第6章

类别:其他 作者:Olive Schreiner字数:10297更新时间:19/01/07 15:11:14
pointofmytheologicalcareer。WhenthemoneywasgoneIsucceededinobtainingmoreworkfromtimetotime——andthoughthegrindwasstillcruellyhard,Ineveragainlosthope。ThetheologicalschoolwasonBromfieldStreet,andwestudentsclimbedthreeflightsofstairstoreachourclass—rooms。 ThroughlackofproperfoodIhadbecometooweaktoascendthesestairswithoutsittingdownonceortwicetorest,andwithinamonthaftermyexperiencewiththeappreciativegrandmotherI wasdiscoveredduringoneoftheserestingperiodsbyMrs。Barrett,thesuperintendentoftheWoman’sForeignMissionarySociety,whichhadofficesinourbuilding。Shestopped,lookedmeover,andtheninvitedmeintoherroom,wheresheaskedmeifIfeltill。IassuredherthatIdidnot。Sheaskedagreatmanyadditionalquestionsand,littlebylittle,underthewomanlysympathyofthem,myreservebrokedownandshefinallygotatthetruth,whichuntilthathourIhadsucceededinconcealing。Sheletmeleavewithoutmuchcom— ment,butthenextdaysheagaininvitedmeintoherofficeandcamedirectlytothepurposeoftheinterview。 ``MissShaw,’’shesaid,``Ihavebeentalkingtoafriendofmineaboutyou,andshewouldliketomakeabargainwithyou。Shethinksyouarework— ingtoohard。Shewillpayyouthreedollarsandahalfaweekfortherestofthisschoolyearifyouwillpromisetogiveupyourpreaching。Shewantsyoutorest,study,andtakecareofyourhealth。’’ Iaskedthenameofmyunknownfriend,butMrs。Barrettsaidthatwastoremainasecret。Shehadbeengivenacheckforseventy—eightdollars,andfromthis,sheexplained,myallowancewouldbepaidinweeklyinstalments。Itookthemoneyverygratefully,andafewyearslaterIreturnedtheamounttotheMissionarySociety;butIneverlearnedtheidentityofmybenefactor。Herthreedollarsandahalfaweek,addedtotheweeklytwodollarsIwasallowedforroomrent,atoncesolvedtheproblemofliving;andnowthatmeal—hourshadameaninginmylife,myhealthimprovedandmyhorizonbrightened。Ispentmostofmyeveningsinstudy,andmySundaysinthechurchesofPhil— lipsBrooksandJamesFreemanClark,myfavoriteministers。Also,Ijoinedtheuniversity’spraying— bandofstudents,andtookpartinthemissionary— workamongthewomenofthestreets。IhadneverforgottenmyearlyfriendinLawrence,thebeautiful``mysteriouslady’’whohadlovedmeasachild,and,inmemoryofher,Isetearnestlyabouttheefforttohelpunfortunatesofherclass。Iwentintothehomesofthesewomen,followedthemtothestreetsandthedance—halls,talkedtothem,prayedwiththem,andmadefriendsamongthem。 SomeofthemIwasabletohelp,butmanywerebeyondhelp;andIsoonlearnedthattheeffectiveworkinthatfieldistheworkwhichisdoneforwomenbefore,notafter,theyhavefallen。 Duringmyvacationinthesummerof1876IwenttoCapeCodandearnedmyexpensesbysubstitutinginlocalpulpits。Here,atEastDennis,Iformedthefriendshipwhichbroughtmeatoncethegreatesthappinessandthedeepestsorrowofthatperiodofmylife。MynewfriendwasawidowwhosenamewasPersisAddy,andshewasalsothedaughterofCaptainPrinceCrowell,thenthemostprominentmanintheCapeCodcommunity——abankpresident,arailroaddirector,andacitizenofwealth,aswealthwasratedinthosedays。WhenIreturnedtothetheologicalschoolintheautumnMrs。AddycametoBostonwithme,andfromthattimeuntilherdeath,twoyearslater,welivedtogether。Shewasimmenselyinterestedinmywork,andthefriendlypartshetookinitdivertedhermindfromthebe— reavementoverwhichshehadbroodedforyears,whiletomehercomingopenedwindowsintoanewworld。Iwasnolongerlonely;andthoughinmylifewithherIpaidmywaytotheextentofmysmallincome,shegavememyfirstexperienceofanexistenceinwhichcomfortandculture,recreation,andleisurelyreadingwerecheerfulcommonplaces。 