小说园

第8部分（第3页）

〃Good　evening；〃　he　said。　〃Ill　just　e　in　a　minute。〃

A　change　went　quickly　over　her　face；　she　was　unprepared。　She

looked　down　at　him　as　he　stood　in　the　light　from　the　window；

holding　the　daffodils；　the　darkness　behind。　In　his　black　clothes

she　again　did　not　know　him。　She　was　almost　afraid。

But　he　was　already　stepping　on　to　the　threshold；　and　closing

the　door　behind　him。　She　turned　into　the　kitchen；　startled　out

of　herself　by　this　invasion　from　the　night。　He　took　off　his　hat；

and　came　towards　her。　Then　he　stood　in　the　light；　in　his　black

clothes　and　his　black　stock；　hat　in　one　hand　and　yellow　flowers

in　the　other。　She　stood　away；　at　his　mercy；　snatched　out　of

herself。　She　did　not　know　him；　only　she　knew　he　was　a　man　e

for　her。　She　could　only　see　the　dark…clad　mans　figure　standing

there　upon　her；　and　the　gripped　fist　of　flowers。　She　could　not

see　the　face　and　the　living　eyes。

He　was　watching　her；　without　knowing　her；　only　aware

underneath　of　her　presence。

〃I　e　to　have　a　word　with　you；〃　he　said；　striding　forward

to　the　table；　laying　down　his　hat　and　the　flowers；　which　tumbled

apart　and　lay　in　a　loose　heap。　She　had　flinched　from　his

advance。　She　had　no　will；　no　being。　The　wind　boomed　in　the

chimney；　and　he　waited。　He　had　disembarrassed　his　hands。　Now　he

shut　his　fists。

He　was　aware　of　her　standing　there　unknown；　dread；　yet

related　to　him。

〃I　came　up；〃　he　said；　speaking　curiously　matter…of…fact　and

level；　〃to　ask　if　youd　marry　me。　You　are　free；　arent　you？〃

There　was　a　long　silence；　whilst　his　blue　eyes；　strangely

impersonal；　looked　into　her　eyes　to　seek　an　answer　to　the　truth。

He　was　looking　for　the　truth　out　of　her。　And　she；　as　if

hypnotized；　must　answer　at　length。

〃Yes；　I　am　free　to　marry。〃

The　expression　of　his　eyes　changed；　became　less　impersonal；

as　if　he　were　looking　almost　at　her；　for　the　truth　of　her。

Steady　and　intent　and　eternal　they　were；　as　if　they　would　never