men, women and ghosts(男人、女人和鬼魂)-第4节
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battle； how a siege Was ordered and conducted。 She complained
Because he bungled at the fall of Liege。 The curious names of parts of
forts she knew； And aired with conscious pride her ravelins； And
counterscarps； and lunes。 The day drew on； And his dead fish's fins In
the hot sunshine turned a mauve…green hue。 At last Gervase； guessing the
hour； withdrew。 But she sat long in still oblivion。
XXVI
Then he would bring her books； and read to her The poems of Dr。
Donne； and the blue river Would murmur through the reading； and a stir
Of birds and bees make the white petals shiver； And one or two would
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Men； Women and Ghosts
flutter prone and lie Spotting the smooth…clipped grass。 The days went
by Threaded with talk and verses。 Green leaves pushed Through
blossoms stubbornly。 Gervase； unconscious of dishonesty； Fell into strong
and watchful loving； free He thought； since always would his lips be
hushed。
XXVII
But lips do not stay silent at command； And Gervase strove in vain
to order his。 Luckily Eunice did not understand That he but read himself
aloud； for this Their friendship would have snapped。 She treated him
And spoilt him like a brother。 It was now 〃Gervase〃 and 〃Eunice〃
with them； and he dined Whenever she'd allow； In the oak parlour；
underneath the dim Old pictured Framptons； opposite her slim
Figure； so bright against the chair behind。
XXVIII
Eunice was happier than she had been For many days； and yet the
hours were long。 All Gervase told to her but made her lean More heavily
upon the past。 Among Her hopes she lived； even when she was giving
Her morning orders； even when she twined Nosegays to deck her
parlours。 With the thought Of Everard； her mind Solaced its solitude；
and in her striving To do as he would wish was all her living。 She
welcomed Gervase for the news he brought。
XXIX
Black…hearts and white…hearts； bubbled with the sun； Hid in their
leaves and knocked against each other。 Eunice was standing； panting with
her run Up to the tool…house just to get another Basket。 All those which
she had brought were filled； And still Gervase pelted her from above。
The buckles of his shoes flashed higher and higher Until his shoulders
strove Quite through the top。 〃Eunice； your spirit's filled This tree。
White…hearts！〃 He shook； and cherries spilled And spat out from
the leaves like falling fire。
XXX
The wide； sun…winged June morning spread itself Over the quiet
garden。 And they packed Full twenty baskets with the fruit。 〃My shelf
Of cordials will be stored with what it lacked。 In future； none of us will
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Men； Women and Ghosts
drink strong ale； But cherry…brandy。〃 〃Vastly good； I vow；〃 And
Gervase gave the tree another shake。 The cherries seemed to flow Out of
the sky in cloudfuls； like blown hail。 Swift Lady Eunice ran； her
farthingale； Unnoticed； tangling in a fallen rake。
XXXI
She gave a little cry and fell quite prone In the long grass； and lay
there very still。 Gervase leapt from the tree at her soft moan； And
kneeling over her； with clumsy skill Unloosed her bodice； fanned her with
his hat； And his unguarded lips pronounced his heart。 〃Eunice； my
Dearest Girl； where are you hurt？〃 His trembling fingers dart Over her
limbs seeking some wound。 She strove To answer； opened wide her eyes；
above Her knelt Sir Everard； with face alert。
XXXII
Her eyelids fell again at that sweet sight； 〃My Love！〃 she murmured；
〃Dearest！ Oh； my Dear！〃 He took her in his arms and bore her right
And tenderly to the old seat； and 〃Here I have you mine at last；〃 she said；
and swooned Under his kisses。 When she came once more To
sight of him； she smiled in comfort knowing Herself laid as before Close
covered on his breast。 And all her glowing Youth answered him； and
ever nearer growing She twined him in her arms and soft festooned
XXXIII
Herself about him like a flowering vine； Drawing his lips to cling
upon her own。 A ray of sunlight pierced the leaves to shine Where her
half…opened bodice let be shown Her white throat fluttering to his soft
caress； Half…gasping with her gladness。 And her pledge She
whispers； melting with delight。 A twig Snaps in the hornbeam hedge。 A
cackling laugh tears through the quietness。 Eunice starts up in terrible
distress。 〃My God！ What's that？〃 Her staring eyes are big。
XXXIV
Revulsed emotion set her body shaking As though she had an ague。
Gervase swore； Jumped to his feet in such a dreadful taking His face was
ghastly with the look it wore。 Crouching and slipping through the trees； a
man In worn； blue livery； a humpbacked thing； Made off。 But
turned every few steps to gaze At Eunice； and to fling Vile looks and
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gestures back。 〃The ruffian！ By Christ's Death！ I will split him to a
span Of hog's thongs。〃 She grasped at his sleeve； 〃Gervase！
XXXV
What are you doing here？ Put down that sword； That's only poor
old Tony； crazed and lame。 We never notice him。 With my dear Lord I
ought not to have minded that he came。 But； Gervase； it surprises me that
you Should so lack grace to stay here。〃 With one hand She held
her gaping bodice to conceal Her breast。 〃I must demand Your instant
absence。 Everard； but new Returned； will hardly care for guests。
Adieu。〃 〃Eunice； you're mad。〃 His brain began to reel。
XXXVI
He tried again to take her； tried to twist Her arms about him。 Truly；
she had said Nothing should ever part them。 In a mist She pushed him
from her； clasped her aching head In both her hands； and rocked and
sobbed aloud。 〃Oh！ Where is Everard？ What does this mean？
So lately come to leave me thus alone！〃 But Gervase had not seen Sir
Everard。 Then； gently； to her bowed And sickening spirit； he told of her
proud Surrender to him。 He could hear her moan。
XXXVII
Then shame swept over her and held her numb； Hiding her
anguished face against the seat。 At last she rose； a woman stricken dumb
And trailed away with slowly…dragging feet。 Gervase looked after her；
but feared to pass The barrier set between them。 All his rare Joy
broke to fragments worse than that； unreal。 And standing lonely there；
His swollen heart burst out； and on the grass He flung himself and wept。
He knew； alas！ The loss so great his life could never heal。
XXXVIII
For days thereafter Eunice lived retired； Waited upon by one old
serving…maid。 She would not leave her chamber； and desired Only to
hide herself。 She was afraid Of what her eyes might trick her into seeing；
Of what her longing urge her then to do。 What was this dreadful
illness solitude Had tortured her into？ Her hours
