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第43节

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the bookshelf were never disturbed; they were Eilie'shalf…broken

cases with butterflies; a dead frog in a bottle; a horse…shoe covered

with tinfoil; some shells too; and a cardboard box with three

speckled eggs in it; and these words written on the lid: 'Missel…

thrush from Lucy's treesecond family; only one blown。'〃  He smoked

fiercely; with puffs that were like sharp sighs。



〃Dalton was wrapped up in her。  He was never tired of talking to me

about her; and I was never tired of hearing。  We had a number of

pupils; but in the evening when we sat there; smokingour talk would

sooner or latercome round to her。  Her bedroom opened out of that

sittingroom; he took me in once and showed me a narrow little room

the width of a passage; fresh and white; with a photograph of her

mother above the bed; and an empty basket for a dog or cat。〃  He

broke off with a vexed air; and resumed sternly; as if trying to bind

himself to the narration of his more important facts: 〃She was then

fifteenher mother had been dead twelve yearsa beautiful; face;

her mother's; it had been her death that sent Dalton to fight with

us。  Well; sir; one day in August; very hot weather; he proposed a

run into the country; and who should meet us on the platform when we

arrived but Eilie; in a blue sun…bonnet and frock…flax blue; her

favourite colour。  I was angry with Dalton for not telling me that we

should see her; my clothes were not quitemy hair wanted cutting。

It was black then; sir;〃 he added; tracing a pattern in the darkness

with his stick。  〃She had a little donkey…cart; she drove; and; while

we walked one on each side; she kept looking at me from under her

sunbonnet。  I must tell you that she never laughedher eyes danced;

her cheeks would go pink; and her hair shake about on her neck; but

she never laughed。 Her old nurse; Lucy; a very broad; good woman; had

married the proprietor of the inn in the village there。  I have never

seen anything like that inn: sweetbriar up to the roof!  And the

scentI am very susceptible to scents!〃  His head drooped; and the

cigarette fell from his hand。 A train passing beneath sent up a

shower of sparks。  He started; and went on: 〃We had our lunch in the

parlourI remember that room very well; for I spent the happiest

days of my life afterwards in that inn。。。。  We went into a meadow

after lunch; and my friend Dalton fell asleep。  A wonderful thing

happened then。  Eilie whispered to me; 'Let's have a jolly time。'

She took me for the most glorious walk。  The river was close by。

A lovely stream; your river Thames; so calm and broad; it is like the

spirit of your people。  I was bewitched; I forgot my friend; I

thought of nothing but how to keep her to myself。  It was such a day!

There are days that are the devil's; but that was truly one of God's。

She took me to a little pond under an elm…tree; and we dragged it; we

two; an hour; for a kind of tiny red worm to feed some creature that

she had。  We found them in the mud; and while she was bending over;

the curls got in her eyes。  If you could have seen her then; I think;

