the dust-第61节

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is　arrival。

〃You're　looking　cross　and　unhappy；〃　said　she。　〃What's　the　matter？　　Business？〃

〃Noeverything's　going　well。〃

〃Same　thing　that's　troubling　Dorothy；　then？〃

〃Is　Dorothy　ill？〃　inquired　he；　suddenly　as　alert　as　he　had　been　absent。　　〃She　hasn't　let　me　know　anything　about　it。〃

〃Ill？　　Of　course　not；〃　reassured　Ursula。　　〃She's　never　ill。　　ButI've　not　anywhere　or　ever　seen　two　people　as　crazy　about　each　other　as　you　and　she。〃

〃Really？〃　Norman　had　relapsed　into　interest　in　what　he　was　eating。

〃You　live　all　alone　down　there　in　the　country。　You　treat　anyone　who　comes　to　see　you　as　intruder。　And　as　soon　as　darling　husband　goes　away；　darling　wife　wanders　about　like　a　damned　soul。　　Honestly；　it　gave　me　the　blues　to　look　at　her　eyes。　　And　I　used　to　think　she　cared　more　about　the　baby　than　about　you。〃

〃She's　probably　worried　about　something　else；〃　said　Norman。　　〃More　salad？　　No？　　There's　no　dessert　at　least　I've　ordered　none。　　But　if　you'd　like　some　strawberries〃

〃I　thought　of　that；〃　replied　Ursula；　not　to　be　deflected。　　〃I　mean　of　her　being　upset　about　something　beside　you。　　I'm　slow　to　suspect　anyone　of　really　caring　about　any　ONE　else。　　But；　although　she　didn't　confess；　I　soon　saw　that　it　was　your　absence。　　And　she　wasn't　putting　on　for　my　benefit；　either。　　My　maid　hears　the　same　thing　from　all　the　servants。〃

〃This　is　pleasant；〃　said　Norman　in　his　mocking　good…humored　way。

〃And　you're　in　the　same　state；〃　she　charged　with　laughing　but　sympathetic　eyes。　　〃Why；　Fred；　you're　as　madly　in　love　with　her　as　ever。〃

〃I　wonder；〃　said　he　reflectively。

〃Why　didn't　you　bring　her　with　you？〃

He　stared　at　his　sister　like　a　man　who　has　just　discovered　that　he；　with　incredible　stupidity；　had　over…　looked　the　obvious。　　〃I　didn't　think　I'd　be　away　long；〃

evaded　he。

He　saw　Ursula　off　for　the　Continent；　half　promised　to　join　her　in　a　few　weeks　at　Aix。　　A　day　or　so　after　her　departure　he　had　a　violent　fit　of　blues；　was　haunted　by　a　vision　of　the　baby　and　the　comfortable；　peaceful　house　on　Long　Island。　　He　had　expected　to　stay　about　two　months　longer。　　〃I'm　sick　of　England　and　of　hotels；〃　he　said；　and　closed　up　his　business　and　sailed　the　following　week。


She　and　the　baby　were　at　the　pier　to　meet　him。　　He　looked　for　signs　of　the　mourning　Ursula　had　described；　but　he　looked　in　vain。　　Never　had　he　seen　her　lovelier；　or　so　sparkling。　　And　how　she　did　talk！rattling　on　and　on；　with　those　interesting　commonplaces　of　domestic　eventthe　baby；　the　household；　the　garden；　the　baby　the　horses；　the　dogs；　the　babythe　servants；　her　new　dresses；　the　babyand　so　on；　and　so　onand　the　baby。

But　when　they　got　into　the　motor　at　Hempstead　station　for　the　drive　home；　silence　fell　upon　herhe　had　been　almost　silent　from　the　start　of　the　little　journey。　　As　the　motor　swung　into　the　grounds；　looking　their　most　beautiful　for　his　homecoming；　an　enormous　wave　of　pure　delight　began　to　surge　up　in　him；　to　swell；　to　rush；　to　break；　dashing　its　spray　of　tears　into　his　eyes。　　He　turned　his　head　away　to　hide　the　too　obvious　display　of　feeling。　　They　went　into　the　house；　he　carrying　the　baby。　　He　gave　it　to　the　nurseand　he　and　she　were　alone。

〃It　certainly　is　good　to　be　home　again；〃　he　said。

The　words　were　the　tamest　commonplace。　　We　always　speak　in　the　old　stereotyped　commonplaces　when　we　speak　directly　from　the　heart。　　His　tone　made　her　glance　quickly　at　him。

〃Why；　I　believe　you　ARE　glad；〃　said　she。

He　took　her　hand。　　They　looked　at　each　other。　Suddenly　she　flung　herself　wildly　into　his　arms　and　clung　to　him　in　an　agony　of　joy　and　fear。　　〃Oh；　I　missed　you　so！〃　she　sobbed。　　〃I　missed　you　so！〃

〃It　was　frightful；〃　said　he。　　〃It　shall　never　happen　again。〃





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