小说园

第50部分（第3页）

love…stories。

〃Elaine　the　fair　Elaine　the　lovable；

Elaine　the　lily　maid　of　Astolat；

High　in　her　chamber　in　a　tower　to　the　east

Guarded　the　sacred　shield　of　Launcelot。〃

How　she　loved　it！　How　she　leaned　in　her　bedroom　window　with

her　black；　rough　hair　on　her　shoulders；　and　her　warm　face　all

rapt；　and　gazed　across　at　the　churchyard　and　the　little　church；

which　was　a　turreted　castle；　whence　Launcelot　would　ride　just

now；　would　wave　to　her　as　he　rode　by；　his　scarlet　cloak　passing

behind　the　dark　yew　trees　and　between　the　open　space：　whilst

she；　ah；　she；　would　remain　the　lonely　maid　high　up　and　isolated

in　the　tower；　polishing　the　terrible　shield；　weaving　it　a

covering　with　a　true　device；　and　waiting；　waiting；　always　remote

and　high。

At　which　point　there　would　be　a　faint　scuffle　on　the　stairs；

a　light…pitched　whispering　outside　the　door；　and　a　creaking　of

the　latch：　then　Billy；　excited；　whispering：

〃Its　locked……its　locked。〃

Then　the　knocking；　kicking　at　the　door　with　childish　knees；

and　the　urgent；　childish：

〃Ursula……our　Ursula？　Ursula？　Eh；　our　Ursula？〃

No　reply。

〃Ursula！　Eh……our　Ursula？〃　the　name　was　shouted　now　Still

no　answer。

〃Mother；　she　wont　answer；〃　came　the　yell。　〃Shes　dead。〃

〃Go　away……Im　not　dead。　What　do　you　want？〃　came　the

angry　voice　of　the　girl。

〃Open　the　door；　our　Ursula；〃　came　the　plaining　cry。　It　was

all　over。　She　must　open　the　door。　She　heard　the　screech　of　the

bucket　downstairs　dragged　across　the　flagstones　as　the　woman

washed　the　kitchen　floor。　And　the　children　were　prowling　in　the

bedroom；　asking：

〃What　were　you　doing？　What　had　you　locked　the　door　for？〃　Then