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The English Magazine 10

Aristasian fanzine.

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Marianne Martindale
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236 views13 pages

The English Magazine 10

Aristasian fanzine.

Uploaded by

Marianne Martindale
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
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The English Magasine Auspicium melioris evi No News 18 Bolume ©, Vaue the tenth Good News “Tw arrio artionsst of the Romantic i arely such as can be construed as contuining any degree of personal unkindness,Rancour again tbe odiousness nd idiocy of the modern word is prompted by a Jove of man end a regard for the dignity and beauty that should be his the dislike of the more con ‘ventionally-outlandish natives is hardly personal it js-a disk of seeing the human image defiled and contorted into a mocking parody that is at once ‘outrageous and banal, clownish and devoid of all ‘wit. The man who wears cans and printed tee-shirts js no more to be bated than the man bor with @ ‘crvcly or comically disfigured countenance; but one may-—and should in each case, bate the disease ‘which has caused the disfigurement. ‘mention this gos of a remark made recently by a Giend of mine which created a slight shock in moderately sensible company, and in less sensible Company would have crested greate My fend ‘hanced to mention a particular tow, upon which Some one commented that one always associates the town with a massacre. “A massacre” replied my fiend. “L always associat it with a foowbridge-” It was then explained that a much-publicised mass- ‘murder had taken place ther, to which my fiend replied “suppose they mud have their bread and circuses, wha” ‘As [ave esi, a mild shock was produced. The company was ot wholly un-Remantic.Infess Rom- antic company, the shock might well have been ex- tceme, othe comment set down as a callous pos. Even the mos peripherally Romansc mind can, 1 think, sense, without analysing it vba is nota pose (aot, st any rate, in the sense of thing aot meant ‘or sl merely for effet) and that it was not callous. Buthow should we analyse it? Cerin there was «bach i the remark but the barb was not intended for the other speaker, nor was it meant 0 show lisrespeSt tothe dead or their families. Clearly, the reference to “bread and circuses” was a cut at the ‘massive publicsation ofthe event—to the fat that a Inunan disaster had become another circus for the ‘entertainment of Babylon. But the cut goes deeper than that. The ignorance of a Romantic should not necessarily be taken at face value. My fiend had cept the mate.” “Yang io any duty,” mused Sheimendine. What an intersting tur of phrase. Of course, this fellow twestt much interested in dary, but one could somehow tellbythe wayhe spoke of hat heconeep ‘wasn thea. Thee was formality about his choice of words that would have seemed quite unnatural ‘when they were both her age, even in one of is ag, Fe recognised hinsf to be her inferior in a way thar wold fave been impossible before, but atthe same time fe posses! an inalienable auahorsy of his own which could never have exiGed before. In shor hirposions were subileandl comple, whereas before they would have been two powerless “con sues", cual to each erber because equally abject before the Machine. That, of course, was what the Aoctrine of equality meant and had always meant The mana ofeisation had been taken hack fom. the electron plutocracy ant restibuted among the populition Distributed very unequally course, tlreit could nothave happened at ll—would merely have created a power vacuums or rather have been nother pretence concealing the true power vortex — Tacs very truculence and ylness was Eyer dtnbured twas, and here ived noneso hurl 48 ot to share some par in it. This fellow was far from being gentleman, or even a bourses. Amy prosperous ageing sp was afi desertion, yet he had certain digi, and that digrty had nothing 0 do with his money ether. [¢ was something be possessed despite being «spy rather shan because ‘oft, Something he possessed imply thn being a Bish subject in good Laaling—something which, much a the word might be out of favour in many { quarers, could only be called the fruit of genuine democracy, as opposed (0 the ersatz variety which a brated the names brash in bis younger days ‘Wl, mis?” Sheimeine smiled, ‘The hole thing was quite inuiguing. The "mis was by no rans ironical or clinespectlul It his, perhaps, something of tat tnisture of deference and suri with which ap Ticeman might vse t—but a policemen lo knew his place. His whole nner had changed so utter Sim what it ust have Boca ewe decades ago. Ws