小说园

第43部分（第4页）

her。　He　could　see　distinct　attractions　in　her；　her　eyebrows；

with　their　particular　curve；　gave　him　keen　aesthetic　pleasure。

Later　on　he　would　see　her　bright；　pellucid　eyes；　like　shallow

water；　and　know　those。　And　there　remained　the　open；　exposed

mouth；　red　and　vulnerable。　That　he　reserved　as　yet。　And　all　the

while　his　eyes　were　on　the　girl；　estimating　and　handling　with

pleasure　her　young　softness。　About　the　girl　herself；　who　or　what

she　was；　he　cared　nothing；　he　was　quite　unaware　that　she　was

anybody。　She　was　just　the　sensual　object　of　his　attention。

〃Shall　we　go；　then？〃　he　said。

She　rose　in　silence；　as　if　acting　without　a　mind；　merely

physically。　He　seemed　to　hold　her　in　his　will。　Outside　it　was

still　raining。

〃Lets　have　a　walk；〃　he　said。　〃I　dont　mind　the　rain；　do

you？〃

〃No；　I　dont　mind　it；〃　she　said。

He　was　alert　in　every　sense　and　fibre；　and　yet　quite　sure　and

steady；　and　lit　up；　as　if　transfused。　He　had　a　free　sensation　of

walking　in　his　own　darkness；　not　in　anybody　elses　world　at　all。

He　was　purely　a　world　to　himself；　he　had　nothing　to　do　with　any

general　consciousness。　Just　his　own　senses　were　supreme。　All　the

rest　was　external；　insignificant；　leaving　him　alone　with　this

girl　whom　he　wanted　to　absorb；　whose　properties　he　wanted　to

absorb　into　his　own　senses。　He　did　not　care　about　her；　except

that　he　wanted　to　overe　her　resistance；　to　have　her　in　his

power；　fully　and　exhaustively　to　enjoy　her。

They　turned　into　the　dark　streets。　He　held　her　umbrella　over

her；　and　put　his　arm　round　her。　She　walked　as　if　she　were

unaware。　But　gradually；　as　he　walked；　he　drew　her　a　little

closer；　into　the　movement　of　his　side　and　hip。　She　fitted　in

there　very　well。　It　was　a　real　good　fit；　to　walk　with　her　like

this。　It　made　him　exquisitely　aware　of　his　own　muscular　self。

And　his　hand　that　grasped　her　side　felt　one　curve　of　her；　and　it

seemed　like　a　new　creation　to　him；　a　reality；　an　absolute；　an

existing　tangible　beauty　of　the　absolute。　It　was　like　a　star。