小说园

第20部分（第6页）

recovering　herself。　And　then　a　slur　in　the　strong；　blind　voice

at　her　side　brought　it　all　on　again；　in　a　gust　of　mad

laughter。

She　bent　down　to　prayer　in　cold　reproof　of　herself。　And　yet；

as　she　knelt；　little　eddies　of　giggling　went　over　her。　The　very

sight　of　his　knees　on　the　praying　cushion　sent　the　little　shock

of　laughter　over　her。

She　gathered　herself　together　and　sat　with　prim；　pure　face；

white　and　pink　and　cold　as　a　Christmas　rose；　her　hands　in　her

silk　gloves　folded　on　her　lap；　her　dark　eyes　all　vague；

abstracted　in　a　sort　of　dream；　oblivious　of　everything。

The　sermon　rolled　on　vaguely；　in　a　tide　of　pregnant

peace。

Her　cousin　took　out　his　pocket…handkerchief。　He　seemed　to　be

drifted　absorbed　into　the　sermon。　He　put　his　handkerchief　to　his

face。　Then　something　dropped　on　to　his　knee。　There　lay　the　bit

of　flowering　currant！　He　was　looking　down　at　it　in　real

astonishment。　A　wild　snort　of　laughter　came　from　Anna。　Everybody

heard：　it　was　torture。　He　had　shut　the　crumpled　flower　in　his

hand　and　was　looking　up　again　with　the　same　absorbed　attention

to　the　sermon。　Another　snort　of　laughter　from　Anna。　Fred　nudged

her　remindingly。

Her　cousin　sat　motionless。　Somehow　he　was　aware　that　his　face

was　red。　She　could　feel　him。　His　hand；　closed　over　the　flower；

remained　quite　still；　pretending　to　be　normal。　Another　wild

struggle　in　Annas　breast；　and　the　snort　of　laughter。　She　bent

forward　shaking　with　laughter。　It　was　now　no　joke。　Fred　was

nudge…nudging　at　her。　She　nudged　him　back　fiercely。　Then　another

vicious　spasm　of　laughter　seized　her。　She　tried　to　ward　it　off

in　a　little　cough。　The　cough　ended　in　a　suppressed　whoop。　She

wanted　to　die。　And　the　closed　hand　crept　away　to　the　pocket。

Whilst　she　sat　in　taut　suspense；　the　laughter　rushed　back　at

her；　knowing　he　was