roadman

THEROADFROMCOLONUS

r

I

Fornoveryintelligiblereason,erhaps

reachingtheageatwhichindependencebecomesvaluable,

ofattentionandconsideration,he,likedbreakingawayfromtheyoungermembers,torideby

himlf,shealsorelishedthatmoresubtlepleasureofbeing

keptwaitingforlunch,andoftellingtheothersontheirarrivalthatitwasofnoconquence.

So,withchildishimpatience,hebatteredtheanimal'ssideswithhisheels,andmadethe

muleteerbangitwithathickstickandprickitwithasharpone,andjolteddownthehill

sidesthroughclumpsoffloweringshrubsandstretchesofanemonesandasphodel,tillhe

heardthesoundofrunningwater,andcameinsightofthegroupofplanetreeswherethey

weretohavetheirmeal.

EveninEnglandthotreeswouldhavebeenremarkable,sohugewerethey,sointerlaced,so

einGreecetheywereunique,theone

coolspotinthathardbrilliantlandscape,r

midstwashiddenatinyKhanorcountryinn,afrailmudbuildingwitha"broadwooden

balconyinwhichsatanoldwomanspinning,whileasmallbrownpig,eatingorangepeel,stood

etearthbelowsquattedtwochildren,playingsomeprimaevalgame

withtheirfingers;andtheirmother,nonetoocleaneither,wasmessingwithsomericeinside.

AsMrsFormanwouldhavesaid,itwasallveryGreek,andthefastidiousMrLucasfelt

thankfulthattheywerebringingtheirownfoodwiththem,andshouldeatitintheopenair.

Still,hewasgladtobethere—themuleteerhadhelpedhimoff—andgladthatMrsForman

wasnottheretoforestallhisopinions—gladeventhatheshouldnoteEthelforquitehalfan

ashisyoungestdaughter,unlfishandaffectionate,and

itwasgenerallyunderstoodthatshewastodevoteherlifetoherfather,andbethecomfortofhis

manalwaysreferredtoherasAntigone,andMrLucastriedtottledownto

theroleofOedipus,whichemedtheonlyonethatpublicopinionallowedhim.

HehadthisincommonwithOedipus,himlfithadbecome

ostinterestinotherpeople'saffairs,andldomattendedwhentheyspoketo

ondoftalkinghimlfbutoftenforgotwhathewasgoingtosay,andevenwhenhe

succeeded,asandgestureshadbecomestiffandt,

hisanecdotes,oncesosuccessful,fellflat,

hadledahealthy,activelife,hadworkedsteadily,mademoney,

wasnothingandnoonetoblame:hewassimplygrowingold.

Attheprentmoment,herehewasinGreece,andoneofthedreamsofhislifewasrealized.

FortyyearsagohehadcaughtthefeverofHellenism,andallhislifehehadfeltthatcouldhe

butvisitthatland,enshadbeendusty,Delphiwet,

Thermopylaeflat,andhehadlistenedwithamazementandcynicismtotherapturous

waslikeEngland:itwasamanwhowasgrowingold,

aislast

hopeofcontradictingthatlogicofexperience,anditwasfailing.

YetGreecehaddonesomethingforhim,adehim

discontented,thathewasnotthevictimof

inggreatwaswrong,andhewaspittedagainstnomediocreor

lastmonthastrangedesirehadpossdhimtodiefighting.

2

'Greeceisthelandforyoungpeople,'hesaidtohimlfashestoodundertheplanetrees,'butI

willenterintoit,shallbegreenagain,watershallbesweet,theskyshall

resofortyyearsago,dbeingold,andIwill

pretendnolonger.'

Hetooktwostepsforward,andimmediatelycoldwatersweregurglingoverhisankle.

'Wheredoesthewatercomefrom?'heaskedhimlf.'Idonotevenknowthat.'He

rememberedthatallthehillsidesweredry;yetheretheroadwassuddenlycoveredwith

flowingstreams.

Hestoppedstillinamazement,saying:'Wateroutofatree—outofahollowtree?Inever

sawnorthoughtofthatbefore.'

