five tales-第37节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



The　young　woman　added　hastily：

〃What　style　would　you　likesomething　modish？〃

〃No。　　Simple。〃

〃What　figure　would　the　young　lady　be？〃

〃I　don't　know；　about　two　inches　shorter　than　you；　I　should　say。〃

〃Could　you　give　me　her　waist　measurement？〃

Megan's　waist！

〃Oh！　　anything　usual！〃

〃Quite！〃

While　she　was　gone　he　stood　disconsolately　eyeing　the　models　in　the　window；　and　suddenly　it　seemed　to　him　incredible　that　Meganhis　Megan　could　ever　be　dressed　save　in　the　rough　tweed　skirt；　coarse　blouse；　and　tam…o'…shanter　cap　he　was　wont　to　see　her　in。　　The　young　woman　had　come　back　with　several　dresses　in　her　arms；　and　Ashurst　eyed　her　laying　them　against　her　own　modish　figure。　　There　was　one　whose　colour　he　liked；　a　dove…grey；　but　to　imagine　Megan　clothed　in　it　was　beyond　him。　　The　young　woman　went　away；　and　brought　some　more。　But　on　Ashurst　there　had　now　come　a　feeling　of　paralysis。　　How　choose？　　She　would　want　a　hat　too；　and　shoes；　and　gloves；　and；　suppose；　when　he　had　got　them　all；　they　commonised　her；　as　Sunday　clothes　always　commonised　village　folk！　　Why　should　she　not　travel　as　she　was？　　Ah！　　But　conspicuousness　would　matter；　this　was　a　serious　elopement。　　And；　staring　at　the　young　woman；　he　thought：　'I　wonder　if　she　guesses；　and　thinks　me　a　blackguard？'

〃Do　you　mind　putting　aside　that　grey　one　for　me？〃　　he　said　desperately　at　last。　　〃I　can't　decide　now；　I'll　come　in　again　this　afternoon。〃

The　young　woman　sighed。

〃Oh！　　certainly。　　It's　a　very　tasteful　costume。　　I　don't　think　you'll　get　anything　that　will　suit　your　purpose　better。〃

〃I　expect　not；〃　Ashurst　murmured；　and　went　out。

Freed　again　from　the　suspicious　matter…of…factness　of　the　world；　he　took　a　long　breath；　and　went　back　to　visions。　　In　fancy　he　saw　the　trustful；　pretty　creature　who　was　going　to　join　her　life　to　his；　saw　himself　and　her　stealing　forth　at　night；　walking　over　the　moor　under　the　moon；　he　with　his　arm　round　her；　and　carrying　her　new　garments；　till；　in　some　far…off　wood；　when　dawn　was　coming；　she　would　slip　off　her　old　things　and　put　on　these；　and　an　early　train　at　a　distant　station　would　bear　them　away　on　their　honeymoon　journey；　till　London　swallowed　them　up；　and　the　dreams　of　love　came　true。

〃Frank　Ashurst！　　Haven't　seen　you　since　Rugby；　old　chap！〃

Ashurst's　frown　dissolved；　the　face；　close　to　his　own；　was　blue…eyed；　suffused　with　sunone　of　those　faces　where　sun　from　within　and　without　join　in　a　sort　of　lustre。　　And　he　answered：

〃Phil　Halliday；　by　Jove！〃

〃What　are　you　doing　here？〃

〃Oh！　　nothing。　　Just　looking　round；　and　getting　some　money。　　I'm　staying　on　the　moor。〃

〃Are　you　lunching　anywhere？　　Come　and　lunch　with　us；　I'm　here　with　my　young　sisters。　　They've　had　measles。〃

Hooked　in　by　that　friendly　arm　Ashurst　went　along；　up　a　hill；　down　a　hill；　away　out　of　the　town；　while　the　voice　of　Halliday；　redolent　of　optimism　as　his　face　was　of　sun；　explained　how　〃in　this　mouldy　place　the　only　decent　things　were　the　bathing　and　boating；〃　and　so　on；　till　presently　they　came　to　a　crescent　of　houses　a　little　above　and　back　from　the　sea；　and　into　the　centre　one　an　hotelmade　their　way。

