小说园

第43部分（第2页）

in　his　two　hands。　She　would　be　small；　almost　like　a　child；　and

pretty。　Her　childishness　whetted　him　keenly。　She　would　he

helpless　between　his　hands。

〃That　was　the　best　turn　weve　had；〃　he　said　to　her；　leaning

over　as　he　clapped　his　hands。　He　felt　strong　and　unshakeable　in

himself；　set　over　against　all　the　world。　His　soul　was　keen　and

watchful；　glittering　with　a　kind　of　amusement。　He　was　perfectly

self…contained。　He　was　himself；　the　absolute；　the　rest　of　the

world　was　the　object　that　should　contribute　to　his　being。

The　girl　started；　turned　round；　her　eyes　lit　up　with　an

almost　painful　flash　of　a　smile；　the　colour　came　deeply　in　her

cheeks。

〃Yes；　it　eaninglessly；　and　she　covered

her　rather　prominent　teeth　with　her　lips。　Then　she　sat　looking

straight　before　her；　seeing　nothing；　only　conscious　of　the

colour　burning　in　her　cheeks。

It　pricked　him　with　a　pleasant　sensation。　His　veins　and　his

nerves　attended　to　her；　she　was　so　young　and　palpitating。

〃Its　not　such　a　good　programme　as　last　weeks；〃　he　said。

Again　she　half　turned　her　face　to　him；　and　her　clear；　bright

eyes；　bright　like　shallow　water；　filled　with　light；　frightened；

yet　involuntarily　lighting　and　shaking　with　response。

〃Oh；　isnt　it！　I　wasnt　able　to　e　last　week。〃

He　noted　the　mon　accent。　It　pleased　him。　He　knew　what

class　she　came　of。　Probably　she　was　a　warehouse…lass。　He　was

glad　she　was　a　mon　girl。

He　proceeded　to　tell　her　about　the　last　weeks　programme。　She

answered　at　random；　very　confusedly。　The　colour　burned　in　her

cheek。　Yet　she　always　answered　him。　The　girl　on　the　other　side

sat　remotely；　obviously　silent。　He　ignored　her。　All　his　address

was　for　his　own　girl；　with　her　bright；　shallow　eyes　and　her

vulnerably　opened　mouth。

The　talk　went　on；　meaningless　and　random　on　her　part；　quite

deliberate　and　purposive　on　his。　It　was　a　pleasure　to　him　to

make　this　conversation；　an　activity　pleasant　as　a　fine　game　of