小说园

第32部分（第1页）

knowing　her。　What　did　he　want？　Was　he　going　to　bully　her？

What　did　she　want　herself？　She　answered　herself；　that　she

wanted　to　be　happy；　to　be　natural；　like　the　sunlight　and　the

busy　daytime。　And；　at　the　bottom　of　her　soul；　she　felt　he　wanted

her　to　be　dark；　unnatural。　Sometimes；　when　he　seemed　like　the

darkness　covering　and　smothering　her；　she　revolted　almost　in

horror；　and　struck　at　him。　She　struck　at　him；　and　made　him

bleed；　and　he　became　wicked。　Because　she　dreaded　him　and　held

him　in　horror；　he　became　wicked；　he　wanted　to　destroy。　And　then

the　fight　between　them　was　cruel。

She　began　to　tremble。　He　wanted　to　impose　himself　on　her。　And

he　began　to　shudder。　She　wanted　to　desert　him；　to　leave　him　a

prey　to　the　open；　with　the　unclean　dogs　of　the　darkness　setting

on　to　devour　him。　He　must　beat　her；　and　make　her　stay　with　him。

Whereas　she　fought　to　keep　herself　free　of　him。

They　went　their　ways　now　shadowed　and　stained　with　blood；

feeling　the　world　far　off；　unable　to　give　help。　Till　she　began

to　get　tired。　After　a　certain　point；　she　became　impassive；

detached　utterly　from　him。　He　was　always　ready　to　burst　out

murderously　against　her。　Her　soul　got　up　and　left　him；　she　went

her　way。　Nevertheless　in　her　apparent　blitheness；　that　made　his

soul　black　with　opposition；　she　trembled　as　if　she　bled。

And　ever　and　again；　the　pure　love　came　in　sunbeams　between

them；　when　she　was　like　a　flower　in　the　sun　to　him；　so

beautiful；　so　shining；　so　intensely　dear　that　he　could　scarcely

bear　it。　Then　as　if　his　soul　had　six　wings　of　bliss　he　stood

absorbed　in　praise；　feeling　the　radiance　from　the　Almighty　beat

through　him　like　a　pulse；　as　he　stood　in　the　upright　flame　of

praise；　transmitting　the　pulse　of　Creation。

And　ever　and　again　he　appeared　to　her　as　the　dread　flame　of

power。　Sometimes；　when　he　stood　in　the　doorway；　his　face　lit　up；

he　seemed　like　an　Annunciation　to　her；　her　heart　beat　fast。　And

she　watched　him；　suspended。　He　had　a　dark；　burning　being　that

she　dreaded　and　resisted。　She　was　subject　to　him　as　to　the　Angel

of　the　Presence。　She　waited　upon　him　and　heard　his　will；　and　she