogart.Sheflinched,lookedatGuybeseechingly.
Hesprangup,strodetoherwithanervousstep,smoothedherhand.
Shewonderedifsheoughttobeoffendedbyhiscaress.
Thenshewonderedifhelikedherhat,thenewOrientalturbanofroseandsilverbrocade.
Hedroppedherhand.Hiselbowbrushedhershoulder.
Heflittedovertothedesk–chair,histhinbackstooped.Hepickedupthecloisonnevase.
Acrossithepeeredatherwithsuchlonelinessthatshewasstartled.
ButhiseyesfadedintoimpersonalityashetalkedofthejealousiesofGopherPrairie.
Hestoppedhimselfwithasharp,"GoodLord,Carol,you'renotajury.
Youarewithinyourlegalrightsinrefusingtobesubjectedtothissumming–up.
I'matediousoldfoolanalyzingtheobvious,whileyou'rethespiritofrebellion.Tellmeyourside.WhatisGopherPrairietoyou?"
"Abore!"
"CanIhelp?"
"Howcouldyou?"
"Idon'tknow.Perhapsbylistening.Ihaven'tdonethattonight.Butnormally—Can'tIbetheconfidantoftheoldFrenchplays,thetiring–maidwiththemirrorandtheloyalears?"
"Oh,whatistheretoconfide?Thepeoplearesavorlessandproudofit.AndevenifIlikedyoutremendously,Icouldn'ttalktoyouwithouttwentyoldhexeswatching,whispering."
"Butyouwillcometalktome,onceinawhile?"
"I'mnotsurethatIshall.I'mtryingtodevelopmyownlargecapacityfordullnessandcontentment.
I'vefailedateverypositivethingI'vetried.
I'dbetter'settledown,'astheycallit,andbesatisfiedtobe—nothing."
"Don'tbecynical.Ithurtsme,inyou.It'slikebloodonthewingofahumming–bird."
"I'mnotahumming–bird.I'mahawk;atinyleashedhawk,peckedtodeathbytheselarge,white,flabby,wormyhens.ButIamgratefultoyouforconfirmingmeinthefaith.AndI'mgoinghome!"
"Pleasestayandhavesomecoffeewithme."
"I'dliketo.Butthey'vesucceededinterrorizingme.I'mafraidofwhatpeoplemightsay."
"I'mnotafraidofthat.I'monlyafraidofwhatyoumightsay!"Hestalkedtoher;tookherunresponsivehand."Carol!Youhavebeenhappyheretonight?(Yes.I'mbegging!)"
Shesqueezedhishandquickly,thensnatchedhersaway.
Shehadbutlittleofthecuriosityoftheflirt,andnoneoftheintrigante'sjoyinfurtiveness.
Ifshewasthenaivegirl,GuyPollockwastheclumsyboy.
Heracedabouttheoffice;herammedhisfistsintohispockets.Hestammered,"I—I—I—Oh,thedevil!
WhydoIawakenfromsmoothdustinesstothisjaggedrawness?
I'llmakeI'mgoingtotrotdownthehallandbringintheDillons,andwe'llallhavecoffeeorsomething."
"TheDillons?"
"Yes.Reallyquiteadecentyoungpair—HarveyDillonandhiswife.He'sadentist,justcometotown.Theyliveinaroombehindhisoffice,sameasIdohere.Theydon'tknowmuchofanybody—"
"I'veheardofthem.AndI'veneverthoughttocall.I'mhorriblyashamed.Dobringthem—"
Shestopped,fornoveryclearreason,buthisexpressionsaid,herfalteringadmitted,thattheywishedtheyhadnevermentionedtheDillons.
Withspuriousenthusiasmhesaid,"Splendid!Iwill."
Fromthedoorheglancedather,curledinthepeeledleatherchair.
Heslippedout,camebackwithDr.andMrs.Dillon.
ThefourofthemdrankratherbadcoffeewhichPollockmadeonakeroseneburner.
Theylaughed,andspokeofMinneapolis,andweretremendouslytactful;andCarolstartedforhome,throughtheNovemberwind.
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