小说园

第27部分（第3页）

real　to　rouse　her。　A　long　way　off　she　could　hear　the　words；　〃I

am　dying　of　hunger。〃　Yet　she　lay　still；　separate；　at　peace；　and

the　words　were　unuttered。　There　was　still　another　lapse。

And　then；　quite　calmly；　even　a　little　surprised；　she　was　in

the　present；　and　was　saying：

〃I　am　dying　with　hunger。〃

〃So　am　I；〃　he　said　calmly；　as　if　it　were　of　not　the　slightest

significance。　And　they　relapsed　into　the　warm；　golden　stillness。

And　the　minutes　flowed　unheeded　past　the　window　outside。

Then　suddenly　she　stirred　against　him。

〃My　dear；　I　am　dying　of　hunger；〃　she　said。

It　was　a　slight　pain　to　him　to　be　brought　to。

〃Well　get　up；〃　he　said；　unmoving。

And　she　sank　her　head　on　to　him　again；　and　they　lay　still；

lapsing。　Half　consciously；　he　heard　the　clock　chime　the　hour。

She　did　not　hear。

〃Do　get　up；〃　she　murmured　at　length；　〃and　give　me　something

to　eat。〃

〃Yes；〃　he　said；　and　he　put　his　arms　round　her；　and　she　lay

with　her　face　on　him。　They　were　faintly　astonished　that　they　did

not　move。　The　minutes　rustled　louder　at　the　window。

〃Let　me　go　then；〃　he　said。

She　lifted　her　head　from　him；　relinquishingly。　With　a　little

breaking　away；　he　moved　out　of　bed；　and　was　taking　his　clothes。

She　stretched　out　her　hand　to　him。

〃You　are　so　nice；〃　she　said；　and　he　went　back　for　a　moment　or

two。

Then　actually　he　did　slip　into　some　clothes；　and；　looking

round　quickly　at　her；　was　gone　out　of　the　room。　She　lay

translated　again　into　a　pale；　clearer　peace。　As　if　she　were　a

spirit；　she　listened　to　the　noise　of　him　downstairs；　as　if　she

were　no　longer　of　the　material　world。

It　was　half…past　one。　He　looked　at　the　silent　kitchen；

untouched　from　last　night；　dim　with　the　drawn　blind。　And　he

hastened　to　draw　up　the　blind；　so　people　should　know　they　were