cannottellhowlongitwasthatheenduredthisdiscipline;butitwaslongenoughtoleaveagreatblackblotuponhismemory,longenoughtosendhim,tremblingforhisreason,tothedoorsofacertaindoctor;whereuponwithasimpledraughthewasrestoredtothecommonlotofman。
Thepoorgentlemanhassincebeentroubledbynothingofthesort;
indeed,hisnightswereforsomewhilelikeothermen's,nowblank,nowchequeredwithdreams,andthesesometimescharming,sometimesappalling,butexceptforanoccasionalvividness,ofnoextraordinarykind。Iwilljustnoteoneoftheseoccasions,ereI
passontowhatmakesmydreamertrulyinteresting。Itseemedtohimthathewasinthefirstfloorofaroughhill-farm。Theroomshowedsomepooreffortsatgentility,acarpetonthefloor,apiano,Ithink,againstthewall;but,foralltheserefinements,therewasnomistakinghewasinamoorlandplace,amonghillsidepeople,andsetinmilesofheather。Helookeddownfromthewindowuponabarefarmyard,thatseemedtohavebeenlongdisused。
Agreat,uneasystillnesslayupontheworld。Therewasnosignofthefarm-folkorofanylivestock,saveforanold,brown,curlydogoftheretrieverbreed,whosatcloseinagainstthewallofthehouseandseemedtobedozing。Somethingaboutthisdogdisquietedthedreamer;itwasquiteanamelessfeeling,forthebeastlookedrightenough-indeed,hewassooldanddullanddustyandbroken-down,thatheshouldratherhaveawakenedpity;
andyettheconvictioncameandgrewuponthedreamerthatthiswasnoproperdogatall,butsomethinghellish。Agreatmanydozingsummerflieshummedabouttheyard;andpresentlythedogthrustforthhispaw,caughtaflyinhisopenpalm,carriedittohismouthlikeanape,andlookingsuddenlyupatthedreamerinthewindow,winkedtohimwithoneeye。Thedreamwenton,itmattersnothowitwent;itwasagooddreamasdreamsgo;buttherewasnothinginthesequelworthyofthatdevilishbrowndog。Andthepointofinterestformeliespartlyinthatveryfact:thathavingfoundsosingularanincident,myimperfectdreamershouldproveunabletocarrythetaletoafitendandfallbackonindescribablenoisesandindiscriminatehorrors。Itwouldbedifferentnow;heknowshisbusinessbetter!
For,toapproachatlastthepoint:Thishonestfellowhadlongbeeninthecustomofsettinghimselftosleepwithtales,andsohadhisfatherbeforehim;butthesewereirresponsibleinventions,toldfortheteller'spleasure,withnoeyetothecrasspublicorthethwartreviewer:taleswhereathreadmightbedropped,oroneadventurequittedforanother,onfancy'sleastsuggestion。Sothatthelittlepeoplewhomanageman'sinternaltheatrehadnotasyetreceivedaveryrigoroustraining;andplayedupontheirstagelikechildrenwhoshouldhaveslippedintothehouseandfounditempty,ratherthanlikedrilledactorsperformingasetpiecetoahugehalloffaces。Butpresentlymydreamerbegantoturnhisformeramusementofstory-tellingtowhatiscalledaccount;bywhichImeanthathebegantowriteandsellhistales。Herewashe,andherewerethelittlepeoplewhodidthatpartofhisbusiness,inquitenewconditions。Thestoriesmustnowbetrimmedandparedandsetuponallfours,theymustrunfromabeginningtoanendandfitafteramannerwiththelawsoflife;thepleasure,inoneword,hadbecomeabusiness;andthatnotonlyforthedreamer,butforthelittlepeopleofhistheatre。Theseunderstoodthechangeaswellashe。