〃Come　up　to　my　room　and　have　a　wash。　　Lunch'll　be　ready　in　a　jiffy。〃

Ashurst　contemplated　his　visage　in　a　looking…glass。　　After　his　farmhouse　bedroom；　the　comb　and　one　spare　shirt　regime　of　the　last　fortnight；　this　room　littered　with　clothes　and　brushes　was　a　sort　of　Capua；　and　he　thought：　'Queerone　doesn't　realise　But　whathe　did　not　quite　know。

When　he　followed　Halliday　into　the　sitting　room　for　lunch；　three　faces；　very　fair　and　blue…eyed；　were　turned　suddenly　at　the　words：　〃This　is　Frank　Ashurst　my　young　sisters。〃

Two　were　indeed　young；　about　eleven　and　ten。　　The　third　was　perhaps　seventeen；　tall　and　fair…haired　too；　with　pink…and…white　cheeks　just　touched　by　the　sun；　and　eyebrows；　rather　darker　than　the　hair；　running　a　little　upwards　from　her　nose　to　their　outer　points。　　The　voices　of　all　three　were　like　Halliday's；　high　and　cheerful；　they　stood　up　straight；　shook　hands　with　a　quick　movement；　looked　at　Ashurst　critically；　away　again　at　once；　and　began　to　talk　of　what　they　were　going　to　do　in　the　afternoon。　　A　regular　Diana　and　attendant　nymphs！　　After　the　farm　this　crisp；　slangy；　eager　talk；　this　cool；　clean；　off…hand　refinement；　was　queer　at　first；　and　then　so　natural　that　what　he　had　come　from　became　suddenly　remote。　　The　names　of　the　two　little　ones　seemed　to　be　Sabina　and　Freda；　of　the　eldest；　Stella。

Presently　the　one　called　Sabina　turned　to　him　and　said：

〃I　say；　will　you　come　shrimping　with　us？it's　awful　fun！〃

Surprised　by　this　unexpected　friendliness；　Ashurst　murmured：

〃I'm　afraid　I've　got　to　get　back　this　afternoon。〃

〃Oh！〃

〃Can't　you　put　it　off？〃

Ashurst　turned　to　the　new　speaker；　Stella；　shook　his　head；　and　smiled。　　She　was　very　pretty！　　Sabina　said　regretfully：　〃You　might！〃　Then　the　talk　switched　off　to　caves　and　swimming。

〃Can　you　swim　far？〃

〃About　two　miles。〃

〃Oh！〃

〃I　say！〃

〃How　jolly！〃

The　three　pairs　of　blue　eyes；　fixed　on　him；　made　him　conscious　of　his　new　importanceThe　sensation　was　agreeable。　　Halliday　said：

〃I　say；　you　simply　must　stop　and　have　a　bathe。　　You'd　better　stay　the　night。〃

〃Yes；　do！〃'

But　again　Ashurst　smiled　and　shook　his　head。　　Then　suddenly　he　found　himself　being　catechised　about　his　physical　achievements。　　He　had　rowedit　seemedin　his　college　boat；　played　in　his　college　football　team；　won　his　college　mile；　and　he　rose　from　table　a　sort　of　hero。　The　two　little　girls　insisted　that　he　must　see　〃their〃　cave；　and　they　set　forth　chattering　like　magpies；　Ashurst　between　them；　Stella　and　her　brother　a　little　behind。　　In　the　cave；　damp　and　darkish　like　any　other　cave；　the　great　feature　was　a　pool　with　possibility　of　creatures　which　might　be　caught　and　put　into　bottles。　　Sabina　and　Freda；　who　wore　no　stockings　on　their　shapely　brown　legs；　exhorted　Ashurst　to　join　them　in　the　middle　of　it；　and　help　sieve　the　water。　He　too　was　soon　bootless　and　sockless。　　Time　goes　fast　for　one　who　has　a　sense　of　beauty；　when　there　are　pretty　children　in　a　pool　and　a　young　Diana　on　the　edge；　to　receive　with　wonder　anything　you　can　catch！　　Ashurst　never　had　much　sense　of　time。　　It　was　a　shock　when；　pulling　out　his　watch；　he　saw　it　was　well　past　three。　　No　cashing　his　cheque　to…day…the　bank　would　be　closed　before　he　could　get　there。　Watching　his　expression；　the　little　girls　cried　out　at　once：