he aware of t? No more avare, presuably, da the real people of the 19905 who haa! been subtly tbat completely transmogritied into the derainats! creatures ofthe 19705 “Lwll rouble you for my ker. We have srvek 4 bangin ta which you impli agreed by buying itin the fist place. Your byneli entry into a tsl= class compartment, mine i dhe Geko. If you fag, our asociaion is now at an end IF you play sty, [shall regard i ay challenge, anyon al svely find that © ana far bester att am you. "What woukl you do then?” asked dhe man hall: llenging, balFinungued ‘Wel {should begin by pulling the commit iomcond. Aer that, you sould find me rear inventive and utterly convincing, ‘That is possi ity, though there are more ways than ene to skin He smiled quite good-nanurey and put bis har ios breast pocket. “You win, len —" saddenly he tured white. "Sing swoggn? song! Is gor!” “Oy, wore ney,” said Shelmendines “you dan’ cexpest me to belive that.” “On the Bible, ens, 1's gon. Mine too, Anat ry cash” “2a Tot of people wouldn't believe you,” sand Sheimecdine, “hut somehow I do.” She took bis nlecase ftom ber cwn pocketand extracted her ick. "There you are, ay goo man. Be se cari wn itin fare. And sererober thas hee are mote ways thn one to skin 3 cat” ‘She sauntered into an eanpty Fists comprt= cnt nd arranged hetself nelly by a ward with a copy of New Fa Waly which she had at ihe sation, She had seen sever fins dung her Say at Granchesier and was begining to fake an tnferedt in them-she especly Uke the darken, innocent Miss Claudine Galan, who played such range apd lyrical rks of hawnuing, otherwordly Inocence and fil, unslfeonscions charm, ‘Yet she kept thinking of that fellow. Peopie had hanged so subtly and so absolutely. Orhervise they ‘woul! lag at Miss Gallimard. How had that had Tae eyicism fallen away so quickly? How had Hlanoverims hecnine Vigtorians? Had shechangal? . Page 192 She had never fee ach in common with the late Doth eentuy in any cae. Peshaps she should always haveliked Miss Gallimard, Shehad alvays been much suber than her contemporaries. Bur—bur she had hanged, had sheno@ Laok at the way she was siting ‘now, s0 upright so contained. Even when she had spoken to that fellow-—ses, there was something of ‘er old gio the-wordiness there, but il she was very much the Young Lady. Ic was hard to refase a true re when some one gave it ro you. Ard the ‘vay she had spoken to the young wonan on the ation. That vas hardly Sherine at ll. Or was it the new Shelmerdine? Where, in any case does ‘hepenonality end and the mask bepi? Is dere realy ‘8 diincion at al? ‘Soddenly another thought arose before her. The ‘man’s notecate, She had returned i to him—wvith- ‘ut even thinking about it. If she could not rob a Tile ead ike him, then who and she rob? What cally waz she going t0 do for money? ‘She seed back comfortably in her seat. Wel, it was challenge, and she was sure she would prove cual cit ‘The tain plled up at aSaton called Bellbrige. ‘Shelmerdinchadhalf promised bersefthtshe would alight at the ist ation that began with one of het initials, provided i eemed pleasant, and Belloridge seemed as good a place t alght as any. She did hot wish to go to a big city. She wished ro see Something of the New England as it was in its heardand ‘As she eft the charmingly -kep ation wit its neat garden and hanging baskets of flowers, she found. herself on a country road, perhaps fly yards fom the fr houses of the line town, The road ran over a stall ump-bride, InSlea of going dretly into the town she left the road by the bridge and went a linje way down «grassy path among the tees and ‘angled undergrad, There, under cover ofthe fol fge she removed ber grey school blazer, withitsGran- cheer badge and ber schol hat. Both of them she Imung ona hort projecting branch which rathecconve= rien resembled a coet-rack ‘The weather was warm, tnd it was quite plegsant tobe without them. In any tase, she ft it might be prudent not to broadcast theschool shehad deserted. Shehad only the vaguest plans as to where and bow she wes to sleep forthe ‘ight [twas probebly pleasant enough to sleep out ff doocs butshehadno intention of dong so.“Rough- ing it” Wes hardly the Bingham manne. ‘Shelmerdine ssuntered into town cloaked in a general sense ofthe pleasentness ofthe word, The ‘reas were almod as well-kept asthe Gation ad The Englifg Magagine Volume S been. Every one was deessed neatly and becoming |y-—chldren neat lile cots women in white gloves and tim hats. Somehow, everything seemed 30 homely and delighful- Doubles this place ad its sins and sorows, as all places muy but the ugly fnarchy, the coarse, lose nadiness of her own time ‘which had smirched and dred everythings this was Something of which the ciliren could not conceive fand the adults only hllremembered, ‘She began to fel hungry. She had eaten very ile atschool. She noticed a smal te-shop—really more Hike a private house with tables sec out inthe front parlour and a sign saying “Tea. Ic seemed il to be open, so she pushed the door and set the bell clanging, She wasimmediately atendes by agit rather Younger than herself, shy and rather prety “Yous jut in cme,” she said. “We were about to close up.”