stories by english authors-orient (Ó¢¹ú×÷¼Ò¹Êʼ¯)-µÚ26½Ú
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
thorny¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡bushes¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡pushed¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡their¡¡¡¡¡¡straggling¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡way¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡through¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡dry¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡soil£»¡¡
ineffectively¡¡as¡¡far¡¡as¡¡the¡¡grace¡¡of¡¡the¡¡landscape¡¡was¡¡concerned£»¡¡for¡¡they¡¡
merely¡¡served¡¡to¡¡emphasise¡¡the¡¡barren¡¡aridness¡¡of¡¡the¡¡land¡¡that¡¡stretched¡¡
before¡¡the¡¡tents£»¡¡sloping¡¡gradually¡¡to¡¡the¡¡distant¡¡hills¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡hills¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡uninteresting¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡enough¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡themselves£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡they¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡no¡¡
grandeur¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡outline£»¡¡¡¡¡¡no¡¡¡¡¡¡picturesqueness¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡even£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡though¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡morning¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡
evening¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡sun£»¡¡¡¡¡¡like¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡great¡¡¡¡¡¡magician£»¡¡¡¡¡¡clothed¡¡¡¡¡¡them¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡beauty¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡
touch¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡They¡¡had¡¡begun¡¡to¡¡change£»¡¡to¡¡soften£»¡¡to¡¡blush¡¡rose¡¡red¡¡in¡¡the¡¡evening¡¡
light£»¡¡when¡¡a¡¡woman¡¡came¡¡to¡¡the¡¡entrance¡¡of¡¡the¡¡largest¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tents¡¡and¡¡
looked¡¡¡¡¡¡toward¡¡¡¡¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡She¡¡¡¡¡¡leaned¡¡¡¡¡¡against¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡support¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡one¡¡¡¡¡¡side¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
canvas¡¡flap£»¡¡and£»¡¡putting¡¡back¡¡her¡¡head£»¡¡rested¡¡that£»¡¡too£»¡¡against¡¡it£»¡¡while¡¡
her¡¡eyes¡¡wandered¡¡over¡¡the¡¡plain¡¡and¡¡over¡¡the¡¡distant¡¡hills¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡She¡¡was¡¡bareheaded£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡covering¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tent¡¡projected¡¡a¡¡few¡¡feet¡¡
to¡¡¡¡¡¡form¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡¡¡¡¡awning¡¡¡¡¡¡overhead¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡gentle¡¡¡¡¡¡breeze¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡risen¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡
sundown¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡stirred¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡soft¡¡¡¡¡¡brown¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡tendrils¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡hair¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡temples£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡
fluttered¡¡her¡¡pink¡¡cotton¡¡gown¡¡a¡¡little¡£¡¡She¡¡stood¡¡very¡¡still£»¡¡with¡¡her¡¡arms¡¡
hanging¡¡and¡¡her¡¡hands¡¡clasped¡¡loosely¡¡in¡¡front¡¡of¡¡her¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡about¡¡her¡¡
whole¡¡¡¡¡¡attitude¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡¡¡¡¡air¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡studied¡¡¡¡¡¡quiet¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡some¡¡¡¡¡¡vague¡¡¡¡¡¡fashion¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
slight¡¡¡¡¡¡clasp¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡hands¡¡¡¡¡¡accentuated¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Her¡¡¡¡¡¡face£»¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡its¡¡¡¡¡¡tightly£»¡¡¡¡¡¡almost¡¡
rigidly¡¡closed¡¡lips£»¡¡would¡¡have¡¡been¡¡quite¡¡in¡¡keeping¡¡with¡¡the¡¡impression¡¡
of¡¡¡¡¡¡conscious¡¡¡¡¡¡calm¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡entire¡¡¡¡¡¡presence¡¡¡¡¡¡suggested£»¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡
that¡¡¡¡¡¡when¡¡¡¡¡¡she¡¡¡¡¡¡raised¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡eyes¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡strange¡¡¡¡¡¡contradiction¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡this¡¡¡¡¡¡idea¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡
afforded¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡large¡¡gray¡¡eyes£»¡¡unusually¡¡bright¡¡and¡¡rather¡¡startling¡¡
