太子爷小说网 > 英语电子书 > five tales >

第38节

five tales-第38节

小说: five tales 字数: 每页4000字

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!



ting; her wet face puckered by the sun and an expression of fear。

〃Look at Phil!  Is he all right?  Oh; look!〃

Ashurst saw at once that Phil was not all right。  He was splashing and struggling out of his depth; perhaps a hundred yards away; suddenly he gave a cry; threw up his arms; and went down。  Ashurst saw the girl launch herself towards him; and crying out: 〃Go back; Stella!  Go back!〃  he dashed out。  He had never swum so fast; and reached Halliday just as he was coming up a second time。  It was a case of cramp; but to get him in was not difficult; for he did not struggle。  The girl; who had stopped where Ashurst told her to; helped as soon as he was in his depth; and once on the beach they sat down one on each side of him to rub his limbs; while the little ones stood by with scared faces。  Halliday was soon smiling。  It washe saidrotten of him; absolutely rotten!  If Frank would give him an

arm; he could get to his clothes all right now。  Ashurst gave him the arm; and as he did so caught sight of Stella's face; wet and flushed and tearful; all broken up out of its calm; and he thought: 'I called her Stella!  Wonder if she minded?'

While they were dressing; Halliday said quietly 〃You saved my life; old chap!〃

〃Rot!;〃

Clothed; but not quite in their right minds; they went up all together to the hotel and sat down to tea; except Halliday; who was lying down in his room。  After some slices of bread and jam; Sabina said:

〃I say; you know; you are a brick!〃  And Freda chimed in:

〃Rather!〃

Ashurst saw Stella looking down; he got up in confusion; and went to the window。  From there he heard Sabina mutter: 〃I say; let's swear blood bond。  Where's your knife; Freda?〃  and out of the corner of his eye could see each of them solemnly prick herself; squeeze out a drop of blood and dabble on a bit of paper。  He turned and made for the door。

〃Don't be a stoat!  Come back!〃  His arms were seized; imprisoned between the little girls he was brought back to the table。  On it lay a piece of paper with an effigy drawn in blood; and the three names Stella Halliday; Sabina Halliday; Freda Hallidayalso in blood; running towards it like the rays of a star。  Sabina said:

〃That's you。  We shall have to kiss you; you know。〃

And Freda echoed:

〃Oh!  BlowYes!〃

Before Ashurst could escape; some wettish hair dangled against his face; something like a bite descended on his nose; he felt his left arm pinched; and other teeth softly searching his cheek。  Then he was released; and Freda said:

〃Now; Stella。〃

Ashurst; red and rigid; looked across the table at a red and rigid Stella。  Sabina giggled; Freda cried:

'Buck upit spoils everything!〃

A queer; ashamed eagerness shot through Ashurst: then he said quietly:

〃Shut up; you little demons!〃

Again Sabina giggled。

〃Well; then; she can kiss her hand; and you can put it against your nose。  It is on one side!〃

To his amazement the girl did kiss her hand and stretch it out。 Solemnly he took that cool; slim hand and laid it to his cheek。  The two little girls broke into clapping; and Freda said:

〃Now; then; we shall have to save your life at any time; that's settled。  Can I have another cup; Stella; not so beastly weak?〃 Tea was resumed; and Ashurst; folding up the paper; put it in his pocket。  The talk turned on the advantages of measles; tangerine oranges; honey in a spoon; no lessons; and so forth。  Ashurst listened; silent; exchanging friendly looks with Stella; whose face was again of its normal sun…touched pink and white。  It was soothing to be so taken to the heart of this jolly family; fascinating to watch their faces。  And after tea; while the two little girls pressed seaweed; he talked to Stella in the window seat and looked at her water…colour sketches。  The whole thing was like a pleasurable dream; time and incident hung up; importance and reality suspended。 Tomorrow he would go back to Megan; with nothing of all this left save the paper with the blood of these children; in his pocket。 Children!  Stella was not quite thatas old as Megan!  Her talk quick; rather hard and shy; yet friendlyseemed to flourish on his silences; and about her there was something cool and virginala maiden in a bower。  At dinner; to which Halliday; who had swallowed too much sea…water; did not come; Sabina said:

〃I'm going to call you Frank。〃

Freda echoed:

〃Frank; Frank; Franky。〃

Ashurst grinned and bowed。

〃Every time Stella calls you Mr。 Ashurst; she's got to pay a forfeit。 It's ridiculous。〃

