小说园

第48部分（第4页）

〃Then　you　must　wear　both　rings　together？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Which　was　my　grandfathers　ring？〃

The　woman　hesitated。

〃This　grandfather　whom　you　knew？　This　was　his　ring；　the　red

one。　The　yellow　one　was　your　other　grandfathers　whom　you　never

knew。〃

Ursula　looked　interestedly　at　the　two　rings　on　the　proffered

finger。

〃Where　did　he　buy　it　you？〃　she　asked。

〃This　one？　In　Warsaw；　I　think。〃

〃You　didnt　know　my　own　grandfather　then？〃

〃Not　this　grandfather。〃

Ursula　pondered　this　fascinating　intelligence。

〃Did　he　have　white　whiskers　as　well？〃

〃No；　his　beard　was　dark。　You　have　his　brows；　I　think。〃

Ursula　ceased　and　became　self…conscious。　She　at　once

identified　herself　with　her　Polish　grandfather。

〃And　did　he　have　brown　eyes？〃

〃Yes；　dark　eyes。　He　was　a　clever　man；　as　quick　as　a　lion。　He

was　never　still。〃

Lydia　still　resented　Lensky。　When　she　thought　of　him；　she　was

always　younger　than　he；　she　was　always　twenty；　or　twenty…five；

and　under　his　domination。　He　incorporated　her　in　his　ideas　as　if

she　were　not　a　person　herself；　as　if　she　were　just　his

aide…de…camp；　or　part　of　his　baggage；　or　one　among　his　surgical

appliances。　She　still　resented　it。　And　he　was　always　only

thirty：　he　had　died　when　he　was　thirty…four。　She　did　not　feel

sorry　for　him。　He　was　older　than　she。　Yet　she　still　ached　in　the

thought　of　those　days。

〃Did　you　like　my　first　grandfather　best？〃　asked　Ursula。

〃I　liked　them　both；〃　said　the　grandmother。

And；　thinking；　she　became　again　Lenskys　girl…bride。　He　was

of　good　family；　of　better　family　even　than　her　own；　for　she　was

half　German。　She　was　a　young　girl　in　a　house　of　insecure