the dark flower-第17章

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headskip　generations　and　then　pop　out。　　And　Olive　had　something
of　his　lookthe　same　ivory　skin；　same　colour　of　eyes　and　hair！
Only　she　was　not　severe；　like　her　father；　not　exactly！　　And　once
more　there　shot　through　the　Colonel　a　vague　dread；　as　of　a
trusteeship　neglected。　　It　disappeared；　however；　in　his　bath。

He　was　out　before　eight　o'clock；　a　thin　upright　figure　in　hard
straw　hat　and　grey　flannel　clothes；　walking　with　the　indescribable
loose　poise　of　the　soldier　Englishman；　with　that　air；　different
from　the　French；　German；　what　not；　because　of　shoulders　ever
asserting；　through　their　drill；　the　right　to　put　on　mufti；　with
that　perfectly　quiet　and　modest　air　of　knowing　that；　whatever　might
be　said；　there　was　only　one　way　of　wearing　clothes　and　moving　legs。
And；　as　he　walked；　he　smoothed　his　drooping　grey　moustache；
considering　how　best　to　take　his　niece　out　of　herself。　　He　passed
along　by　the　Terrace；　and　stood　for　a　moment　looking　down　at　the
sea　beyond　the　pigeon…shooting　ground。　　Then　he　moved　on　round
under　the　Casino　into　the　gardens　at　the　back。　　A　beautiful　spot！
Wonderful　care　they　had　taken　with　the　plants！　　It　made　him　think　a
little　of　Tushawore；　where　his　old　friend　the　Rajahprecious　old
rascal！had　gardens　to　his　palace　rather　like　these。　　He　paced
again　to　the　front。　　It　was　nice　and　quiet　in　the　early　mornings；
with　the　sea　down　there；　and　nobody　trying　to　get　the　better　of
anybody　else。　　There　were　fellows　never　happy　unless　they　were
doing　someone　in　the　eye。　　He　had　known　men　who　would　ride　at　the
devil　himself；　make　it　a　point　of　honour　to　swindle　a　friend　out　of
a　few　pounds！　　Odd　place　this　'Monte'sort　of　a　Garden　of　Eden
gone　wrong。　　And　all　the　real；　but　quite　inarticulate　love　of
Nature；　which　had　supported　the　Colonel　through　deserts　and
jungles；　on　transports　at　sea；　and　in　mountain　camps；　awoke　in　the
sweetness　of　these　gardens。　　His　dear　mother！　　He　had　never
forgotten　the　words　with　which　she　had　shown　him　the　sunset　through
the　coppice　down　at　old　Withes　Norton；　when　he　was　nine　years　old：
〃That　is　beauty；　Jack！　　Do　you　feel　it；　darling？〃　　He　had　not　felt
it　at　the　timenot　he；　a　thick…headed；　scampering　youngster。　　Even
when　he　first　went　to　India　he　had　had　no　eye　for　a　sunset。　　The
rising　generation　were　different。　　That　young　couple；　for　instance；
under　the　pepper…tree；　sitting　there　without　a　word；　just　looking
at　the　trees。　　How　long；　he　wondered；　had　they　been　sitting　like
that？　　And　suddenly　something　in　the　Colonel　leaped；　his　steel…
coloured　eyes　took　on　their　look　of　out…facing　death。　　Choking　down
a　cough；　he　faced　about；　back　to　where　he　had　stood　above　the
pigeon…shooting　ground。　。　。　。　　Olive　and　that　young　fellow！　　An
assignation！　　At　this　time　in　the　morning！　　The　earth　reeled。　　His
brother's　childhis　favourite　niece！　　The　woman　whom　he　most
admiredthe　woman　for　whom　his　heart　was　softest。　　Leaning　over
the　stone　parapet；　no　longer　seeing　either　the　smooth　green　of　the
pigeon…shooting　ground；　or　the　smooth　blue　of　the　sea　beyond；　he
was　moved；　distressed；　bewildered　beyond　words。　　Before　breakfast！
That　was　the　devil　of　it！　　Confession；　as　it　were；　of　everything。
Moreover；　he　had　seen　their　hands　touching　on　the　seat。　　The　blood
rushed　up　to　his　face；　he　had　seen；　spied　out；　what　was　not
intended　for　his　eyes。　　Nice　positionthat！　　Dolly；　too；　last
night；　had　seen。　　But　that　was　different。　　Women　might　see　things
it　was　expected　of　them。　　But　for　a　manaa　gentleman！　　The
fullness　of　his　embarrassment　gradually　disclosed　itself。　　His
hands　were　tied。　　Could　he　even　consult　Dolly？　　He　had　a　feeling　of
isolation；　of　utter　solitude。　　Nobodynot　anybody　in　the　world
could　understand　his　secret　and　intense　discomfort。　　To　take　up　a
positionthe　position　he　was　bound　to　take　up；　as　Olive's　nearest
relative　and　protector；　andwhat　was　itchaperon；　by　the　aid　of
knowledge　come　at　in　such　a　way；　however　unintentionally！　　Never　in
all　his　days　in　the　regimentand　many　delicate　matters　affecting
honour　had　come　his　wayhad　he　had　a　thing　like　this　to　deal　with。
Poor　child！　　But　he　had　no　business　to　think　of　her　like　that。　　No；
indeed！　　She　had　not　behavedas　　And　there　he　paused；　curiously
unable　to　condemn　her。　　Suppose　they　got　up　and　came　that　way！