Whenhelaydowntopreparehimselfforsleep,henolongersoughtamusement,butprintableandprofitabletales;andafterhehaddozedoffinhisbox-seat,hislittlepeoplecontinuedtheirevolutionswiththesamemercantiledesigns。Allotherformsofdreamdesertedhimbuttwo:hestilloccasionallyreadsthemostdelightfulbooks,hestillvisitsattimesthemostdelightfulplaces;anditisperhapsworthyofnotethattothesesameplaces,andtooneinparticular,hereturnsatintervalsofmonthsandyears,findingnewfield-paths,visitingnewneighbours,beholdingthathappyvalleyunderneweffectsofnoonanddawnandsunset。Butalltherestofthefamilyofvisionsisquitelosttohim:thecommon,mangledversionofyesterday'saffairs,theraw-head-and-bloody-bonesnightmare,rumouredtobethechildoftoastedcheese-theseandtheirlikearegone;and,forthemostpart,whetherawakeorasleep,heissimplyoccupied-heorhislittlepeople-inconsciouslymakingstoriesforthemarket。Thisdreamerlikemanyotherpersonshasencounteredsometriflingvicissitudesoffortune。Whenthebankbeginstosendlettersandthebutchertolingeratthebackgate,hesetstobelabouringhisbrainsafterastory,forthatishisreadiestmoney-winner;and,behold!atoncethelittlepeoplebegintobestirthemselvesinthesamequest,andlabourallnightlong,andallnightlongsetbeforehimtruncheonsoftalesupontheirlightedtheatre。Nofearofhisbeingfrightenednow;theflyingheartandthefrozenscalparethingsby-gone;applause,growingapplause,growinginterest,growingexultationinhisownclevernessforhetakesallthecredit,andatlastajubilantleaptowakefulness,withthecry,"
Ihaveit,that'lldo!"uponhislips:withsuchandsimilaremotionshesitsatthesenocturnaldramas,withsuchoutbreaks,likeClaudiusintheplay,hescatterstheperformanceinthemidst。Oftenenoughthewakingisadisappointment:hehasbeentoodeepasleep,asIexplainthething;drowsinesshasgainedhislittlepeople,theyhavegonestumblingandmaunderingthroughtheirparts;andtheplay,totheawakenedmind,isseentobeatissueofabsurdities。AndyethowoftenhavethesesleeplessBrowniesdonehimhonestservice,andgivenhim,ashesatidlytakinghispleasureintheboxes,bettertalesthanhecouldfashionforhimself。
Hereisone,exactlyasitcametohim。Itseemedhewasthesonofaveryrichandwickedman,theownerofbroadacresandamostdamnabletemper。Thedreamerandthatwasthesonhadlivedmuchabroad,onpurposetoavoidhisparent;andwhenatlengthhereturnedtoEngland,itwastofindhimmarriedagaintoayoungwife,whowassupposedtosuffercruellyandtoloatheheryoke。
Becauseofthismarriageasthedreamerindistinctlyunderstood
itwasdesirableforfatherandsontohaveameeting;andyetbothbeingproudandbothangry,neitherwouldcondescenduponavisit。
Meettheydidaccordingly,inadesolate,sandycountrybythesea;
andtheretheyquarrelled,andtheson,stungbysomeintolerableinsult,struckdownthefatherdead。Nosuspicionwasaroused;thedeadmanwasfoundandburied,andthedreamersucceededtothebroadestates,andfoundhimselfinstalledunderthesameroofwithhisfather'swidow,forwhomnoprovisionhadbeenmade。Thesetwolivedverymuchalone,aspeoplemayafterabereavement,satdowntotabletogether,sharedthelongevenings,andgrewdailybetterfriends;untilitseemedtohimofasuddenthatshewaspryingaboutdangerousmatters,thatshehadconceivedanotionofhisguilt,thatshewatchedhimandtriedhimwithquestions。Hedrewbackfromhercompanyasmendrawbackfromaprecipicesuddenlydiscovered;andyetsostrongwastheattractionthathewoulddriftagainandagainintotheoldintimacy,andagainandagainbestartledbackbysomesuggestivequestionorsomeinexplicablemeaninginhereye。Sotheylivedatcrosspurposes,alifefullofbrokendialogue,challengingglances,andsuppressedpassion;
