It asked him to go with Maradick as his guest to some Club dinner. Then
it went on.... “You know, Westcott, we don't meet as often as we should.
Like ships in the night, we signal every now and again and then pass.
But I am quite sure that we have plenty to say to one another. Once or
twice--you remember that party when I gassed about Cornwall?--we have
nearly said it, but something has always prevented. I remember that you
divided the world once in a fit of youthful confidence, into Explorers
and Stay-at-homes. Well, those words will do as well as any others to
describe the great dividing line. At any rate, you're an Explorer
and you're trying to get on terms with the Stay-at-homes, and I'm a
Stay-at-home and I'm trying to get on terms with the Explorers and
that's why we're both so uncomfortable. The only happy people, take my
word for it, are those who know the kind of thing they are--Explorers or
Stay-at-homes, and just stick at that and shut their eyes tight to the
other kind of people--_il n'existe pas_, that other world. Those are the
happy people, and, after all most people are like that. But we, you and
I, are uncomfortably conscious of the other Party--want to know them, in
fact, want them to receive us.
“Well, I'm getting on and it's late days for me, but you've got all
your life before you and will do great things, take my word for it. Only
don't be discouraged because the Stay-at-homes don't come to you all at
once. Give 'em time--they'll come....”
This seemed to Peter, at this moment of a whole welter of doubt and
confusion and misunderstanding of people's motives and positions, to
explain a great deal. Was that the reason why he'd been so happy in
old Zachary Tan's shop years ago? Why he'd been happy through all that
existence at the bookshop, those absurd unreal conspirators--happy, yes,
even when starving with Stephen in Bucket Lane.
He was then in his right company--explorers one and all. Whereas
here?--Now? Had he ever been happy at The Roundabout except during the
first year, and afterwards when Stephen came? And was not that, too, the
explanation of young Stephen's happiness upon the arrival of Mr. Zanti
and Brant? Did he not recognise them for what they were, explorers? He
being a young explorer himself.
On the other side Mrs. Rossiter, Clare, Cards, old Bobby who in spite of
his affection never understood half the things that Peter did or said,
the Galleons, old Mrs. Galleon and Percival and his sister?... Had Henry
Galleon known that dividing-line and suffered under it all his life, and
borne it and perhaps conquered it?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account