the days of my life-第61部分

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A　discussion　then　ensued　as　to　who　would　be　the　best　Chairman　for　the　Development　Board　or　mission。　We　talked　over　various　names　that　seemed　to　fulfil　the　qualifications　he　considered　necessary；　namely；　that　this　Chairman　should　be　a　man　of　rank　and　wealth　if　possible。　As　regards　this　point　he　said　that　there　was　some　force　in　the　criticism　that　the　proposed　Development　Board　might　possibly　bee　a　tool　of　party　or　other　subtle　form　of　corruption；　and　even　descend　to　the　perpetration　of　jobs。
I　suggested　that　the　way　to　avoid　this　would　be　to　put　on　it　none　but　men　of　the　highest　character　who　were　known　to　be　impartial　and　open…minded　and　who　were　generally　respected　by　the　country。　He　agreed。
The　names　suggested　for　the　Chairmanship；　so　far　as　I　remember；　were　Lord　Desborough；　Sir　Herbert　Maxwell；　and　Lords　Milner　and　Curzon　（these　two　by　myself）。　Lord　Curzon；　he　thought；　would　bring　a　great　deal　of　dignity　to　the　office；　but　too　much　of　the　“viceregal　manner。”　Milner’s　name　he　favoured；　but　finally　seemed　to　conclude　that　he　was　in　a　sense　too　strong　a　man；　who　with　his　charming　manner　would　invariably　in　the　end　get　his　own　way；　which　might　not　always　be　the　right　way；　and　carry　the　mission　with　him。　Finally　after　a　pause　I　suggested　Lord　Rosebery。
“Rosebery！”　he　said；　sitting　down　and　thinking。　“Rosebery！　the　very　man！　Politically　detached；　universally　known；　beyond　suspicion；　and　a　master　of　the　subject。　The　very　man　—　that’s　a　stroke　of　genius　of　yours　—　if　he　will　serve。”
I　then　said　that　I　thought　there　ought　to　be　a　Vice…Chairman　also；　to　which　he　seemed　to　assent。　I　mentioned　further　that　being　much　interested　in　all　these　subjects；　I　should　like　to　serve　on　that　mission　if　it　were　ever　formed。　He　nodded　and　raised　no　objection　to　this；　but　how　much　or　how　little　that　may　mean　I　do　not　know。
When　I　bade　him　good…bye　he　was　sending　a　secretary　over　to　the　Prime　Minister　to　ask　at　what　time　he　could　see　him　that　morning；　in　order；　I　understood；　to　discuss　the　whole　matter。
The　general　impression　left　upon　my　mind　is　that　Mr。　Lloyd　George　means　to　put　this　business　through　if　he　can；　but　owing　to　the　great　forces；　secret　and　open；　ranged　against　him　and　it；　that　he　is　not　quite　certain　of　his　ability　to　do　so。
On　Christmas　Day；　1909；　I　received　a　letter　from　Lord　Ashby　St。　Ledgers；　my　Chairman；　in　which　he　said：
I　had　a　conversation　yesterday　with　Lloyd　George；　and　he　intimated　that　he　intended　to　offer　you　a　post　as　missioner　under　the　Development　Board。
I　told　him　it　was　slave…driving　not　to　offer　you　a　salary　with　it；　but　he　said　that　his　limit　of　3000　pounds　per　annum　had　not　enabled　him　yet　to　secure　a　permanent　official；　and　that　it　would　involve　an　amendment　of　the　Act　to　provide　anything　for　anyone　else。
He　spoke　of　Dick　Cavendish　for　Chairman；　and　Horace　Plunkett　and　an　Irishman　for　the　other　two。
Then　he　goes　on　to　talk　of　Afforestation　in　connection　with　the　proposed　Board。
I　should　explain　here　that　although　if　a　salary　had　e　my　way　I　should　not　have　refused　it；　considering　the　time　and　work　involved；　money　was　not　my　object　in　wishing　to　serve　on　this　Board。　That；　as　I　subsequently　informed　Mr。　Lloyd　George；　I　should　have　been　glad　to　do　for　nothing　as　a　piece　of　public　duty。
Afterwards；　by　his　direction；　an　interview　took　place　at　the　Ritz　Hotel　between　Lord　Ashby　St。　Ledgers；　on　behalf　of　the　Government；　Lord　Richard　Cavendish；　and　myself；　at　which　we　discussed　the　whole　policy　of　the　future　administration　of　the　Act。
It　might　now　have　been　thought　that　this　matter　was　settled；　but　again　there　proved　to　be　many　a　slip；　etc。
