小说园

第27部分（第4页）

not　in　bed　any　later。　Well；　it　was　his　own　house；　it　did　not

matter。　Hastily　he　put　wood　in　the　grate　and　made　a　fire。　He

exulted　in　himself；　like　an　adventurer　on　an　undiscovered

island。　The　fire　blazed　up；　he　put　on　the　kettle。　How　happy　he

felt！　How　still　and　secluded　the　house　was！　There　were　only　he

and　she　in　the　world。

But　when　he　unbolted　the　door；　and；　half…dressed；　looked　out；

he　felt　furtive　and　guilty。　The　world　was　there；　after　all。　And

he　had　felt　so　secure；　as　though　this　house　were　the　Ark　in　the

flood；　and　all　the　rest　was　drowned。　The　world　was　there：　and　it

was　afternoon。　The　morning　had　vanished　and　gone　by；　the　day　was

growing　old。　Where　was　the　bright；　fresh　morning？　He　was

accused。　Was　the　morning　gone；　and　he　had　lain　with　blinds

drawn；　let　it　pass　by　unnoticed？

He　looked　again　round　the　chill；　grey　afternoon。　And　he

himself　so　soft　and　warm　and　glowing！　There　were　two　sprigs　of

yellow　jasmine　in　the　saucer　that　covered　the　milk…jug。　He

wondered　who　had　been　and　left　the　sign。　Taking　the　jug；　he

hastily　shut　the　door。　Let　the　day　and　the　daylight　drop　out；

let　it　go　by　unseen。　He　did　not　care。　What　did　one　day　more　or

less　matter　to　him。　It　could　fall　into　oblivion　unspent　if　it

liked；　this　one　course　of　daylight。

〃Somebody　has　been　and　found　the　door　locked；〃　he　said　when

he　went　upstairs　with　the　tray。　He　gave　her　the　two　sprigs　of

jasmine。　She　laughed　as　she　sat　up　in　bed；　childishly　threading

the　flowers　in　the　breast　of　her　nightdress。　Her　brown　hair

stuck　out　like　a　nimbus；　all　fierce；　round　her　softly　glowing

face。　Her　dark　eyes　watched　the　tray　eagerly。

〃How　good！〃　she　cried；　sniffing　the　cold　air。　〃Im　glad　you

did　a　lot。〃　And　she　stretched　out　her　hands　eagerly　for　her

plate……〃e　back　to　bed；　quick……its　cold。〃　She

rubbed　her　hands　together　sharply。

He　＇put　off　what　little　clothing　he　had　on；　and＇　sat　beside　her

in　the　bed。

〃You　look　like　a　lion；　with　your　mane　sticking　out；　and　your