第25部分(第2/7 頁)

ing　the　happiness　of　their　tranquil　possession。　I　cast　an　eye　towards　my　pipe；　perhaps　I　prepare　it；　with　seeming　thoughtfulness；　for　the　reception　of　tobacco。　And　never；　surely；　is　tobacco　more　soothing；　more　suggestive　of　humane　thoughts；　than　when　it　es　just　after　tea……itself　a　bland　inspirer。

In　nothing　is　the　English　genius　for　domesticity　more　notably　declared　than　in　the　institution　of　this　festival……almost　one　may　call　it　so……of　afternoon　tea。　Beneath　simple　roofs；　the　hour　of　tea　has　something　in　it　of　sacred；　for　it　marks　the　end　of　domestic　work　and　worry；　the　beginning　of　restful；　sociable　evening。　The　mere　chink　of　cups　and　saucers　tunes　the　mind　to　happy　repose。　I　care　nothing　for　your　five　o'clock　tea　of　modish　drawing…rooms；　idle　and　wearisome　like　all　else　in　which　that　world　has　part；　I　speak　of　tea　where　one　is　at　home　in　quite　another　than　the　worldly　sense。　To　admit　mere　strangers　to　your　tea…table　is　profanation；　on　the　other　hand；　English　hospitality　has　here　its　kindliest　aspect；　never　is　friend　more　wele　than　when　he　drops　in　for　a　cup　of　tea。　Where　tea　is　really　a　meal；　with　nothing　between　it　and　nine　o'clock　supper；　it　is……again　in　the　true　sense……the　homeliest　meal　of　the　day。　Is　it　believable　that　the　Chinese；　in　who　knows　how　many　centuries；　have　derived　from　tea　a　millionth　part　of　the　pleasure　or　the　good　which　it　has　brought　to　England　in　the　past　one　hundred　years？

I　like　to　look　at　my　housekeeper　when　she　carries　in　the　tray。　Her　mien　is　festal；　yet　in　her　smile　there　is　a　certain　gravity；　as　though　she　performed　an　office　which　honoured　her。　She　has　dressed　for　the　evening；　that　is　to　say；　her　clean　and　seemly　attire　of　working　hours　is　exchanged　for　garments　suitable　to　fireside　leisure；　her　cheeks　are　warm；　for　she　ha