until,oneday,hesawthewomanslippingfromthehouseinaveil,followedhertothestation,followedherinthetraintotheseasidecountry,andoutoverthesandhillstotheveryplacewherethemurderwasdone。Thereshebegantogropeamongthebents,hewatchingher,flatuponhisface;andpresentlyshehadsomethinginherhand-Icannotrememberwhatitwas,butitwasdeadlyevidenceagainstthedreamer-andassheheldituptolookatit,perhapsfromtheshockofthediscovery,herfootslipped,andshehungatsomeperilonthebrinkofthetallsand-wreaths。Hehadnothoughtbuttospringupandrescueher;andtheretheystoodfacetoface,shewiththatdeadlymatteropenlyinherhand-hisverypresenceonthespotanotherlinkofproof。Itwasplainshewasabouttospeak,butthiswasmorethanhecouldbear-hecouldbeartobelost,butnottotalkofitwithhisdestroyer;andhecuthershortwithtrivialconversation。Arminarm,theyreturnedtogethertothetrain,talkingheknewnotwhat,madethejourneybackinthesamecarriage,satdowntodinner,andpassedtheeveninginthedrawing-roomasinthepast。Butsuspenseandfeardrummedinthedreamer'sbosom。"Shehasnotdenouncedmeyet"-
sohisthoughtsran-"whenwillshedenounceme?Willitbeto-
morrow?"Anditwasnotto-morrow,northenextday,northenext;
andtheirlifesettledbackontheoldterms,onlythatsheseemedkinderthanbefore,andthat,asforhim,theburthenofhissuspenseandwondergrewdailymoreunbearable,sothathewastedawaylikeamanwithadisease。Once,indeed,hebrokeallboundsofdecency,seizedanoccasionwhenshewasabroad,ransackedherroom,andatlast,hiddenawayamongherjewels,foundthedamningevidence。Therehestood,holdingthisthing,whichwashislife,inthehollowofhishand,andmarvellingatherinconsequentbehaviour,thatsheshouldseek,andkeep,andyetnotuseit;andthenthedooropened,andbeholdherself。So,oncemore,theystood,eyetoeye,withtheevidencebetweenthem;andoncemoresheraisedtohimafacebrimmingwithsomecommunication;andoncemoreheshiedawayfromspeechandcutheroff。Butbeforehelefttheroom,whichhehadturnedupsidedown,helaidbackhisdeath-
warrantwherehehadfoundit;andatthat,herfacelightedup。
Thenextthingheheard,shewasexplainingtohermaid,withsomeingeniousfalsehood,thedisorderofherthings。Fleshandbloodcouldbearthestrainnolonger;andIthinkitwasthenextmorningthoughchronologyisalwayshazyinthetheatreofthemindthatheburstfromhisreserve。Theyhadbeenbreakfastingtogetherinonecornerofagreat,parqueted,sparely-furnishedroomofmanywindows;allthetimeofthemealshehadtorturedhimwithslyallusions;andnosoonerweretheservantsgone,andthesetwoprotagonistsalonetogether,thanheleapedtohisfeet。Shetoosprangup,withapaleface;withapaleface,sheheardhimasheravedouthiscomplaint:Whydidshetorturehimso?sheknewall,sheknewhewasnoenemytoher;whydidshenotdenouncehimatonce?whatsignifiedherwholebehaviour?whydidshetorturehim?andyetagain,whydidshetorturehim?Andwhenhehaddone,shefelluponherknees,andwithoutstretchedhands:"Doyounotunderstand?"shecried。"Iloveyou!"