| ‘She was well-spoken—not ara ike the usual hired rt Shelmerdine found herselfikingher enormous. Something of her old reserve had gooe and she felt fa warmth and open-heartedness which was at once range and delight “fits any wouble—" she began, haléturing to 40. “Of course not! You are very welcome. Sit down there and Tl get you a menu.” “The charming light-hearted Sain of Lite Susan ‘Sunbeam’, the late popular song, scented the ac fom a very quiet wireles-set in the comer. Shelm- cine perused the menu, finding hat se could ave ‘whatever she desired and stl have ample change from her halécrown. Some sandwiches, pechaps, followed by meringues. Or what about tas? It vas rather hot weather, but toadt seemed so—— “Dorothy!” A jing voice broke the spell Not & plessant voice, but interesting nonetheless. Ir was voi ms ected ht he hope Bt ‘raining afer an educated pronounciation, Rather ‘common but quite afefted. Shelmendine refleéted hhow few voices ofthis kind one had heacd in ber own day The ower orders relly bad nothing to Sve sitet She quite warmed to this eather harsh voice. “Dorothy, when you've quaie finished, perhaps you'll be good enough to give me a hand in the Hitchen” The woman came through into the tae room. Shelmerdne did not look round to see her. “Tm sony, Miss Perkins,” ssid Dorothy quiet. “Another cuitomer came in.” There was nota bint ofansiering back in her manner, just avery gentle, aedient politeness. “Oh, T see)” stid Miss Perkins in a much pleas niet tone of vice. “Well why did't you say 397" Volume S ‘She walked over to Shelmerdine, smiling pleasant- Igy bucas she came closer hee mouth hardened again, Tim vey sore, mis,” she sad, “bur we're closed.” “Closed?” prorefied Skelmerdine genuly, “bat..” “Closed. You can go 10 Scodger’s Cafe down the road, He's sill open, dare say.” ‘Shelmerdine rose t6 her fet. Not long ago, her nanner would bave been withering in the extreme. day it was the very soul of mines. "Lam so sony,” she said gallanly. “I shall eave forthivith, Please accept my apologies forthe incon venience caused by my misunderstanding.” It was ‘ear that she was notin the leastintimidated merely fnaious tobe polite Miss Perkins was aod chanmed ino changing her mind; buc there was something in Shelmerdine's manner that she did not cust, something made her suspeSt that she was being ‘mocked of at ay rate homoured, and she refused to be charmed, bur ju ood there, her thin mouth ‘expressing a mixture of awkwardness and grim resolution, ‘ShemerdineSepped out agin ono the sunny Set. Her subtle perception to er what it as chat had hardened Miss Perkin’ heart agin her charm yet ‘curiously enough, Miss Perkins had been wrong. Shelmerdine had not been laughing at her, dough itis tra that she had been seeing her very much asa spetacl, an example of a pe ora tendency. “Her gene complancehed norbeen meelyan tempt to charm, but was prompted by a sort of sympathy that was new to hee by afecing that this word bel +0 much that, even when it was offensive, was also delicate and precious; so much that she hardly dared touch in ease it should be bruised end should vanish tsvay into the black chaos of her ow age. It was albsrd, of course. Miss Perkins was far to solid for Shelmerdine to harm, and yet— “Lay, don't goo Scodger’s.” “The voice behind hee was Dorothy's “Don't go to Scodger’s, I isnt at all a nice place, realy canot think why Miss Perkins suggested it.” “Thankyou forthe ti," said Shelmerdine, "Where do you think I might go?” "“Well—at this time of day— Loot, I really can't flop now. Miss Perkins will be calling for me. Ifyou ‘wanrler down pas the Station, join youina quater of an hour.” aed "The git was already halfway back othe teashop oor "Tsaleght. shan’ woryifyou're not thee.” Shelmerdine was theresa ying on the rve-bank, jo oting wings of grass downstream. Docothy was The Englif Magagine Page 193 rather more than a quarter ofan hour, Miss Perkins having kept her. She arved, ooking demure and a litle overheated, in white gloves and a small- brimmed draw bi “Fiello,” she said, shyly. She seemed pleased, surprised, and pethaps alle oveewbelmed to find Shelmerdine waiting foc her “Fillo replied Shelmerdine comforably. ‘ve just Jo@ my blouse on thar yellow wispy looking stalk