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have been at work during the last thirty years； and it is difficult； nay impossible； to ascertain in what degree they have affected the national character； thus far。 One notes the obvious： decline of conventional religion； free discussion of the old moral standards； therewith； a growth of materialism which favours every anarchic tendency。 Is it to be feared that self…righteousness may be degenerating into the darker vice of true hypocrisy？ For the English to lose belief in themselves……not merely in their potential goodness； but in their pre…eminence as examples and agents of good……would mean as hopeless a national corruption as any recorded in history。 To doubt their genuine worship； in the past； of a very high （though not； of course； the highest） ethical ideal； is impossible for any one born and bred in England； no less impossible to deny that those who are rightly deemed 〃best〃 among us； the men and women of gentle or humble birth who are not infected by the evils of the new spirit； still lead； in a very true sense； 〃honest； sober； and godly〃 lives。 Such folk； one knows； were never in a majority； but of old they had a power which made them veritable representatives of the English ETHOS。 If they thought highly of themselves； why； the fact justified them； if they spoke； at times； as Pharisees； it was a fault of temper which carried with it no grave condemnation。 Hypocrisy was； of all forms of baseness； that which they most abhorred。 So is it still with their descendants。 Whether these continue to speak among us with authority； no man can certainly say。 If their power is lost； and those who talk of English hypocrisy no longer use the word amiss； we shall soon know it。
XXII
It is time that we gave a second thought to Puritanism。 In the heyday of release from forms which had lost their meaning； it was natural to look back on that period of our history with eyes that saw in it nothing but fanatical excess； we approved the picturesque phrase which showed the English mind going into prison and having the key turned upon it。 Now； when the peril of emancipation bees as manifest as was the hardship of restraint； we shall do well to remember all the good that lay in that stern Puritan discipline； how it renewed the spiritual vitality of our race； and made for the civic freedom which is our highest national privilege。 An age of intellectual glory is wont to be paid for in the general decline of that which follows。 Imagine England under Stuart rule； with no faith but the Protestantism of the Tudor。 Imagine （not to think of worse） English literature represented by Cowley； and the name of Milton unknown。 The Puritan came as the physician； he brought his tonic at the moment when lassitude and supineness would naturally have followed upon a supreme display of racial vitality。 Regret； if you will； that England turned for her religion to the books of Israel； this suddenly revealed sympathy of our race with a fierce Oriental theocracy is perhaps not difficult to explain； but one cannot help wishing that its piety had taken another form； later； there had to e the 〃exodus from Houndsditch；〃 with how much conflict and misery！ Such； however； was the price of the soul's health； we must accept the fact； and be content to see its better meaning。 Health； of course； in speaking of mankind； is always a relative term。 From the point of view of a conceivable civilization； Puritan England was lamentably ailing； but we must always ask； not how much better off a people might be； but how much worse。 Of all theological systems； the most convincing is Manicheism； which； of course； under another name； was held by the Puritans themselves。 What we call Restoration morality……the morality； that is to say； of a king and court……might well have bee that of the nation at large under a Stuart dynasty safe from religious revolution。
The political services of Puritanism were inestimable； they will be more feelingly remembered when England has once more to face the danger of political tyranny。 I am thinking now of its effects upon social life。 To it we owe the characteristic which； in some other countries； is expressed by the term English prudery； the accusation implied being part of the general charge of hypocrisy。 It is said by observers among ourselves that the prudish habit of mind is dying out； and this is looked upon as a satisfactory thing； as a sign of healthy emancipation。 If by prude be meant a secretly vicious person who affects an excessive decorum； by all means let the prude disappear； even at the cost of some shamelessness。 If； on the other hand； a prude is one who； living a decent life； cultivates； either by bent or principle； a somewhat extreme delicacy of thought and speech with regard to elementary facts of human nature； then I say that this is most emphatically a fault in the right direction； and I have no desire to see its prevalence diminish。 On the whole； it is the latter meaning which certain foreigners have in mind when they speak of English prudery……at all events； as exhibited by women； it being； not so much an imputation on chastity； as a charge of conceited foolishness。 An English woman who typifies the begueule may be spotless as snow； but she is presumed to have snow's other quality； and at the same time to be a thoroughly absurd and intolerable creature。 Well； here is the point of difference。 Fastidiousness of speech is not a direct oute of Puritanism； as our literature sufficiently proves； it is a refinement of civilization following upon absorption into the national life of all the best things which Puritanism had to teach。 We who know English women by the experience of a lifetime are well aware that their careful choice of language betokens； far more often than not； a corresponding delicacy of mind。 Landor saw it as a ridiculous trait that English people were so mealy…mouthed in speaking of their bodies； De Quincey； taking him to task for this remark； declared it a proof of blunted sensibility due to long residence in Italy； and； whether the particular explanation held good or not； as regards the question at issue； De Quincey was perfectly right。 It is very good to be mealy…mouthed with respect to everything that reminds us of the animal in man。 Verbal delicacy in itself will not prove an advanced civilization； but civilization； as it advances； assuredly tends that way。
