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！
if they would come to our country； but the more we knew of theirs； the
less we boasted。
Terry's jewels and trinkets they prized as curios； handed them
about； asking questions as to workmanship； not in the least as to value；
and discussed not ownership； but which museum to put them in。
When a man has nothing to give a woman； is dependent wholly
on his personal attraction； his courtship is under limitations。
They were considering these two things： the advisability of
making the Great Change； and the degree of personal adaptability which
would best serve that end。
Here we had the advantage of our small personal experience
with those three fleet forest girls； and that served to draw us together。 As
for Ellador： Suppose you come to a strange land and find it pleasant
95
… Page 96…
HERLAND
enoughjust a little more than ordinarily pleasant and then you find rich
farmland； and then gardens； gorgeous gardens； and then palaces full of
rare and curious treasures incalculable； inexhaustible； and then
mountainslike the Himalayas； and then the sea。
I liked her that day she balanced on the branch before me and
named the trio。 I thought of her most。 Afterward I turned to her like a
friend when we met for the third time； and continued the acquaintance。
While Jeff's ultra…devotion rather puzzled Celis； really put off their day of
happiness； while Terry and Alima quarreled and parted； re…met and re…
parted； Ellador and I grew to be close friends。
We talked and talked。 We took long walks together。 She
showed me things； explained them； interpreted much that I had not
understood。 Through her sympathetic intelligence I became more and
more comprehending of the spirit of the people of Herland； more and more
appreciative of its marvelous inner growth as well as outer perfection。
I ceased to feel a stranger； a prisoner。 There was a sense of
understanding； of identity； of purpose。 We discussedeverything。 And；
as I traveled farther and farther； exploring the rich； sweet soul of her； my
sense of pleasant friendship became but a broad foundation for such height；
such breadth； such interlocked combination of feeling as left me fairly
blinded with the wonder of it。
As I've said； I had never cared very much for women； nor they
for menot Terry…fashion。 But this one
At first I never even thought of her 〃in that way；〃 as the girls
have it。 I had not come to the country with any Turkish…harem intentions；
and I was no woman…worshipper like Jeff。 I just liked that girl 〃as a
friend；〃 as we say。 That friendship grew like a tree。 She was SUCH a
good sport！ We did all kinds of things together。 She taught me games
and I taught her games； and we raced and rowed and had all manner of fun；
as well as higher comradeship。
Then； as I got on farther； the palace and treasures and snowy
mountain ranges opened up。 I had never known there could be such a
human being。 Sogreat。 I don't mean talented。 She was a forester
one of the bestbut it was not that gift I mean。 When I say GREAT； I
96
… Page 97…
HERLAND
mean greatbig； all through。 If I had known more of those women； as
intimately； I should not have found her so unique； but even among them
she was noble。 Her mother was an Over Motherand her grandmother；
too； I heard later。
So she told me more and more of her beautiful land； and I told
her as much； yes； more than I wanted to； about mine； and we became
inseparable。 Then this deeper recognition came and grew。 I felt my own
soul rise and lift its wings； as it were。 Life got bigger。 It seemed as if I
understoodas I never had before as if I could Do thingsas if I too
could growif she would help me。 And then It cameto both of us； all at
once。
A still dayon the edge of the world； their world。 The two of
us； gazing out over the far dim forestland below； talking of heaven and
earth and human life； and of my land and other lands and what they
needed and what I hoped to do for them
〃If you will help me；〃 I said。
She turned to me； with that high； sweet look of hers； and then； as
her eyes rested in mine and her hands toothen suddenly there blazed out
between us a farther glory； instant； overwhelming quite beyond any
words of mine to tell。
Celis was a blue…and…gold…and…rose person； Alma； black… and…
white…and…red； a blazing beauty。 Ellador was brown： hair dark and soft；
like a seal coat； clear brown skin with a healthy red in it； brown eyesall
the way from topaz to black velvet they seemed to rangesplendid girls；
all of them。
They had seen us first of all； far down in the lake below； and
flashed the tidings across the land even before our first exploring flight。
They had watched our landing； flitted through the forest with us； hidden in
that tree andI shrewdly suspectgiggled on purpose。
They had kept watch over our hooded machine； taking turns at it；
and when our escape was announced； had followed along… side for a day
or two； and been there at the last； as described。 They felt a special claim on
uscalled us 〃their men〃and when we were at liberty to study the land
and people； and be studied by them； their claim was recognized by the
97
… Page 98…
HERLAND
wise leaders。
But I felt； we all did； that we should have chosen them among
millions； unerringly。
And yet 〃the path of true love never did run smooth〃； this period
of courtship was full of the most unsuspected pitfalls。
Writing this as late as I do； after manifold experiences both in
Herland and； later； in my own land； I can now understand and
philosophize about what was then a continual astonishment and often a
temporary tragedy。
The 〃long suit〃 in most courtships is sex attraction； of course。
Then gradually develops such comradeship as the two temperaments allow。
Then； after marriage； there is either the establishment of a slow…growing；
widely based friendship； the deepest； tenderest； sweetest of relations； all lit
and warmed by the recurrent flame of love； or else that process is reversed；
love cools and fades； no friendship grows； the whole relation turns from
beauty to ashes。
Here everything was different。 There was no sex…feeling to
appeal to； or practically none。 Two thousand years' disuse had left very
little of the instinct； also we must remember that those who had at times
manifested it as atavistic exceptions were often； by that very fact； denied
motherhood。
Yet while the mother process remains； the inherent ground for
sex…distinction remains also； and who shall say what long… forgotten
feeling； vague and nameless； was stirred in some of these mother hearts by
our arrival？
What left us even more at sea in our approach was the lack of
any sex…tradition。 There was no accepted standard of what was 〃manly〃
and what was 〃womanly。〃
When Jeff said； taking the fruit basket from his adored one； 〃A
woman should not carry anything；〃 Celis said； 〃Why？〃 with the frankest
amazement。 He could not look that fleet…footed； deep…chested young
forester in the face and say； 〃Because she is weaker。〃 She wasn't。 One
does not call a race horse weak because it is visibly not a cart horse。
He said； rather lamely； that women were not built for heavy
98
… Page 99…