〃Hurrah！　　Now　you'll　have　to　stay！〃

Ashurst　did　not　answer。　　He　was　seeing　again　Megan's　face；　when　at　breakfast　time　he　had　whispered：　〃I'm　going　to　Torquay；　darling；　to　get　everything；　I　shall　be　back　this　evening。　　If　it's　fine　we　can　go　to…night。　　Be　ready。〃　　He　was　seeing　again　how　she　quivered　and　hung　on　his　words。　　What　would　she　think？　　Then　he　pulled　himself　together；　conscious　suddenly　of　the　calm　scrutiny　of　this　other　young　girl；　so　tall　and　fair　and　Diana…like；　at　the　edge　of　the　pool；　of　her　wondering　blue　eyes　under　those　brows　which　slanted　up　a　little。　If　they　knew　what　was　in　his　mindif　they　knew　that　this　very　night　he　had　meant！　　Well；　there　would　be　a　little　sound　of　disgust；　and　he　would　be　alone　in　the　cave。　　And　with　a　curious　mixture　of　anger；　chagrin；　and　shame；　he　put　his　watch　back　into　his　pocket　and　said　abruptly：

〃Yes；　I'm　dished　for　to…day。〃

〃Hurrah！　　Now　you　can　bathe　with　us。〃

It　was　impossible　not　to　succumb　a　little　to　the　contentment　of　these　pretty　children；　to　the　smile　on　Stella's　lips；　to　Halliday's　〃Ripping；　old　chap！　　I　can　lend　you　things　for　the　night！〃　But　again　a　spasm　of　longing　and　remorse　throbbed　through　Ashurst；　and　he　said　moodily：

〃I　must　send　a　wire！〃

The　attractions　of　the　pool　palling；　they　went　back　to　the　hotel。　Ashurst　sent　his　wire；　addressing　it　to　Mrs。　Narracombe：　〃Sorry；　detained　for　the　night；　back　to…morrow。〃　　Surely　Megan　would　understand　that　he　had　too　much　to　do；　and　his　heart　grew　lighter。　It　was　a　lovely　afternoon；　warm；　the　sea　calm　and　blue；　and　swimming　his　great　passion；　the　favour　of　these　pretty　children　flattered　him；　the　pleasure　of　looking　at　them；　at　Stella；　at　Halliday's　sunny　face；　the　slight　unreality；　yet　extreme　naturalness　of　it　allas　of　a　last　peep　at　normality　before　be　took　this　plunge　with　Megan！　　He　got　his　borrowed　bathing　dress；　and　they　all　set　forth。　　Halliday　and　he　undressed　behind　one　rock；　the　three　girls　behind　another。　　He　was　first　into　the　sea；　and　at　once　swam　out　with　the　bravado　of　justifying　his　self…given　reputation。　　When　he　turned　he　could　see　Halliday　swimming　along　shore；　and　the　girls　flopping　and　dipping；　and　riding　the　little　waves；　in　the　way　he　was　accustomed　to　despise；　but　now　thought　pretty　and　sensible；　since　it　gave　him　the　distinction　of　the　only　deep…water　fish。　　But　drawing　near；　he　wondered　if　they　would　like　him；　a　stranger；　to　come　into　their　splashing　group；　he　felt　shy；　approaching　that　slim　nymph。　　Then　Sabina　summoned　him　to　teach　her　to　float；　and　between　them　the　little　girls　kept　him　so　busy　that　he　had　no　time　even　to　notice　whether　Stella　was　accustomed　to　his　presence；　till　suddenly　he　heard　a　startled　sound　from　her：　She　was　standing　submerged　to　the　waist；　leaning　a　little　forward；　her　slim　white　arms　stretched　out　and　pointing；　her　we