小说园

第56部分（第1页）

She　would　have　liked　to　hang　back；　but　she　was　more　ashamed　to

retreat　from　him　than　to　expose　herself　to　the　crowd　or　to　dare

the　swingboat。　His　eyes　laughed；　and　standing　before　her　with

his　sharp；　sudden　figure；　he　set　the　boat　swinging。　She　was　not

afraid；　she　was　thrilled。　His　colour　flushed；　his　eyes　shone

with　a　roused　light；　and　she　looked　up　at　him；　her　face　like　a

flower　in　the　sun；　so　bright　and　attractive。　So　they　rushed

through　the　bright　air；　up　at　the　sky　as　if　flung　from　a

catapult；　then　falling　terribly　back。　She　loved　it。　The　motion

seemed　to　fan　their　blood　to　fire；　they　laughed；　feeling　the

flames。

After　the　swingboats；　they　went　on　the　roundabouts　to　calm

down；　he　twisting　astride　on　his　jerky　wooden　steed　towards　her；

and　always　seeming　at　his　ease；　enjoying　himself。　A　zest　of

antagonism　to　the　convention　made　him　fully　himself。　As　they　sat

on　the　whirling　carousal；　with　the　music　grinding　out；　she　was

aware　of　the　people　on　the　earth　outside；　and　it　seemed　that　he

and　she　were　riding　carelessly　over　the　faces　of　the　crowd；

riding　for　ever　buoyantly；　proudly；　gallantly　over　the　upturned

faces　of　the　crowd；　moving　on　a　high　level；　spurning　the　mon

mass。

When　they　must　descend　and　walk　away；　she　was　unhappy；

feeling　like　a　giant　suddenly　cut　down　to　ordinary　level；　at　the

mercy　of　the　mob。

They　left　the　fair；　to　return　for　the　dog…cart。　Passing　the

large　church；　Ursula　must　look　in。　But　the　whole　interior　was

filled　with　scaffolding；　fallen　stone　and　rubbish　were　heaped　on

the　floor；　bits　of　plaster　crunched　underfoot；　and　the　place

re…echoed　to　the　calling　of　secular　voices　and　to　blows　of　the

hammer。

She　had　e　to　plunge　in　the　utter　gloom　and　peace　for　a

moment；　bringing　all　her　yearning；　that　had　returned　on　her

uncontrolled　after　the　reckless　riding　over　the　face　of　the

crowd；　in　the　fair。　After　pride；　she　wanted　fort；　solace；　for

pride　and　scorn　seemed　to　hurt　her　most　of　all。

And　she　found　the　immemorial　gloom　full　of　bits　of　falling

plaster；　and　dust　of　floating　plaster；　smelling　of　old　lime；