Hereupon,withapangofwonderandmercantiledelight,thedreamerawoke。Hismercantiledelightwasnotoflongendurance;foritsoonbecameplainthatinthisspiritedtaletherewereunmarketableelements;whichisjustthereasonwhyyouhaveitheresobrieflytold。Buthiswonderhasstillkeptgrowing;andI
thinkthereader'swillalso,ifheconsideritripely。FornowheseeswhyIspeakofthelittlepeopleasofsubstantiveinventorsandperformers。Totheendtheyhadkepttheirsecret。Iwillgobailforthedreamerhavingexcellentgroundsforvaluinghiscandourthathehadnoguesswhateveratthemotiveofthewoman-
thehingeofthewholewell-inventedplot-untiltheinstantofthathighlydramaticdeclaration。Itwasnothistale;itwasthelittlepeople's!Andobserve:notonlywasthesecretkept,thestorywastoldwithreallyguilefulcraftsmanship。Theconductofbothactorsisinthecantphrasepsychologicallycorrect,andtheemotionaptlygraduateduptothesurprisingclimax。Iamawakenow,andIknowthistrade;andyetIcannotbetterit。Iamawake,andIlivebythisbusiness;andyetIcouldnotoutdo-
couldnotperhapsequal-thatcraftyartificeasofsomeold,experiencedcarpenterofplays,someDenneryorSardoubywhichthesamesituationistwicepresentedandthetwoactorstwicebroughtfacetofaceovertheevidence,onlyonceitisinherhand,onceinhis-andtheseintheirdueorder,theleastdramaticfirst。ThemoreIthinkofit,themoreIammovedtopressupontheworldmyquestion:WhoaretheLittlePeople?Theyarenearconnectionsofthedreamer's,beyonddoubt;theyshareinhisfinancialworriesandhaveaneyetothebank-book;theyshareplainlyinhistraining;theyhaveplainlylearnedlikehimtobuildtheschemeofaconsideratestoryandtoarrangeemotioninprogressiveorder;onlyIthinktheyhavemoretalent;andonethingisbeyonddoubt,theycantellhimastorypiecebypiece,likeaserial,andkeephimallthewhileinignoranceofwheretheyaim。Whoarethey,then?andwhoisthedreamer?
Well,asregardsthedreamer,Icananswerthat,forheisnolessapersonthanmyself;-asImighthavetoldyoufromthebeginning,onlythatthecriticsmurmurovermyconsistentegotism;-
andasIampositivelyforcedtotellyounow,orIcouldadvancebutlittlefartherwithmystory。AndfortheLittlePeople,whatshallIsaytheyarebutjustmyBrownies,Godblessthem!whodoone-halfmyworkformewhileIamfastasleep,andinallhumanlikelihood,dotherestformeaswell,whenIamwideawakeandfondlysupposeIdoitformyself。ThatpartwhichisdonewhileI
amsleepingistheBrownies'partbeyondcontention;butthatwhichisdonewhenIamupandaboutisbynomeansnecessarilymine,sinceallgoestoshowtheBrownieshaveahandiniteventhen。
Hereisadoubtthatmuchconcernsmyconscience。Formyself-
whatIcallI,myconsciousego,thedenizenofthepinealglandunlesshehaschangedhisresidencesinceDescartes,themanwiththeconscienceandthevariablebank-account,themanwiththehatandtheboots,andtheprivilegeofvotingandnotcarryinghiscandidateatthegeneralelections-Iamsometimestemptedtosupposeheisnostory-telleratall,butacreatureasmatteroffactasanycheesemongeroranycheese,andarealistbemireduptotheearsinactuality;sothat,bythataccount,thewholeofmypublishedfictionshouldbethesingle-handedproductofsomeBrownie,someFamiliar,someunseencollaborator,whomIkeeplockedinabackgarret,whileIgetallthepraiseandhebutasharewhichIcannotpreventhimgettingofthepudding。Iamanexcellentadviser,somethinglikeMoliere'sservant;IpullbackandIcutdown;andIdressthewholeinthebestwordsandsentencesthatIcanfindandmake;Iholdthepen,too;andIdothesittingatthetable,whichisabouttheworstofit;andwhenallisdone,Imakeupthemanuscriptandpayfortheregistration;
