小说园

第44部分（第5页）

And　she　roused　him　profoundly；　violently；　even　before　he

touched　her。　The　little　creature　in　Nottingham　had　but　been

leading　up　to　this。　They　abandoned　in　one　motion　the　moral

position；　each　was　seeking　gratification　pure　and　simple。

Strange　his　wife　was　to　him。　It　was　as　if　he　were　a　perfect

stranger；　as　if　she　were　infinitely　and　essentially　strange　to

him；　the　other　half　of　the　world；　the　dark　half　of　the　moon。　She

waited　for　his　touch　as　if　he　were　a　marauder　who　had　e　in；

infinitely　unknown　and　desirable　to　her。　And　he　began　to

discover　her。　He　had　an　inkling　of　the　vastness　of　the　unknown

sensual　store　of　delights　she　was。　With　a　passion　of

voluptuousness　that　made　him　dwell　on　each　tiny　beauty；　in　a

kind　of　frenzy　of　enjoyment；　he　lit　upon　her：　her　beauty；　the

beauties；　the　separate；　several　beauties　of　her　body。

He　self；　and　sensually　transported

by　that　which　he　discovered　in　her。　He　was　another　man　revelling

over　her。　There　was　no　tenderness；　no　love　between　them　any

more；　only　the　maddening；　sensuous　lust　for　discovery　and　the

insatiable；　exorbitant　gratification　in　the　sensual　beauties　of

her　body。　And　she　was　a　store；　a　store　of　absolute　beauties　that

it　drove　him　to　contemplate。　There　was　such　a　feast　to　enjoy；

and　he　with　only　one　mans　capacity。

He　lived　in　a　passion　of　sensual　discovery　with　her　for　some

time……it　was　a　duel：　no　love；　no　words；　no　kisses　even；

only　the　maddening　perception　of　beauty　consummate；　absolute

through　touch。　He　wanted　to　touch　her；　to　discover　her；

maddeningly　he　wanted　to　know　her。　Yet　he　must　not　hurry；　or　he

missed　everything。　He　must　enjoy　one　beauty　at　a　time。　And　the

multitudinous　beauties　of　her　body；　the　many　little　rapturous

places；　sent　him　mad　with　delight；　and　with　desire　to　be　able　to

know　more；　to　have　strength　to　know　more。　For　all　was　there。

He　would　say　during　the　daytime：

〃To…night　I　shall　know　the　little　hollow　under　her　ankle；

where　the　blue　vein　crosses。〃　And　the　thought　of　it；　and　the

desire　for　it；　made　a　thick　darkness　of　anticipation。