madam how and lady why(豪夫人和怀女士)-第4节
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sand into furrowed pinnacles and peaks。 You recollect the beautiful place；
and how； when we looked back down it we saw between the miniature
mountain walls the bright blue sea； and heard it murmur on the sands
outside。 So I verily believe we might have done； if we had stood
somewhere at the bottom of this glen thousands of years ago。 We should
have seen the sea in front of us； or rather； an arm of the sea； for
Finchampstead ridges opposite； instead of being covered with farms； and
woodlands； and purple heath above； would have been steep cliffs of sand
and clay； just like those you see at Bournemouth now； andwhat would
have spoilt somewhat the beauty of the sightalong the shores there would
have floated； at least in winter； great blocks and floes of ice； such as you
might have seen in the tideway at King's Lynn the winter before last；
growling and crashing； grubbing and ploughing the sand； and the gravel；
and the mud； and sweeping them away into seas towards the North； which
are now all fruitful land。 That may seem to you like a dream： yet it is
true； and some day； when we have another talk with Madam How； I will
show even a child like you that it was true。
But what could change a beautiful Chine like that at Bournemouth into
a wide sloping glen like this of Bracknell's Bottom； with a wood like
Coombs'； many acres large； in the middle of it？ Well now； think。 It is a
capital plan for finding out Madam How's secrets； to see what she might
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do in one place； and explain by it what she has done in another。 Suppose
now； Madam How had orders to lift up the whole coast of Bournemouth
only twenty or even ten feet higher out of the sea than it is now。 She
could do that easily enough； for she has been doing so on the coast of
South America for ages； she has been doing so this very summer in what
hasty people would call a hasty； and violent； and ruthless way； though I
shall not say so； for I believe that Lady Why knows best。 She is doing so
now steadily on the west coast of Norway； which is rising quietlyall that
vast range of mountain wall and iron… bound cliffat the rate of some four
feet in a hundred years； without making the least noise or confusion； or
even causing an extra ripple on the sea； so light and gentle； when she will；
can Madam How's strong finger be。
Now； if the mouth of that Chine at Bournemouth was lifted twenty feet
out of the sea； one thing would happen；that the high tide would not come
up any longer； and wash away the cake of dirt at the entrance； as we saw it
do so often。 But if the mud stopped there； the mud behind it would come
down more slowly； and lodge inside more and more； till the Chine was
half filled…up； and only the upper part of the cliffs continue to be eaten
away； above the level where the springs ran out。 So gradually the Chine；
instead of being deep and narrow； would become broad and shallow； and
instead of hollowing itself rapidly after every shower of rain； as you saw
the Chine at Bournemouth doing； would hollow itself out slowly； as this
glen is doing now。 And one thing more would happen；when the sea
ceased to gnaw at the foot of the cliffs outside； and to carry away every
stone and grain of sand which fell from them； the cliffs would very soon
cease to be cliffs； the rain and the frost would still crumble them down；
but the dirt that fell would lie at their feet； and gradually make a slope of
dry land； far out where the shallow sea had been； and their tops； instead of
being steep as now； would become smooth and rounded； and so at last；
instead of two sharp walls of cliff at the Chine's mouth； you might have
just what you have here at the mouth of this glen；our Mount and the
Warren Hill；long slopes with sheets of drifted gravel and sand at their
feet； stretching down into what was once an icy sea； and is now the Vale of
Blackwater。 And this I really believe Madam How has done simply by
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lifting Hartford Bridge Flat a few more feet out of the sea； and leaving the
rest to her trusty tool； the water in the sky。
That is my guess： and I think it is a good guess； because I have asked
Madam How a hundred different questions about it in the last ten years；
and she always answered them in the same way； saying； 〃Water； water；
you stupid man。〃 But I do not want you merely to depend on what I say。
If you want to understand Madam How； you must ask her questions
yourself； and make up your mind yourself like a man； instead of taking
things at hearsay or second…hand； like the vulgar。 Mind； by 〃the vulgar〃 I
do not mean poor people： I mean ignorant and uneducated people； who do
not use their brains rightly； though they may be fine ladies； kings； or popes。
The Bible says； 〃Prove all things： hold fast that which is good。〃 So do
you prove my guess； and if it proves good； hold it fast。
And how can I do that？
First； by direct experiment； as it is called。 In plain English go home
and make a little Hartford Bridge Flat in the stable…yard； and then ask Mrs。
How if she will not make a glen in it like this glen here。 We will go
home and try that。 We will make a great flat cake of clay； and put upon it
a cap of sand； and then we will rain upon it out of a watering…pot； and see
if Mrs。 How does not begin soon to make a glen in the side of the heap；
just like those on Hartford Bridge Flat。 I believe she will； and certainly；
if she does； it will be a fresh proof that my guess is right。 And then we
will see whether water will not make glens of a different shape than these；
if it run over soils of a different kind。 We will make a Hartford Bridge
Flat turned upside downa cake of sand with a cap of clay on the top； and
we will rain on that out of our watering…pot； and see what sort of glens we
make then。 I can guess what they will be like； because I have seen them…
…steep overhanging cliffs； with very narrow gullies down them： but you
shall try for yourself； and make up your mind whether you think me right
or wrong。 Meanwhile； remember that those gullies too will have been
made by water。
And there is another way of 〃verifying my theory；〃 as it is called； in
plain English； seeing if my guess holds good； that is； to look at other
valleysnot merely the valleys round here； but valleys in clay； in chalk； in
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limestone； in the hard slate rock such as you saw in Devonshireand see
whether my guess does not hold good about them too； whether all of them；
deep or shallow； broad or narrow； rock or earth； may not have been all
hollowed out by running water。 I am sure if you would do this you
would find something to amuse you； and something to instruct you；
whenever you wish。 I know that I do。 To me the longest railroad
journey； instead of being stupid； is like continually turning over the leaves
of a wonderful book； or looking at wonderful pictures of old worlds which
were made and unmade thousands of years ago。 For I keep looking； not
only at the railway cuttings； where the bones of the old worlds are laid
bare； but at the surface of the ground； at the plains and downs； banks and
knolls； hills and mountains； and continually asking Mrs。 How what gave
them each its shape： and I will soon teach you to do the same。 When you
do； I tell you fairly her answer will be in almost every case； 〃Running
water。〃 Either water running when soft； as it usually is； or water running
when it is hardin plain words； moving ice。
About that moving ice； which is Mrs。 How's stronger spade； I will tell
you some other time； and show you； too； the marks of it in every gravel pit
about her
