the dark flower-第9章

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the　rest　catch　our　trees。　　This　is　me　catching　our　trees　（here
followed　a　sketch）。　　My　sister　is　going　to　be　married　to…morrow；
and　it　will　be　disgusting　afterwards　unless　you　come。　　So　do　come；
please。　　And　with　my　very　best　greetings；

〃I　am；

〃Your　humble　servant；

〃M。　LENNAN。〃


When　he　had　stamped　this　production　and　dropped　it　in　the　letter…
box；　he　had　the　oddest　feeling；　as　if　he　had　been　let　out　of
school；　a　desire　to　rush　about；　to　frolic。　　What　should　he　do？
Cis；　of　course；　would　be　busythey　were　all　busy　about　the
wedding。　　He　would　go　and　saddle　Bolero；　and　jump　him　in　the　park；
or　should　he　go　down　along　the　river　and　watch　the　jays？　　Both
seemed　lonely　occupations。　　And　he　stood　in　the　windowdejected。
At　the　age　of　five；　walking　with　his　nurse；　he　had　been　overheard
remarking：　〃Nurse；　I　want　to　eat　a　biscuitALL　THE　WAY　I　want　to
eat　a　biscuit！〃　and　it　was　still　rather　so　with　him　perhapsall
the　way　he　wanted　to　eat　a　biscuit。　　He　bethought　him　then　of　his
modelling；　and　went　out　to　the　little　empty　greenhouse　where　he
kept　his　masterpieces。　　They　seemed　to　him　now　quite　horribleand
two　of　them；　the　sheep　and　the　turkey；　he　marked　out　for　summary
destruction。　　The　idea　occurred　to　him　that　he　might　try　and　model
that　hawk　escaping　with　the　little　rabbit；　but　when　he　tried；　no
nice　feeling　came；　and　flinging　the　things　down　he　went　out。　　He
ran　along　the　unweeded　path　to　the　tennis　groundlawn　tennis　was
then　just　coming　in。　　The　grass　looked　very　rough。　　But　then；
everything　about　that　little　manor　house　was　left　rather　wild　and
anyhow；　why；　nobody　quite　knew；　and　nobody　seemed　to　mind。　　He
stood　there　scrutinizing　the　condition　of　the　ground。　　A　sound　of
humming　came　to　his　ears。　　He　got　up　on　the　wall。　　There　was　Sylvia
sitting　in　the　field；　making　a　wreath　of　honeysuckle。　　He　stood
very　quiet　and　listened。　　She　looked　prettylost　in　her　tune。
Then　he　slid　down　off　the　wall；　and　said　gently：

〃Hallo！〃

She　looked　round　at　him；　her　eyes　very　wide　open。

〃Your　voice　is　jolly；　Sylvia！〃

〃Oh；　no！〃

〃It　is。　　Come　and　climb　a　tree！〃

〃Where？〃

〃In　the　park；　of　course。〃

They　were　some　time　selecting　the　tree；　many　being　too　easy　for
him；　and　many　too　hard　for　her；　but　one　was　found　at　last；　an　oak
of　great　age；　and　frequented　by　rooks。　　Then；　insisting　that　she
must　be　roped　to　him；　he　departed　to　the　house　for　some　blind…cord。
The　climb　began　at　four　o'clocknamed　by　him　the　ascent　of　the
Cimone　della　Pala。　　He　led　the　momentous　expedition；　taking　a　hitch
of　the　blind…cord　round　a　branch　before　he　permitted　her　to　move。
Two　or　three　times　he　was　obliged　to　make　the　cord　fast　and　return
to　help　her；　for　she　was　not　an　'expert'；　her　arms　seemed　soft；　and
she　was　inclined　to　straddle　instead　of　trusting　to　one　foot。　　But
at　last　they　were　settled；　streaked　indeed　with　moss；　on　the　top
branch　but　two。　　They　rested　there；　silent；　listening　to　the　rooks
soothing　an　outraged　dignity。　　Save　for　this　slowly　subsiding
demonstration　it　was　marvellously　peaceful　and　remote　up　there；
half…way　to　a　blue　sky　thinly　veiled　from　them　by　the　crinkled
brown…green　leaves。　　The　peculiar　dry　mossy　smell　of　an　oak…tree
was　disturbed　into　the　air　by　the　least　motion　of　their　feet　or
hands　against　the　bark。　　They　could　hardly　see　the　ground；　and　all
around；　other　gnarled　trees　barred　off　any　view。

He　said：

〃If　we　stay　up　here　till　it's　dark　we　might　see　owls。〃

〃Oh；　no！　　Owls　are　horrible！〃

〃What！　　They're　LOVELYespecially　the　white　ones。〃

〃I　can't　stand　their　eyes；　and　they　squeak　so　when　they're
hunting。〃

〃Oh！　　but　that's　so　jolly；　and　their　eyes　are　beautiful。〃

〃They're　always　catching　mice　and　little　chickens；　all　sorts　of
little　things。〃

〃But　they　don't　mean　to；　they　only　want　them　to　eat。　　Don't　you
think　things　are　jolliest　at　night？〃

