小说园

第55部分（第4页）

Ursula　knew　that　Skrebensky　was　an　orphan。

〃Where　is　really　your　home　now？〃　she　asked。

〃My　home？……I　wonder。　I　am　very　fond　of　my

colonel……Colonel　Hepburn：　then　there　are　my　aunts：　but　my

real　home；　I　suppose；　is　the　army。〃

〃Do　you　like　being　on　your　own？〃

His　clear；　greenish…grey　eyes　rested　on　her　a　moment；　and；　as

he　considered；　he　did　not　see　her。

〃I　suppose　so；〃　he　said。　〃You　see　my　father……well；　he

was　never　acclimatized　here。　He　wanted……I　dont　know　what

he　wanted……but　it　was　a　strain。　And　my　mother……I

always　knew　she　was　too　good　to　me。　I　could　feel　her　being　too

good　to　me……my　mother！　Then　I　went　away　to　school　so　early。

And　I　must　say；　the　outside　world　was　always　more　naturally　a

home　to　me　than　the　vicarage……I　dont　know　why。〃

〃Do　you　feel　like　a　bird　blown　out　of　its　own　latitude？〃　she

asked；　using　a　phrase　she　had　met。

〃No；　no。　I　find　everything　very　much　as　I　like　it。〃

He　seemed　more　and　more　to　give　her　a　sense　of　the　vast

world；　a　sense　of　distances　and　large　masses　of　humanity。　It

drew　her　as　a　scent　draws　a　bee　from　afar。　But　also　it　hurt

her。

It　was　summer；　and　she　wore　cotton　frocks。　The　third　time　he

saw　her　she　had　on　a　dress　with　fine　blue…and…white　stripes；

with　a　white　collar；　and　a　large　white　hat。　It　suited　her

golden；　warm　plexion。

〃I　like　you　best　in　that　dress；〃　he　said；　standing　with　his

head　slightly　on　one　side；　and　appreciating　her　in　a　perceiving；

critical　fashion。

She　was　thrilled　with　a　new　life。　For　the　first　time　she　was

in　love　with　a　vision　of　herself：　she　saw　as　it　were　a　fine

little　reflection　of　herself　in　his　eyes。　And　she　must　act　up　to

this：　she　must　be　beautiful。　Her　thoughts　turned　swiftly　to

clothes；　her　passion　was　to　make　a　beautiful　appearance。　Her

family　looked　on　in　amazement　at　the　sudden　transformation　of

Ursula。　She　became　elegant；　really　elegant；　in　figured　cotton

frocks　she　made　for　herself；　and　hats　she　bent　to　her　fancy。　An

inspiration　was　upon　her。

He　sat　with　a　sort　of　languor　in　her　grandmothers　rocking