sothat,onthewhole,Ihavesomeclaimtoshare,thoughnotsolargelyasIdo,intheprofitsofourcommonenterprise。
Icanbutgiveaninstanceorsoofwhatpartisdonesleepingandwhatpartawake,andleavethereadertosharewhatlaurelsthereare,athisownnod,betweenmyselfandmycollaborators;andtodothisIwillfirsttakeabookthatanumberofpersonshavebeenpoliteenoughtoread,theSTRANGECASEOFDR。JEKYLLANDMR。HYDE。
Ihadlongbeentryingtowriteastoryonthissubject,tofindabody,avehicle,forthatstrongsenseofman'sdoublebeingwhichmustattimescomeinuponandoverwhelmthemindofeverythinkingcreature。Ihadevenwrittenone,THETRAVELLINGCOMPANION,whichwasreturnedbyaneditoronthepleathatitwasaworkofgeniusandindecent,andwhichIburnedtheotherdayonthegroundthatitwasnotaworkofgenius,andthatJEKYLLhadsupplantedit。
ThencameoneofthosefinancialfluctuationstowhichwithanelegantmodestyIhavehithertoreferredinthethirdperson。FortwodaysIwentaboutrackingmybrainsforaplotofanysort;andonthesecondnightIdreamedthesceneatthewindow,andasceneafterwardsplitintwo,inwhichHyde,pursuedforsomecrime,tookthepowderandunderwentthechangeinthepresenceofhispursuers。Alltherestwasmadeawake,andconsciously,althoughI
thinkIcantraceinmuchofitthemannerofmyBrownies。Themeaningofthetaleisthereforemine,andhadlongpre-existedinmygardenofAdonis,andtriedonebodyafteranotherinvain;
indeed,Idomostofthemo"m.kanbaapp点com"rality,worseluck!andmyBrownieshavenotarudimentofwhatwecallaconscience。Mine,too,isthesetting,minethecharacters。Allthatwasgivenmewasthematterofthreescenes,andthecentralideaofavoluntarychangebecominginvoluntary。Willitbethoughtungenerous,afterIhavebeensoliberallyladlingoutpraisetomyunseencollaborators,ifIheretossthemover,boundhandandfoot,intothearenaofthecritics?Forthebusinessofthepowders,whichsomanyhavecensured,is,Iamrelievedtosay,notmineatallbuttheBrownies'。Ofanothertale,incasethereadershouldhaveglancedatit,Imaysayaword:thenotverydefensiblestoryofOLALLA。
Herethecourt,themother,themother'sniche,Olalla,Olalla'schamber,themeetingsonthestair,thebrokenwindow,theuglysceneofthebite,wereallgivenmeinbulkanddetailasIhavetriedtowritethem;tothisIaddedonlytheexternalsceneryforinmydreamIneverwasbeyondthecourt,theportrait,thecharactersofFelipeandthepriest,themoral,suchasitis,andthelastpages,suchas,alas!theyare。AndImayevensaythatinthiscasethemoralitselfwasgivenme;foritaroseimmediatelyonacomparisonofthemotherandthedaughter,andfromthehideoustrickofatavisminthefirst。Sometimesaparabolicsenseisstillmoreundeniablypresentinadream;
sometimesIcannotbutsupposemyBrownieshavebeenapingBunyan,andyetinnocasewithwhatwouldpossiblybecalledamoralinatract;neverwiththeethicalnarrowness;conveyinghintsinsteadoflife'slargerlimitationsandthatsortofsensewhichweseemtoperceiveinthearabesqueoftimeandspace。
Forthemostpart,itwillbeseen,myBrowniesaresomewhatfantastic,liketheirstorieshotandhot,fullofpassionandthepicturesque,alivewithanimatingincident;andtheyhavenoprejudiceagainstthesupernatural。Buttheotherdaytheygavemeasurprise,entertainingmewithalove-story,alittleAprilcomedy,whichIoughtcertainlytohandovertotheauthorofA
CHANCEACQUAINTANCE,forhecouldwriteitasitshouldbewritten,andIamsurealthoughImeantotrythatIcannot-ButwhowouldhavesupposedthataBrownieofmineshouldinventataleforMr。Howells?