She　slipped　her　arm　in　his。

〃No；　I　don't　like　the　dark。〃

〃Why　not？　　It's　splendidwhen　things　get　mysterious。〃　　He　dwelt
lovingly　on　that　word。

〃I　don't　like　mysterious　things。　　They　frighten　you。〃

〃Oh；　Sylvia！〃

〃No；　I　like　early　morningespecially　in　spring；　when　it's
beginning　to　get　leafy。〃

〃Well；　of　course。〃

She　was　leaning　against　him；　for　safety；　just　a　little；　and
stretching　out　his　arm；　he　took　good　hold　of　the　branch　to　make　a
back　for　her。　　There　was　a　silence。　　Then　he　said：

〃If　you　could　only　have　one　tree；　which　would　you　have？〃

〃Not　oaks。　　Limesnobirches。　　Which　would　you？〃

He　pondered。　　There　were　so　many　trees　that　were　perfect。　　Birches
and　limes；　of　course；　but　beeches　and　cypresses；　and　yews；　and
cedars；　and　holm…oaksalmost；　and　plane…trees；　then　he　said
suddenly：

〃Pines；　I　mean　the　big　ones　with　reddish　stems　and　branches　pretty
high　up。〃

〃Why？〃

Again　he　pondered。　　It　was　very　important　to　explain　exactly　why；
his　feelings　about　everything　were　concerned　in　this。　　And　while　he
mused　she　gazed　at　him；　as　if　surprised　to　see　anyone　think　so
deeply。　　At　last　he　said：

〃Because　they're　independent　and　dignified　and　never　quite　cold；
and　their　branches　seem　to　brood；　but　chiefly　because　the　ones　I
mean　are　generally　out　of　the　common　where　you　find　them。　　You
knowjust　one　or　two；　strong　and　dark；　standing　out　against　the
sky。〃

〃They're　TOO　dark。〃

It　occurred　to　him　suddenly　that　he　had　forgotten　larches。　　They；
of　course；　could　be　heavenly；　when　you　lay　under　them　and　looked　up
at　the　sky；　as　he　had　that　afternoon　out　there。　　Then　he　heard　her
say：

〃If　I　could　only　have　one　flower；　I　should　have　lilies　of　the
valley；　the　small　ones　that　grow　wild　and　smell　so　jolly。〃

He　had　a　swift　vision　of　another　flower；　darkvery　different；　and
was　silent。

〃What　would　you　have；　Mark？〃　　Her　voice　sounded　a　little　hurt。
〃You　ARE　thinking　of　one；　aren't　you？〃

He　said　honestly：

〃Yes；　I　am。〃

〃Which？〃

〃It's　dark；　too；　you　wouldn't　care　for　it　a　bit。〃

〃How　d'you　know？〃

〃A　clove　carnation。〃

〃But　I　do　like　itonlynot　very　much。〃

He　nodded　solemnly。

〃I　knew　you　wouldn't。〃

Then　a　silence　fell　between　them。　　She　had　ceased　to　lean　against
him；　and　he　missed　the　cosy　friendliness　of　it。　　Now　that　their
voices　and　the　cawings　of　the　rooks　had　ceased；　there　was　nothing
heard　but　the　dry　rustle　of　the　leaves；　and　the　plaintive　cry　of　a
buzzard　hawk　hunting　over　the　little　tor　across　the　river。　　There
were　nearly　always　two　up　there；　quartering　the　sky。　　To　the　boy　it
was　lovely；　that　silencelike　Nature　talking　to　youNature　always
talked　in　silences。　　The　beasts；　the　birds；　the　insects；　only
really　showed　themselves　when　you　were　still；　you　had　to　be　awfully
quiet；　too；　for　flowers　and　plants；　otherwise　you　couldn't　see　the
real　jolly　separate　life　there　was　in　them。　　Even　the　boulders　down
there；　that　old　Godden　thought　had　been　washed　up　by　the　Flood；
never　showed　you　what　queer　shapes　they　had；　and　let　you　feel　close
to　them；　unless　you　were　thinking　of　nothing　else。　　Sylvia；　after
all；　was　better　in　that　way　than　he　had　expected。　　She　could　keep
quiet　（he　had　thought　girls　hopeless）；　she　was　gentle；　and　it　was
rather　jolly　to　watch　her。　　Through　the　leaves　there　came　the　faint
far　tinkle　of　the　tea…bell。

She　said：　〃We　must　get　down。〃

It　was　much　too　jolly　to　go　in；　really。　　But　if　she　wanted　her　tea
girls　always　wanted　tea！　　And；　twisting　the　cord　carefully　round
the　branch；　he　began　to　superintend　her　descent。　　About　to　follow；
he　heard　her　cry：

