小说园

第15部分（第2页）

When　he　came　to；　as　if　from　sleep；　he　seemed　to　be　sitting　in

a　timeless　stillness。　What　was　he　listening　for？　He　seemed　to　be

listening　for　some　sound　a　long　way　off；　from　beyond　life。　He

remembered　his　wife。　He　must　go　back　to　her。　The　child　was

asleep；　the　eyelids　not　quite　shut；　showing　a　slight　film　of

black　pupil　between。　Why　did　she　not　shut　her　eyes？　Her　mouth

was　also　a　little　open。

He　rose　quickly　and　went　back　to　the　house。

〃Is　she　asleep？〃　whispered　Tilly。

He　nodded。　The　servant…woman　came　to　look　at　the　child　who

slept　in　the　shawl；　with　cheeks　flushed　hot　and　red；　and　a

whiteness；　a　wanness　round　the　eyes。

〃God…a…mercy！〃　whispered　Tilly；　shaking　her　head。

He　pushed　off　his　boots　and　went　upstairs　with　the　child。　He

became　aware　of　the　anxiety　grasped　tight　at　his　heart；　because

of　his　wife。　But　he　remained　still。　The　house　was　silent　save

for　the　wind　outside；　and　the　noisy　trickling　and　splattering　of

water　in　the　water…butts。　There　was　a　slit　of　light　under　his

wifes　door。

He　put　the　child　into　bed　wrapped　as　she　was　in　the　shawl；

for　the　sheets　would　be　cold。　Then　he　was　afraid　that　she　might

not　be　able　to　move　her　arms；　so　he　loosened　her。　The　black　eyes

opened；　rested　on　him　vacantly；　sank　shut　again。　He　covered　her

up。　The　last　little　quiver　from　the　sobbing　shook　her

breathing。

This　was　his　room；　the　room　he　had　had　before　he　married。　It

was　familiar。　He　remembered　what　it　was　to　be　a　young　man；

untouched。

He　remained　suspended。　The　child　slept；　pushing　her　small

fists　from　the　shawl。　He　could　tell　the　woman　her　child　was

asleep。　But　he　must　go　to　the　other　landing。　He　started。　There

was　the　sound　of　the　owls……the　moaning　of　the　woman。　What

an　uncanny　sound！　It　was　not　human……at　least　to　a　man。

He　went　down　to　her　room；　entering　softly。　She　was　lying

still；　with　eyes　shut；　pale；　tired。　His　heart　leapt；　fearing　she