小说园

第91部分（第5页）

him。

His　plan　was　to　sit　up　very　late：　drink　in　pany　until　one

or　half…past　one　in　the　morning；　then　he　would　get　three　hours

of　sleep；　of　oblivion。　It　was　light　by　five　oclock。　But　he　was

shocked　almost　to　madness　if　he　opened　his　eyes　on　the

darkness。

In　the　daytime　he　was　all　right；　always　occupied　with　the

thing　of　the　moment；　adhering　to　the　trivial　present；　which

seemed　to　him　ample　and　satisfying。　No　matter　how　little　and

futile　his　occupations　were；　he　gave　himself　to　them　entirely；

and　felt　normal　and　fulfilled。　He　was　always　active；　cheerful；

gay；　charming；　trivial。　Only　he　dreaded　the　darkness　and　silence

of　his　own　bedroom；　when　the　darkness　should　challenge　him　upon

his　own　soul。　That　he　could　not　bear；　as　he　could　not　bear　to

think　about　Ursula。　He　had　no　soul；　no　background。　He　never

thought　of　Ursula；　not　once；　he　gave　her　no　sign。　She　was　the

darkness；　the　challenge；　the　horror。　He　turned　to　immediate

things。　He　self　from　the

darkness；　the　challenge　of　his　own　soul。　He　would　marry　his

Colonels　daughter。　Quickly；　without　hesitation；　pursued　by　his

obsession　for　activity；　he　wrote　to　this　girl；　telling　her　his

engagement　was　broken……it　had　been　a　temporary　infatuation

which　he　less　than　any　one　else　could　understand　now　it　was

over……and　could　he　see　his　very　dear　friend　soon？　He　would

not　be　happy　till　he　had　an　answer。

He　received　a　rather　surprised　reply　from　the　girl；　but　she

would　be　glad　to　see　him。　She　was　living　with　her　aunt。　He　went

down　to　her　at　once；　and　proposed　to　her　the　first　evening。　He

was　accepted。　The　marriage　took　place　quietly　within　fourteen

days　time。　Ursula　was　not　notified　of　the　event。　In　another

week；　Skrebensky　sailed　with　his　new　wife　to　India。

CHAPTER　XVI

THE　RAINBOW

Ursula　went　home　to　Beldover　faint；　dim；　closed　up。　She　could

scarcely　speak　or　notice。　It　was　as　if　her　energy　were　frozen。