第37章 CHAPTER THE SECOND(6)
A young man who took a distinctive line--provided it was not from the party point of view a vexatious or impossible line--might go very rapidly far and high.On the other hand, it was urged upon him that the Tariff Reform adventure called also for youth and energy.
But there, perhaps, there was less scope for the distinctive line--and already they had Garvin.Quite a number of Benham's friends pointed out to him the value of working out some special aspect of our national political interests.A very useful speciality was the Balkans.Mr.Pope, the well-known publicist, whose very sound and considerable reputation was based on the East Purblow Labour Experiment, met Benham at lunch and proposed to go with him in a spirit of instructive association to the Balkans, rub up their Greek together, and settle the problem of Albania.He wanted, he said, a foreign speciality to balance his East Purblow interest.But Lady Beach Mandarin warned Benham against the Balkans; the Balkans were getting to be too handy for Easter and summer holidays, and now that there were several good hotels in Servia and Montenegro and Sofia, they were being overdone.Everybody went to the Balkans and came back with a pet nationality.She loathed pet nationalities.She believed most people loathed them nowadays.It was stale: it was GLADSTONIAN.She was all for specialization in social reform.She thought Benham ought to join the Fabian Society and consult the Webbs.Quite a number of able young men had been placed with the assistance of the Webbs.They were, she said, "a perfect fount...."Two other people, independently of each other, pointed out to Benham the helpfulness of a few articles in the half-crown monthlies....
"What are the assumptions underlying all this?" Benham asked himself in a phase of lucidity.
And after reflection."Good God! The assumptions! What do they think will satisfy me?..."Everybody, however, did not point to Parliament.Several people seemed to think Travel, with a large T, was indicated.One distant cousin of Sir Godfrey's, the kind of man of the world who has long moustaches, was for big game shooting."Get right out of all this while you are young," he said."There's nothing to compare with stopping a charging lion at twenty yards.I've done it, my boy.
You can come back for all this pow-wow afterwards." He gave the diplomatic service as a second choice."There you are," he said, "first-rate social position, nothing to do, theatres, operas, pretty women, colour, life.The best of good times.Barring Washington, that is.But Washington, they say, isn't as bad as it used to be--since Teddy has Europeanized ‘em...."Even the Reverend Harold Benham took a subdued but thoughtful share in his son's admonition.He came up to the flat--due precautions were taken to prevent a painful encounter--he lunched at his son's new club, and he was visibly oppressed by the contrast between the young man's youthful fortunes and his own.As visibly he bore up bravely."There are few men, Poff, who would not envy you your opportunities," he said."You have the Feast of Life spread out at your feet....I hope you have had yourself put up for the Athenaeum.They say it takes years.When I was a young man--and ambitious--I thought that some day I might belong to the Athenaeum....One has to learn...."7
And with an effect of detachment, just as though it didn't belong to the rest of him at all, there was beginning a sort of backstairs and underside to Benham's life.There is no need to discuss how inevitable that may or may not be in the case of a young man of spirit and large means, nor to embark upon the discussion of the temptations and opportunities of large cities.Several ladies, of various positions and qualities, had reflected upon his manifest need of education.There was in particular Mrs.Skelmersdale, a very pretty little widow with hazel eyes, black hair, a mobile mouth, and a pathetic history, who talked of old music to him and took him to a Dolmetsch concert in Clifford's Inn, and expanded that common interest to a general participation in his indefinite outlook.She advised him about his probable politics--everybody did that--but when he broke through his usual reserve and suggested views of his own, she was extraordinarily sympathetic.She was so sympathetic and in such a caressing way that she created a temporary belief in her understanding, and it was quite imperceptibly that he was drawn into the discussion of modern ethical problems.She herself was a rather stimulating instance of modern ethical problems.She told him something of her own story, and then their common topics narrowed down very abruptly.He found he could help her in several ways.There is, unhappily, a disposition on the part of many people, who ought to know better, to regard a role played by Joseph during his earlier days in Egypt as a ridiculous one.This point of view became very inopportunely dominant in Benham's mind when he was lunching TETE A TETE with Mrs.Skelmersdale at her flat....
The ensuing intimacy was of an entirely concealed and respectable nature, but a certain increased preoccupation in his manner set Lady Marayne thinking.He had as a matter of fact been taken by surprise.
Still he perceived that it is no excuse for a man that he has been taken by surprise.Surprises in one's own conduct ought not to happen.When they do happen then an aristocrat ought to stick to what he had done.He was now in a subtle and complicated relationship to Mrs.Skelmersdale, a relationship in which her pride had become suddenly a matter of tremendous importance.Once he had launched himself upon this affair, it was clear to him that he owed it to her never to humiliate her.And to go back upon himself now would be a tremendous humiliation for her.You see, he had helped her a little financially.And she looked to him, she wanted him....