In　order　to　put　an　end　to　the　attacks　Lloyd　George　went　to　Mr。　Walter　Long；　who　was　leading　the　Opposition　on　the　Unionist　side；　offering　to　knock　off　one　name　—　I　believe　it　was　that　of　my　friend　and　colleague；　Professor　Somerville；　though　of　this　I　am　not　sure　—　but　saying　“I　must　have　Rider　Haggard。”　To　this　Mr。　Long　agreed；　and　the　matter　was　then　adjourned　to　the　following　night　—　I　think　the　last　of　the　session。　Again　the　trouble　began；　and　Sir　Frederick　Banbury；　either　throwing　over　or　not　knowing　of　the　arrangement　with　Mr。　Long；　threatened　to　stop　the　whole　thing；　once　more　in　a　thin　House；　unless　the　number　of　missioners　was　reduced　to　eight。　So；　as　my　name　was　the　last　on　the　list；　for　all　the　others　had　been　announced；　it　was　struck　off　to　prevent　the　hanging…up　until　after　the　adjournment　of　the　Amendings　Act；　which　I　think　was　being　rediscussed　upon　its　return　from　the　House　of　Lords。
Thus　it　came　about　that　I；　who　directly　and　indirectly　had　played　a　considerable　part　in　connection　with　this　beneficent　measure；　was　prevented　from　having　any　share　in　its　administration。
The　Royal　mission　on　Coast　Erosion　and　Afforestation　came　to　its　end　at　last　when　we　signed　a　Report　that　was　practically　unanimous；　save　for　one　or　two　reservations；　of　which　I　drafted　all　that　portion　that　has　to　do　with　Reclamation。　I　believe　that　our　remendations；　which　contain　nothing　very　startling；　are　to　be　made　the　subject　of　an　Act　of　Parliament　at　some　future　date。
I　made　some　good　friends　upon　that　mission；　notably　that　charming　and　able　geologist；　Professor　Jehu　（to　whom　I　dedicated　my　tale　“Red　Eve”）；　who　was　my　constant　panion　during　those　five　years；　and　dear　old　Sir　William　ffolkes；　now　gone　from　among　us。
I　missed　that　mission　very　much；　since　its　sittings　took　me　to　London　from　time　to　time；　and　gave　me　a　change　of　mental　occupation　and　interests。　Indeed　I　do　not　remember　ever　being　more　consistently　depressed　than　I　was　during　the　first　part　of　the　following　winter。　Here；　as　I　no　longer　shoot；　I　had　nothing　to　do；　except　the　daily　grind　of　romance…writing；　relieved　only　by　Bench　business；　my　farm　affairs；　and　an　afternoon　walk　through　the　mud　with　the　two　spaniels；　Bustle　and　Jeekie；　and　a　chat　after　church　on　Sunday　upon　the　affairs　of　the　nation　with　my　fellow…churchwarden；　friend　and　neighbour；　Mr。　Carr；　the　squire　of　this　place。　Also　bronchitis；　which　had　threatened　me　for　some　years；　troubled　me　much。　I　thought　that　I　had　shaken　it　off；　but　caught　it　again　during　a　cold　snap；　staying　at　a　Cambridge　college；　whither　I　went　to　address　a　large　meeting　upon　the　possibility　of　establishing　agricultural　training　institutions　upon　the　Danish　model。　So　I　returned　here；　enjoyed　the　bronchitis；　and　began　to　write　this　autobiography；　for　really　it　seemed　as　though　everything　had　e　to　an　end。
Then　of　a　sudden　things　changed；　as　they　have　a　way　of　doing　in　life。　Thus　one　morning　about　Christmas…time　I　found　amongst　my　correspondence　a　munication　from　the　Prime　Minister　informing　me　that　the　King　had　been　pleased　to　confer　a　knighthood　upon　me。　I　had　often　thought　and　said　that　I　did　not　think　I　should　care　to　be　knighted。　Indeed　when　a　year　or　two　before　it　was　suggested　to　me　through　a　semi…official　channel　on　behalf　of　a　very　powerful　Minister；　that　if　I　wished　for　a　barocy　it　might　perhaps　be　arranged；　I　said　at　once；　and　firmly；　that　I　did　not。　Barocies　are　for　rich　men　who　have　male　heirs；　not　for　persons　like　myself。
However；　I　took　the　knighthood　when　it　was　definitely　offered；　on　the　ground　that　it　is　a　mistake　to　refuse　anything　in　this　world；　also　that　a　title　is　useful　in　the　public　service；　and　especially　so　abroad。　Moreover；　it　was　Recognition；　for　which　I　felt　grateful；　for　who　is　there　that　does　not　appreciate　recognition　particularly　after　long　years　of；　I　hope；　disinterested　toil？
A　week　or　so　after　the　announcement　of　my　honour；　on　January　11；　1912；　the　post　brought　me　another　interesting　and　more　important　letter；　from　which　I　will　quote　one　or　two　passages。
