This produces the
grumpy paterfamilias who drowses over a paper or grumbles over a
pipe; such a man is inimitably depicted by Mr. Wells in Marriage.
That sort of ugly disillusionment, that publicity of
disappointment, that frank disregard of all concerns except one's
own, is one of the most hideous features of middle-class life, and
it is rather characteristically English. It sometimes conceals a
robust good sense and even kindliness; but it is a base thing at
best, and seems to be the shadow of commercial prosperity. Yet it
at least implies a certain sturdiness of character, and a stubborn
belief in one's own merits which is quite impervious to the lessons
of experience. On sensitive and imaginative people the result of
the professional struggle with life, the essence of which is often
social pretentiousness, is different. It ends in a mournful and
distracted kind of fatigue, a tired sort of padding along after
life, a timid bewilderment at conditions which one cannot alter,
and which yet have no dignity or seemliness.
What is there that is wrong with all this? The cause is easy enough
to analyse.
Pages:
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85