小说园

第42部分（第5页）

wills。　He　mounted　the　parapet　of　the　canal　bridge。　The　water　was

a　long　way　down。　But　the　child　had　a　deliberate　will　set　upon

his。　She　held　herself　fixed　to　him。

He　leapt；　and　down　they　went。　The　crash　of　the　water　as　they

went　under　struck　through　the　childs　small　body；　with　a　sort　of

unconsciousness。　But　she　remained　fixed。　And　when　they　came　up

again；　and　when　they　went　to　the　bank；　and　when　they　sat　on　the

grass　side　by　side；　he　laughed；　and　said　it　was　fine。　And　the

dark…dilated　eyes　of　the　child　looked　at　him　wonderingly；

darkly；　wondering　from　the　shock；　yet　reserved　and　unfathomable；

so　he　laughed　almost　with　a　sob。

In　a　moment　she　was　clinging　safely　on　his　back　again；　and　he

was　swimming　in　deep　water。　She　was　used　to　his　nakedness；　and

to　her　mothers　nakedness；　ever　since　she　was　born。　They　were

clinging　to　each　other；　and　making　up　to　each　other　for　the

strange　blow　that　had　been　struck　at　them。　Yet　still；　on　other

days；　he　would　leap　again　with　her　from　the　bridge；　daringly；

almost　wickedly。　Till　at　length；　as　he　leapt；　once；　she　dropped

forward　on　to　his　head；　and　nearly　broke　his　neck；　so　that　they

fell　into　the　water　in　a　heap；　and　fought　for　a　few　moments　with

death。　He　saved　her；　and　sat　on　the　bank；　quivering。　But　his

eyes　were　full　of　the　blackness　of　death。　It　was　as　if　death　had

cut　between　their　two　lives；　and　separated　them。

Still　they　were　not　separate。　There　was　this　curious　taunting

intimacy　between　them。　When　the　fair　came；　she　wanted　to　go　in

the　swing…boats。　He　took　her；　and；　standing　up　in　the　boat；

holding　on　to　the　irons；　began　to　drive　higher；　perilously

higher。　The　child　clung　fast　on　her　seat。

〃Do　you　want　to　go　any　higher？〃　he　said　to　her；　and　she

laughed　with　her　mouth；　her　eyes　wide　and　dilated。　They　were

rushing　through　the　air。

〃Yes；〃　she　said；　feeling　as　if　she　would　turn　into　vapour；

lose　hold　of　everything；　and　melt　away。　The　boat　swung　far　up；

then　down　like　a　stone；　only　to　be　caught　sickeningly　up