in¡¡effect£»¡¡for¡¡they¡¡seemed¡¡the¡¡only¡¡live¡¡thing¡¡about¡¡her¡£¡¡Gleaming¡¡from¡¡her¡¡
still£»¡¡¡¡¡¡set¡¡¡¡¡¡face£»¡¡¡¡¡¡there¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡something¡¡¡¡¡¡almost¡¡¡¡¡¡alarming¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡their¡¡¡¡¡¡brilliancy¡£¡¡
They¡¡¡¡¡¡softened¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡sudden¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡glow¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡pleasure¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡they¡¡¡¡¡¡rested¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡88¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡89¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡STORIES¡¡
translucent¡¡¡¡¡¡green¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡wheat¡fields¡¡¡¡¡¡under¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡broad¡¡¡¡¡¡generous¡¡¡¡¡¡sunlight£»¡¡
and¡¡then¡¡wandered¡¡to¡¡where¡¡the¡¡pure¡¡vivid¡¡yellow¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mustard¡flower¡¡
spread¡¡in¡¡waves¡¡to¡¡the¡¡base¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hills£»¡¡now¡¡mystically¡¡veiled¡¡in¡¡radiance¡£¡¡
She¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡stood¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡motionless£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡watching¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡their¡¡¡¡¡¡melting£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡elusive¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡changes¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡
palpitating¡¡¡¡¡¡rose¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡transparent¡¡¡¡¡¡purple¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡amethyst¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡stillness¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡
evening¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡broken¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡monotonous£»¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡unmusical¡¡¡¡¡¡creaking¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡
Persian¡¡wheel¡¡at¡¡some¡¡little¡¡distance¡¡to¡¡the¡¡left¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tent¡£¡¡The¡¡well¡¡stood¡¡
in¡¡a¡¡little¡¡grove¡¡of¡¡trees£»¡¡between¡¡their¡¡branches¡¡she¡¡could¡¡see£»¡¡when¡¡she¡¡
turned¡¡her¡¡head£»¡¡the¡¡coloured¡¡saris¡¡of¡¡the¡¡village¡¡women£»¡¡where¡¡they¡¡stood¡¡
in¡¡¡¡¡¡groups¡¡¡¡¡¡chattering¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡they¡¡¡¡¡¡drew¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡water£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡little¡¡¡¡¡¡naked¡¡¡¡¡¡brown¡¡
babies¡¡that¡¡toddled¡¡beside¡¡them¡¡or¡¡sprawled¡¡on¡¡the¡¡hard¡¡ground¡¡beneath¡¡
the¡¡trees¡£¡¡From¡¡the¡¡village¡¡of¡¡flat¡roofed¡¡mud¡¡houses¡¡under¡¡the¡¡low¡¡hill¡¡at¡¡
the¡¡back¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tents£»¡¡other¡¡women¡¡were¡¡crossing¡¡the¡¡plain¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡well£»¡¡
their¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡terra¡cotta¡¡¡¡¡¡water¡jars¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡poised¡¡¡¡¡¡easily¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡their¡¡¡¡¡¡heads£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡casting¡¡¡¡¡¡long¡¡
shadows¡¡on¡¡the¡¡sun¡baked¡¡ground¡¡as¡¡they¡¡came¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Presently£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡distance£»¡¡from¡¡the¡¡direction¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sunlit¡¡hills¡¡opposite¡¡
a¡¡¡¡¡¡little¡¡¡¡¡¡group¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡men¡¡¡¡¡¡came¡¡¡¡¡¡into¡¡¡¡¡¡sight¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Far¡¡¡¡¡¡off£»¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡mustard¡¡¡¡¡¡¡coloured¡¡
jackets¡¡and¡¡the¡¡red¡¡turbans¡¡of¡¡the¡¡orderlies¡¡made¡¡vivid¡¡splashes¡¡of¡¡colour¡¡
on¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡dull¡¡¡¡plain¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡As¡¡¡¡¡¡they¡¡¡¡¡¡came¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡nearer£»¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡guns¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡slung¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡across¡¡¡¡¡¡their¡¡
shoulders£»¡¡the¡¡cases¡¡of¡¡mathematical¡¡instruments£»¡¡the¡¡hammers£»¡¡and¡¡other¡¡
heavy¡¡baggage¡¡they¡¡carried¡¡for¡¡the¡¡sahib£»¡¡became¡¡visible¡£¡¡A¡¡little¡¡in¡¡front£»¡¡
at¡¡walking¡¡pace¡¡rode¡¡the¡¡sahib¡¡himself£»¡¡making¡¡notes¡¡as¡¡he¡¡came¡¡in¡¡a¡¡book¡¡
he¡¡held¡¡before¡¡him¡£¡¡The¡¡girl¡¡at¡¡the¡¡tent¡¡entrance¡¡watched¡¡the¡¡advance¡¡of¡¡