FortheenormousplanethatleanttowardstheKhanwashollow—ithadbeenburntout

forcharcoal—andfromitslivingtrunktheregushedanimpetuousspring,coatingthebark

withfernandmoss,

simplecountryfolkhadpaidtobeautyandmysterysuchtributeastheycould,forintherindof

thetreeashrinewascut,holdingalampandalittlepictureoftheVirgin,inheritoroftheNaiad's

andDryad'sjointabode.

'Ineversawanythingsomarvellousbefore,'saidMrLucas.'Icouldevenstepinsidethe

trunkandewherethewatercomesfrom.'

rememberedwithasmilehisown

thought—'theplaceshallbemine;Iwillenteritandposssit'—andleaptalmostaggressively

ontoastonewithin.

Thewaterpresdupsteadilyandnoilesslyfromthehollowrootsandhiddencrevicesofthe

plane,formingawonderfulamberpoolereitspiltoverthelipofbarkontotheearthoutside.

MrLucastasteditanditwassweet,andwhenhelookeduptheblackfunnelofthetrunkhesaw

skywhichwasblue,andsomeleaveswhichweregreen;andheremembered,withoutsmiling,

anotherofhisthoughts.

Othershadbeenbeforehim—votive

offeringstothepresidingPowerwerefastenedontothebark—•tinyarmsandlegsandeyesin

tin,grotesquemodelsofthebrainortheheart—alltokensofsomerecoveryofstrengthor

asnosuchthingasthesolitudeofnature,forthesorrowsandjoysof

adouthisarmsandsteadiedhimlf

againstthesoftcharredwood,andthenslowlyleantback,tillhisbodywasrestingonthetrunk

sclod,andhehadthestrangefeelingofonewhoismoving,yetatpeace—the

feelingoftheswimmer,who,afterlongstrugglingwithchoppingas,findsthatafterallthe

ymotionless,consciousonlyofthestreambelowhisfeet,

andthatallthingswereastream,inwhichhewasmoving.

Hewasaroudatlastbyashock—theshockofanarrivalperhaps,forwhenheopenedhis

eyes,somethingunimagined,indefinable,hadpasdoverallthings,andmadethemintelligible

andgood.

Therewasmeaninginthestoopoftheoldwomanoverherwork,andinthequickmotions

ofthelittlepig,mancamesingingoverthe

streamsonamule,

madenoaccidentalpatternsuponthespreadingrootsofthetrees,andtherewasintentionin

thenoddingclumpsofasphodel,cas,who,inabrief

spaceoftime,haddiscoverednotonlyGreece,butEnglandandalltheworldandlife,there

emednothingludicrousinthedesiretohangwithinthetreeanothervotiveoffering—a

littlemodelofanentireman.'Why,here'spapa,playingatbeingMerlin.'Allunnoticedthey

hadarrived—Ethel,MrsFor-man,MrGraham,

3

dsuddenlybecomeunfamiliar,andallthat

theydidemedstrainedandcoar.

'Allowmetogiveyouahand,'saidMrGraham,ayoungmanwhowasalwayspolitetohis

elders.

MrLucasfeltannoyed.'Thankyou,Icanmanageperfectlywellbymylf,'

footslippedashesteppedoutofthetree,andwentintothespring.

'Ohpapa,mypapa!'saidEthel,'whatareyoudoing?ThankgoodnessIhavegotachange

foryouonthemule.'

Shetendedhimcarefully,givinghimcleansocksanddryboots,andthensathimdownon

therugbesidethelunchbasket,whileshewentwiththeotherstoexplorethegrove.

Theycamebackinecstasies,oundthem

nthusiasmwassuperficial,commonplace,dno

datleasttoexplain

hisfeelings,andwhathesaidwas:

'essmeveryfavourably.

Thetreesarefine,remarkablyfineforGreece,andthereissomethingverypoeticinthespring

cidedlyanattractive

place.'

MrsFormanupbraidedhimforhistepidprai.'Oh,itisaplaceinathousand!'shecried,'I

couldliveanddiehere!IreallywouldstopifIhadnottobebackatAthens!Itremindsmeof

theColonusofSophocles.'

