登陆注册
15444200000016

第16章 CHAPTER VII--THE COMET AND THE FIXED STAR(2)

'How do men stand on the diet question?' asked Mary, with a twinkle in her eye.

'They don't stand at all,' answered Mrs. Grubb promptly. 'They sit right still, and some of them lie down flat, you might say, whenever it's mentioned. They'll do even more for temperance than they will for reformed diet, though goodness knows they're fond enough of drinking. The Edenites number about sixty-seven in this city, and nine is the largest number of gentlemen that we've been able to interest. Those nine are the husbands and sons of the lady members, and at the next meeting two of them are going to be expelled for backsliding. I declare, if I was a man, I'd be ashamed to confess that I was all stomach; but that's what most of them are. Not that it's easy work to be an Edenite: it's impossible to any but a highly spiritual nature. I have been on the diet for six months, and nothing but my position as vice-president of the society, and my desire to crush the body and release the spirit, could have kept me faithful. I don't pretend to like it, but that doesn't make me disloyal. There's nothing I enjoy better than a good cut of underdone beef, with plenty of dish gravy; I love nice tender porter-house steaks with mushrooms; I love thick mutton-chops broiled over a hot fire: but I can't believe in them, and my conscience won't allow me to eat them. Do you believe in meat?'

'Certainly.'

'I don't see why you say "certainly." You would be a good deal better off without it. You are filling yourself full of carnal, brutal, murderous passions every time you eat it. The people who eat meat are not half so elevated nor half so teachable as the Edenites.'

'The Edenites are possibly too weak and hungry to resist instruction,' said Mary.

'They are neither weak nor hungry,' replied their vice-president, with dignity. 'They eat milk, and stewed fruit, and all the edible grains nicely boiled. It stands to reason that if you can subdue your earthly, devilish, sensual instincts on anything, you can do it on a diet like that. You can't fancy an angel or a Mahatma devouring underdone beef.'

'No,' agreed Mistress Mary; 'but for that matter, the spectacle of an angel eating dried-apple sauce doesn't appeal to my imagination.'

'It's no joking matter,' said Mrs. Grubb, with real tears in her eyes. 'It was my interest in Theosophy that brought me to the Edenic diet. I have good and sufficient motives for denying my appetite, for I've got a certain goal to reach, and I'm in earnest.'

'Then here's my hand, and I respect you for it. Oh, how I should like a hot mutton-chop at this moment!--Do forgive me.'

'I forgive you, because I can see you act up to all the light that has been revealed to you. I don't know as I ought to be proud because I see so much truth. My classes tell me I get these marvellous revelations because I'm so open-minded. Now Mr. Grubb wouldn't and couldn't bear discussion of any sort. His soul never grew, for he wouldn't open a clink where a new idea might creep in.

He'd always accompany me to all my meetings (such advantages as that man had and missed!), and sometimes he'd take the admission tickets; but when the speaking began, he'd shut the door and stay out in the entry by himself till it was time to wait upon me home. Do you believe in vaccination?'

'Certainly.'

'Well, it passes my comprehension how you can be so sure of your beliefs. You'd better come and hear some of the arguments on the opposite side. I am the secretary of the Anti-Vaccination League.'

(Mrs. Grubb was especially happy in her anti-societies; negatives seemed to give her more scope for argument.) 'I say to my classes, "You must not blame those to whom higher truths do not appeal, for refusing to believe in that which they cannot understand; but you may reprove them for decrying or ridiculing those laws or facts of nature which they have never investigated with an unprejudiced mind." Well, I must be going. I've sat longer than I meant to, this room is so peaceful and comfortable.'

'But what about Lisa's future? We haven't settled that, although we've had a most interesting and illuminating conversation.'

同类推荐
  • LOVE OF LIFE

    LOVE OF LIFE

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 玄中记

    玄中记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 曹仁伯医案论

    曹仁伯医案论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 邻女语

    邻女语

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 密行忍禅师语录

    密行忍禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • Hamlet, Prince of Denmark

    Hamlet, Prince of Denmark

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 青梅竹马变变变

    青梅竹马变变变

    青梅看中了竹马的哥们儿。竹马看中了青梅的闺蜜儿。于是狼狈为奸勾搭在一块商议各种的“追求大计”,计划还没开始呢。竟阴差阳错居然灵魂换体!好好一对冤家“青梅竹马”变成“竹马青梅”
  • 豪门暖婚之佳妻撩人

