小说园

第29部分（第3页）

And　at　last　she　began　to　draw　near　to　him；　she　nestled　to

him。　His　limbs；　his　body；　took　fire　and　beat　up　in　flames。　She

clung　to　him；　she　cleaved　to　his　body。　The　flames　swept　him；　he

held　her　in　sinews　of　fire。　If　she　would　kiss　him！　He　bent　his

mouth　down。　And　her　mouth；　soft　and　moist；　received　him。　He　felt

his　veins　would　burst　with　anguish　of　thankfulness；　his　heart

was　mad　with　gratefulness；　he　could　pour　himself　out　upon　her

for　ever。

When　they　came　to　themselves；　the　night　was　very　dark。　Two

hours　had　gone　by。　They　lay　still　and　warm　and　weak；　like　the

new…born；　together。　And　there　was　a　silence　almost　of　the

unborn。　Only　his　heart　was　weeping　happily；　after　the　pain。　He

did　not　understand；　he　had　yielded；　given　way。　There　was

no　understanding。　There　could　be　only　acquiescence　and

submission；　and　tremulous　wonder　of　consummation。

The　next　morning；　when　they　woke　up；　it　had　snowed。　He

wondered　what　was　the　strange　pallor　in　the　air；　and　the　unusual

tang。　Snow　was　on　the　grass　and　the　window…sill；　it　weighed　down

the　black；　ragged　branches　of　the　yews；　and　smoothed　the　graves

in　the　churchyard。

Soon；　it　began　to　snow　again；　and　they　were　shut　in。　He　was

glad；　for　then　they　were　immune　in　a　shadowy　silence；　there　was

no　world；　no　time。

The　snow　lasted　for　some　days。　On　the　Sunday　they　went　to

church。　They　made　a　line　of　footprints　across　the　garden；　he

left　a　flat　snowprint　of　his　hand　on　the　wall　as　he　vaulted

over；　they　traced　the　snow　across　the　churchyard。　For　three　days

they　had　been　immune　in　a　perfect　love。

There　were　very　few　people　in　church；　and　she　was　glad。　She

did　not　care　much　for　church。　She　had　never　questioned　any

beliefs；　and　she　was；　from　habit　and　custom；　a　regular　attendant

at　morning　service。　But　she　had　ceased　to　e　with　any

anticipation。　To…day；　however；　in　the　strangeness　of　snow；　after

such　consummation　of　love；　she　felt　expectant　again；　and

delighted。　She　was　still　in　the　eternal　world。

She　used；　after　she　went　to　the　High　School；　and　wanted　to　be

a　lady；　wanted　to　fulfil　some　mysterious　ideal；　always　to　listen

to　the　sermon　and　to　try　to　gather　suggestions。　That　was　all

very　well　for　a　while。　The　vicar　told　her　to　be　good　in　this　way

and　in　that。　She　went　away　feeling　it　was　her　highest　aim　to