He　took　his　hands　off　the　stone　parapet；　and　made　for　his　hotel。
His　palms　were　white　from　the　force　of　his　grip。　　He　said　to
himself　as　he　went　along：　〃I　must　consider　the　whole　question
calmly；　I　must　think　it　out。〃　　This　gave　him　relief。　　With　young
Lennan；　at　all　events；　he　could　be　angry。　　But　even　there　he　found；
to　his　dismay；　no　finality　of　judgment。　　And　this　absence　of
finality；　so　unwonted；　distressed　him　horribly。　　There　was
something　in　the　way　the　young　man　had　been　sitting　there　beside
herso　quiet；　so　almost　timidthat　had　touched　him。　　This　was
bad；　by　Jovevery　bad！　　The　two　of　them；　they　made；　somehow；　a
nice　couple！　　Confound　it！　　This　would　not　do！　　The　chaplain　of　the
little　English　church；　passing　at　this　moment；　called　out；　〃Fine
morning；　Colonel　Ercott。〃　　The　Colonel　saluted；　and　did　not　answer。
The　greeting　at　the　moment　seemed　to　him　paltry。　　No　morning　could
be　fine　that　contained　such　a　discovery。　　He　entered　the　hotel；
passed　into　the　dining…room；　and　sat　down。　　Nobody　was　there。　　They
all　had　their　breakfast　upstairs；　even　Dolly。　　Olive　alone　was　in
the　habit　of　supporting　him　while　he　ate　an　English　breakfast。　　And
suddenly　he　perceived　that　he　was　face　to　face　already　with　this
dreadful　situation。　　To　have　breakfast　without；　as　usual；　waiting
for　her；　seemed　too　pointed。　　She　might　be　coming　in　at　any　minute
now。　　To　wait　for　her；　and　have　it；　without　showing　anythinghow
could　he　do　that？

He　was　conscious　of　a　faint　rustling　behind　him。　　There　she　was；
and　nothing　decided。　　In　this　moment　of　hopeless　confusion　the
Colonel　acted　by　pure　instinct；　rose；　patted　her　cheek；　and　placed
a　chair。

〃Well；　my　dear；〃　he　said；　〃hungry？〃

She　was　looking　very　dainty；　very　soft。　　That　creamy　dress　showed
off　her　dark　hair　and　eyes；　which　seemed　somehow　to　beflying　off
somewhere；　yesit　was　queer；　but　that　was　the　only　way　to　put　it。
He　got　no　reassurance；　no　comfort；　from　the　sight　of　her。　　And
slowly　he　stripped　the　skin　from　the　banana　with　which　he　always
commenced　breakfast。　　One　might　just　as　well　be　asked　to　shoot　a
tame　dove　or　tear　a　pretty　flower　to　pieces　as　be　expected　to　take
her　to　task；　even　if　he　could；　in　honour。　　And　he　sought　refuge　in
the　words：

〃Been　out？〃　　Then　could　have　bitten　his　tongue　off。　　Suppose　she
answered：　〃No。〃

But　she　did　not　so　answer。　　The　colour　came　into　her　cheeks；
indeed；　but　she　nodded：　〃It's　so　lovely！〃

How　pretty　she　looked　saying　that！　　He　had　put　himself　out　of　court
nowcould　never　tell　her　what　he　had　seen；　after　setting；　as　it
were；　that　trap　for　her；　and　presently　he　asked：

〃Got　any　plans　to…day？〃

She　answered；　without　flinching　in　the　least：

〃Mark　Lennan　and　I　were　going　to　take　mules　from　Mentone　up　to
Gorbio。〃

He　was　amazed　at　her　steadinessnever；　to　his　knowledge；　having
encountered　a　woman　armoured　at　every　point　to　preserve　a　love　that
flies　against　the　world。　　How　tell　what　was　under　her　smile！　　And
in　confusion　of　feeling　that　amounted　almost　to　pain　he　heard　her
say：