〃Oh；　Mark！　　I'm　stuckI'm　stuck！　　I　can't　reach　it　with　my　foot！
I'm　swinging！〃　　And　he　saw　that　she　WAS　swinging　by　her　hands　and
the　cord。

〃Let　go；　drop　on　to　the　branch　belowthe　cord'll　hold　you　straight
till　you　grab　the　trunk。〃

Her　voice　mounted　piteously：

〃I　can'tI　really　can'tI　should　slip！〃

He　tied　the　cord；　and　slithered　hastily　to　the　branch　below　her；
then；　bracing　himself　against　the　trunk；　he　clutched　her　round　the
waist　and　knees；　but　the　taut　cord　held　her　up；　and　she　would　not
come　to　anchor。　　He　could　not　hold　her　and　untie　the　cord；　which
was　fast　round　her　waist。　　If　he　let　her　go　with　one　hand；　and　got
out　his　knife；　he　would　never　be　able　to　cut　and　hold　her　at　the
same　time。　　For　a　moment　he　thought　he　had　better　climb　up　again
and　slack　off　the　cord；　but　he　could　see　by　her　face　that　she　was
getting　frightened；　he　could　feel　it　by　the　quivering　of　her　body。

〃If　I　heave　you　up；〃　he　said；　〃can　you　get　hold　again　above？〃　　And；
without　waiting　for　an　answer；　he　heaved。　　She　caught　hold
frantically。

〃Hold　on　just　for　a　second。〃

She　did　not　answer；　but　he　saw　that　her　face　had　gone　very　white。
He　snatched　out　his　knife　and　cut　the　cord。　　She　clung　just　for
that　moment；　then　came　loose　into　his　arms；　and　he　hauled　her　to
him　against　the　trunk。　　Safe　there；　she　buried　her　face　on　his
shoulder。　　He　began　to　murmur　to　her　and　smooth　her　softly；　with
quite　a　feeling　of　its　being　his　business　to　smooth　her　like　this；
to　protect　her。　　He　knew　she　was　crying；　but　she　let　no　sound
escape；　and　he　was　very　careful　not　to　show　that　he　knew；　for　fear
she　should　feel　ashamed。　　He　wondered　if　he　ought　to　kiss　her。　　At
last　he　did；　on　the　top　of　her　head；　very　gently。　　Then　she　put　up
her　face　and　said　she　was　a　beast。　　And　he　kissed　her　again　on　an
eyebrow。

After　that　she　seemed　all　right；　and　very　gingerly　they　descended
to　the　ground；　where　shadows　were　beginning　to　lengthen　over　the
fern　and　the　sun　to　slant　into　their　eyes。


XIII


The　night　after　the　wedding　the　boy　stood　at　the　window　of　his
pleasant　attic　bedroom；　with　one　wall　sloping；　and　a　faint　smell　of
mice。　　He　was　tired　and　excited；　and　his　brain；　full　of　pictures。
This　was　his　first　wedding；　and　he　was　haunted　by　a　vision　of　his
sister's　little　white　form；　and　her　face　with　its　starry　eyes。　　She
was　gonehis　no　more！　　How　fearful　the　Wedding　March　had　sounded
on　that　organthat　awful　old　wheezer；　and　the　sermon！　　One　didn't
want　to　hear　that　sort　of　thing　when　one　felt　inclined　to　cry。
Even　Gordy　had　looked　rather　boiled　when　he　was　giving　her　away。
With　perfect　distinctness　he　could　still　see　the　group　before　the
altar　rails；　just　as　if　he　had　not　been　a　part　of　it　himself。　　Cis
in　her　white；　Sylvia　in　fluffy　grey；　his　impassive　brother…in…law's
tall　figure；　Gordy　looking　queer　in　a　black　coat；　with　a　very
yellow　face；　and　eyes　still　half…closed。　　The　rotten　part　of　it　all
had　been　that　you　wanted　to　be　just　FEELING；　and　you　had　to　be
thinking　of　the　ring；　and　your　gloves；　and　whether　the　lowest
button　of　your　white　waistcoat　was　properly　undone。　　Girls　could　do
both；　it　seemedCis　seemed　to　be　seeing　something　wonderful　all
the　time；　and　Sylvia　had　looked　quite　holy。　　He　himself　had　been
too　conscious　of　the　rector's　voice；　and　the　sort　of　professional
manner　with　which　he　did　it　all；　as　if　he　were　making　up　a
prescription；　with　directions　how　to　take　it。　　And　yet　it　was　all
rather　beautiful　in　a　kind　of　fashion；　every　face　turned　one　way；
and　a　tremendous　hushexcept　for　poor　old　Godden's　blowing　of　his
nose　with　his　enormous　red　handkerchief；　and　the　soft　darkness　up
in　the　roof；　and　down　in　the　pews；　and　the　sunlight　brightening　the
South　windows。　　All　the　same；　it　would　have　been　much　jollier　just
taking　hands　by　the