'Well,Imuststop,'saidEthel.'Ipositivelymust.''Yes,do!Youandyourfather!Antigone

youmuststopatColonus!'

stoodwithinthetree,hehad

fewminutes'

ngertrustedhimlftojourneythroughtheworld,

foroldthoughts,oldwearinessmightbewaitingtorejoin-himassoonashelefttheshadeof

theplanes,pintheKhanwiththegracious,kind-

eyedcountrypeople,towatchthebatsflitaboutwithintheglobeofshade,andethemoon

turnthegoldenpatternsintosilver—onesuchnightwouldplacehimbeyondrelap,and

hislipscouldsaywas:'Ishouldbe

willingtoputinanighthere.'

'Youmeanaweek,papa!Itwouldbesacrilegetoputinless.'

'Aweekthen,aweek,'saidhislips,irritatedatbeingcorrected,whilehisheartwasleaping

oughlunchhespoketothemnomore,butwatchedtheplaceheshouldknow

sowell,atesofthe

Khanonlyconsistedofanoldwoman,amiddle-agedwoman,ayoungmanandtwochildren,

andtononeofthemhadhespoken,yethelovedthemashelovedeverythingthatmovedor

breathedorexistedbeneaththebenedictoryshadeoftheplanes.

'Enroute!”saidtheshrillvoiceofMrsForman.'Ethel!!Thebestof

thingsmustend.'

'To-night,'thoughtMrLucas,'nweall

sittogetheronthebalcony,perhapstheywilltellmewhichofferingstheyputup.'

'Ibegyourpardon,MrLucas,'saidGraham,'buttheywanttofolduptherugyouare

sittingon.'

MrLucasgotup,sayingtohimlf:'Ethelshallgotobedfirst,andthenIwilltrytotell

themaboutmyofferingtoo—theywillunderstandifIam

leftwiththemalone.'

4

Etheltouchedhimonthecheek.'Papa!I'mulesarehere.'

'Mules?Whatmules?'

'',MrGraham,dohelpmyfatheron.'

'Idon'tknowwhatyou'retalkingabout,Ethel.''Mydearestpapa,

knowwehavetogettoOlympiato-night.'

MrLucasinpompous,confidenttonesreplied:'Ialwaysdidwish,Ethel,thatyouhada

ur

ownsuggestion.'

Ethelwasstartledintoimpoliteness.'thave

ImeantIwishedwecould.'

'Ah!ifwecouldonlydowhatwewished!'sighedMrsForman,alreadyatedonhermule.

'Surely,'Ethelcontinuedincalmertones,'youdidn'tthinkImeantit.'

'adeallmyplansonthesuppositionthatwearestoppinghere,

anditwillbeextremelyinconvenient,indeed,impossibleformetostart.'

Hedeliveredthisremarkwithanairofgreatconviction,andMrsFormanandMr

Grahamhadtoturnawaytohidetheirsmiles.

'IamsorryIspokesocarelessly;,youknow,wecan'tbreakupour

party,andevenonenightherewouldmakeusmisstheboatatPatras.'

MrsForman,inanaside,calledMrGraham'sattentiontotheexcellentwayinwhichEthel

managedherfather.

'Idon'dthatweshouldstophere,andweare

stopping.'

ItemedasiftheinhabitantsoftheKhanhaddivinedinsomemysteriouswaythat

womanstoppedherspinning,whiletheyoungman

andthetwochildrenstoodbehindMrLucas,asifsupportinghim.

little,buthewasabsolutely

determined,edhadheto

returntoEngland?Whowouldmisshim?ovedhim

inaway,but,aswasright,

hadonlyoneotherrelative,hissisterJulia,o

dbeafoolaswellasacowardifhestirredfromtheplacewhich

broughthimhappinessandpeace.

AtlastEthel,tohumourhim,andnotdisinclined'toairhermodernGreek,wentinto

aninside

receivedthemwithloudwelcomes,andtheyoungman,whennoonewaslooking,beganto

leadMrLucas'muletothestable.

'Dropit,youbrigand!'shoutedGraham,whoalwaysdeclaredthatforeignerscould

ight,forthemanobeyed,andtheyallstood

waitingforEthel'sreturn.

Sheemergedatlast,withclo-gatheredskirts,followedbythedragomanbearingthe

littlepig,whichhehadboughtatabargain.

'Mydearpapa,IwilldoallIcanforyou,butstopinthatKhan—no.'

'Arethere—fleas?'askedMrsForman.

