小说园

第91部分（第3页）

water　gathered；　shook　with　glittering　moonlight；　then

surcharged；　brimmed　over　and　ran　trickling；　a　tear　with　its

burden　of　moonlight；　into　the　darkness；　to　fall　in　the　sand。

He　drew　gradually　away　as　if　afraid；　drew　away……she　did

not　move。　He　glanced　at　her……she　lay　the　same。　Could　he

break　away？　He　turned；　saw　the　open　foreshore；　clear　in　front　of

him；　and　he　plunged　away；　on　and　on；　ever　farther　from　the

horrible　figure　that　lay　stretched　in　the　moonlight　on　the　sands

with　the　tears　gathering　and　travelling　on　the　motionless；

eternal　face。

He　felt；　if　ever　he　must　see　her　again；　his　bones　must　be

broken；　his　body　crushed；　obliterated　for　ever。　And　as　yet；　he

had　the　love　of　his　own　living　body。　He　wandered　on　a　long；　long

way；　till　his　brain　drew　dark　and　he　was　unconscious　with

weariness。　Then　he　curled　in　the　deepest　darkness　he　could　find；

under　the　sea…grass；　and　lay　there　without　consciousness。

She　broke　from　her　tense　cramp　of　agony　gradually；　though

each　movement　was　a　goad　of　heavy　pain。　Gradually；　she　lifted

her　dead　body　from　the　sands；　and　rose　at　last。　There　was　now　no

moon　for　her；　no　sea。　All　had　passed　away。　She　trailed　her　dead

body　to　the　house；　to　her　room；　where　she　lay　down　inert。

Morning　brought　her　a　new　access　of　superficial　life。　But　all

within　her　was　cold；　dead；　inert。　Skrebensky　appeared　at

breakfast。　He　was　white　and　obliterated。　They　did　not　look　at

each　other　nor　speak　to　each　other。　Apart　from　the　ordinary；

trivial　talk　of　civil　people；　they　were　separate；　they　did　not

speak　of　what　was　between　them　during　the　remaining　two　days　of

their　stay。　They　were　like　two　dead　people　who　dare　not

recognize；　dare　not　see　each　other。

Then　she　packed　her　bag　and　put　on　her　things。　There　were

several　guests　leaving　together；　for　the　same　train。　He　would

have　no　opportunity　to　speak　to　her。

He　tapped　at　her　bedroom　door　at　the　last　minute。　She　stood

with　her　umbrella　in　her　hand。　He　closed　the　door。　He　did　not

know　what　to　say。