〃Will　you　and　Aunt　Dolly　come？〃

Between　sense　of　trusteeship　and　hatred　of　spoiling　sport；　between
knowledge　of　the　danger　she　was　in　and　half…pitying　admiration　at
the　sight　of　her；　between　real　disapproval　of　an　illicit　and
underhand　business　（what　else　was　it；　after　all？）　and　some　dim
perception　that　here　was　something　he　did　not　begin　to　be　able　to
fathomsomething　that　perhaps　no　one　but　those　two　themselves
could　deal　withbetween　these　various　extremes　he　was　lost　indeed。
And　he　stammered　out：

〃I　must　ask　your　aunt；　she'sshe's　not　very　good　on　a　mule。〃

Then；　in　an　impulse　of　sheer　affection；　he　said　with　startling
suddenness：　〃My　dear；　I've　often　meant　to　ask；　are　you　happy　at
home？〃

〃At　home？〃

There　was　something　sinister　about　the　way　she　repeated　that；　as　if
the　word　〃home〃　were　strange　to　her。

She　drank　her　coffee　and　got　up；　and　the　Colonel　felt　afraid　of
her；　standing　thereafraid　of　what　she　was　going　to　tell　him。　　He
grew　very　red。　　But；　worse　than　all；　she　said　absolutely　nothing；
only　shrugged　her　shoulders　with　a　little　smile　that　went　to　his
heart。


VI


On　the　wild　thyme；　under　the　olives　below　the　rock　village　of
Gorbio；　with　their　mules　cropping　at　a　little　distance；　those　two
sat　after　their　lunch；　listening　to　the　cuckoos。　　Since　their
uncanny　chance　meeting　that　morning　in　the　gardens；　when　they　sat
with　their　hands　just　touching；　amazed　and　elated　by　their　own　good
fortune；　there　was　not　much　need　to　say　what　they　felt；　to　break
with　words　this　rapture　of　belonging　to　each　otherso　shyly；　so
wildly；　so；　as　it　were；　without　reality。　　They　were　like　epicures
with　old　wine　in　their　glasses；　not　yet　tired　of　its　fragrance　and
the　spell　of　anticipation。

And　so　their　talk　was　not　of　love；　but；　in　that　pathetic　way　of
star…crossed　lovers；　of　the　things　they　loved；　leaving　outeach
other。

It　was　the　telling　of　her　dream　that　brought　the　words　from　him　at
last；　but　she　drew　away；　and　answered：

〃It　can'tit　mustn't　be！〃

Then　he　just　clung　to　her　hand；　and　presently；　seeing　that　her　eyes
were　wet；　took　courage　enough　to　kiss　her　cheek。

Trembling　and　fugitive　indeed　that　first　passage　of　their　love。
Not　much　of　the　conquering　male　in　him；　nor　in　her　of　the　ordinary
enchantress。

And　then　they　went；　outwardly　sober　enough；　riding　their　mules　down
the　stony　slopes　back　to　Mentone。

But　in　the　grey；　dusty　railway…carriage　when　she　had　left　him；　he
was　like　a　man　drugged；　staring　at　where　she　had　sat　opposite。

Two　hours　later；　at　dinner　in　her　hotel；　between　her　and　Mrs。
Ercott；　with　the　Colonel　opposite；　he　knew　for　the　first　time　what
he　was　faced　with。　　To　watch　every　thought　that　passed　within　him；
lest　it　should　by　the　slightest　sign　betray　him；　to　regulate　and
veil　every　look　and　every　word　he　spoke　to　her；　never　for　a　second
to　forget　that　these　other　persons　were　actual　and　dangerous；　not
merely　the　insignificant　and　grotesque　shadows　that　they　seemed。
It　would　be　perhaps　for　ever　a　part　of　his　love　for　her　to　seem　not
to　love　her。　　He　did　not　dare　dream　of　fulfilment。　　He　was　to　be
her　friend；　and　try　to　bring　her　happinessburn　and　long　for　her；
and　not　think　about　reward。　　This　was　his　first　real　overwhelming
passionso　different　to　the　loves　of　springand　he　brought　to　it
all　that　naivete；　that　touching　quality　of　young　Englishmen；　whose
secret　instinct　it　is　to　back　away　from　the　full　nature　of　love；
even　from　admitting　that　it　has　that　nature。　　They　two　were　to
love；　andnot　to　love！　　For　the　first　time　he　understood　a　little
of　what　that　meant。　　A　few　stolen　adoring　minutes　now　and　then；
and；　for　the　rest；　the　presence　of　a　world　that　must　be　deceived。
Already　he　had　almost　a　hatred　of　that　orderly；　brown…faced
Colonel；　with　his　eyes　that　looked　so　steady　and　saw　nothing；　of
that　flat；　kindly　lady；　who　talked　so　pleasantly　throughout　dinner；
saying　things　that　he　had　to　answer　without　knowi