ForthefirsttimeIhadsomeonetocomehometo,someonetoconfidein,someonetotalkto,listento,andlove。Wereadtogetherandwenttocon— certstogether;anditwasduringthiswinterthatI attendedmyfirsttheatricalperformance。ThestarwasMaryAnderson,in``PygmalionandGalatea,’’ andplayandplayercharmedmesoutterlythatI sawthemeverynightthatweek,sittinghighinthegalleryandenjoyingtotheutmosttheunfoldingofthisnewdelight。ItwassoglowingapleasurethatIlongedtomakesomereturntothegiverofit;butnotuntilmanyyearsafterward,whenImetMa— dameNavarroinLondon,wasIabletotellherwhattheexperiencehadbeenandtothankherforit。 Ididnotlongenjoytheglimpsesintomynewworld,forsoon,andmosttragically,itwasclosedtome。InthespringfollowingourfirstBostonwintertogetherMrs。AddyandIwenttoHingham,Massachusetts,whereIhadbeenappointedtempo— rarypastoroftheMethodistChurch。ThereMrs。 Addywastakenill,andasshegrewsteadilyworsewereturnedtoBostontolivenearthebestavaila— blephysicians,whoformonthstheorizedoverhermaladywithoutbeingabletodiagnoseit。Atlastherfather,CaptainCrowell,senttoParisforDr。 Brown—Sequard,thenthemostdistinguishedspecial— istofhisday,andDr。Brown—Sequard,whenhearrivedandexaminedhispatient,discoveredthatshehadatumoronthebrain。Shehadhadagreatshockinherlife——thetragicdeathofherhusbandatseaduringtheirweddingtouraroundtheworld—— anditwasbelievedthatherdiseasedatedfromthattime。Nothingcouldbedoneforher,andshefaileddailyduringoursecondyeartogether,anddiedinMarch,1878,justbeforeIfinishedmytheologicalcourseandwhileIwasstilltemporarypastorofthechurchatHingham。EverymomentIcouldtakefrommyparishandmystudiesIspentwithher,andthoseweresorrowfulmonths。Inherpoor,torturedbraintheideaformedthatI,notshe,wasthesickpersoninourfamilyoftwo,andwhenwewereathometogethersheinsistedthatImustliedownandlethernurseme;thenforhoursshebroodedoverme,tryingtorelievetheagonyshebelievedIwasexperiencing。WhenatlastshewasatpeaceherfatherandItookherhometoCapeCodandlaidherinthegraveyardofthelittlechurchwherewehadmetatthebeginningofourbriefandbeautifulfriendship;andthesubsequentlonelinessIfeltwasfargreaterthananyIhadeversufferedinthepast,fornowIhadlearnedthemeaningofcom— panionship。 ThreemonthsafterMrs。Addy’sdeathIgrad— uated。Shehadplannedtotakemeabroad,andduringourfirstwintertogetherwehadspentcount— lesshourstalkinganddreamingofourEuropeanwanderings。WhenshefoundthatshemustdieshemadeherwillandleftmefifteenhundreddollarsforthevisittoEurope,insistingthatImustcarryouttheplanwehadmade;andduringherconsciousperiodssheconstantlytalkedofthisandmademepromisethatIwouldgo。Afterherdeathitseemedtomethattogowithoutherwasimpossible。Every— thingofbeautyIlookeduponwouldholdmemoriesofher,keepingfreshmysorrowandemphasizingmyloneliness;butitwasherlastexpresseddesirethatIshouldgo,andIwent。 First,however,Ihadgraduated——cladinabrand— newblacksilkgown,andwithfivedollarsinmypocket,whichIkeptthereduringthegraduationexercises。Ifeltaspecialsatisfactioninthepos— sessionofthatmoney,for,notwithstandingthehandicapofbeingawoman,Iwassaidtobetheonlymemberofmyclasswhohadworkedduringtheentirecourse,graduatedfreefromdebt,andhadanewoutfitaswellasafewdollarsincash。 Igraduatedwithoutanyspecialhonors。Pos— siblyImighthavewonsomeifIhadmadetheeffort,butmygraduationyear,asIhavejustexplained,hadbeenverydifficult。Asitwas,Iwasmerelyagoodaveragestudent,feelingmyisolationastheonlywomaninmyclass,butcertainlynotspurringonmymenassociatesbythedisplayofanybrilliantgifts。