Ethelintimatedthat'fleas'wasnottheword.

'Well,Iamafraidthatttlesit,'saidMrsForman,'IknowhowparticularMrLucas

is.'

'Itdoesnotttleit,'saidMrLucas.'Ethel,'tknow

stopherealone.'

5

Thatisabsolutenonn,'saidEthel,losinghertemper.'Howcanyoubeleftaloneat

yourage?Howwouldyougetyourmealsoryourbath?Allyourlettersarewaitingfor

'ansmissingtheLondonoperas,anduptting

fyoucouldtravelbyyourlf!'

'Theymightknifeyou,'wasMrGraham'scontribution.

TheGreekssaidnothing;butwheneverMrLucaslookedtheirway,theybeckonedhim

ldrenwouldevenhavedrawnhimbythecoat,andtheold

womanonthebalconystoppedheralmostcompletedspinning,andfixedhimwith

ught,theissueassumedgiganticproportions,andhe

believedthathewasnotmerelystoppingbecauhehadregainedyouthorenbeautyor

foundhappiness,butbecauinthatplaceandwiththopeopleasupremeeventwas

entwasso

tremendousthatheabandonedwordsandargumentsasuless,andrestedonthestrengthof

hismightyunrevealedallies:silentmen,murmuringwater,

wholeplacecalledwithonevoice,articulatetohim,andhisgarrulousopponentsbecame

eywouldbetiredandgochattering

awayintothesun,leavinghimtothecoolgroveandthemoonlightandthedestinyheforesaw.

MrsFormanandthedragomanhadindeedalreadystarted,amidthepiercingscreamsof

thelittlepig,andthestrugglemighthavegoneonindefinitelyifEthelhadnotcalledinMr

Graham.

'Canyouhelpme?'shewhispered.'Heisabsolutelyunmanageable.'

'I'mnogoodatarguing—butifIcouldhelpyouinanyotherway—'andhelookeddown

complacentlyathiswell-madefigure.

esaid:'ll,itisforhisgood

thatwedoit.''Thenhavehismuleledupbehindhim.'SowhenMrLucasthoughthehad

gainedtheday,hesuddenlyfelthimlfliftedofftheground,andsatsidewaysonthesaddle,

nothing,forhehadnothingtosay,

andevenhisfaceshowedlittleemotionashefelttheshadepassandheardthesoundofthe

amwasrunningathisside,hatinhand,apologizing.

'IknowIhadnobusinesstodoit,hopethat

somedayyoutoowillfeelthatIwas—damn!'

hrownbythelittleboy,who

ollowedbyhissister,alsothrowingstones.

Ethelscreamedtothedragoman,whowassomewayaheadwithMrsForman,butbefore

hecouldrejointhem,heyoungGreek,whohadcutthem

offinfront,andnowdasheddownatMrLucas'atelyGrahamwasanexpert

boxer,anditdidnottakehimamomenttobeatdowntheyouth'sfeebledefence,andtond

timethedragomanhadarrived,

thechildren,alarmedatthefateoftheirbrother,haddesisted,andtherescueparty,ifsuchitis

tobeconsidered,retiredindisordertothetrees.

'Littledevils!'saidGraham,'sthemodernGreekallover.

Yourfathermeantmoneyifhestopped,andtheyconsiderweweretakingitoutoftheirpocket.'

'Oh,theyareterrible—simplesavages!Idon''ve

savedmyfather.'

'Ionlyhopeyoudidn'tthinkmebrutal.'

'No,'repliedEthelwithalittlesigh.'Iadmirestrength.'

Meanwhilethecavalcadereformed,andMrLucas,who,asMrsFormansaid,borehis

disappointmentwonderfullywell,rriedupthe

6

oppositehillside,fearfulofanotherattack,anditwasnotuntiltheyhadlefttheeventfulplace

farbehindthatEthelfoundanopportunitytospeaktoherfatherandaskhispardonfortheway

shehadtreatedhim.

'Youemedsodifferent,dearfather,elthatyouare

youroldlfagain.'

Hedidnotanswer,andsheconcludedthathewasnotunnaturallyoffendedatherbehaviour.