there. Look at it e's practically landing ill, the ag” ‘Dorothy smiled Lie awkwardly. She felt rather shocked at tis boyish line of tlk with its rce-tace ‘overtones. She did not fee able to join in, and yet she did not want fo put off her new fiend. “You can't really afford to lose your blouse, can you?” she said. ‘Sheimerdine ft finde embarrassed herself. twas aswee, rer novel feling. “I suppose ] am eshade underdessed.” “Yes, That is why Miss Perkins would nor serve you, of cour. ‘Coming here in her shiresleves! She stid—does girl have ‘shiresleeves’, do you ‘think2—with no hat and no gloves. What does she think this is? The 20ch century?" I say, are you in trouble? Are you a runaway or something?” “A ltd close for comfort, Had she somehow raken the schoolgtl tag with her even after leaving Granchester? Had the rile gone deeper than she imagined? “What makes you think so?" “Wel, I don't know. You just seem so unusual ‘You make me think of Hucklebery Finn or some ‘one, iyng here with ne bat o gloves floating Saws ‘down the river. You might almost have one in your mouth.” Or even in my hai “Oh no! Pease don’ think I meant anything ike that, Any one can sce that you are well bred and ‘entirely crmpor—but, wel that’s what makes it od, don't you see? Anja, i's absolutely none of my busines. I don'c mind a bit you don't want to tellme anything should like robe fends though.” "can tll you the truth if you really want know. ‘You may find it rather hard to believe, tough.” "Oh, do tel mel” the gc’ eyes shone Her whole ‘heart yearned forthe romantic and the extrond ary. “(is curious,” sid Shelmentin, “that Miss Perkins should have mentioned the 2oth cennury, because thatis exactly where TAzwecome fom, [ams traveler in time.” Ic was the fir time she had tod any one this since the day ofer arrival and it seemed some Bolume S The Englifh Magazine Page 195 age 194 The Engitig Magazine Bolume S ovr cro tobe wling the ahic seemed ab “Ys, in sr of way Irate di” mos ile» «yo gla, Se ch ier ha she seme Sse, ah” sea gh you out That wha ean “hive? ‘ontansce be poin Mis Patin x Mis Peis “Gls suse, the 20th erty wasnt allbad, cot se the good in You, That she deren “Thee ute decent people snd angst op been beng doa cath and no beng, 2™ torte ge, fey my.” Steimesdne codred the ate. Pepsi eth heer enme fom the ego. have come eerily dont thin Esau have seen the od from be aoutcly wor pan of ie eentay." ioe before | ated ine waving Tsuppoie i “Golo! Was realy bad at they sn? Broadens the mind” “Tun nk whol sue what they do say about it "But dow even know your nae. I had beter in your Une bie ithey say evap insane and know if am wo indice you to mothe.” idvonusapind everyting podend beading “Shelnerdie Binghas.” Pera Coland ugh then they couldn be “Sich adiMnguthed sounding ame. {wih iae rahter™ were more digingushed, Mj name is Dorothy “How ghasily! So what are you doing? Stayinghere Bright.” oping bac” “Bagh a chaning name, anit matches your feelin gobackif wectedto—Ihaenomeans nate.” fuser fuelamhiretrlesyoubnvelnened wedos atthe moment [wih always am time maces” aqie dal somes. 1 do nest thing © happen. Te mackinesoh, no, Where ae you going When mdhnghappens often inane things. wish wo Say Toul afford to go oils more but ve some “Ar the momeat fm not sie" of these doves onthe wires. 1 epedaly lve “Have sou soy money” Chleofte Dor dont you ate ha? Aad even “alfa own" the acspopen Tan, wht do You think about ‘al hat weit you fog. Halfa crow tt Ruani™ vores much now art was Your day. Oris it The lat heard twas ina ate of chi war afer Mocha’ losercancenenbrhesthng Can he cole of Comment the ut then Srayendalstrsnivceaneyiaecrwmibae{don 8 gaat of a century ot oft.” Te eee Dulvtingchungethcieney "Oh, ofcoune Wel, os hasheppened since en. sae NGiegOlenune youwoultinow, youd Thee ws oy revlton—they happened wee eetyrTagetingersted Durlosk,you'dberer_lsofcounes-and the King woaelei Heras Welt Tinaninetrand ne You wont put the cour backon feet, Then thee was is You! ht fc tonight at ay te” Cons war asapiatedand ie County was ken “Tou be deed, bur" Ste bythe Demers Commitee whom nobody “hut you mtn tll moter any ofthis, She hs, But the well ening prt that tee ‘woulkin't belive i Well, she might, aétilly. She young queen, about rvelve years old, and nobody docs bei in fases and things. But ifyou would knows where she I mean, I suppor some people just lee me manage things and tell her in my own _do,bucivis being kept a secret because aoc of people {ood time—would you mind that? You won'thave think twas the Democratic Commitee who asa to tell any ibs of course, and I shan’t either. Just sinated the king and thc they would asasinae het too, if they could find her. Anyway, the rumoui 4 