Naturally,Imissedagreatdealofclassfellowshipandclasssupport,andthroughoutmyentirecourseIrarelyenteredmyclass—roomwith— outtheabysmalconvictionthatIwasnotreallywantedthere。Butsomeofthemenweregood— humoredlycordial,andseveralofthemareamongmyfriendsto—day。BetweenmyselfandmyfamilytherestillexistedthebreachIhadcreatedwhenIbegantopreach。WiththeexceptionofMaryandJames,mypeopleopenlyregardedme,duringmytheologicalcourse,asadwellerinouterdarkness,andevenmymother’slovewascloudedbywhatshefelttobemydeliberateandpersistentfloutingofherwishes。 Towardtheendofmyuniversityexperience,how— ever,anincidentoccurredwhichapparentlychangedmymother’sviewpoint。ShewasnowlivingwithmysisterMary,inBigRapids,Michigan,and,ontheoccasionofoneofmyrareandbriefvisitstothemIwasinvitedtopreachinthelocalchurch。 Here,forthefirsttime,mymotherheardme。 Dutifullyescortedbyoneofmybrothers,sheat— tendedchurchthatmorninginastateofshiveringnervousness。Idonotknowwhatsheexpectedmetodoorsay,buttowardtheendofthesermonitbecameclearthatIhadnotjustifiedherfears。 Thelookofintenseapprehensionlefthereyes,herfeaturesrelaxedintoplacidity,andlaterinthedayshepaidmethehighestcomplimentIhadyetre— ceivedfromamemberofmyfamily。 ``Ilikedthesermonverymuch,’’shepeacefullytoldmybrother。``Annadidn’tsayanythingabouthell,oraboutanythingelse!’’ Whenwelaughedatthishandsometribute,shehastenedtoqualifyit。 ``WhatImean,’’sheexplained,``isthatAnnadidn’tsayanythingobjectionableinthepulpit!’’ AndwiththisrecognitionIwascontent。 BetweenthedeathofmyfriendandmydepartureforEuropeIburiedmyselfintheworkoftheuni— versityandofmylittlechurch;andasifinanswertothecallofmyneed,MaryE。Livermore,whohadgivenmethefirstprofessionalencouragementI hadeverreceived,re—enteredmylife。Herhusband,likemyself,waspastorofachurchinHingham,andwheneverhisfinancesgrewlow,ortherewasneedofafundforsomespecialpurpose——conditionsthatusuallyexistinasmallchurch——hisbrilliantwifecametohisassistanceandraisedthemoney,whileherhusbandretiredmodestlytothebackgroundandregardedherwithadoringeyes。Ononeoftheseoccasions,Iremember,whensheenteredthepulpittopreachhersermon,shedroppedherbon— netandcoatonanunoccupiedchair。Alittlelatertherewasneedofthischair,andMr。Livermore,whosatunderthepulpit,leanedforward,pickedupthegarments,and,withouttheleasttraceofself— consciousness,heldtheminhislapthroughoutthesermon。Oneofthemembersofthechurch,whoappearedtobeirritatedbytheincident,laterspokeofittohimandadded,sardonically,``Howdoesitfeeltobemerely`Mrs。Livermore’shusband’?’’ InreplyMr。Livermoreflashedonhimoneofhischarmingsmiles。``Why,I’mveryproudofit,’’ hesaid,withtheutmostcheerfulness。``Yousee,I’mtheonlymanintheworldwhohasthatdis— tinction。’’ Theywereacharmingcouple,theLivermores,andtheydeservedfarmorethantheyreceivedfromaworldtowhichtheygavesofreelyandsorichly。 Tome,astoothers,theyweremorethankind;andIneverrecallthemwithoutadeepfeelingofgrati— tudeandanequallydeepsenseoflossintheirpassing。 Itwasduringthisperiod,also,thatImetFrancesE。Willard。TherewasagreatMoodyrevivalinprogressinBoston,andMissWillardwastheright— handassistantofMr。Moody。Toherthatrevivalmusthavebeenmarkedwithastar,forduringitshemetforthefirsttimeMissAnnaGordon,whobecameherlife—longfriendandherbiographer。 Themeetingsalsolaidthefoundationofourfriend— ship,andformanyyearsMissWillardandIwerecloselyassociatedinworkandaffection。 Onthesecondorthirdnightoftherevival,dur— ingoneofthe``mixedmeetings,’’attendedbybothwomenandmen,Mr。