Загублений світ
There Are Heroisms All Round Us
"AndifIdo——"
Herdearhandrestedlikewarmvelvetuponmylips."Notanotherword,Sir!Youshouldhavebeenattheofficeforeveningdutyhalfanhourago;onlyIhadn’tthehearttoremindyou.Someday,perhaps,whenyouhavewonyourplaceintheworld,weshalltalkitoveragain."
AndsoitwasthatIfoundmyselfthatfoggyNovembereveningpursuingtheCamberwelltramwithmyheartglowingwithinme,andwiththeeagerdeterminationthatnotanotherdayshouldelapsebeforeIshouldfindsomedeedwhichwasworthyofmylady.Butwho—whoinallthiswideworldcouldeverhaveimaginedtheincredibleshapewhichthatdeedwastotake,orthestrangestepsbywhichIwasledtothedoingofit?
And,afterall,thisopeningchapterwillseemtothereadertohavenothingtodowithmynarrative;andyettherewouldhavebeennonarrativewithoutit,foritisonlywhenamangoesoutintotheworldwiththethoughtthatthereareheroismsallroundhim,andwiththedesireallaliveinhishearttofollowanywhichmaycomewithinsightofhim,thathebreaksawayasIdidfromthelifeheknows,andventuresforthintothewonderfulmystictwilightlandwhereliethegreatadventuresandthegreatrewards.Beholdme,then,attheofficeoftheDailyGazette,onthestaffofwhichIwasamostinsignificantunit,withthesettleddeterminationthatverynight,ifpossible,tofindthequestwhichshouldbeworthyofmyGladys!Wasithardness,wasitselfishness,thatsheshouldaskmetoriskmylifeforherownglorification?Suchthoughtsmaycometomiddleage;butnevertoardentthree-and-twentyinthefeverofhisfirstlove.