the¡¡little¡¡company¡¡indifferently£»¡¡it¡¡seemed£»¡¡except¡¡for¡¡a¡¡slight¡¡tightening¡¡of¡¡
the¡¡muscles¡¡about¡¡her¡¡mouth£»¡¡her¡¡face¡¡remained¡¡unchanged¡£¡¡While¡¡he¡¡was¡¡
still¡¡some¡¡little¡¡distance¡¡away£»¡¡the¡¡man¡¡with¡¡the¡¡notebook¡¡raised¡¡his¡¡head¡¡
and¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡smiled¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡awkwardly¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡saw¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡standing¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡there¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Awkwardness£»¡¡
perhaps£»¡¡best¡¡describes¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡man¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡badly¡¡put¡¡together£»¡¡loose¡¡¡
jointed£»¡¡¡¡¡¡ungainly¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡fact¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡tall¡¡¡¡¡¡profited¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡¡¡¡¡¡nothing£»¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡
merely¡¡emphasised¡¡the¡¡extreme¡¡ungracefulness¡¡of¡¡his¡¡figure¡£¡¡His¡¡long¡¡pale¡¡
face¡¡was¡¡made¡¡paler¡¡by¡¡the¡¡shock¡¡of¡¡coarse£»¡¡tow¡¡¡coloured¡¡hair£»¡¡his¡¡eyes£»¡¡
even£»¡¡looked¡¡colourless£»¡¡though¡¡they¡¡were¡¡certainly¡¡the¡¡least¡¡uninteresting¡¡
feature¡¡of¡¡his¡¡face£»¡¡for¡¡they¡¡were¡¡not¡¡devoid¡¡of¡¡expression¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡a¡¡way¡¡
of¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡slouching¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡when¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡moved¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡singularly¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡intensified¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡general¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡89¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡90¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡STORIES¡¡
uncouthness¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡appearance¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Are¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡very¡¡¡¡¡¡tired£¿¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡asked¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡wife£»¡¡
gently£»¡¡¡¡¡¡when¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡dismounted¡¡¡¡¡¡close¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡tent¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡question¡¡¡¡¡¡would¡¡
have¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡¡¡¡¡unnecessary¡¡¡¡¡¡one¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡¡¡¡¡put¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡instead¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡
husband£»¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡voice¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡peculiar¡¡¡¡¡¡flat¡¡¡¡¡¡toneless¡¡¡¡¡¡sound¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡
extreme¡¡weariness¡¡is¡¡answerable¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Well£»¡¡no£»¡¡my¡¡dear£»¡¡not¡¡very£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡replied£»¡¡drawling¡¡out¡¡the¡¡words¡¡with¡¡
an¡¡¡¡¡¡exasperating¡¡¡¡¡¡air¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡delivering¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡final¡¡verdict£»¡¡¡¡after¡¡¡¡¡¡deep¡¡¡¡¡¡reflection¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡
the¡¡subject¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡girl¡¡glanced¡¡once¡¡more¡¡at¡¡the¡¡fading¡¡colours¡¡on¡¡the¡¡hills¡£¡¡¡¨Come¡¡in¡¡
and¡¡rest£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said£»¡¡moving¡¡aside¡¡a¡¡little¡¡to¡¡let¡¡him¡¡pass¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡She¡¡stood¡¡lingering¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡after¡¡he¡¡had¡¡entered¡¡the¡¡tent£»¡¡as¡¡though¡¡
unwilling¡¡to¡¡leave¡¡the¡¡outer¡¡air£»¡¡and¡¡before¡¡she¡¡turned¡¡to¡¡follow¡¡him¡¡she¡¡
drew¡¡a¡¡deep¡¡breath£»¡¡and¡¡her¡¡hand¡¡went¡¡for¡¡one¡¡swift¡¡second¡¡to¡¡her¡¡throat¡¡
as¡¡though¡¡she¡¡felt¡¡stifled¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Later¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡evening¡¡¡¡¡¡she¡¡¡¡¡¡sat¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡tent£»¡¡¡¡¡¡sewing¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡light¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
lamp¡¡that¡¡stood¡¡on¡¡her¡¡little¡¡table¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Opposite¡¡to¡¡her£»¡¡her¡¡husband¡¡stretched¡¡his¡¡ungainly¡¡length¡¡in¡¡a¡¡deck¡¡¡
chair£»¡¡and¡¡turned¡¡over¡¡a¡¡pile¡¡of¡¡official¡¡notes¡£¡¡Every¡¡now¡¡and¡¡then¡¡her¡¡eyes¡¡