Moodyinvitedthosewhowerewillingtotalktosinnerstocometothefront。I wentdowntheaislewithothers,andfoundaseatnearMissWillard,towhomIwasthenintroducedbysomeonewhoknewusboth。Iworemyhairshortinthosedays,andIhadalittlefurcaponmyhead。ThoughIhadbeenpreachingforseveralyears,Ilookedabsurdlyyoung——fartooyoung,itsoonbecameevident,tointerestMr。Moody。Hewasalreadymovingaboutamongthemenandwomenwhohadrespondedtohisinvitation,andonebyoneheinvitedthemtospeak,passingmeeachtimeuntilatlastIwasleftalone。ThenhetookpityonmeandcametomysidetowhisperkindlythatIhadmisunderstoodhisinvitation。 Hedidnotwantyounggirlstotalktohispeople,hesaid,butmaturewomenwithworldlyexperi— ence。Headvisedmetogohometomymother,adding,tosoftentheblow,thatsometimeinthefuturewhentherewereyounggirlsatthemeetingIcouldcomeandtalktothem。 Imadenoexplanationstohim,butstartedtoleave,andMissWillard,whosawmedeparting,fol— lowedandstoppedme。SheaskedwhyIwasgoing,andItoldherthatMr。Moodyhadsentmehometogrow。FrancesWillardhadakeensenseofhumor,andsheenjoyedthejokesothoroughlythatshefinallyconvincedmeitwasamusing,thoughatfirstthehumorofithadescapedme。ShetookmebacktoMr。Moodyandexplainedthesituationtohim,andheapologizedandputmetowork。HesaidhehadthoughtIwasaboutsixteen。AfterthatI occasionallyhelpedhimintheintervalsofmyotherwork。 ThetimehadcometofollowMrs。Addy’swishesandgotoEurope,andIsailedinthemonthofJunefollowingmygraduation,andtraveledforthreemonthswithapartyoftouristsunderthedirectionofEbenTourgee,oftheBostonConservatoryofMusic。WelandedinGlasgow,andfromtherewenttoEngland,Belgium,Holland,Germany,France,andlastofalltoItaly。Ourcompanyin— cludedmanyclergymenandanever—to—be—forgottenwidowwhoselight—heartedattitudetowardthemem— oryofherdepartedspousefurnishedthecomedyofourfirstvoyage。Itbecameapetdiversiontoaskherifherhusbandstilllived,forshealwaysansweredthequestioninthesamemournfulwords,andwiththesamemannerofirrepressiblegaiety。 ``Ohno!’’shewouldchirp。``MydeardepartedhasbeeninourHeavenlyFather’shouseforthepasteightyears!’’ Atitsbest,thevacationwithoutmyfriendwastragicallyincomplete,andonlyafewofitsincidentsstandoutwithclearnessacrosstheforty—sixyearsthathavepassedsincethen。Onemorning,Ire— member,IpreachedanimpromptusermonintheCastleofHeidelbergbeforealargegathering;andalittlelater,inGenoa,Ipreachedaverydifferentsermontoawhollydifferentcongregation。Therewasagospel—shipintheharbor,andoneSaturdaythepastorofitcameashoretoaskifsomeAmericanclergymaninourpartywouldpreachonhisshipthenextmorning。Hewasanold—time,orthodoxPresbyterian,andfromthetipsofhisbroad—soledshoestotheseverepartinthehairabovehissancti— moniousbrowhelookedthetype。Iwasnotpres— sentwhenhecalledatourhotel,andmyabsencegavemyfellow—clergymenanopportunitytoplayajokeonthegentlemanfromthegospel—ship。Theyassuredhimthat``Dr。Shaw’’wouldpreachforhim,andthepastorreturnedtohispostgreatlypleased。 Whentheytoldmeofhisinvitation,however,theydidnotaddthattheyhadneglectedtotellhimDr。 Shawwasawoman,andIwasgreatlyelatedbythecomplimentIthoughthadbeenpaidme。 Ourentirepartyofthirtywentouttothegospel— shipthenextmorning,andwhenthepastorcametomeetus,lankandforbidding,hisausterelipsvainlytryingtocurveintoasmileofwelcome,theyintro— ducedmetohimastheministerwhowastodeliverthesermon。Hehadjusttakenmyhand;hedroppeditasifithadburnedhisown。Foramo— menthehadnowordstomeetthecrisis。Thenhestutteredsomethingtotheeffectthatthesituationwasimpossiblethathismenwouldnotlistentoawoman,thattheywouldmobher,thatitwouldbeblasphemousforawomantopreach。