Text B The Happy Man（第1页）
TextBTheHappyMan
W。Sham
Itisadahihelivesofothersaeheself-ceofpolitis，reformersandsuchlikearedtofortheirfellowsmeasuresthatmustaltertheirmas，andpointsofview。Ihavealwayshesitatedtogiveadvice，forhoweadviseaoalessohatotheraswellasoneknowsoneself?Heavenknows，Iknowlittleenoughofmyself:Iknownothingofothers。Welyguessatthethoughtsaihbours。Eaeofusisaprisonerinasolitarytowerandheuheotherprisoners，whoformmankind，byalsignsthathavehesamemeaningforthemasforhimself。Aunately，issomethingthatyouleadbutoakesareoftenirreparable，andwhoamIthatIshouldtellthisohowheshouldleadit?Lifeisadiffiessahardenoughtomakemyoleteahibeeeaeighbourwhatheshoulddowithhis。Buttherearemenwhoflouhejour，thewaybeforethemisfusedandhazardous，andono，howeverunwillingly，Ihavebeeopointthefie。Sometimesmeome，whatshallIdowithmylife?AndIhaveseenmyselfforamomehedarkcloakofDestiny。
&hatIadvisedwell。
IwasayoungmanandIlivedimentinLooriaStatioernoon，wheothinkthatIhadwhforthatday，Iheardaringatthebell。Iopeoater。Heaskedmemyoldhim。Heaskedifhemightein。
&ainly。”
&omysitting-roomaositdowrifleembarrassed。Iofferedhimacigaretteandhehadsomediffilightingitwithoutlettinggoofhishat。WheisfactorilyachievedthisfeatIaskedhimifIshouldnotputitona。Hequicklydidthisadroppedhisumbrella。
“Ihopeyoudon’tmindmyingtoseeyoulikethis，”hesaid。“MyephensandIamadoctor。You’reinthemedical，Ibelieve?”
&Idon’tpractise!”
“No，IkreadabookofyoursaboutSpainaoaskyouaboutit。”
“It’snoodbook，I’mafraid。”
&remainsthatyoukhingaboutSpainandthere’snooneelseIknowwhodoes。AndIthoughtperhapsyouwouldn’tmindgiviion!”
“Ishallbeveryglad。”
Hewassilentforamomeforhishatandholdingitinonehamirokeditwiththeother。Isurmisedthatitgavehimce。
“Ihopeyouwon’tthinkitveryoddforaperfegertotalktoyoulikethis。”Hegaveaiclaugh。“I’mnotgoihestoryofmylife。”
WhehistomeIalwaysknoreciselywhattheyaregoingtodo。Idonotmind。InfactIratherlikeit。
“Iwasbroughtupbytwooldaunts。I’veneverbeenanywhere。I’vehing。I’vebeenmarriedforsixyears。Ihaveno。I’mamedicalofficerattheCamberwellInfirmary。I’tstiymore。”
Therewassomethiriki，sharpseheyhadaf。IhadnotgivehanacurslanowIlookedathimwithcuriosity。Hewasalittleman，thidstout，ofthirtyperhaps，witharoundredfawhiall，darkaeyes。Hisblackhairedclosetoabullet-shapedhead。Hewasdressediagooddealtheworseforwear。Itwasbaggyatthekhepocketsbulgeduntidily。
“Youknowwhatthedutiesareofamedicaloffiinfirmary。Onedayisprettymuother。Andthat’sallI’vegottolookforwardtofortherestofmylife。Doyouthinkit’sworthit?”
“It’sameansoflivelihood，”Ianswered。
“Yes，Iknow。Themood。”
“Idolyknowwhyyou’vee。”
“Well，IwaokhoughttherewouldbeanyEnglishdoSpain?”
“>
“Idon’tknow，Ijusthaveafancyforit。”
“It’snotlike，youknow。”
“Butthere’ssuhere’sgoodwihere’sdthere’sairyoubreathe。LetmesaywhatIhavethtout。IheardbyatthattherewasnoEnglishdoSeville。DoyouthinkIalivimadogiveupagoodsafejobforay?”
“Whatdoesyourwifethinkaboutit?”
“She’swilling。”
“It’sagreatrisk。”
“Iknow。Butifyousaytakeit，Iwill:ifyousaystaywhereyouare，I’llstay。”
Hewaslookilywiththhtdarkeyesofhisahemeantwhathesaid。Irefleent。
“Yourwholefutureised:youmustdecideforyourself。ButthisItellyou:ifyoudon’twaarettoearokeepbodyandsoulto。Foryouwillleadawonderfullife。”
&me，Ithoughtabouthimforadayortwo，a。Theepisodepassedpletelyfrommymemory。