小说园

第55部分（第3页）

entirely；　he　betrayed　himself　always　upon　his　own

responsibility。　He　permitted　no　question　about　himself。　He　was

irrevocable　in　his　isolation。

So　Ursula　thought　him　wonderful；　he　was　so　finely

constituted；　and　so　distinct；　self…contained；　self…supporting。

This；　she　said　to　herself；　was　a　gentleman；　he　had　a　nature　like

fate；　the　nature　of　an　aristocrat。

She　laid　hold　of　him　at　once　for　her　dreams。　Here　was　one

such　as　those　Sons　of　God　who　saw　the　daughters　of　men；　that

they　were　fair。　He　was　no　son　of　Adam。　Adam　was　servile。　Had　not

Adam　been　driven　cringing　out　of　his　native　place；　had　not　the

human　race　been　a　beggar　ever　since；　seeking　its　own　being？　But

Anton　Skrebensky　could　not　beg。　He　was　in　possession　of　himself；

of　that；　and　no　more。　Other　people　could　not　really　give　him

anything　nor　take　anything　from　him。　His　soul　stood　alone。

She　knew　that　her　mother　and　father　acknowledged　him。　The

house　was　changed。　There　had　been　a　visit　paid　to　the　house。

Once　three　angels　stood　in　Abrahams　doorway；　and　greeted　him；

and　stayed　and　ate　with　him；　leaving　his　household　enriched　for

ever　when　they　went。

The　next　day　she　went　down　to　the　Marsh　according　to

invitation。　The　two　men　were　not　e　home。　Then；　looking

through　the　window；　she　saw　the　dogcart　drive　up；　and　Skrebensky

leapt　down。　She　saw　him　draw　himself　together；　jump；　laugh　to

her　uncle；　who　was　driving；　then　e　towards　her　to　the　house。

He　was　so　spontaneous　and　revealed　in　his　movements。　He　was

isolated　within　his　own　clear；　fine　atmosphere；　and　as　still　as

if　fated。

His　resting　in　his　own　fate　gave　him　an　appearance　of

indolence；　almost　of　languor：　he　made　no　exuberant　movement。

When　he　sat　down；　he　seemed　to　go　loose；　languid。

〃We　are　a　little　late；〃　he　said。

〃Where　have　you　been？〃

〃We　went　to　Derby　to　see　a　friend　of　my　fathers。〃

〃Who？〃

It　was　an　adventure　to　her　to　put　direct　questions　and　get

plain　answers。　She　knew　she　might　do　it　with　this　man。

〃Why；　he　is　a　clergyman　too……he　is　my　guardian……one

of　them。〃