Myasso— ciates,whohadsolight—heartedlyletmeinforthisunpleasantexperience,nowrealizedthattheymustseemethroughit。Theypersuadedhimtoallowmetopreachthesermon。 Withdeepreluctancethepastorfinallyacceptedmeandthesituation;butwhenthemomentcametointroduceme,hedevotedmostofhistimetoheartfeltapologiesformypresence。HeexplainedtothesailorsthatIwasawoman,andfervidlyassuredthemthathehimselfwasnotresponsibleformyappearancethere。Witheverywordheut— teredheputabrickinthewallhewasbuildingbe— tweenmeandthecrew,untilatlastIfeltthatI couldnevergetpastit。Iwasveryunhappy,verylonely,veryhomesick;andsuddenlythethoughtcametomethatthesemen,notwithstandingtheirsulleneyesandforbiddingfaces,mightbelonelyandhomesick,too。Idecidedtotalktothemasawomanandnotasaminister,andIcamedownfromthepulpitandfacedthemontheirownlevel,look— ingthemoverandmentallyselectingthehardestspecimensofthelotasthespecialobjectsofmyappeal。Oneoldfellow,wholookedlikeapiratewithhisred—rimmedeyes,weather—beatenskin,andfimbriatedface,grinnedupatmeinsuchsardonicchallengethatIwalkeddirectlyinfrontofhimandbegantospeak。Isaid: ``Myfriends,IhopeyouwillforgeteverythingDr。Blankhasjustsaid。ItistruethatIamaminister,andthatIcameheretopreach。ButnowIdonotintendtopreach——onlytohaveafriendlytalk,onatextwhichisnotintheBible。Iamveryfarfromhome,andIfeelashomesickassomeofyoumenlook。Somytextis,`Blessedarethehome— sick,fortheyshallgohome。’’’ InmysummersatCapeCodIhadlearnedsome— thingaboutsailors。Iknewthatintheinprepos— sessingcongregationbeforemethereweremanyboyswhohadrunawayfromhome,andmenwhohadlefthomebecauseoffamilytroubles。Italkedtotheyoungmenfirst,tothosewhohadforgottentheirmothersandthoughttheirmothershadfor— gottenthem,andItoldofmyexperienceswithwaiting,heavy—heartedmotherswhohadsonsatsea。Someheadswentdownatthat,andhereandthereIsawaboygulp,buttheoldfellowIwaspar— ticularlyanxioustomovestillgrinnedupatmelikeamaliciousmonkey。ThenItalkedofthesailor’swife,andofherdoubleburdenofhomemakingandanxiety,andsoonIcouldpickoutsomeofthehus— bandsbytheirsoftenedfaces。Butstillmyoldmangrinnedandsquinted。LastofallIdescribedthewhalerswhowereabsentfromhomeforyears,andwhocamebacktofindtheirchildrenandtheirgrandchildrenwaitingforthem。ItoldhowIhadseenthem,inourNewEnglandcoasttowns,covered,asashipiscoveredwithbarnacles,bygrandchildrenwhorodeontheirshouldersandsatastrideoftheirnecksastheywalkeddownthevillagestreets。Andnowatlastthesneerleftmyoldman’slooselips。 Hehadgrandchildrensomewhere。Hetwistedun— easilyinhisseat,coughed,andfinallytookoutabigredhandkerchiefandwipedhiseyes。Theepisodeencouragedme。 ``WhenIcamehere,’’Iadded,``Iintendedtopreachasermonon`TheHeavenlyVision。’NowI wanttogiveyouaglimpseofthatinadditiontothevisionwehavehadofhome。’’ Iendedwithabitofthesermonandaprayer,andwhenIraisedmyheadtheoldmanofthesar— donicgrinwasstandingbeforeme。 ``Missus,’’hesaidinahuskywhisper,``I’dliketoshakeyourhand。’’ Itookhishardoldfist,andthen,seeingthatmanyoftheothersailorswerebeginningtomovehospitablybutshylytowardme,Isaid: ``Iwouldliketoshakehandswitheverymanhere。’’ Atthewordstheysurgedforward,andtheaffairbecameareception,duringwhichIshookhandswitheverysailorofmycongregation。Thenextdaymyhandwasswollenoutofshape,forthesailorshadgrippeditasiftheywerehaulingonahawser;buttheexperiencewasworththediscomfort。Thebestmomentofthemorningcame,however,whenthepastoroftheshipfacedme,goggle—eyedandmar— veling。 ``Iwouldn’thavebelievedit,’’wasallhecouldsay。``Ithoughtthemenwouldmobyou。’’ ``Whyshouldtheymobme?’’Iwantedtoknow。 ``Why,’’hestammered,``becausethethingisso——so——unnatural。’’ ``Well,’’Isaid,``ifitisunnaturalforwomentotalktomen,wehavebeenlivinginanunnaturalworldforalongtime。Moreover,ifitisunnatural,whydidJesussendawomanoutasthefirstpreach— er?’’ Hewaivedadiscussionofthatquestionbyinvit— ingusalltohiscabintodrinkwinewithhim——andaswewere``totalabstainers,’’itseemedasun— naturaltoustohavehimofferuswineasawoman’spreachinghadseemedtohim。 ThenextEuropeanincidentonwhichmemorythrowsahigh—lightwasouraudiencewithPopeLeoXIII。AstherewereseveraldistinguishedAmericansinourparty,aprivateaudiencewasar— rangedforus,andfordaysbeforethetimeappointedwenervouslyrehearsedtheetiquetteoftheoc— casion。WhenwereachedtheVaticanweweremarchedbetweenrowsofSwissGuardstotheThroneRoom,onlytolearntherethatweweretobereceivedintheTapestryRoom。HerewefoundaveryimpressiveassemblageofcardinalsandVaticanofficials,andwhilewewerestilllostinthebeautyofthepicturetheymadeagainsttheroom’ssuperbbackground,theapproachofthePopewasannounced。Everyoneimmediatelyknelt,exceptafewpersonswhotriedtoshowtheirdemocracybystanding;butIamsurethateventheseindividualsfeltathrillwhentheslight,exquisitefigureappearedatthedoorandgaveusageneralbenediction。ThenthePopepassedslowlydowntheline,offeringhishandtoeachofus,andradiatingacharmsograciousandsohumanthatfewfailedtorespondtotheappealofhisengagingpersonality。TherewasnothingfleshlyaboutLeoXIII。Hisbodywassofrail,sowraithlike,thatonealmostexpectedtoseethroughitthemagnificenttapestriesonthewalls。 Butfromthemomentheappearedeveryeyeclungtohim,everythoughtwasconcentrateduponhim。 ThiseffectIthinkhewouldhaveproducedevenifhehadcomeamongusunrecognized,forthroughthethinshellthathouseditshonethesteadyflameofawonderfulspirit。 IhadpreviouslyremarkedtomyfriendsthatkissingthePope’sringaftersomanyotherlipshadtoucheditdidnotappealtomeashygienic,andthatIintendedtokisshishandinstead。Whenmyop— portunitycameIkeptmyword;butafterIhadkissedthevenerablehandIremainedkneelingforaninstantwithbowedhead,alittleaghastatmydaring。ThegentleFatherthought,however,thatIwaswaitingforaspecialblessing。Hegaveittomegravelyandpassedon,andIdevotedthenextfewhourstoungodlycrowingovertheassoci— ateswhohadreceivednosuchindividualatten— tion。 InVeniceweattendedthegreatfetecelebratingthefirstvisitofKingHumbertandQueenMar— gherita。ItwasalsothefirsttimeVenicehaden— tertainedaqueensincetheItalianunion,andthesea—queenoftheAdriaticoutdidherselfinthegor— geousnessandthebeautyofherpreparations。TheGrandCanalwaslikeaflowingrainbow,reflectingthebrilliantdecorationsoneveryside,andatnightthemoonlight,themusic,thechimingchurch—bells,thecoloredlanterns,thegayvoices,thelappingwatersagainstthesidesofcountlessgondolasmadetheexperienceseemlikeadreamofanewandun— believablybeautifulworld。Fortythousandper— sonsweregatheredintheSquareofSt。MarkandinfrontofthePalace,andIrecallaprettyincidentinwhichthegraciousQueenandalittlestreeturchinfigured。Thesmall,raggedboyhadcreptasclosetotheroyalbalconyashedared,andthen,unobserved,hadclimbeduponeofitspillars。Atthemomentwhenasuddenhushhadfallenonthecrowdthisinfant,overcomebypatriotismandaglimpseoftheroyalladyonthebalconyabovehim,suddenlypipedupshrillyinthesilence。``LonglivetheQueen!’’hecried。``LonglivetheQueen!’’ ThegraciousMargheritaheardthechildishvoice,and,amusedandinterested,leanedoverthebal—