第9部分(第2/7 页)

e　breathed　with　difficulty；　and　sweat　came　out　at　the

roots　of　his　hair；　on　his　forehead。

〃Do　you　want　to　marry　me？〃　she　asked　slowly；　always

uncertain。

He　was　afraid　lest　he　could　not　speak。　He　drew　breath　hard；

saying：

〃I　do。〃

Then　again；　what　was　agony　to　him；　with　one　hand　lightly

resting　on　his　arm；　she　leaned　forward　a　little；　and　with　a

strange；　primeval　suggestion　of　embrace；　held　him　her　mouth。　It

was　ugly…beautiful；　and　he　could　not　bear　it。　He　put　his　mouth

on　hers；　and　slowly；　slowly　the　response　came；　gathering　force

and　passion；　till　it　seemed　to　him　she　was　thundering　at　him

till　he　could　bear　no　more。　He　drew　away；　white；　unbreathing。

Only；　in　his　blue　eyes；　was　something　of　himself　concentrated。

And　in　her　eyes　was　a　little　smile　upon　a　black　void。

She　was　drifting　away　from　him　again。　And　he　wanted　to　go

away。　It　was　intolerable。　He　could　bear　no　more。　He　must　go。　Yet

he　was　irresolute。　But　she　turned　away　from　him。

With　a　little　pang　of　anguish；　of　denial；　it　was　decided。

〃I'll　e　an'　speak　to　the　vicar　to…morrow；〃　he　said；　taking

his　hat。

She　looked　at　him；　her　eyes　expressionless　and　full　of

darkness。　He　could　see　no　answer。

〃That'll　do；　won't　it？〃　he　said。

〃Yes；〃　she　answered；　mere　echo　without　body　or　meaning。

〃Good　night；〃　he　said。

〃Good　night。〃

He　left　her　standing　there；　expressionless　and　void　as　she

was。　Then　she　went　on　laying　the　tray　for　the　vicar。　Needing　the

table；　she　put　the　daffodils　aside　on　the　dresser　without

noticing　them。　Only　their　coolness；　touching　her　hand；　remained

echoing　there　a　long　while。

They　w