小说园

第62部分（第4页）

He　gave　no　sign。　He　did　not　even　kiss　her。　He　behaved　as　if　he

were　an　affable；　usual　acquaintance。　This　was　superficial；　but

what　did　it　hide？　She　waited　for　him；　she　wanted　him　to　make

some　sign。

So　the　whole　of　the　day　they　wavered　and　avoided　contact；

until　evening。　Then；　laughing；　saying　he　would　be　back　in　six

months　time　and　would　tell　them　all　about　it；　he　shook　hands

with　her　mother　and　took　his　leave。

Ursula　acpanied　him　into　the　lane。　The　night　was　windy；

the　yew　trees　seethed　and　hissed　and　vibrated。　The　wind　seemed

to　rush　about　among　the　chimneys　and　the　church…tower。　It　was

dark。

The　wind　blew　Ursulas　face；　and　her　clothes　cleaved　to　her

limbs。　But　it　was　a　surging；　turgid　wind；　instinct　with

pressed　vigour　of　life。　And　she　seemed　to　have　lost

Skrebensky。　Out　there　in　the　strong；　urgent　night　she　could　not

find　him。

〃Where　are　you？〃　she　asked。

〃Here；〃　came　his　bodiless　voice。

And　groping；　she　touched　him。　A　fire　like　lightning　drenched

them。

〃Anton？〃　she　said。

〃What？〃　he　answered。

She　held　him　with　her　hands　in　the　darkness；　she　felt　his

body　again　with　hers。

〃Dont　leave　me……e　back　to　me；〃　she　said。

〃Yes；〃　he　said；　holding　her　in　his　arms。

But　the　male　in　him　was　scotched　by　the　knowledge　that　she

was　not　under　his　spell　nor　his　influence。　He　wanted　to　go　away

from　her。　He　rested　in　the　knowledge　that　to…morrow　he　was　going

away；　his　life　was　really　elsewhere。　His　life　was

elsewhere……his　life　was　elsewhere……the　centre　of　his

life　was　not　what　she　would　have。　She　was　different……there

was　a　breach　between　them。　They　were　hostile　worlds。

〃You　will　e　back　to　me？〃　she　reiterated。