第25部分(第1/7 页)

nditions；　delighting　in　a　glare　and　tumult　of　busy　life　under　hostile　heavens　which；　elsewhere；　would　mean　shivering　ill…content。　The　theatre；　at　such　a　time；　is　doubly　warm　and　bright；　every　shop　is　a　happy　harbour　of　refuge……there；　behind　the　counter；　stand　persons　quite　at　their　ease；　ready　to　chat　as　they　serve　you；　the　supper　bars　make　tempting　display　under　their　many　gas…jets；　the　public　houses　are　full　of　people　who　all　have　money　to　spend。　Then　clangs　out　the　piano…organ……and　what　could　be　cheerier！

I　have　much　ado　to　believe　that　I　really　felt　so。　But　then；　if　life　had　not　somehow　made　itself　tolerable　to　me；　how　should　I　have　lived　through　those　many　years？　Human　creatures　have　a　marvellous　power　of　adapting　themselves　to　necessity。　Were　I；　even　now；　thrown　back　into　squalid　London；　with　no　choice　but　to　abide　and　work　there……　should　I　not　abide　and　work？　Notwithstanding　thoughts　of　the　chemist's　shop；　I　suppose　I　should。

VI

One　of　the　shining　moments　of　my　day　is　that　when；　having　returned　a　little　weary　from　an　afternoon　walk；　I　exchange　boots　for　slippers；　out…of…doors　coat　for　easy；　familiar；　shabby　jacket；　and；　in　my　deep；　soft…elbowed　chair；　await　the　tea…tray。　Perhaps　it　is　while　drinking　tea　that　I　most　of　all　enjoy　the　sense　of　leisure。　In　days　gone　by；　I　could　but　gulp　down　the　refreshment；　hurried；　often　harassed；　by　the　thought　of　the　work　I　had　before　me；　often　I　was　quite　insensible　of　the　aroma；　the　flavour；　of　what　I　drank。　Now；　how　delicious　is　the　soft　yet　perating　odour　which　floats　into　my　study；　with　the　appearance　of　the　teapot！　What　solace　in　the　first　cup；　what　deliberate　sipping　of　that　which　follows！　What　a　glow　does　it　bring　after　a　walk　in　chilly　rain！　The　while；　I　look　around　at　my　books　and　pictures；　tast