Colonial　Office：　January　10；　1912。
Dear　Mr。　Haggard；　—　You　are　probably　aware　that　at　the　Imperial　Conference　of　last　year　it　was　decided　to　appoint　a　Royal　mission　to　visit　the　various　Dominions　and　report　upon　them。　I　enclose　a　copy　of　the　Resolution　of　the　Conference　and　another　of　the　suggested　Terms　of　Reference。　You　will　notice　that　the　Fiscal　Question　is　carefully　excluded　from　the　purview　of　the　mission。　The　inquiry　will　probably　extend　over　three　years；　though　it　will　not　occupy　anything　like　the　whole　of　that　time；　and　it　will　entail　three　visits　to　the　Dominions　—　one　of　three　months　to　Canada　and　Newfoundland；　another　of　three　months　to　South　Africa；　and　another　of　six　months　to　Australia　and　New　Zealand。　These　visits　will　take　place　in　different　years　and　will　not　be　continuous。　Of　course；　following　the　precedent　of　all　other　Royal　missions　there　will　be　no　remuneration　for　the　missioners　＇then　follow　details　as　to　travelling　allowance；　etc。＇。　There　is　to　be　one　missioner　for　each　of　the　five　Dominions　and　six　British　missioners。　Lord　Inchape　is　to　be　the　Chairman；　and　the　Prime　Minister　and　I　are　very　anxious　to　try　to　induce　you　to　be　one　of　the　British　missioners　。　。　。　。
Yours　very　truly；
L。　Harcourt。
In　a　subsequent　letter　Mr。　Harcourt　wrote：
I　greatly　hope　that　you　will　be　able　to　accept；　and　I　trust　for　the　sake　of　the　reading　public　that　the　mission　will　not　prevent　you　from　pursuing　a　good　deal　of　your　usual　avocations；　and　might　even　incidentally　provide　materials！
I　need　scarcely　say　that　to　my　mind　this　was　recognition　—　with　a　vengeance。　Charles　Longman　remarked　when　I　told　him　the　news；　at　which　he　was　delighted；　“I　would　rather　have　heard　this　than　that　they　had　given　you　a　peerage。　Anyone　can　be　a　peer；　but　to　be　one　of　the　six　men　chosen　to　represent　the　United　Kingdom　on　a　great　Empire　inquiry　of　this　sort　is　a　real　honour。”
I　agree　with　him；　especially　as　I　have　no　wish　to　be　a　peer。　Also　to　me　the　pliment　seemed　the　more　marked　for　the　reason　that　it　was　paid　to　an　individual　who　first　became　known　to　the　public　as　a　writer　of　romantic　literature；　an　occupation　that　does　not　dispose　the　British　nation　to　take　those　who　follow　it　seriously。　Now　I　saw　that　all　my　long　years　of　toil　in　investigating　and　attempting　to　solve　the　grave　problems　which　lie　at　the　root　of　the　welfare　of　our　country　had　not　been　without　effect　upon　the　minds　of　its　rulers；　and　I　felt　proportionately　grateful　and　honoured。
Of　course　the　acceptance　of　this　Royal　missionership　involves　serious　sacrifices　in　my　case；　exclusive　of　that　of　long　separation　from　my　family。　Thus　it　will　necessitate　the　partial　shutting　down　of　my　home　here；　and　how　I　am　to　carry　on　my　literary　work　in　the　intervals　of　so　much　public　labour；　really　I　do　not　know！　I　felt；　as　did　my　wife；　and　still　feel　that　such　considerations　should　not　be　allowed　to　interfere　with　the　execution　of　what　I　look　upon　as　a　high　and　honourable　duty。
Subsequently　I　had　a　long　interview　with　Mr。　Harcourt；　in　the　course　of　which　we　discussed　matters　connected　with　the　mission　and　other　things。　He　struck　me　as　a　singularly　able　and　agreeable　man；　quite　unlike　his　father；　Sir　William　Harcourt；　whom　also　I　used　to　know；　and　yet　in　a　way　resembling　him。　It　seems　an　odd　thing　to　say；　but　I　thought　the　tone　of　his　mind　very　conservative；　and　before　I　left　him　found　myself　wondering　how　it　came　about　that　one　who　is　so　very　much　an　English　gentleman；　in　the　old　and　best　sense　of　the　word；　and　an　aristocrat；　finds　it　easy　to　rub　political　shoulders　with　certain　members　of　the　present　Radical　party；　who　hate　English　gentlemen　and　aristocrats。
