小说园

第27部分（第6页）

with　her　unseeing　dark　eyes；　as　if　she　wandered　forth

untrammelled　in　the　vagueness。　The　vagueness　gave　her　scope　and

set　her　free。

To　him；　turned　towards　her　heart…pulse；　all　was　very　still

and　very　warm　and　very　close；　like　noon…tide。　He　was　glad　to

know　this　warm；　full　noon。　It　ripened　him　and　took　away　his

responsibility；　some　of　his　conscience。

They　got　up　when　it　was　quite　dark。　She　hastily　twisted　her

hair　into　a　knot；　and　was　dressed　in　a　twinkling。　Then　they　went

downstairs；　drew　to　the　fire；　and　sat　in　silence；　saying　a　few

words　now　and　then。

Her　father　was　ing。　She　bundled　the　dishes　away；　flew

round　and　tidied　the　room；　assumed　another　character；　and　again

seated　herself。　He　sat　thinking　of　his　carving　of　Eve。　He　loved

to　go　over　his　carving　in　his　mind；　dwelling　on　every　stroke；

every　line。　How　he　loved　it　now！　When　he　went　back　to　his

Creation…panel　again；　he　would　finish　his　Eve；　tender　and

sparkling。　It　did　not　satisfy　him　yet。　The　Lord　should　labour

over　her　in　a　silent　passion　of　Creation；　and　Adam　should　be

tense　as　if　in　a　dream　of　immortality；　and　Eve　should　take　form

glimmeringly；　shadowily；　as　if　the　Lord　must　wrestle　with　His

own　soul　for　her；　yet　she　was　a　radiance。

〃What　are　you　thinking　about？〃　she　asked。

He　found　it　difficult　to　say。　His　soul　became　shy　when　he

tried　to　municate　it。

〃I　was　thinking　my　Eve　was　too　hard　and　lively。〃

〃Why？〃

〃I　dont　know。　She　should　be　more；〃　he　made　a

gesture　of　infinite　tenderness。

There　was　a　stillness　with　a　little　joy。　He　could　not　tell

her　any　more。　Why　could　he　not　tell　her　any　more？　She　felt　a

pang　of　disconsolate