sir; you would have said she was like the first sight of spring。。。。

We had tea afterwards; all together; in the long grass under some

fruit…trees。  If I had the knack of words; there are things that I

could say。〃  He bent; as though in deference to those unspoken

memories。  〃Twilight came on while we were sitting there。 A wonderful

thing is twilight in the country!  It became time for us to go。

There was an avenue of trees close bylike a church with a window at

the end; where golden light came through。  I walked up and down it

with her。  'Will you come again?' she whispered; and suddenly she

lifted up her face to be kissed。 I kissed her as if she were a little

child。  And when we said good…bye; her eyes were looking at me across

her father's shoulder; with surprise and sorrow in them。  'Why do you

go away?' they seemed to say。。。。  But I must tell you;〃 he went on

hurriedly; 〃of a thing that happened before we had gone a hundred

yards。  We were smoking our pipes; and I; thinking of herwhen out

she sprang from the hedge and stood in front of us。  Dalton cried

out; 'What are you here for again; you mad girl?'  She rushed up to

him and hugged him; but when she looked at me; her face was quite

differentcareless; defiant; as one might sayit hurt me。  I

couldn't understand it; and what one doesn't understand frightens

one。









IV



〃Time went on。  There was no swordsman; or pistol…shot like me in

London; they said。  We had as many pupils as we likedit was the

only part of my life when I have been able to save money。  I had no

chance to spend it。  We gave lessons all day; and in the evening were

too tired to go out。  That year I had the misfortune to lose my dear

mother。  I became a rich manyes; sir; at that time I must have had

not less than six hundred a year。



〃It was a long time before I saw Eilie again。  She went abroad to

Dresden with her father's sister to learn French and German。  It was

in the autumn of 1875 when she came back to us。  She was seventeen

thena beautiful young creature。〃  He paused; as if to gather his

forces for description; and went on。



〃Tall; as a young tree; with eyes like the sky。  I would not say she

was perfect; but her imperfections were beautiful to me。  What is it

makes you loveah! sir; that is very hidden and mysterious。  She had

never lost the trick of closing her lips tightly when she remembered

her uneven tooth。  You may say that was vanity; but in a young girl

and which of us is not vain; eh?  'Old men and maidens; young men and

children!'



〃As I said; she came back to London to her little room; and in the

evenings was always ready with our tea。  You mustn't suppose she was

housewifely; there is something in me that never admired

housewifelinessa fine quality; no doubt; still〃 He sighed。



〃No;〃 he resumed; 〃Eilie was not like that; for she was never quite

the same two days together。  I told you her eyes were like the sky

that was true of all of her。  In one thing; however; at that time;

she always seemed the samein love for her father。  For me!  I don't

know what I should have expected; but my presence seemed to have the

effect of making her dumb; I would catch her looking at me with a

frown; and then; as if to make up to her own natureand a more

loving nature never came into this world; that I shall maintain to my

dying dayshe would go to her father and kiss him。  When I talked

with him she pretended not to notice; but I could see her face grow

cold and stubborn。  I am not quick; and it was a long time before I

understood that she was jealous; she wanted him all to herself。  I've

often wondered how she could be his daughter; for he was the very

soul of justice and a slow man tooand she was as quick as a bird。

For a long time after I saw her dislike of me; I refused to believe

itif one does not want to believe a thing there are always reasons

why it should not seem true; at least so it is with me; and I suppose

with all selfish men。



〃I spent evening after evening there; when; if I had not thought only

of myself; I should have kept away。  But one day I could no longer be

blind。



〃It was a Sunday in February。  I always had an invitation on Sundays

to dine with them in the middle of the day。  There was no one in the

sitting…room; but the door of Eilie's bedroom was open。  I heard her

voice: 'That man; always that man!'  It was enough for me; I went

down again without coming in; and walked about all day。



〃For three weeks I kept away。  To the school of course I came as

usual; but not upstairs。  I don't know what I told Daltonit did not

signify what you told him; he always had a theory of his own; and was

persuaded of its trutha very single…minded man; sir。



〃But now I come to the most wonderful days of my life。  It was an

early spring that year。  I had fallen away already from my

resolution; and used to slink upseldom; it's trueand spend the

evening with them as before。  One afternoon I came up to the sitting…

room; the light was failingit was warm; and the windows were open。

In the air was that feeling which comes to you once a year; in the

spring; no matter where you may be; in a crowded street; or alone in

a forest; only oncea feeling likebut I cannot describe it。



〃Eilie was sitting there。  If you don't know; sir; I can't tell you

what it means to be near the woman one loves。  She was leaning on the

windowsill; staring down into the street。  It was as though she might

be looking out for some one。  I stood; hardly breathing。  She turned

her head; and saw me。  Her eyes were strange。  They seemed to ask me

a question。  But I couldn't have spoken for the world。  I can't tell

you what I feltI dared not speak; or think; or hope。  I have been

in nineteen battlesseveral times in positions of some danger; when

the lifting of a finger perhaps meant death; but

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