The　same　remark　applies　to　Sir　Edward　Grey　and　to　some　others。　I　suppose　the　truth　is　that　nowadays　those　who　elect　to　lie　down　between　the　somewhat　gamey　party　blankets　must　expect　queer　bedfellows。　One　wonders　which　set　in　the　end　will　thrust　the　other　out　of　that　uneasy　couch。　Though　the　mass　of　the　congregation　may　change；　most　of　us　continue　to　worship　in　the　Church　into　which　we　were　baptised　—　yes；　even　if　its　priests　from　time　to　time　give　new　renderings　to　some　of　the　ancient　doctrines。　That　is　human　nature；　and　the　simile　suggests　a　key　to　the　puzzle。
Before　leaving　the　subject　of　my　new　appointment；　I　may　mention　a　curious　little　circumstance　in　connection　with　this　Dominions　Royal　mission。
The　notice　of　the　first　meeting　informed　me　that　it　was　to　sit　in　a　room；　numbered　so…and…so；　at　the　great　public　building　known　as　Scotland　House。　When　I　arrived　there　at　the　appointed　time　I　asked　the　porter；　who　is　an　old　friend　of　mine；　which　that　room　might　be。
“Why；　sir；”　he　said；　“the　same　in　which　you　have　been　sitting　for　years。”
So　there　I　found　myself　in　that　identical　chamber；　with　the　identical　noise　from　the　Embankment　outside；　and　the　identical　electric　fan　creaking　away　over　the　door。　But；　here　came　the　difference：　everybody　in　it　was　changed；　down　to　the　messenger　boy；　and　none　of　those　gathered　there　even　knew　a　single　creature　with　whom　I　had　been　associated　in　that　place　for　so　long　a　period　of　time。　It　was　like　arising　from　the　dead　into　the　midst　of　a　new　generation。　For　a　few　minutes　it　made　me　feel　very　lonely　as　I　looked　up　to　find　fresh　faces　in　place　of　the　old　familiar　ones　that　now　were　gone；　two　of　them　for　ever。　Nor　was　this　sensation　lessened　when；　in　an　adjoining　office；　I　saw　the　unclaimed　despatch…box　of　one　of　my　former　colleagues　who　is　now　dead。
In　the　beginning　of　the　present　year　I　paid　another　visit　to　Egypt　in　the　hope　of　shaking　off　my　bronchitis；　which　I　did　—　until　I　got　back　to　England；　a　country　in　which　I　am　rather　doubtful　whether　I　shall　ever　be　able　to　winter　again。　On　this　occasion　my　daughter　Angela　and　I　examined　the　mummy　of　the　Pharaoh　Meneptah；　which　Sir　Gaston　Maspero　kindly　caused　to　be　removed　to　a　private　room　for　our　inspection。　It　was　a　strange　thing　to　look　upon　the　tall　form　and　the　withered　countenance　of　the　man　who　is　generally　believed　to　have　been　the　Pharaoh　of　the　Exodus；　that　majesty　before　whom；　perhaps；　Moses　stood；　and　to　think　that　that　frozen　countenance　—　it　is　a　very　impressive　countenance　still　—　may　have　trembled　and　sunk　in　at　the　announcement　of　the　judgments　of　the　great　God　of　the　Israelites。　One　thing　is　clear；　however：　he　was　not　drowned。　Meneptah　died　in　old　age　from　ossification　of　the　arteries；　there　still　lies　the　lime　about　the　heart　of　Pharaoh　—　which　it　pleased　God　to　harden！
Many　question　the　whole　Exodus　story　because　there　is　no　mention　of　it　in　the　contemporary　Egyptian　records。　Personally；　however；　I　believe　it　to　be　true　in　its　main　outlines；　and　that　a　large　body　of　Semites　did　break　away　from　Egypt　about　this　period；　although　it　did　not　suit　the　official　scribes　to　make　any　mention　of　the　event　with　its　very　unpleasant　happenings。　One　day　I　hope　to　write　a　romance　of　the　time；　hence　my　particular　interest　in　Meneptah　and　in　his　son　and　heir；　Seti　II。
On　my　return　to　England　I　set　to　work　to　write　a　romance　in　the　neain　series。　The　first　of　these　books；　“Marie；”　which　is　dedicated　to　my　old　chief；　Sir　Henry　Bulwer；　has；　I　am　glad　to　say；　been　much　liked　by　its　readers　and；　up　to　the　present；　proved　successful。　Of　course；　however；　when　I　speak　of　success；　I　mean　on　the　moderate　scale　to　which　I　can　hope　to　attain。
No　doubt；　however；　by　degrees　as　a　writer　I　shall　be　put　upon　the　shelf；　for　that　is　the　lot　of　all　or　nearly　all　of　us　when　we　grow　old。　I　cannot　look　forward　to　any　prosperous　period　in　my　old　age；　which；　should　I　chance　to　live　so　long；　it　seems　to　me　probable　enough　I　shall　be　called　upon　to　pass　in　a　very　modest　way。　As；　however；　I　have　been　able　to　provide　well　for　any　who　may　e　after　me；