HOW IT MIGHT BE UNDERMINED
The discussion of these matters by Ariston and Chairo elicited an old
story 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 had
encouraged the addresses of a certain Harmes--a brother of Anna of Ann,
and that Harmes was accused by her of having become so ungovernable that
it had given rise to a public prosecution. Harmes had been convicted and
confined to a farm colony, where he was still serving his term. The
incident had given rise to much vexation of spirit, for many felt that
Harmes was more sinned against than sinning.
The account Ariston gave of the matter was greatly to Neaera's
discredit; 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 their
companionship should often extend itself into their hours of leisure.
But Chairo was far too clear-sighted not to perceive the capriciousness
and duplicity of his collaborator, and Neaera wasted her efforts upon
him.
Of this, however, she could never be convinced and she returned to the
charge over and over again. During one of the interludes she happened to
meet Harmes and took a liking to the freshness of his youth; he became
infatuated with her, and one evening he visited her at her apartment on
an occasion when Neaera's mother was absent and she was therefore alone.
It seems the young couple remained together so late into the evening
that Neaera on the following day, fearing that a rumor of the visit
might reach Chairo to her disadvantage, complained of Harmes's violence.
Harmes, with a devotion to Neaera of which Ariston did not think her
worthy, refused to defend himself against the charge. It is probable the
matter would have dropped had not some enemies of Neaera taken the
matter up, believing that, if prosecuted, Harmes would not refuse to
vindicate himself and injure Neaera.
The charge had therefore been brought first before the Demetrian
council; and the council, on the same theory as that adopted by Neaera's
enemies, and convinced that Neaera would be punished, put the matter
into the hands of the attorney general. Harmes's silence, however, only
served to vindicate Neaera and convict himself; and the community was
still undecided as to which was the culprit and which the victim.
I had an opportunity myself of forming an opinion on the subject, for
shortly after my conversation with Ariston and Chairo I received an
intimation from Neaera that she would like to see me at the office of
the _Liberty_ staff, and upon going there at the hour mentioned I found
Neaera busily engaged writing in a room that suggested other things than
labor; for it was furnished with more luxury than was usual, and there
were richly upholstered divans in it laden with piles of eiderdown
pillows; the air, too, was heavy with perfume.
Neaera, however, received me with her brow contracted; she was working
at an editorial, and I evidently interrupted the flow of her thought;
but the frown very soon passed away from her forehead, and standing up a
little 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 she
lay there that the Greek dress was less open to criticism in the fields
and open air than in a closed room. In town the longer mantle was worn
which came down to the feet; but the clinging drapery displayed the
lines of the figure in a manner to which I felt uncomfortably
unaccustomed.
"I sent for you," said she, "to speak to you seriously about this
lecture you are to give. Your views may have an important bearing and
you ought to know the evils of our system if you are to compare them
with the old."
"I am impressed," answered I, "with certain things--such as the absence
of poverty, the relative well-being of all; and this seems to me so
important that I am inclined perhaps to undervalue the price you pay for
them----"
"The price--that is it--the terrible price; we are subjected to a
despotism such as you in your times would not for a moment have
endured."
"Undoubtedly--in one sense of the word--despotism. But Ariston claims
that this despotism, though absolute, applies to only a few hours in the
day, whereas in our time there was for the mass as great a despotism
that controlled their entire existence. Some time must be given to the
securing of food, clothing, and shelter. The present government claims
to furnish this to all with less labor and less compulsion than under
our system."
We discussed this question at some length, but I could not help thinking
that some other thought was preoccupying Neaera's mind, and presently
she stretched her arms over her head and said, "Oh, I am tired of it
all!"--then turning on her side she laid her head upon a bare arm, and
looking at me, smiled.
It was impossible to mistake her gesture or her smile; it told me that
she had not called me to speak of serious things at all; it beckoned me
to her side on the divan, and I almost felt myself unconsciously
responding to her invitation. But I was aware of danger and refrained.
Nevertheless, I was curious to know whether I was accusing her
wrongfully, and I said:
"The thing that puzzles me most about you all is--" I hesitated
intentionally, 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 side
and bit the stalk; she held the flower in her mouth a minute, looked at
me 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 men
and 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 we
travel 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 I
was.
Perceiving that I was either stupid or resolute she jumped up from the
divan 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 in
her 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 come
to effect an escape.
"Did you ever hear," said I, "the Eastern story of the man with the
staff, the cock, and the pot?"
"No, tell it me."
"There was once upon a time a man climbing a mountain. He had a pot hung
on his arm and a cock in his hand. In the other hand he held a staff. On
his way he perceived a young girl and invited her to climb the mountain
with him. With some little show of reluctance she consented, but as they
approached 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 you
will kiss me.'
"'Nay,' answered the man, 'do you not see that both hands are
encumbered? In one hand I hold my staff; in the other is a cock and a
pot hangs upon my arm.'
"The maiden smiled and they pursued their way. But when they were gone
well 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 will
stick 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 the
cock under the pot and kissed her--as indeed all along she meant he
should."
She gradually edged away from me as I proceeded with my story, until at
last she sank on the divan again.
When I had finished she said, "That is a very old story, and if you will
permit me I shall get to work again."
I bowed very low and left her, feeling more humiliated than Neaera; and
I wondered why it was that virtue, in the presence of vice, sometimes
seems cheap and even ridiculous.