小说园

第84部分（第1页）

presence。　He　was　a　great　rider；　so　there　was　about　him　some　of　a

horsemans　sureness　and　habitual　definiteness　of　decision；　also

some　of　the　horsemans　animal　darkness。　Yet　his　soul　was　only

the　more　wavering；　vague。　He　seemed　made　up　of　a　set　of　habitual

actions　and　decisions。　The　vulnerable；　variable　quick　of　the　man

was　inaccessible。　She　knew　nothing　of　it。　She　could　only　feel

the　dark；　heavy　fixity　of　his　animal　desire。

This　dumb　desire　on　his　part　had　brought　him　to　her？　She　was

puzzled；　hurt　by　some　hopeless　fixity　in　him；　that　terrified　her

with　a　cold　feeling　of　despair。　What　did　he　want？　His　desires

were　so　underground。　Why　did　he　not　admit　himself？　What　did　he

want？　He　wanted　something　that　should　be　nameless。　She　shrank　in

fear。

Yet　she　flashed　with　excitement。　In　his　dark；　subterranean

male　soul；　he　was　kneeling　before　her；　darkly　exposing　himself。

She　quivered；　the　dark　flame　ran　over　her。　He　was　waiting　at　her

feet。　He　was　helpless；　at　her　mercy。　She　could　take　or　reject。

If　she　rejected　him；　something　would　die　in　him。　For　him　it　was

life　or　death。　And　yet；　all　must　be　kept　so　dark；　the

consciousness　must　admit　nothing。

〃How　long；〃　she　said；　〃are　you　staying　in　England？〃

〃I　am　not　sure……but　not　later　than　July；　I　believe。〃

Then　they　were　both　silent。　He　was　here；　in　England；　for　six

months。　They　had　a　space　of　six　months　between　them。　He　waited。

The　same　iron　rigidity；　as　if　the　world　were　made　of　steel；

possessed　her　again。　It　was　no　use　turning　with　flesh　and　blood

to　this　arrangement　of　forged　metal。

Quickly；　her　imagination　adjusted　itself　to　the

situation。

〃Have　you　an　appointment　in　India？〃　she　asked。

〃Yes……I　have　just　the　six　months　leave。〃

〃Will　you　like　being　out　there？〃

〃I　think　so……theres　a　good　deal　of　social　life；　and

plenty　going　on……hunting；　polo……and　always　a　good

horse……and　plenty　of　work；　any　amount　of　work。〃