小说园

第88部分（第4页）

golden…lighted；　distinct　land；　that　Ursulas　soul　rocked　and

wept。　Suddenly　he　glanced　at　her。　The　tears　were　running　over

her　cheeks；　her　mouth　was　working　strangely。

〃What　is　the　matter？〃　he　asked。

After　a　moments　struggle　with　her　voice。

〃It　is　so　beautiful；〃　she　said；　looking　at　the　glowing；

beautiful　land。　It　was　so　beautiful；　so　perfect；　and　so

unsullied。

He　too　realized　what　England　would　be　in　a　few　hours

time……a　blind；　sordid；　strenuous　activity；　all　for　nothing；

fuming　with　dirty　smoke　and　running　trains　and　groping　in　the

bowels　of　the　earth；　all　for　nothing。　A　ghastliness　came　over

him。

He　looked　at　Ursula。　Her　face　was　wet　with　tears；　very

bright；　like　a　transfiguration　in　the　refulgent　light。　Nor　was

his　the　hand　to　wipe　away　the　burning；　bright　tears。　He　stood

apart；　overe　by　a　cruel　ineffectuality。

Gradually　a　great；　helpless　sorrow　was　rising　in　him。　But　as

yet　he　was　fighting　it　away；　he　was　struggling　for　his　own　life。

He　became　very　quiet　and　unaware　of　the　things　about　him；

awaiting；　as　it　were；　her　judgment　on　him。

They　returned　to　Nottingham；　the　time　of　her　examination

came。　She　must　go　to　London。　But　she　would　not　stay　with　him　in

an　hotel。　She　would　go　to　a　quiet　little　pension　near　the

British　Museum。

Those　quiet　residential　squares　of　London　made　a　great

impression　on　her　mind。　They　were　very　plete。　Her　mind　seemed

imprisoned　in　their　quietness。　Who　was　going　to　liberate

her？

In　the　evening；　her　practical　examinations　being　over；　he

went　with　her　to　dinner　at　one　of　the　hotels　down　the　river；

near　Richmond。　It　was　golden　and　beautiful；　with　yellow　water

and　white　and　scarlet…striped　boat…awnings；　and　blue　shadows

under　the　trees。

〃When　shall　we　be　married？〃　he　asked　her；　quietly；　simply；　as