小说园

第78部分（第3页）

while　she　talked；　saw　the　golden…brown　eyes　of　Anthony　gleam

like　the　eyes　of　a　satyr　as　they　watched　her。　He　did　not　listen

to　her　words；　he　listened　to　her。　It　excited　her。

He　was　like　a　faun　pleased　when　she　would　go　with　him　over

his　hothouses；　to　look　at　the　green　and　pretty　plants；　at　the

pink　primulas　nodding　among　their　leaves；　and　cinarrias

flaunting　purple　and　crimson　and　white。　She　asked　about

everything；　and　he　told　her　very　exactly　and　minutely；　in　a

queer　pedantic　way　that　made　her　want　to　laugh。　Yet　she　was

really　interested　in　what　he　did。　And　he　had　the　curious　light

in　his　face；　like　the　light　in　the　eyes　of　the　goat　that　was

tethered　by　the　farmyard　gate。

She　went　down　with　him　into　the　warmish　cellar；　where　already

in　the　darkness　the　little　yellow　knobs　of　rhubarb　were　ing。

He　held　the　lantern　down　to　the　dark　earth。　She　saw　the　tiny

knob…end　of　the　rhubarb　thrusting　upwards　upon　the　thick　red

stem；　thrusting　itself　like　a　knob　of　flame　through　the　soft

soil。　His　face　was　turned　up　to　her；　the　light　glittered　on　his

eyes　and　his　teeth　as　he　laughed；　with　a　faint；　musical　neigh。

He　looked　handsome。　And　she　heard　a　new　sound　in　her　ears；　the

faintly…musical；　neighing　laugh　of　Anthony；　whose　moustache

twisted　up；　and　whose　eyes　were　luminous　with　a　cold；　steady；

arrogant…laughing　glare。　There　seemed　a　little　prance　of　triumph

in　his　movement；　she　could　not　rid　herself　of　a　movement　of

acquiescence；　a　touch　of　acceptance。　Yet　he　was　so　humble；　his

voice　was　so　caressing。　He　held　his　hand　for　her　to　step　on　when

she　must　climb　a　wall。　And　she　stepped　on　the　living　firmness　of

him；　that　quivered　firmly　under　her　weight。

She　was　aware　of　him　as　if　in　a　mesmeric　state。　In　her

ordinary　sense；　she　had　nothing　to　do　with　him。　But　the　peculiar

ease　and　unnoticeableness　of　his　entering　the　house；　the　power

of　his　cold；　gleaming　light　on　her　when　he　looked　at　her；　was

like　a　bewitchment。　In　his　eyes；　as　in　the　pale　grey　eyes　of　a

goat；　there　seemed　some　of　that　steady；　hard　fire　of　moonlight