XXIII
All through the morning； the air was held in an ominous stillness。 Sitting over my books； I seemed to feel the silence； when I turned my look to the window； I saw nothing but the broad； grey sky； a featureless expanse； cold； melancholy。 Later； just as I was bestirring myself to go out for an afternoon walk； something white fell softly across my vision。 A few minutes more； and all was hidden with a descending veil of silent snow。
It is a disappointment。 Yesterday I half believed that the winter drew to its end； the breath of the hills was soft； spaces of limpid azure shone amid slow…drifting clouds； and seemed the promise of spring。 Idle by the fireside； in the gathering dusk； I began to long for the days of light and warmth。 My fancy wandered； leading me far and wide in a dream of summer England。 。 。 。
This is the valley of the Blythe。 The stream ripples and glances over its brown bed warmed with sunbeams； by its bank the green flags wave and rustle； and； all about； the meadows shine in pure gold of buttercups。 The hawthorn hedges are a mass of gleaming blossom； which scents the breeze。 There above rises the heath； yellow… mantled with gorse； and beyond； if I walk for an hour or two； I shall e out upon the sandy cliffs of Suffolk； and look over the northern sea。 。 。 。
I am in Wensleydale； climbing from the rocky river that leaps amid broad pastures up to the rolling moor。 Up and up； till my feet brush through heather； and the grouse whirrs away before me。 Under a glowing sky of summer； this air of the uplands has still a life which spurs to movement； which makes the heart bound。 The dale is hidden； I see only the brown and purple wilderness； cutting against the blue with great round shoulders； and； far away to the west； an horizon of sombre heights。 。 。 。
I ramble through a village in Gloucestershire； a village which seems forsaken in this drowsy warmth of the afternoon。 The houses of grey stone are old and beautiful； telling of a time when Englishmen knew how to build whether for rich or poor； the gardens glow with flowers； and the air is delicately sweet。 At the village end； I e into a lane； which winds upwards between grassy slopes； to turf and bracken and woods of noble beech。 Here I am upon a spur of the Cotswolds； and before me spreads the wide vale of Evesham； with its ripening crops； its fruiting orchards； watered by sacred Avon。 Beyond； softly blue； the hills of Malvern。 On the branch hard by warbles a little bird； glad in his leafy solitude。 A rabbit jumps through the fern。 There sounds the laugh of a woodpecker from the copse in yonder hollow。 。 。 。
In the falling of a summer night； I walk by Ullswater。 The sky is still warm with the afterglow of sunset； a dusky crimson smouldering above the dark mountain line。 Below me spreads a long reach of the lake； steel…grey between its dim colourless shores。 In the profound stillness； the trotting of a horse beyond the water sounds strangely near； it serves only to make more sensible the repose of Nature in this her sanctuary。 I feel a solitude unutterable； yet nothing akin to desolation； the heart of the land I love seems to beat in the silent night gathering around me； amid things eternal； I touch the familiar and the kindly earth。 Moving； I step softly； as though my footfall were an irreverence。 A turn in the road； and there is wafted to me a faint perfume； that of meadow…sweet。 Then I see a light glimmering in the farmhouse window……a little ray against the blackness of the great hillside； below which the water sleeps。 。 。 。
A pathway leads me by the winding of the river Ouse。 Far on every side stretches a homely landscape； tilth and pasture； hedgerow and clustered trees； to where the sky rests upon the gentle hills。 Slow； silent； the river lapses between its daisied banks； its grey… green osier beds。 Yonder is the little town of St。 Neots。 In all England no simpler bit of rural scenery； in all the world nothing of its kind more beautiful。 Cattle are lowing amid the rich meadows。 Here one may loiter and dream in utter restfulness； whilst the great white clouds mirror themselves in the water as they pass above。 。 。 。
I am walking upon the South Downs。 In the valleys； the sun lies hot； but here sings a breeze which freshens the forehead and fills the heart with gladness。 My foot upon the short； soft turf has an unwearied lightness； I feel capable of walking on and on； even to that farthest horizon where the white cloud casts its floating shadow。 Below me； but far off； is the summer sea； still； silent； its ever…changing blue and green dimmed at the long limit with luminous noontide mist。 Inland spreads the undulant vastness of the sheep…spotted downs； beyond them the tillage and the woods of Sussex weald； coloured like to the pure sky above them； but in deeper tint。 Near by； all but hidden among trees in yon lovely hollow； lies an old； old hamlet； its brown roofs decked with golden lichen； I see the low church…tower； and the little graveyard about it。 Meanwhile； high in the heaven； a lark is singing。 It descends； it drops to its nest； and I could dream that half the happiness of its exultant song was love of England。 。 。 。
It is all but dark。 For a quarter of an hour I must have been writing by a glow of firelight reflected on to my desk； it seemed to me the sun of summer。 Snow is still falling。 I see its ghostly glimmer against the vanishing sky。 To…morrow it will be thick upon my garden； and perchance for several days。 But when it melts； when it melts； it will leave the snowdrop。 The crocus； too； is waiting； down there under the white mantle which warms the earth。
XXIV
Time is money……says the vulgarest saw known to any age or people。 Turn it round about； and you get a precious truth……money is time。 I think of it on these dark； mist…blinded mornings； as I e down to find a glorious fire crackling and leaping in my study。 Suppose I were so poor that I could not afford that heartsome blaze； how different the whole day would be！ Ha