Byoneofthocurioustricksofmountainscenery,theplacetheyhadleftanhourbefore

nwashiddenunderthegreendome,butintheopen

therestillstoodthreefigures,andthroughthepureairroupafaintcryofdefianceorfarewell.

MrLucasstoppedirresolutely,andlet-thereinsfallfromhishand.

'Come,fatherdear,'saidEthelgently.

Heobeyed,andinanothermomentaspurofthehillhidthedangeroussceneforever.

II

Itwasbreakfasttime,butthegaswasalight,swasinthemiddleofan

,whowastobemarriedinafewweeks,hadherarms

onthetable,listening.

'Firstthedoorbellrang,edogstarted,and

:

thentherewasthewatergurglinginthepipeabovemyhead.'

'Ithinkthatwasonlythebathwaterrunningaway,'saidEthel,lookingratherworn.

'Well,there''sperfectlyimpossibletosleepin

tellthelandlordplainly,"The

reasonIamgivingupthehouisthis:itisperfectlyimpossibletosleepinit."Ifhesays—

says—well,whathashegottosay?'

'Somemoretoast,father?'

'Thankyou,mydear.'Hetookit,andtherewasanintervalofpeace.

Buthesoonrecommenced.'I'mnotgoingtosubmittothepractisingnextdoorastamely

andtoldthemso—didn'tI?'

'Yes,'saidEthel,whohadtakencarethatthelettershouldnotreach.'Ihaveenthe

governess,sure

tobeallright.'

Heraunt,beingtheonlyunattachedmemberofthefamily,wascomingtokeephouforher

erencewasnotahappyone,andMrLucascommencedaries

ofhalfarticulatesighs,whichwasonlystoppedbythearrivalofthepost.

'Oh,whataparcel!'criedEthel.'Forme!Whatcanitbe!most

exciting!'

Itprovedtobesomeasphodelbulbs,ntbyMrsFormanfromAthensforplantinginthe

conrvatory.

'Doesn'titbringitallback!Youremembertheasphodels,wrappedupin

obeableto,youknow.'

Sherattledon,hopingtoconcealthelaughterofthechildrennextdoor—afavouritesource

ofquerulousnessatbreakfasttime.

'Listentome!"Aruraldisaster."Oh,I'ermind."Last

TuesdayatPlataniste,intheprovinceofMesnia,

tree"—aren'tIgettingonwell?—"blewdowninthenightand"—waitaminute—oh,dear!

7

"crushedtodeaththefiveoccupantsofthelittleKhanthere,whohadapparentlybeensittingin

iesofMariaRhomaides,theagedproprietress,andofherdaughter,aged

forty-six,wereeasilyrecognizable,whereasthatofhergrandson"—oh,therestisreallytoo

horrid;IwishIhadnevertriedit,andwhat'smoreIfeeltohaveheardthenamePlataniste

'tstopthere,didwe,inthespring?'

'Wehadlunch,'saidMrLucas,withafaintexpressionoftroubleonhisvacantface.'Perhaps

itwaswherethedragomanboughtthepig.'

'Ofcour,'saidEthelinanervousvoice.'

terrible!'

'Veryterrible!'saidherfather,whoattentionwaswanderingtothenoisychildrennextdoor.

Ethelsuddenlystartedtoherfeetwithgenuineinterest.

'Goodgracious!'sheexclaimed.'enednotlatelybutinApril—

thenightofTuesdaytheeighteenth—andwe—wemusthavebeenthereintheafternoon.'

'Sowewere,'herhandtoherheart,scarcelyabletospeak.

'Father,dearfather,Imustsayit:people,thopoorhalf

savagepeople,triedtokeepyou,andthey'leplace,itsays,isinruins,and

,dear,ifithadnotbeenforme,andifArthur

hadnothelpedme,youmusthavebeenkilled.'

MrLucaswavedhishandirritably.'Itisnotabitofgoodspeakingtothegoverness,Ishall

writetothelandlordandsay,"ThereasonIamgivingupthehouisthis:thedogbarks,the

childrennextdoorareintolerable,andIcannotstandthenoiofrunningwater."

aghastatthenarrownessoftheescape,andfora

shesaid:'Suchamarvellousdeliverancedoesmakeonebelieve

inProvidence.'

MrLucas,whowasstillcomposinghislettertothelandlord,didnotreply.