CHAPTER XXII
關燈
小
中
大
Margaretgreetedherlordwithpeculiartendernessonthemorrow.Matureashewas,shemightyetbeabletohelphimtothebuildingoftherainbowbridgethatshouldconnecttheproseinuswiththepassion.Withoutitwearemeaninglessfragments,halfmonks,halfbeasts,unconnectedarchesthathaveneverjoinedintoaman.Withitloveisborn,andalightsonthehighestcurve,glowingagainstthegrey,soberagainstthefire.Happythemanwhoseesfromeitheraspectthegloryoftheseoutspreadwings.Theroadsofhissoullieclear,andheandhisfriendsshallfindeasy-going.
Itwashard-goingintheroadsofMr.Wilcox’ssoul.Fromboyhoodhehadneglectedthem.“Iamnotafellowwhobothersaboutmyowninside.”Outwardlyhewascheerful,reliable,andbravebutwithin,allhadrevertedtochaos,ruled,sofarasitwasruledatall,byanincompleteasceticism.Whetherasboy,husband,orwidower,hehadalwaysthesneakingbeliefthatbodilypassionisbad,abeliefthatisdesirableonlywhenheldpassionately.Religionhadconfirmedhim.ThewordsthatwerereadaloudonSundaytohimandtootherrespectablemenwerethewordsthathadoncekindledthesoulsofSt.CatherineandSt.Francisintoawhite-hothatredofthecarnal.HecouldnotbeasthesaintsandlovetheInfinitewithaseraphicardour,buthecouldbealittleashamedoflovingawife.Amabat,amaretimebat.AnditwasherethatMargarethopedtohelphim.
Itdidnotseemsodifficult.Sheneedtroublehimwithnogiftofherown.Shewouldonlypointoutthesalvationthatwaslatentinhisownsoul,andinthesoulofeveryman.Onlyconnect!Thatwasthewholeofhersermon.Onlyconnecttheproseandthepassion,andbothwillbeexalted,andhumanlovewillbeseenatitsheight.Liveinfragmentsnolonger.Onlyconnectandthebeastandthemonk,robbedoftheisolationthatislifetoeither,willdie.
Norwasthemessagedifficulttogive.Itneednottaketheformofagood“talking.”Byquietindicationsthebridgewouldbebuiltandspantheirliveswithbeauty.
Butshefailed.FortherewasonequalityinHenryforwhichshewasneverprepared,howevermuchsheremindedherselfofit:hisobtuseness.Hesimplydidnotnoticethings,andtherewasnomoretobesaid.HenevernoticedthatHelenandFriedawerehostile,orthatTibbywasnotinterestedincurrantplantationshenevernoticedthelightsandshadesthatexistinthegreyestconversation,thefinger-posts,themilestones,thecollisions,theillimitableviews.Once—onanotheroccasion—shescoldedhimaboutit.Hewaspuzzled,butrepliedwithalaugh:“MymottoisConcentrate.I’venointentionoffritteringawaymyst
