ofsoberfact.Hereadomnivorously,sawmanyandvariedthingstheuniversewasspreadoutbeforehimlikeanenthrallingplay.Knowledgeisliketherootofatree,attachingmanbyitstendrilstothelifeabouthim.Jamesfoundinexistencenewbeauties,newinterests,newcomplexitiesandhegainedalighterheartand,aboveall,anexquisitesenseoffreedom.Atlengthhelookedbackwithsomethinglikehorroratthatoldlifeinwhichthefettersofignorancehadweighedsoterriblyuponhim.
OnhisreturntoLittlePrimpton,hefoundhispeopleashehadleftthem,doingthesamethings,repeatingateverywell-knownjuncturethesametriteobservations.Theiringenuousnessaffectedhimasanegro,civilisedandeducated,onvisitingaftermanyyearshisnativetribe,mightbeaffectedbytheirnose-ringsandyellowochre.Jameswasastoundedthattheyshouldignorematterswhichhefanciedcommonknowledge,andatthesametimeacceptbeliefsthathehadthoughtcompletelydead.Hewaswillingenoughtoshrughisshouldersandhumourtheirprejudices,buttheyhadmadeofthemaruleoflifewhichgovernedeveryactionwithanirontyranny.Itwasinaccordancewithalltheseoutwornconventionsthattheyconductedthedailyround.AndpresentlyJamesfoundthathisfatherandmotherwerestrivingtodrawhimbackintotheprison.Unconsciously,evenwiththegreatesttenderness,theysoughttoplaceuponhisneckagainthatirksomeyokewhichhehadsodifficultlythrownoff.
IfJameshadlearntanything,itwasatallhazardstothinkforhimself,acceptingnothingonauthority,questioning,doubtingitwastolookuponlifewithacriticaleye,tryingtounderstandit,andtoreceivenoready-madeexplanations.Aboveall,hehadlearntthateveryquestionhastwosides.NowthiswaspreciselywhatColonelParsonsandhiswifecouldneveracknowledgeforthemoneviewwascertainlyright,andtheotherascertainlywrong.Therewasnomiddleway.Todoubtwhattheybelievedcouldonlybeascribedtoarrantfollyortowickedness.SometimesJameswasthrownintoablindragebythecomplacencywithwhichfromthedepthsofhisnesciencehisfatherdogmatised.Nomancouldhavebeenmoreunassumingthanhe,andyetonjustthepointswhichweremostuncertainhisattitudewasalmostinconceiva