小说园

第28部分（第3页）

on　the　outside　once　more。　She　was　going　to　give　a　tea…party。　It

made　him　frightened　and　furious　and　miserable。　He　was　afraid　all

would　be　lost　that　he　had　so　newly　e　into：　like　the　youth　in

the　fairy　tale；　who　was　king　for　one　day　in　the　year；　and　for

the　rest　a　beaten　herd：　like　Cinderella　also；　at　the　feast。　He

was　sullen。　But　she　blithely　began　to　make　preparations　for　her

tea…party。　His　fear　was　too　strong；　he　was　troubled；　he　hated

her　shallow　anticipation　and　joy。　Was　she　not　forfeiting　the

reality；　the　one　reality；　for　all　that　was　shallow　and

worthless？　Wasnt　she　carelessly　taking　off　her　crown　to　be　an

artificial　figure　having　other　artificial　women　to　tea：　when　she

might　have　been　perfect　with　him；　and　kept　him　perfect；　in　the

land　of　intimate　connection？　Now　he　must　be　deposed；　his　joy

must　be　destroyed；　he　must　put　on　the　vulgar；　shallow　death　of

an　outward　existence。

He　ground　his　soul　in　uneasiness　and　fear。　But　she　rose　to　a

real　outburst　of　house…work；　turning　him　away　as　she　shoved　the

furniture　aside　to　her　broom。　He　stood　hanging　miserable　near。

He　wanted　her　back。　Dread；　and　desire　for　her　to　stay　with　him；

and　shame　at　his　own　dependence　on　her　drove　him　to　anger。　He

began　to　lose　his　head。　The　wonder　was　going　to　pass　away　again。

All　the　love；　the　magnificent　new　order　was　going　to　be　lost；

she　would　forfeit　it　all　for　the　outside　things。　She　would　admit

the　outside　world　again；　she　would　throw　away　the　living　fruit

for　the　ostensible　rind。　He　began　to　hate　this　in　her。　Driven　by

fear　of　her　departure　into　a　state　of　helplessness；　almost　of

imbecility；　he　wandered　about　the　house。

And　she；　with　her　skirts　kilted　up；　flew　round　at　her　work；

absorbed。

〃Shake　the　rug　then；　if　you　must　hang　round；〃　she　said。

And　fretting　with　resentment；　he　went　to　shake　the　rug。　She

was　blithely　unconscious　of　him。　He　came　back；　hanging　near　to

her。

〃Cant　you　do　anything？〃　she　said；　as　if　to　a　child；