CHAPTER IX
HOW IT MIGHT BE UNDERMINED
The discussion of these matters by Ariston and Chairo elicited an oldstory which was to receive its sequel in my time and it is important,therefore, to narrate it.
It seems that the year before my arrival among them Neaera hadencouraged the addresses of a certain Harmes--a brother of Anna of Ann,and that Harmes was accused by her of having become so ungovernable thatit had given rise to a public prosecution. Harmes had been convicted andconfined to a farm colony, where he was still serving his term. Theincident had given rise to much vexation of spirit, for many felt thatHarmes was more sinned against than sinning.
The account Ariston gave of the matter was greatly to Neaera'sdiscredit; according to him, Neaera originally had designs on Chairo,and he seemed willing enough to enjoy her society. Much thrown together,both by politics and journalism, it was not unnatural that theircompanionship should often extend itself into their hours of leisure.But Chairo was far too clear-sighted not to perceive the capriciousnessand duplicity of his collaborator, and Neaera wasted her efforts uponhim.
Of this, however, she could never be convinced and she returned to thecharge over and over again. During one of the interludes she happened tomeet Harmes and took a liking to the freshness of his youth; he becameinfatuated with her, and one evening he visited her at her apartment onan occasion when Neaera's mother was absent and she was therefore alone.It seems the young couple remained together so late into the eveningthat Neaera on the following day, fearing that a rumor of the visitmight reach Chairo to her disadvantage, complained of Harmes's violence.Harmes, with a devotion to Neaera of which Ariston did not think herworthy, refused to defend himself against the charge. It is probable thematter would have dropped had not some enemies of Neaera taken thematter up, believing that, if prosecuted, Harmes would not refuse tovindicate himself and injure Neaera.
The charge had therefore been brought first before the Demetriancouncil; and the council, on the same theory as that adopted by Neaera'senemies, and convinced that Neaera would be punished, put the matterinto the hands of the attorney general. Harmes's silence, however, onlyserved to vindicate Neaera and convict himself; and the community wasstill undecided as to which was the culprit and which the victim.
I had an opportunity myself of forming an opinion on the subject, forshortly after my conversation with Ariston and Chairo I received anintimation from Neaera that she would like to see me at the office ofthe _Liberty_ staff, and upon going there at the hour mentioned I foundNeaera busily engaged writing in a room that suggested other things thanlabor; for it was furnished with more luxury than was usual, and therewere richly upholstered divans in it laden with piles of eiderdownpillows; the air, too, was heavy with perfume.
Neaera, however, received me with her brow contracted; she was workingat an editorial, and I evidently interrupted the flow of her thought;but the frown very soon passed away from her forehead, and standing up alittle impatiently she flung her pen down on the table.
"There!" she said, "I am glad you have come; I need rest."
She threw herself on the divan, and I could not help thinking as shelay there that the Greek dress was less open to criticism in the fieldsand open air than in a closed room. In town the longer mantle was wornwhich came down to the feet; but the clinging drapery displayed thelines of the figure in a manner to which I felt uncomfortablyunaccustomed.
"I sent for you," said she, "to speak to you seriously about thislecture you are to give. Your views may have an important bearing andyou ought to know the evils of our system if you are to compare themwith the old."
"I am impressed," answered I, "with certain things--such as the absenceof poverty, the relative well-being of all; and this seems to me soimportant that I am inclined perhaps to undervalue the price you pay forthem----"
"The price--that is it--the terrible price; we are subjected to adespotism such as you in your times would not for a moment haveendured."
"Undoubtedly--in one sense of the word--despotism. But Ariston claimsthat this despotism, though absolute, applies to only a few hours in theday, whereas in our time there was for the mass as great a despotismthat controlled their entire existence. Some time must be given to thesecuring of food, clothing, and shelter. The present government claimsto furnish this to all with less labor and less compulsion than underour system."
We discussed this question at some length, but I could not help thinkingthat some other thought was preoccupying Neaera's mind, and presentlyshe stretched her arms over her head and said, "Oh, I am tired of itall!"--then turning on her side she laid her head upon a bare arm, andlooking at me, smiled.
It was impossible to mistake her gesture or her smile; it told me thatshe had not called me to speak of serious things at all; it beckoned meto her side on the divan, and I almost felt myself unconsciouslyresponding to her invitation. But I was aware of danger and refrained.Nevertheless, I was curious to know whether I was accusing herwrongfully, and I said:
"The thing that puzzles me most about you all is--" I hesitatedintentionally, and she helped me.
"What is it?"
"I don't know how to say it."
"Bashful?"
"A little."
"Can I guess?"
"I think you can."
"We are all as much puzzled about it as you."
"And yet I am told you pride yourselves on your good behavior."
"Some do"--she paused a little, took a flower from a vase by her sideand bit the stalk; she held the flower in her mouth a minute, looked atme again, half closing her eyes; but I remained seated where I was.Finding I remained unresponsive, she went on:
"We have all the faults that come from too great intimacy between menand women. The men get so accustomed to the women that romance is dead.We tend to become a vast family of brothers and sisters. Fortunately wetravel and receive travelers, and so the dreadful monotony is relieved._You_ are a traveler, you see."
I understood now why I was favored, but still I remained seated where Iwas.
Perceiving that I was either stupid or resolute she jumped up from thedivan and came to where I sat. She was short, and as she stood by me,her face was near mine and only a little above it. She had the flower inher hand now, and handing it to me, said:
"Put it in my hair."
I did so. She lowered her head to help me. I thought the time had cometo effect an escape.
"Did you ever hear," said I, "the Eastern story of the man with thestaff, the cock, and the pot?"
"No, tell it me."
"There was once upon a time a man climbing a mountain. He had a pot hungon his arm and a cock in his hand. In the other hand he held a staff. Onhis way he perceived a young girl and invited her to climb the mountainwith him. With some little show of reluctance she consented, but as theyapproached the last house on the mountainside she paused and said:
"'I shall go no farther with you!'
"'Why not?' asked he.
"'Because I fear that when we have gone beyond reach of these houses youwill kiss me.'
"'Nay,' answered the man, 'do you not see that both hands areencumbered? In one hand I hold my staff; in the other is a cock and apot hangs upon my arm.'
"The maiden smiled and they pursued their way. But when they were gonewell up on their way the maiden stopped again and said:
"'I shall go no farther with you.'
"'Why not?' asked he.
"'Because I fear that now we are beyond reach of the houses, you willstick your staff in the ground; you will put your cock under your pot,and you will kiss me.'
"And the man did then at once stick his staff in the ground; he put thecock under the pot and kissed her--as indeed all along she meant heshould."
She gradually edged away from me as I proceeded with my story, until atlast she sank on the divan again.
When I had finished she said, "That is a very old story, and if you willpermit me I shall get to work again."
I bowed very
low and left her, feeling more humiliated than Neaera; andI wondered why it was that virtue, in the presence of vice, sometimesseems cheap and even ridiculous.