    豪门暖婚之佳妻撩人

    文文一对一,宠文,养成系,简介无能,正文为主,喜欢就收藏一下吧,么么哒。女主版简介传闻--她温柔、矜持、淑女、女神范,是众多男人都想要娶的对象。可--正在逼着男人快和她上床,粗鲁,妩媚,撩人,女汉子,真的与传闻中的是同一个人吗?男人仰天长叹一声。男主版简介传闻--他淡漠,不近女色,寡情薄意,但仍然是众多女人挣破头都想要嫁的的对象。可--正在温声哄着女人起床,还一心想着怎样吃女人豆腐的男人,真的是传闻中的他吗?她是地震遗孤,他是掌握韩氏集团巨大命脉的天之骄子,他自问不是什么好人,却破天荒做了一次好事,第一眼看到她时,觉得她可怜,又乖巧,领她回家,可谁知,他从来就不是爱麻烦的人,到头来自己给自己找了一个麻烦。小片段一某日清晨女人坐在床上,懊恼道,“韩瑞,我内衣扣子扣不上,帮我扣上。”正在更衣室穿内裤的男人连忙应道,“这就来。”刚安静下来,声音又响起,“韩瑞,我内裤找不到,帮我找。”刚穿上内裤的男人,连忙一边回答一边帮人家找东西。最后,女人大吼道,“韩瑞,抱我起床。”“来了。”终于把女人安顿好,忙的像陀螺一样的男人终于可以不收打扰的穿自己衣服了,可,“韩瑞,你不要脸,大早上思春。”刚把内裤穿上的男人,一瞬间内裤掉落在脚裸处,某不知天高地厚的女人正饶有兴趣的看着,“好大啊。”韩瑞黑着脸看着女人,默默的套在内裤,他妈的,趁人之危,如果不是她来大姨妈,早就办了她。
  • 玉簪花半开

    玉簪花半开

    她是江府六小姐,从小见惯了江府的勾心斗角,看惯了姨娘们为了争爹使用的那些小手段。没想到这王府更不简单,侍妾们花样百出,就是为了博得魔鬼王爷的一眼青睐。本来这些都和她没有关系,她只想把丫鬟的身份做好,谁知魔鬼发神经,要她暖床。其实真的只是暖床,可侍妾们却认为是她抢了她们的宠爱,开始处处针对她。为了好好活,她只有避其锋芒,敬而远之,本想这样保个安身。却没想到王府来了个自称老家在现代的女人,天生媚骨,心如蛇蝎,计谋高超,先毁她容貌,后夺她遗物。容貌可丢,遗物不可丢。她绝地反击,学的一手好媚术。待月上柳枝头,她往门前一靠:“王爷,约吗?”
  • 腹黑兽妃:你好坏

    腹黑兽妃:你好坏

    月诺诺这辈子最倒霉的事就是穿越了,而且还是个傻子,不过还好,有一个宠她如命的爹爹和一个美美的娘亲。可,他有是怎么回事?未婚夫王爷?痴儿?没关系,我月诺诺罩着。可,他不是痴儿吗?谁能告诉我这个不,想我神偷月诺诺,是这么容易屈服的吗?不,我要逃婚!!
  • 穿越之太后

    穿越之太后

    她林晴是现代不学无术的混混女孩,睡觉时的意外穿越成了古代的小太后,面对冷酷王爷的摇摆不定,第一公子的死缠烂打,她又会如何选择?后来居上的暖男王爷是否会是她的真命天子?
  • TFBOYS之熟悉的陌生人

    TFBOYS之熟悉的陌生人

    TFBOYS与三个女孩们的爱情故事是怎样发展的,让我们一起期待《TFBOYS之熟悉的陌生人》
  • 花海梦回

    花海梦回

    她不是普通人,亦不是神人。一场梦,唤起了一个多年来的谜底。她爱的,究竟是谁?蓦然回首,他已不再。
  • 恋上冷漠公主

    恋上冷漠公主

    一位绝美女子在一栋豪华而不失朴实的大别墅中做着菜,一位男子在客厅微笑着等着女子。两人的生活过得很甜蜜。尽管女子对男子冷淡了些,男子却并不在意,因为女子对所有人都很冷,对他已经够温柔了。两人坐在一起,看着日出,吃着早餐,不禁回想起了他们相识,相恋到相爱的过程……
  • 何惜今安在

    何惜今安在

    这一世,圆了刹那,却敌不过你心猿意马;这一世,覆了荣华,却忘不了你眉间朱砂;这一世,燃了烟花,却赶不上你许配人家;这一世,等了春夏,却守不来你一纸回答;这一世,写了牵挂,却换来了你一言不发;这一世,卸了盔甲,却饮不上你一盏清茶;这一世,远了浮夸,却辜负了你花前月下;这一世,撑了竹筏,却给不了你琴棋书画;这一世,赢了天下,却染红了你七尺白纱;这一世,不问盛世浮华,不问天地浩大,不问飞黄腾达,不问是非真假,只与你书一笔天涯,种下十里桃花。