Terme do the llc. ‘Will that be all right?” “Cerin.” Sheeran was taken aback achow _tesheis ces dee fc her age an willbe cong voll it shy legit had Become back ore the county any se aw. Brey oe “Of cone, Mis Pein mond never belive it wnt et back sd the commie oo not 9 a all We musta ever tl her She very den rif he eal was fo rl 0 the see ge woah, Everyone ae that nd they meant es 2 arguing mad jing find er and anoint Compliment, ba sonia’ lite be dam mean, betes too le Dont yo thnk thsi won woud you? One nes so much fone aay del romantic? s Tooting at he god. shoul have missed you~ but T new se e0on a Isa you that you were “Ob, yes Tsay, when Look at you | can't someting spec Mis Pein uly ought. dd wondexng—" You ike Mis Peskin” “Do 1 fok oe?” “Te might be a bit tying forthe queen.” Zi “No, butthey say she is very advanced forher yer.” *faid not. 1am just a pin old common or garden timemavelle.” “And then there ae the eaepeople.” “Who are they?” ‘Wel, hardly any one believes this, bur] do. They say thete is a sort of shamanistc cult in Rositania: tres who have a cat for their totem animal. That biris ene definitely, Burthey say some of them have supertnaman powers, they have the agit ofeats and ina way they alo are cats. They are the best assassins in the world. That is how they got atthe ing. What do you think of that” "Weal, I suppose I have known too many Strange things myself to be ently septical.” “Oh good. Miss Perkins says its poppycock. Ie will bee such fun having a fiend who believes all these things. There is the most wonderfal wireless pro- gramme on tonight, Lady Caran bmostigats. Its all about e lady decetive who investigates the most tering meres There is always an ar of super~ ‘atural mystery about them although there is ws ally a natural explanation in the end. T hate natural explanations, don't you? Bur then hey often have asortofdouble- wid where they suggest there might ‘have been something really supernatural afer ll Just a tiny scene ofa few words atthe end that make {ou shiverall over. Voubave never heard our wireless have you?" “No,” said Shelmendine. Wireless was not much encouraged at Granchester. Ob, Tsay, we are home already. The walk always seems #0 long wien I doit by myscle Hef Feception she would have, being presented, thou preface as it were, with a demand for board gazing out of the window of Dorothy’ neat (ay bedroom into ¢ mean litle brick yaed, “I felt as if she thought she knew me.” (Oh; the i 0 vague about my fiends—no that have brought any fiends home for ages now.” SAU not? iT don't know. When Sopped going to Grammar Tk seemed a curious house fora family ike Mrs, and Miss Bright. They were obviously of quite ood Sock, yet tay were living in a tiny terraced house ina parc of town that was posively lo. The house tel was charmingly kept and a ew tems tok leaty of better times. “Thhave told you the truth about me. Why don't you tell me the truth aboue yout might make you Feel bers.” The truth about me? What do you mean? I am ‘nota time-teaveller or anything. Icy wish I was.” “Don't wish that. You could easly find @ worse ‘ime than this one” 1 suppose so, only—" Oni what?” You want co Know the truch? Why we live in dead place wiere I can'c bear to iavite any one ‘Why I have to work in Miss Peskis’ shop inStead cof mother and me having a ta shop of our own as ‘we wanted? Wel cin’ interetingatall My daddy ‘was lle i the war. We had a wa, you nov, a {evr years go, to get fice from the European Union You may have heard oft. Ic was short but nay. ‘Anyway, he was killed in the fir month and our hhouse was bornbed about half-way through. My brother and sifier died and we've never been able togetbackon our fet. Thats al here isto Nothing romantic, nothin fascinating; jus death and por ey. Twas ony able to ask someone st—well—decent as youhere because you were in trouble, and I know yout won't ay long, I can tell you ae jas moving ‘5m to more teresting things. Well I wish T vas.” Shelmerdine smiled, “You knows, you ere much more romantic than you giv yourself credit for, Miss ‘Bagt [find you romantic, and I have been about abit” “Really Certainly, And the crcumsiances of your misfor rune, while dhey may not be unusual are certainly ‘not commonplace. [tis no mean thing to have died for to have suffered for your county's fredom. My people thew itaway, or Sloodexavenly by while ‘hewit away, scarcely daring to murmur against them, ‘Your people have fought and won itback. You are ‘fine and a heroic people: not last you, Miss Dor- ‘thy Bright [hope one day I shal cll myself one of jou.” Tea was a curiously nursery afar. Mrs. Bright sw ‘Dorothy and her fends very muchas children. No

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