小说园

第83部分（第2页）

the　sunshine；　without　all　this　toil　and　hurt　and　degradation　of

a　spoiled　day。　He　would　have　been　her　angel。　He　held　the　keys　of

the　sunshine。　Still　he　held　them。　He　could　open　to　her　the　gates

of　succeeding　freedom　and　delight。　Nay；　if　he　had　remained　true

to　her；　he　would　have　been　the　doorway　to　her；　into　the

boundless　sky　of　happiness　and　plunging；　inexhaustible　freedom

which　was　the　paradise　of　her　soul。　Ah；　the　great　range　he　would

have　opened　to　her；　the　illimitable　endless　space　for

self…realization　and　delight　for　ever。

The　one　thing　she　believed　in　was　in　the　love　she　had　held

for　him。　It　remained　shining　and　plete；　a　thing　to　hark　back

to。　And　she　said　to　herself；　when　present　things　seemed　a

failure：

〃Ah；　I　was　fond　of　him；〃　as　if　with　him　the　leading

flower　of　her　life　had　died。

Now　she　heard　from　him　again。　The　chief　effect　was　pain。　The

pleasure；　the　spontaneous　joy　was　not　there　any　longer。　But　her

will　rejoiced。　Her　will　had　fixed　itself　to　him。　And　the

old　excitement　of　her　dreams　stirred　and　woke　up。　He　was　e；

the　man　with　the　wondrous　lips　that　could　send　the　kiss　wavering

to　the　very　end　of　all　space。　Was　he　e　back　to　her？　She　did

not　believe。

My　dear　Ursula；　I　am　back　in　England　again　for　a　few

months　before　going　out　again；　this　time　to　India。　I　wonder　if

you　still　keep　the　memory　of　our　times　together。　I　have　still

got　the　little　photograph　of　you。　You　must　be　changed　since

then；　for　it　is　about　six　years　ago。　I　am　fully　six　years

older；……I　have　lived　through　another　life　since　I　knew　you

at　Cossethay。　I　wonder　if　you　would　care　to　see　me。　I　shall　e

up　to　Derby　next　week；　and　I　would　call　in　Nottingham；　and　we

might　have　tea　together。　Will　you　let　me　know？　I　shall　look　for

your　answer。

Anton　Skrebensky

Ursula　had　taken　this　letter　from　the　rack　in　the　hall　at