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第6节

the dark flower-第6节

小说: the dark flower 字数: 每页4000字

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It looked cruel somehow; sagged all crooked; and out of place up
here; a piece of bad manners; as if people with only one idea had
dragged it in; without caring whether or no it suited what was
around it。  One might just as well introduce one of these rocks
into that jolly dark church where he had left her the other day; as
put a cross up here。

A sound of bells; and of sniffing and scuffling; roused him; a
large grey goat had come up and was smelling at his hairthe
leader of a flock; that were soon all round him; solemnly curious;
with their queer yellow oblong…pupilled eyes; and their quaint
little beards and tails。  Awfully decent beastsand friendly!
What jolly things to model!  He lay still (having learnt from the
fisherman; his guardian; that necessary habit in the presence of
all beasts); while the leader sampled the flavour of his neck。  The
passage of that long rough tongue athwart his skin gave him an
agreeable sensation; awakened a strange deep sense of comradeship。
He restrained his desire to stroke the creature's nose。  It
appeared that they now all wished to taste his neck; but some were
timid; and the touch of their tongues simply a tickle; so that he
was compelled to laugh; and at that peculiar sound they withdrew
and gazed at him。  There seemed to be no one with them; then; at a
little distance; quite motionless in the shade of a rock; he spied
the goatherd; a boy about his own age。  How lonely he must be up
here all day!  Perhaps he talked to his goats。  He looked as if he
might。  One would get to have queer thoughts up here; get to know
the rocks; and clouds; and beasts; and what they all meant。  The
goatherd uttered a peculiar whistle; and something; Lennan could
not tell exactly what; happened among the goatsa sort of 〃Here;
Sir!〃 seemed to come from them。  And then the goatherd moved out
from the shade and went over to the edge of the plateau; and two of
the goats that were feeding there thrust their noses into his hand;
and rubbed themselves against his legs。  The three looked beautiful
standing there together on the edge against the sky。 。 。 。

That night; after dinner; the dining…room was cleared for dancing;
so that the guests might feel freedom and gaiety in the air。  And;
indeed; presently; a couple began sawing up and down over the
polished boards; in the apologetic manner peculiar to hotel guests。
Then three pairs of Italians suddenly launched themselves into
spacetwirling and twirling; and glaring into each other's eyes;
and some Americans; stimulated by their precept; began airily
backing and filling。  Two of the 'English Grundys' with carefully
amused faces next moved out。  To Lennan it seemed that they all
danced very well; better than he could。  Did he dare ask HER?  Then
he saw the young violinist go up; saw her rise and take his arm and
vanish into the dancing…room; and leaning his forehead against a
window…pane; with a sick; beaten feeling; he stayed; looking out
into the moonlight; seeing nothing。  He heard his name spoken; his
tutor was standing beside him。

〃You and I; Lennan; must console each other。  Dancing's for the
young; eh?〃

Fortunately it was the boy's instinct and his training not to show
his feelings; to be pleasant; though suffering。

〃Yes; sir。  Jolly moonlight; isn't it; out there?〃

〃Ah! very jolly; yes。  When I was your age I twirled the light
fantastic with the best。  But gradually; Lennan; one came to see it
could not be done without a partnerthere was the rub!  Tell me
do you regard women as responsible beings?  I should like to have
your opinion on that。〃

It was; of course; ironicalyet there was something in those
wordssomething!

〃I think it's you; sir; who ought to give me yours。〃

〃My dear Lennanmy experience is a mere nothing!〃

That was meant for unkindness to her!  He would not answer。  If
only Stormer would go away!  The music had stopped。  They would be
sitting out somewhere; talking!  He made an effort; and said:

〃I was up the hill at the back this morning; where the cross is。
There were some jolly goats。〃

And suddenly he saw her coming。  She was aloneflushed; smiling;
it struck him that her frock was the same colour as the moonlight。

〃Harold; will you dance?〃

He would say 'Yes;' and she would be gone again!  But his tutor
only made her a little bow; and said with that smile of his:

〃Lennan and I have agreed that dancing is for the young。〃

〃Sometimes the old must sacrifice themselves。  Mark; will you
dance?〃

Behind him he heard his tutor murmur:

〃Ah!  Lennanyou betray me!〃

That little silent journey with her to the dancing…room was the
happiest moment perhaps that he had ever known。  And he need not
have been so much afraid about his dancing。  Truly; it was not
polished; but it could not spoil hers; so light; firm; buoyant!  It
was wonderful to dance with her。  Only when the music stopped and
they sat down did he know how his head was going round。  He felt
strange; very strange indeed。  He heard her say:

〃What is it; dear boy?  You look so white!〃

Without quite knowing what he did; he bent his face towards the
hand that she had laid on his sleeve; then knew no more; having
fainted。


VIII


Growing boyover…exertion in the morning!  That was all!  He was
himself very quickly; and walked up to bed without assistance。
Rotten of him!  Never was anyone more ashamed of his little
weakness than this boy。  Now that he was really a trifle
indisposed; he simply could not bear the idea of being nursed at
all or tended。  Almost rudely he had got away。  Only when he was in
bed did he remember the look on her face as he left her。  How
wistful and unhappy; seeming to implore him to forgive her!  As if
there were anything to forgive!  As if she had not made him
perfectly happy when she danced with him!  He longed to say to her:
〃If I might be close to you like that one minute every day; then I
don't mind all the rest!〃  Perhaps he would dare say that to…
morrow。  Lying there he still felt a little funny。  He had
forgotten to close the ribs of the blinds; and moonlight was
filtering in; but he was too idle; too drowsy to get up now and do
it。  They had given him brandy; rather a lotthat perhaps was the
reason he felt so queer; not ill; but mazy; as if dreaming; as if
he had lost the desire ever to move again。  Just to lie there; and
watch the powdery moonlight; and hear faraway music throbbing down
below; and still feel the touch of her; as in the dance she swayed
against him; and all the time to have the scent about him of
flowers!  His thoughts were dreams; his dreams thoughtsall
precious unreality。  And then it seemed to him that the moonlight
was gathered into a single slip of pallorthere was a thrumming; a
throbbing; and that shape of moonlight moved towards him。  It came
so close that he felt its warmth against his brow; it sighed;
hovered; drew back soundless; and was gone。  He must have fallen
then into dreamless sleep。 。 。 。

What time was it when he was awakened by that delicate 'rat…tat' to
see his tutor standing in the door…way with a cup of tea?

Was young Lennan all right?  Yes; he was perfectly all rightwould
be down directly!  It was most frightfully good of Mr。 Stormer to
come!  He really didn't want anything。

Yes; yes; but the maimed and the halt must be attended to!

His face seemed to the boy very kind just thenonly to laugh at
him a very littlejust enough。  And it was awfully decent of him
to have come; and to stand there while he drank the tea。  He was
really all right; but for a little headache。  Many times while he
was dressing he stood still; trying to remember。  That white slip
of moonlight?  Was it moonlight?  Was it part of a dream; or was
it; could it have been she; in her moonlight…coloured frock?  Why
had he not stayed awake?  He would not dare to ask her; and now
would never know whether the vague memory of warmth on his brow had
been a kiss。

He breakfasted alone in the room where they had danced。  There were
two letters for him。  One from his guardian enclosing money; and
complaining of the shyness of the trout; the other from his sister。
The man she was engaged tohe was a budding diplomat; attached to
the Embassy at Romewas afraid that his leave was going to be
curtailed。  They would have to be married at once。  They might even
have to get a special licence。  It was lucky Mark was coming back
so soon。  They simply MUST have him for best man。  The only
bridesmaid now would be Sylvia。 。 。 。  Sylvia Doone?  Why; she was
only a kid!  And the memory of a little girl in a very short
holland frock; with flaxen hair; pretty blue eyes; and a face so
fair that you could almost see through it; came up before him。  But
that; of course; was six years ago; she would not still be in a
frock that showed her knees; or wear beads; or be afraid of bulls
that were never there。  It was stupid being best manthey might
have got some decent chap!  And then he forgot allfor there was
SHE; out on the terrace。  In his rush to join her he passed several
of the 'English Grundys;' who stared at him askance。  Indeed; his
conduct of the night before might well have upset them。  An Oxford
man; 

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