stories by english authors-orient (英国作家故事集)-第30节
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and blotted out sight and hearing； and it was not till the sound was very
near that she was conscious of the ring of horse's hoofs on the plain。
She raised her head sharply； with a thrill of fear； still kneeling； and
listened。
There was no mistake。 The horseman was riding in hot haste； for the
thud of the hoofs followed one another swiftly。
As Mrs。 Drayton listened her white face grew whiter； and she began to
tremble。 Putting out shaking hands； she raised herself by the arms of the
folding…chair and stood upright。
Nearer and nearer came the thunder of the approaching sound； mingled
with startled exclamations and the noise of trampling feet from the
direction of the kitchen tent。
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Slowly； mechanically almost； she dragged herself to the entrance； and
stood clinging to the canvas there。 By the time she had reached it
Broomhurst had flung himself from the saddle； and had thrown the reins to
one of the men。
Mrs。 Drayton stared at him with wide； bright eyes as he hastened
toward her。
〃I thought youyou are not〃 she began； and then her teeth began to
chatter。 〃I am so cold！〃 she said； in a little； weak voice。
Broomhurst took her hand and led her over the threshold back into the
tent。
〃Don't be so frightened；〃 he implored； 〃I came to tell you first。 I
thought it wouldn't frighten you so much asYourDrayton isvery ill。
They are bringing him。 I〃
He paused。 She gazed at him a moment with parted lips； then she
broke into a horrible； discordant laugh； and stood clinging to the back of a
chair。
Broomhurst started back。
〃Do you understand what I mean？〃 he whispered。 〃Kathleen； for God's
sake/don't/he is /dead/。〃
He looked over his shoulder as he spoke； her shrill laughter ringing in
his ears。 The white glare and dazzle of the plain stretched before him；
framed by the entrance to the tent； far off； against the horizon； there were
moving black specks； which he knew to be the returning servants with
their still burden。
They were bringing John Drayton home。
One afternoon； some months later； Broomhurst climbed the steep lane
leading to the cliffs of a little English village by the sea。 He had already
been to the inn； and had been shown by the proprietress the house where
Mrs。 Drayton lodged。
〃The lady was out； but the gentleman would likely find her if he went
to the cliffsdown by the bay； or thereabouts；〃 her landlady explained； and；
obeying her directions； Broomhurst presently emerged from the shady
woodland path on to the hillside overhanging the sea。
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He glanced eagerly round him； and then； with a sudden quickening of
the heart； walked on over the springy heather to where she sat。 She turned
when the rustling his footsteps made through the bracken was near enough
to arrest her attention； and looked up at him as he came。 Then she rose
slowly and stood waiting for him。 He came up to her without a word； and
seized both her hands； devouring her face with his eyes。 Something he saw
there repelled him。 Slowly he let her hands fall； still looking at her silently。
〃You are not glad to see me； and I have counted the hours；〃 he said； at last；
in a dull； toneless voice。
Her lips quivered。 〃Don't be angry with meI can't help itI'm not
glad or sorry for anything now；〃 she answered； and her voice matched his
for grayness。
They sat down together on a long flat stone half embedded in a wiry
clump of whortleberries。 Behind them the lonely hillsides rose； brilliant
with yellow bracken and the purple of heather。 Before them stretched the
wide sea。 It was a soft； gray day。 Streaks of pale sunlight trembled at
moments far out on the water。 The tide was rising in the little bay above
which they sat； and Broomhurst watched the lazy foam…edged waves
slipping over the uncovered rocks toward the shore； then sliding back as
though for very weariness they despaired of reaching it。 The muffled；
pulsing sound of the sea filled the silence。 Broomhurst thought suddenly
of hot Eastern sunshine； of the whir of insect wings on the still air； and the
creaking of a wheel in the distance。 He turned and looked at his
companion。
〃I have come thousands of miles to see you；〃 he said； 〃aren't you going
to speak to me now I am here？〃
〃Why did you come？ I told you not to come；〃 she answered；
falteringly。 〃I〃 she paused。
〃And I replied that I should follow youif you remember；〃 he
answered； still quietly。 〃I came because I would not listen to what you said
then； at that awful time。 You didn't know /yourself/ what you said。 No
wonder！ I have given you some months； and now I have come。〃
There was silence between them。 Broomhurst saw that she was crying；
her tears fell fast on to her hands； that were clasped in her lap。 Her face； he
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noticed； was thin and drawn。
Very gently he put his arm round her shoulder and drew her nearer to
him。 She made no resistance； it seemed that she did not notice the
movement； and his arm dropped at his side。
〃You asked me why I had come。 You think it possible that three
months can change one very thoroughly； then？〃 he said； in a cold voice。
〃I not only think it possible； I have proved it；〃 she replied； wearily。
He turned round and faced her。
〃You /did/ love me； Kathleen！〃 he asserted。 〃You never said so in
words； but I know it；〃 he added； fiercely。
〃Yes； I did。〃
〃Andyou mean that you don't now？〃
Her voice was very tired。 〃Yes； I can't help it；〃 she answered； 〃it has
goneutterly。〃
The gray sea slowly lapped the rocks。 Overhead the sharp scream of a
gull cut through the stillness。 It was broken again； a moment afterward； by
a short hard laugh from the man。
〃Don't！〃 she whispered； and laid a hand swiftly on his arm。 〃Do you
think it isn't worse for me？ I wish to God I /did/ love you！〃 she cried；
passionately。 〃Perhaps it would make me forget that； to all intents and
purposes； I am a murderess。
Broomhurst met her wide； despairing eyes with an amazement which
yielded to sudden pitying comprehension。
〃So that is it； my darling？ You are worrying about /that/？ You who
were as loyal as〃
She stopped him with a frantic gesture。
〃Don't！ /don't！/〃 she wailed。 〃If you only knew！ Let me try to tell you
will you？〃 she urged； pitifully。 〃It may be better if I tell some oneif I
don't keep it all to myself； and think； and /think/。〃
She clasped her hands tight； with the old gesture he remembered when
she was struggling for self…control； and waited a moment。
Presently she began to speak in a low； hurried tone： 〃It began before
you came。 I know now what the feeling was that I was afraid to
acknowledge to myself。 I used to try and smother it； I used to repeat things
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to myself all daypoems； stupid rhymes/anything/ to keep my thoughts
quite underneathbut I/hated/ John before you came！ We had been
married nearly a year then。 I never loved him。 Of course you are going to
say； 'Why did you marry him？' 〃 She looked drearily over the placid sea。
〃Why /did/ I marry him？ I don't know； for the reason that hundreds of
ignorant； inexperienced girls marry； I suppose。 My home wasn't a happy
one。 I was miserable； and oh/restless/。 I wonder if men know what it
feels like to be restless？ Sometimes I think they can't even guess。 John
wanted me very badly； nobody wanted me at home particularly。 There
didn't seem to be any point in my life。 Do you understand？ 。 。 。 Of course；
being alone with him in that