wandered¡¡from¡¡the¡¡gay¡¡silks¡¡of¡¡the¡¡table¡cover¡¡she¡¡was¡¡embroidering¡¡to¡¡
the¡¡¡¡¡¡canvas¡¡¡¡¡¡walls¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡bounded¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡narrow¡¡¡¡¡¡space¡¡¡¡¡¡into¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡their¡¡¡¡¡¡few¡¡
household¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡goods¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡crowded¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Outside¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡there¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡deep¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡hush¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡
silence¡¡of¡¡the¡¡vast¡¡empty¡¡plain¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡work¡¡its¡¡way¡¡slowly£»¡¡steadily¡¡in¡¡
toward¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡little¡¡¡¡¡¡patch¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡light¡¡¡¡¡¡set¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡its¡¡¡¡¡¡midst¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡girl¡¡¡¡¡¡felt¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡every¡¡
nerve£»¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡though¡¡¡¡¡¡some¡¡¡¡¡¡soft¡footed£»¡¡¡¡¡¡noiseless£»¡¡¡¡¡¡shapeless¡¡¡¡¡¡creature£»¡¡
whose¡¡presence¡¡she¡¡only¡¡dimly¡¡divined£»¡¡was¡¡approaching¡¡nearer/nearer/¡£¡¡
The¡¡heavy¡¡outer¡¡stillness¡¡was¡¡in¡¡some¡¡way¡¡made¡¡¡¡¡¡more¡¡terrifying¡¡by¡¡the¡¡
rustle¡¡of¡¡the¡¡papers¡¡her¡¡husband¡¡was¡¡reading£»¡¡by¡¡the¡¡creaking¡¡of¡¡his¡¡chair¡¡
as¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡moved£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡little¡¡¡¡¡¡fidgeting¡¡¡¡¡¡grunts¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡half¡exclamations¡¡
which¡¡from¡¡time¡¡to¡¡time¡¡broke¡¡from¡¡him¡£¡¡His¡¡wife's¡¡hand¡¡shook¡¡at¡¡every¡¡
unintelligible¡¡mutter¡¡from¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡slight¡¡habitual¡¡contraction¡¡between¡¡
her¡¡eyes¡¡deepened¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡All¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡once¡¡¡¡¡¡she¡¡¡¡¡¡threw¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡work¡¡¡¡¡¡down¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡table¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨For¡¡¡¡¡¡heaven's¡¡
sake/please/£»¡¡John£»¡¡/talk/£¡¡¨¡¡she¡¡cried¡£¡¡Her¡¡eyes£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡moment's¡¡space¡¡in¡¡
which¡¡they¡¡met¡¡the¡¡startled¡¡ones¡¡of¡¡her¡¡husband£»¡¡had¡¡a¡¡wild£»¡¡hunted¡¡look£»¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡90¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡91¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡STORIES¡¡
but¡¡it¡¡was¡¡gone¡¡almost¡¡before¡¡his¡¡slow¡¡brain¡¡had¡¡time¡¡to¡¡note¡¡that¡¡it¡¡had¡¡
been¡¡thereand¡¡was¡¡vaguely¡¡disturbing¡£¡¡She¡¡laughed¡¡a¡¡little¡¡unsteadily¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Did¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡startle¡¡¡¡¡¡you£¿¡¡¡¡¡¡I'm¡¡¡¡sorry¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¨she¡¡¡¡¡¡laughed¡¡¡¡¡¡again¡¨I¡¡believe¡¡¡¡¡¡I'm¡¡¡¡a¡¡
little¡¡nervous¡£¡¡When¡¡one¡¡is¡¡all¡¡day¡¡alone¡¨¡¡She¡¡paused¡¡without¡¡finishing¡¡
the¡¡¡¡¡¡sentence¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡man's¡¡¡¡¡¡face¡¡¡¡¡¡changed¡¡¡¡¡¡suddenly¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡A¡¡¡¡¡¡wave¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡tenderness¡¡
swept¡¡¡¡¡¡over¡¡¡¡¡¡it£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡same¡¡¡¡¡¡time¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡¡¡¡¡expression¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡half¡¡¡¡¡¡¡incredulous¡¡
delight¡¡shone¡¡in¡¡his¡¡pale¡¡eyes¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Poor¡¡little¡¡girl£»¡¡are¡¡you¡¡really¡¡lonely£¿¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡Even¡¡the¡¡real¡¡feeling¡¡
in¡¡his¡¡tone¡¡failed¡¡to¡¡rob¡¡his¡¡voice¡¡of¡¡its¡¡peculiarly¡¡irritating¡¡grating¡¡quality¡£¡¡
He¡¡rose¡¡awkwardly£»¡¡and¡¡moved¡¡to¡¡his¡¡wife's¡¡side¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Involuntarily¡¡she¡¡shrank¡¡a¡¡little£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡hand¡¡which¡¡he¡¡had¡¡stretched¡¡
out¡¡to¡¡touch¡¡her¡¡hair¡¡sank¡¡to¡¡his¡¡side¡£¡¡She¡¡recovered¡¡herself¡¡immediately£»¡¡
and¡¡turned¡¡her¡¡face¡¡up¡¡to¡¡his£»¡¡though¡¡she¡¡did¡¡not¡¡raise¡¡her¡¡eyes£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡did¡¡
not¡¡kiss¡¡her¡£¡¡Instead£»¡¡he¡¡stood¡¡in¡¡an¡¡embarrassed¡¡fashion¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡by¡¡her¡¡
side£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡w