On Wolf's urgent advice Norman determined1 to use the auratic power invested in him by the deed of gift to establish a complete code of law and enforce it without fear or favour. As the cords tightened2, scores who became dissatisfied with their lot offered their resignations and asked to return to their old homes.
In answer to their clamour Norman posted this notice on the bulletin board:
"Every member of the army of the Brotherhood3 of Man enlisted4 for five years' service. Resignations will not be considered and deserters will be tried by court-martial. I am going to use my power for the best interests of the Brotherhood. I ask the co?peration of all the loyal members of the colony. Of traitors5 I ask no quarter, and I expect to give none.
"Norman Worth,
"Trustee and General Manager."
The effects of the proclamation were instantaneous. The helplessness of any attempt to [208]resist authority firmly established under such daring leadership was at once apparent to the most stupid mind.
Loafing, drinking, stealing, carousing6, and disorder7 of all kind were reduced at once to a minimum.
One act, however, of the executive council under Norman's direction precipitated8 a storm in an unexpected quarter.
The council removed Blanche and a group of wayward girls with whom she associated to a cottage outside the lawn.
The women of the Brotherhood were practically unanimous in their demands that the whole group be immediately expelled from the colony. A committee of three aggressive women presented their demand to Norman in no uncertain language.
His reply was equally emphatic9:
"Comrades," he said, firmly, "I shall do nothing of the kind. We are going to work out this experiment in human society without compromise. We have successfully cut communication with the outside world. The crew of our ship are no longer allowed to land and only picked men unload her cargo10. We are not going to play the baby act and dump these girls back on the old civilization which we have denounced. They may be wayward but they are our sisters."
"They are not mine," shouted one of the [209]committee. "The brazen11 creatures! And we do not propose to have our sons and daughters corrupted12 by association with them."
"Then we must find some other solution than that of transportation," Norman insisted.
"Send them to the penal13 colony, then," demanded the committee.
"And back in a circle we immediately travel to the crimes of civilization from which we fled. I prefer to send the boys who associate with them. They are the real offenders14."
"I deny that assertion," firmly declared the leader of the committee. "My boy is one of the unfortunate victims of these brazen wretches15. Before we came to this island he never gave me a word of impudence16. From the night he met Blanche at our first ball he was beyond my advice or control. These girls are the enemies of society and this colony cannot exist if they remain within its life."
"I refuse to believe it," Norman cried, with scorn. "It is your duty to reform these girls and restore them to mental and physical sanity17, and as the leader of this colony I direct you to take up this divine work."
"And I, for one," spoke18, for the first time, the silent gray-haired member of the committee, "refuse to smirch my hands with the task."
[210]Norman, looked into the calm face of this white-haired, motherly looking woman with amazement19.
"I can't understand you, comrade mother!" he exclaimed, with bitterness.
"That's because you're young, handsome, inexperienced, and, above all, because you are a man," was the quick reply. "I have spent a busy life since my own children grew out of the home nest in New York City in trying to help other people's children less fortunate than my own. I've helped scores of boys and never had one to disappoint me yet. I've tried to help scores of girls of the type we are discussing. I've always regretted it. I found them shallow, false, lazy, stupid, worthless. I have never looked at one of them except to blush that I am a woman. I speak from the saddest and most hopeless experiences of my life."
Norman cut the argument short with a gesture of angry impatience20. "This discussion is a waste of breath. As long as I am in command of this colony no such insane act of injustice21 shall be committed against these girls."
"Then it's time you gave place to a man of greater wisdom and less sentimental22 mush in his brain," replied the calm, gray-haired woman.
"Thank you," the young leader replied, with chilling politeness, "you may be right—but [211]in the meantime I accept the responsibility. Good day."
He had made three enemies whose power he was soon to feel. As they passed through the doorway23 Catherine greeted them politely and soothed24 their ruffled25 spirits with gentle words.
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1
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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2
tightened
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| 收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧 | |
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brotherhood
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| n.兄弟般的关系，手中情谊 | |
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enlisted
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| adj.应募入伍的v.（使）入伍， （使）参军( enlist的过去式和过去分词 )；获得（帮助或支持） | |
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5
traitors
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| 卖国贼( traitor的名词复数 )； 叛徒； 背叛者； 背信弃义的人 | |
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6
carousing
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| v.痛饮，闹饮欢宴( carouse的现在分词 ) | |
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7
disorder
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| n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调 | |
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8
precipitated
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| v.（突如其来地）使发生( precipitate的过去式和过去分词 )；促成；猛然摔下；使沉淀 | |
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9
emphatic
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| adj.强调的，着重的；无可置疑的，明显的 | |
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10
cargo
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| n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物 | |
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11
brazen
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| adj.厚脸皮的，无耻的，坚硬的 | |
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12
corrupted
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| （使）败坏( corrupt的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）腐化； 引起（计算机文件等的）错误； 破坏 | |
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13
penal
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| adj.刑罚的；刑法上的 | |
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14
offenders
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| n.冒犯者( offender的名词复数 )；犯规者；罪犯；妨害…的人（或事物） | |
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15
wretches
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| n.不幸的人( wretch的名词复数 )；可怜的人；恶棍；坏蛋 | |
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16
impudence
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| n.厚颜无耻；冒失；无礼 | |
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17
sanity
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| n.心智健全，神智正常，判断正确 | |
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18
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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19
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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20
impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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21
injustice
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| n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利 | |
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22
sentimental
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| adj.多愁善感的，感伤的 | |
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23
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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24
soothed
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| v.安慰( soothe的过去式和过去分词 )；抚慰；使舒服；减轻痛苦 | |
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25
ruffled
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| adj. 有褶饰边的, 起皱的 动词ruffle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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