小说园

第9部分（第1页）

But　it　was　too　soon。　She　rose；　and　went　across　the　room　to　a

drawer；　taking　out　a　little　tray…cloth。　There　was　something

quiet　and　professional　about　her。　She　had　been　a　nurse　beside

her　husband；　both　in　Warsaw　and　in　the　rebellion　afterwards。　She

proceeded　to　set　a　tray。　It　was　as　if　she　ignored　Brangwen。　He

sat　up；　unable　to　bear　a　contradiction　in　her。　She　moved　about

inscrutably。

Then；　as　he　sat　there；　all　mused　and　wondering；　she　came　near

to　him；　looking　at　him　with　wide；　grey　eyes　that　almost　smiled

with　a　low　light。　But　her　ugly…beautiful　mouth　was　still　unmoved

and　sad。　He　was　afraid。

His　eyes；　strained　and　roused　with　unusedness；　quailed　a

little　before　her；　he　felt　himself　quailing　and　yet　he　rose；　as

if　obedient　to　her；　he　bent　and　kissed　her　heavy；　sad；　wide

mouth；　that　was　kissed；　and　did　not　alter。　Fear　was　too　strong

in　him。　Again　he　had　not　got　her。

She　turned　away。　The　vicarage　kitchen　was　untidy；　and　yet　to

him　beautiful　with　the　untidiness　of　her　and　her　child。　Such　a

wonderful　remoteness　there　was　about　her；　and　then　something　in

touch　with　him；　that　made　his　heart　knock　in　his　chest。　He　stood

there　and　waited；　suspended。

Again　she　came　to　him；　as　he　stood　in　his　black　clothes；　with

blue　eyes　very　bright　and　puzzled　for　her；　his　face　tensely

alive；　his　hair　dishevelled。　She　came　close　up　to　him；　to　his

intent；　black…clothed　body；　and　laid　her　hand　on　his　arm。　He

remained　unmoved。　Her　eyes；　with　a　blackness　of　memory

struggling　with　passion；　primitive　and　electric　away　at　the　back

of　them；　rejected　him　and　absorbed　him　at　once。　But　he　remained

himself。　He　breathed　with　difficulty；　and　sweat　came　out　at　the

roots　of　his　hair；　on　his　forehead。

〃Do　you　want　to　marry　me？〃　she　asked　slowly；　always

uncertain。

He　was　afraid　lest　he　could　not　speak。　He　drew　breath　hard；

saying：

〃I　do。〃

Then　again；　what　was　agony　to　him；　with　one　hand　lightly

resting　on　his　arm；　she　leaned　forward　a　little；　and　with　a

strange；　primeval　suggestion　of　embrace；　held　him　her　mouth。　It

was　ugly…beautiful；　and　he　could　not　bear　it。　He　put　his　mouth

on　hers；　and　slowly；　slowly　the　response　came；　gathering　force