小说园

第82部分（第1页）

Intermediate　Arts　examination；　and　there　came　a　lull　in　her

eager　activities。　She　slackened　off；　she　relaxed　altogether。

Worn　nervous　and　inflammable　by　the　excitement　of　the

preparation　for　the　examination；　and　by　the　sort　of　exaltation

which　carried　her　through　the　crisis　itself；　she　now　fell　into　a

quivering　passivity；　her　will　all　loosened。

The　family　went　to　Scarborough　for　a　month。　Gudrun　and　the

father　were　busy　at　the　handicraft　holiday　school　there；　Ursula

was　left　a　good　deal　with　the　children。　But　when　she　could；　she

went　off　by　herself。

She　stood　and　looked　out　over　the　shining　sea。　It　was　very

beautiful　to　her。　The　tears　rose　hot　in　her　heart。

Out　of　the　far；　far　space　there　drifted　slowly　in　to　her　a

passionate；　unborn　yearning。　〃There　are　so　many　dawns　that　have

not　yet　risen。〃　It　seemed　as　if；　from　over　the　edge　of　the　sea；

all　the　unrisen　dawns　were　appealing　to　her；　all　her　unborn　soul

was　crying　for　the　unrisen　dawns。

As　she　sat　looking　out　at　the　tender　sea；　with　its　lovely；

swift　glimmer；　the　sob　rose　in　her　breast；　till　she　caught　her

lip　suddenly　under　her　teeth；　and　the　tears　were　forcing

themselves　from　her。　And　in　her　very　sob；　she　laughed。　Why　did

she　cry？　She　did　not　want　to　cry。　It　was　so　beautiful　that　she

laughed。　It　was　so　beautiful　that　she　cried。

She　glanced　apprehensively　round；　hoping　no　one　would　see　her

in　this　state。

Then　came　a　time　when　the　sea　was　rough。　She　watched　the

water　travelling　in　to　the　coast；　she　watched　a　big　wave　running

unnoticed；　to　burst　in　a　shock　of　foam　against　a　rock；

enveloping　all　in　a　great　white　beauty；　to　pour　away　again；

leaving　the　rock　emerged　black　and　teeming。　Oh；　and　if；　when　the

wave　burst　into　whiteness；　it　were　only　set　free！

Sometimes　she　loitered　along　the　harbour；　looking　at　the

sea…browned　sailors；　who；　in　their　close　blue　jerseys；　lounged

on　the　harbour…wall；　and　laughed　at　her　with　impudent；

municative　eyes。

There　was　established　a　little　relation　between　her　and　them。

She　never　would　speak　to　them　or　know　any　more　of　them。　Yet　as

she　walked　by　and　they　leaned　on　the　sea…wall；　there　was

something　between　her　and　them；　something　keen　and　delightful

and　painful。　She　liked　best　the　young　one　whose　fair；　salty　hair