第6部分(第2/6 页)

e　mind　upon　an　agreeable　occupation—what　more　is　there　than　that　to　desire？　What　does　it　matter　what　happens　outside？The　House　of　mons　may　do　what　it　likes；　and　may　the　House　of　Lords。　The　heathen　may　rage　furiously　in　every　part　of　the　globe。　The　bottom　may　be　knocked　clean　out　of　the　American　market。　Consols　may　fall　and　suffragettes　may　rise。　Never　mind，　for　four　hours，　at　any　rate，　we　will　withdraw　ourselves　from　a　mon；　ill…governed，　and　disorderly　world， and　with　the　key　of　fancy　unlock　that　cupboard　where　all　the　good　things　of　the　infinite　are　put　away。

And　speaking　of　freedom　is　not　the　author　free，　as　few　men　are　free？　Is　he　not　secure，　as　few　men　are　secure？　The　tools　of　his　industry　are　so　mon　and　so　cheap　that　they　h*e　almost　ceased　to　h*e　mercial　value。He　needs　no　bulky　pile　of　raw　material，　no　elaborate　apparatus，　no　service　of　men　or　animals。　He　is　dependent　for　his　occupation　upon　no　one　but　himself，　and　nothing　outside　him　that　matters。　He　is　the　sovereign　of　an　empire，　self…supporting，　self…contained。　No　one　can　sequestrate　his　estates。　No　one　can　deprive　his　of　his　stock　in　trade；　no　one　can　force　him　exercise　his　faculty　against　his　will；　no　one　can　prevent　him　exercising　it　as　he　chooses。　The　pen　is　the　great　liberator　of　men　and　nations。No　chains　can　bind；　no　poverty　can　choke，　no　tariff　can　restrict　the　free　play　of　his　mind，　and　even　the　“Times”Book　Club　can　only　exert　a　moderately　depressing　influence　upon　his　rewards。　Whether　his　work　is　good　or　bad，　so　long　as　he　does　his　best　he　is　happy。　I　often　fortify　myself　amid　the　uncertainties　and　vexations　of　political　life　by　believing　that　I　possess　a　line　of　retreat　into　a　peaceful　and　fertile　country　where　no　rascal　can　pursue　and　where　one　need　never　be　dull　or　idle　or　even　wholly　without