CHAPTERIX-BEGGARS
INapleasant,airy,up-hillcountry,itwasmyfortunewhenIwasyoungtomaketheacquaintanceofacertainbeggar。Icallhimbeggar,thoughheusuallyallowedhiscoatandhisshoeswhichwereopen-mouthed,indeedtobegforhim。Hewasthewreckofanathleticman,tall,gaunt,andbronzed;fargoneinconsumption,withthatdisquietingsmileofthemortallystrickenonhisface;
butstillactiveafoot,stillwiththebriskmilitarycarriage,thereadymilitarysalute。Threewaysledthroughthispieceofcountry;andasIwasinconstantinmychoice,Ibelievehemustoftenhaveawaitedmeinvain。Butoftenenough,hecaughtme;
oftenenough,fromsomeplaceofambushbytheroadside,hewouldspringsuddenlyforthintheregulationattitude,andlaunchingatonceintohisinconsequentialtalk,fallintostepwithmeuponmyfarthercourse。"Afinemorning,sir,thoughperhapsatrifleincliningtorain。IhopeIseeyouwell,sir。Why,no,sir,I
don'tfeelasheartymyselfasIcouldwish,butIamkeepingaboutmyordinary。Iampleasedtomeetyouontheroad,sir。IassureyouIquitelookforwardtooneofourlittleconversations。"Helovedthesoundofhisownvoiceinordinately,andthoughwithsomethingtoooff-handtocallservilityhewouldalwayshastentoagreewithanythingyousaid,yethecouldneversufferyoutosayittoanend。BywhattransitionheslidtohisfavouritesubjectIhavenomemory;butwehadneverbeenlongtogetheronthewaybeforehewasdealing,inaverymilitarymanner,withtheEnglishpoets。"Shelleywasafinepoet,sir,thoughatrifleatheisticalinhisopinions。HisQueenMab,sir,isquiteanatheisticalwork。
Scott,sir,isnotsopoeticalawriter。WiththeworksofShakespeareIamnotsowellacquainted,buthewasafinepoet。
Keats-JohnKeats,sir-hewasaveryfinepoet。"Withsuchreferences,suchtrivialcriticism,suchlovingparadeofhisownknowledge,hewouldbeguiletheroad,stridingforwarduphill,hisstaffnowclappedtotheribsofhisdeep,resonantchest,nowswingingintheairwiththerememberedjauntinessoftheprivatesoldier;andallthewhilehistoeslookingoutofhisboots,andhisshirtlookingoutofhiselbows,anddeathlookingoutofhissmile,andhisbig,crazyframeshakenbyaccessesofcough。
Hewouldoftengothewholewayhomewithme:oftentoborrowabook,andthatbookalwaysapoet。Offhewouldmarch,tocontinuehismendicantrounds,withthevolumeslippedintothepocketofhisraggedcoat;andalthoughhewouldsometimeskeepitquiteawhile,yetitcamealwaysbackagainatlast,notmuchtheworseforitstravelsintobeggardom。Andinthisway,doubtless,hisknowledgegrewandhisglib,randomcriticismtookawiderrange。
Butmylibrarywasnotthefirsthehaddrawnupon:atourfirstencounter,hewasalreadybrimfulofShelleyandtheatheisticalQueenMab,and"Keats-JohnKeats,sir。"AndIhaveoftenwonderedhowhecamebytheseacquirements;justasIoftenwonderedhowhefelltobeabeggar。HehadservedthroughtheMutiny-ofwhichlikesomanypeoplehecouldtellpracticallynothingbeyondthenamesofplaces,andthatitwas"difficultwork,sir,"andveryhot,orthatso-and-sowas"averyfinecommander,sir。"Hewasfartoosmartamantohaveremainedaprivate;inthenatureofthings,hemusthavewonhisstripes。
Andyetherehewaswithoutapension。WhenItouchedonthisproblem,hewouldcontenthimselfwithdiffidentlyofferingmeadvice。"Amanshouldbeverycarefulwhenheisyoung,sir。Ifyou'llexcusemesayingso,aspiritedyounggentlemanlikeyourself,sir,shouldbeverycareful。Iwasperhapsatrifleinclinedtoatheisticalopinionsmyself。"Forperhapswithadeeperwisdomthanweareinclinedinthesedaystoadmitheplainlybracketedagnosticismwithbeerandskittles。
Keats-JohnKeats,sir-andShelleywerehisfavouritebards。I
cannotrememberifItriedhimwithRossetti;butIknowhistastetoahair,andifeverIdid,hemusthavedotedonthatauthor。