小说园

第88部分（第2页）

that　cared　only　for　their　intercourse　with　the　everlasting

skies；　and　she　wished　she　could　bee　a　strong　mound　smooth

under　the　sky；　bosom　and　limbs　bared　to　all　winds　and　clouds　and

bursts　of　sunshine。

But　she　must　get　up　again　and　look　down　from　her　foothold　of

sunshine；　down　and　away　at　the　patterned；　level　earth；　with　its

villages　and　its　smoke　and　its　energy。　So　shortsighted　the　train

seemed；　running　to　the　distance；　so　terrifying　in　their

littleness　the　villages；　with　such　pettiness　in　their

activity。

Skrebensky　wandered　dazed；　not　knowing　where　he　was　or　what

he　was　doing　with　her。　All　her　passion　seemed　to　be　to　wander　up

there　on　the　downs；　and　when　she　must　descend　to　earth；　she　was

heavy。　Up　there　she　was　exhilarated　and　free。

She　would　not　love　him　in　a　house　any　more。　She　said　she

hated　houses；　and　particularly　she　hated　beds。　There　was

something　distasteful　in　his　ing　to　her　bed。

She　would　stay　the　night　on　the　downs；　up　there；　he　with　her。

It　was　midsummer；　the　days　were　glamorously　long。　At　about

half…past　ten；　when　the　bluey…black　darkness　had　at　last　fallen；

they　took　rugs　and　climbed　the　steep　track　to　the　summit　of　the

downs；　he　and　she。

Up　there；　the　stars　were　big；　the　earth　below　was　gone　into

darkness。　She　was　free　up　there　with　the　stars。　Far　out　they　saw

tiny　yellow　lights……but　it　was　very　far　out；　at　sea；　or　on

land。　She　was　free　up　among　the　stars。

She　took　off　her　clothes；　and　made　him　take　off　all　his；　and

they　ran　over　the　smooth；　moonless　turf；　a　long　way；　more　than　a

mile　from　where　they　had　left　their　clothing；　running　in　the

dark；　soft　wind；　utterly　naked；　as　naked　as　the　downs

themselves。　Her　hair　was　loose　and　blew　about　her　shoulders；　she

ran　swiftly；　wearing　sandals　when　she　set　off　on　the　long　run　to

the　dew…pond。

In　the　round　dew…pond　the　stars　were　untroubled。　She　ventured

softly　into　the　water；　grasping　at　the　stars　with　her　hands。