小说园

第31部分（第1页）

he　were　running　amok。　Then　he　turned　to　a　book…shop　and　found　a

book　on　Bamberg　Cathedral。　Here　was　a　discovery！　here　was

something　for　him！　He　went　into　a　quiet　restaurant　to　look　at

his　treasure。　He　lit　up　with　thrills　of　bliss　as　he　turned　from

picture　to　picture。　He　had　found　something　at　last；　in　these

carvings。　His　soul　had　great　satisfaction。　Had　he　not　e　out

to　seek；　and　had　he　not　found！　He　was　in　a　passion　of

fulfilment。　These　were　the　finest　carvings；　statues；　he　had　ever

seen。　The　book　lay　in　his　hands　like　a　doorway。　The　world　around

was　only　an　enclosure；　a　room。　But　he　was　going　away。　He

lingered　over　the　lovely　statues　of　women。　A　marvellous；

finely…wrought　universe　crystallized　out　around　him　as　he　looked

again；　at　the　crowns；　the　twining　hair；　the　woman…faces。　He

liked　all　the　better　the　unintelligible　text　of　the　German。　He

preferred　things　he　could　not　understand　with　the　mind。　He　loved

the　undiscovered　and　the　undiscoverable。　He　pored　over　the

pictures　intensely。　And　these　were　wooden　statues；

〃Holz〃……he　believed　that　meant　wood。　Wooden　statues　so

shapen　to　his　soul！　He　was　a　million　times　gladdened。　How

undiscovered　the　world　was；　how　it　revealed　itself　to　his　soul！

What　a　fine；　exciting　thing　his　life　was；　at　his　hand！　Did　not

Bamberg　Cathedral　make　the　world　his　own？　He　celebrated　his

triumphant　strength　and　life　and　verity；　and　embraced　the　vast

riches　he　was　inheriting。

But　it　was　about　time　to　go　home。　He　had　better　catch　a

train。　All　the　time　there　was　a　steady　bruise　at　the　bottom　of

his　soul；　but　so　steady　as　to　be　forgettable。　He　caught　a　train

for　Ilkeston。

It　was　ten　oclock　as　he　was　mounting　the　hill　to　Cossethay；

carrying　his　limp　book　on　Bamberg　Cathedral。　He　had　not　yet

thought　of　Anna；　not　definitely。　The　dark　finger　pressing　a

bruise　controlled　him　thoughtlessly。

Anna　had　started　guiltily　when　he　left　the　house。　She　had

hastened　preparing　the　tea；　hoping　he　would　e　back。　She　had

made　some　toast；　and　got　all　ready。　Then　he　didnt　e。　She