Ashurst looked at Stella; who grew slowly red。  Sabina giggled; Freda cried:

〃She's 'smoking''smoking!'Yah!〃

Ashurst reached out to right and left; and grasped some fair hair in each hand。

〃Look here;〃 he said; 〃you two!  Leave Stella alone; or I'll tie you together!〃

Freda gurgled:

〃Ouch!  You are a beast!〃

Sabina murmured cautiously:

〃You call her Stella; you see!〃

〃Why shouldn't I?  It's a jolly name!〃

〃All right; we give you leave to!〃

Ashurst released the hair。  Stella!  What would she call himafter this?  But she called him nothing; till at bedtime he said; deliberately:

〃Good…night; Stella!〃

〃Good…night; Mr。 Good…night; Frank!  It was jolly of you; you know!〃

〃Oh…that!  Bosh!〃

Her quick; straight handshake tightened suddenly; and as suddenly became slack。

Ashurst stood motionless in the empty sitting…room。  Only last night; under the apple tree and the living blossom; he had held Megan to him; kissing her eyes and lips。  And he gasped; swept by that rush of remembrance。  To…night it should have begun…his life with her who only wanted to be with him!  And now; twenty…four hours and more must pass; because…of not looking at his watch!  Why had he made friends with this family of innocents just when he was saying good…bye to innocence; and all the rest of it?  'But I mean to marry her;' he thought; 'I told her so!'

He took a candle; lighted it; and went to his bedroom; which was next to Halliday's。  His friend's voice called; as he was passing:

〃Is that you; old chap?  I say; come in。〃

He was sitting up in bed; smoking a pipe and reading。

〃Sit down a bit。〃

Ashurst sat down by the open window。

〃I've been thinking about this afternoon; you know;〃 said Halliday rather suddenly。  〃They say you go through all your past。  I didn't。 I suppose I wasn't far enough gone。〃

〃What did you think of?〃

Halliday was silent for a little; then said quietly

〃Well; I did think of one thingrather oddof a girl at Cambridge that I might haveyou know; I was glad I hadn't got her on my mind。 Anyhow; old chap; I owe it to you that I'm here; I should have been in the big dark by now。  No more bed; or baccy; no more anything。  I say; what d'you suppose happens to us?〃

Ashurst murmured:

〃Go out like flames; I expect。〃

〃Phew!〃

〃We may flicker; and cling about a bit; perhaps。〃

〃H'm! I think that's rather gloomy。  I say; I hope my young sisters have been decent to you?〃

〃Awfully decent。〃

Halliday put his pipe down; crossed his hands behind his neck; and turned his face towards the window。

〃They're not bad kids!〃  he said。

Watching his friend; lying there; with that smile; and the candle… light on his face; Ashurst shuddered。  Quite true!  He might have been lying there with no smile; with all that sunny look gone out for ever!  He might not have been lying there at all; but 〃sanded〃 at the bottom of the sea; waiting for resurrection on the ninth day; was it? And that smile of Halliday's seemed to him suddenly something wonderful; as if in it were all the difference between life and deaththe little flamethe all!  He got up; and said softly:

〃Well; you ought to sleep; I expect。  Shall I blow out?〃

Halliday caught his hand。

〃I can't say it; you know; but it must be rotten to be dead。  Good… night; old boy!〃

Stirred and moved; Ashurst squeezed the hand; and went downstairs。 The hall door was still open; and he passed out on to the lawn before the Crescent。  The stars were bright in a very dark blue sky; and by their light some lilacs had that mysterious colour of flowers by night which no one can describe。  Ashurst pressed his face against a spray; and before his closed eyes Megan started up; with the tiny brown spaniel pup against her breast。  〃I thought of a girl that I might have you know。  I was glad I hadn't got her on my mind!〃  He jerked his head away from the lilac; and began pacing up and down over the grass; a grey phantom coming to substance for a moment in the light from the lamp at either end。  He was with her again under the living; breathing white ness of the blossom; the stream chattering by; the moon glinting steel…blue on the bathing…pool; back in the rapture of his kisses on her upturned face of innocence and humble passion; back in the suspense and beauty of that pagan night。 He stood still once more in the shadow of the lilacs。  Here the sea; not the stream; was Night's voice; the sea with its sigh and rustle; no little bird; no owl; no night…Jar called or spun; but a piano tinkled; and the white houses cut the sky with solid curve; and the scent from the lilacs filled the air。  A window of the hotel; high up; was lighted; he saw a shadow move across the blind。  And mo

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的