the garden of allah-第3章

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The　sky　was　grey　and　low。　Curtains　of　tarpaulin　were　let　down　on　each
side　of　the　carriage；　and　the　coachman；　who　looked　like　a　Maltese；　and
wore　a　round　cap　edged　with　pale　yellow　fur；　was　muffled　up　to　the
ears。　Suzanne's　round；　white　face　was　puffy　with　fatigue；　and　her　dark
eyes；　generally　good…natured　and　hopeful；　were　dreary；　and　squinted
slightly；　as　she　tipped　the　Italian　waiter；　and　handed　her　mistress's
dressing…bag　and　rug　into　the　carriage。　The　waiter　stood　an　the
discoloured　step；　yawning　from　ear　to　ear。　Even　the　tip　could　not
excite　him。　Before　the　carriage　started　he　had　gone　into　the　hotel　and
banged　the　door。　The　horses　trotted　quickly　through　the　mud；
descending　the　hill。　One　of　the　tarpaulin　curtains　had　been　left
unbuttoned　by　the　coachman。　It　flapped　to　and　fro；　and　when　its
movement　was　outward　Domini　could　catch　short　glimpses　of　mud；　of
glistening　palm…leaves　with　yellow　stems；　of　gas…lamps；　and　of
something　that　was　like　an　extended　grey　nothingness。　This　was　the
sea。　Twice　she　saw　Arabs　trudging　along；　holding　their　skirts　up　in　a
bunch　sideways；　and　showing　legs　bare　beyond　the　knees。　Hoods　hid
their　faces。　They　appeared　to　be　agitated　by　the　weather；　and　to　be
continually　trying　to　plant　their　naked　feet　in　dry　places。　Suzanne；
who　sat　opposite　to　Domini；　had　her　eyes　shut。　If　she　had　not　from
time　to　time　passed　her　tongue　quickly　over　her　full；　pale　lips　she
would　have　looked　like　a　dead　thing。　The　coquettish　angle　at　which　her
little　black　hat　was　set　on　her　head　seemed　absurdly　inappropriate　to
the　occasion　and　her　mood。　It　suggested　a　hat　being　worn　at　some
festival。　Her　black；　gloved　hands　were　tightly　twisted　together　in　her
lap；　and　she　allowed　her　plump　body　to　wag　quite　loosely　with　the
motion　of　the　carriage；　making　no　attempt　at　resistance。　She　had
really　the　appearance　of　a　corpse　sitting　up。　The　tarpaulin　flapped
monotonously。　The　coachman　cried　out　in　the　dimness　to　his　horses　like
a　bird；　prolonging　his　call　drearily；　and　then　violently　cracking　his
whip。　Domini　kept　her　eyes　fixed　on　the　loose　tarpaulin；　so　that　she
might　not　miss　one　of　the　wet　visions　it　discovered　by　its　reiterated
movement。　She　had　not　slept　at　all；　and　felt　as　if　there　was　a　gritty
dryness　close　behind　her　eyes。　She　also　felt　very　alert　and　enduring；
but　not　in　the　least　natural。　Had　some　extraordinary　event　occurred；
had　the　carriage；　for　instance；　rolled　over　the　edge　of　the　road　into
the　sea；　she　was　convinced　that　she　could　not　have　managed　to　be
either　surprised　or　alarmed；　If　anyone　had　asked　her　whether　she　was
tired　she　would　certainly　have　answered　〃No。〃

Like　her　mother；　Domini　was　of　a　gipsy　type。　She　stood　five　feet　ten；
had　thick；　almost　coarse　and　wavy　black　hair　that　was　parted　in　the
middle　of　her　small　head；　dark；　almond…shaped；　heavy…lidded　eyes；　and
a　clear；　warmly…white　skin；　unflecked　with　colour。　She　never　flushed
under　the　influence　of　excitement　or　emotion。　Her　forehead　was　broad
and　low。　Her　eyebrows　were　long　and　level；　thicker　than　most　women's。
The　shape　of　her　face　was　oval；　with　a　straight；　short　nose；　a　short；
but　rather　prominent　and　round　chin；　and　a　very　expressive　mouth；　not
very　small；　slightly　depressed　at　the　corners；　with　perfect　teeth；　and
red　lips　that　were　unusually　flexible。　Her　figure　was　remarkably
athletic；　with　shoulders　that　were　broad　in　a　woman；　and　a　naturally
small　waist。　Her　hands　and　feet　were　also　small。　She　walked
splendidly；　like　a　Syrian；　but　without　his　defiant　insolence。　In　her
face；　when　it　was　in　repose；　there　was　usually　an　expression　of　still
indifference；　some　thought　of　opposition。　She　looked　her　age；　and　had
never　used　a　powderpuff　in　her　life。　She　could　smile　easily　and　easily
become　animated；　and　in　her　animation　there　was　often　fire；　as　in　her
calmness　there　was　sometimes　cloud。　Timid　people　were　generally
disconcerted　by　her　appearance；　and　her　manner　did　not　always　reassure
them。　Her　obvious　physical　strength　had　something　surprising　in　it；
and　woke　wonder　as　to　how　it　had　been；　or　might　be；　used。　Even　when
her　eyes　were　shut　she　looked　singularly　wakeful。

Domini　and　Suzanne　got　to　the　station　of　Robertville　much　too　early。
The　large　hall　in　which　they　had　to　wait　was　miserably　lit；　blank　and
decidedly　cold。　The　ticket…office　was　on　the　left；　and　the　room　was
divided　into　two　parts　by　a　broad；　low　counter；　on　which　the　heavy
luggage　was　placed　before　being　weighed　by　two　unshaven　and　hulking
men　in　blue　smocks。　Three　or　four　Arab　touts；　in　excessively　shabby
European　clothes　and　turbans；　surrounded　Domini　with　offers　of
assistance。　One；　the　dirtiest　of　the　group；　with　a　gaping　eye…socket；
in　which　there　was　no　eye；　succeeded　by　his　passionate　volubility　and
impudence　in　attaching　himself　to　her　in　a　sort　of　official　capacity。
He　spoke　fluent；　but　faulty；　French；　which　attracted　Suzanne；　and；
being　abnormally　muscular　and　active；　in　an　amazingly　short　time　got
hold　of　all　their　boxes　and　bags　and　ranged　them　on　the　counter。　He
then　indulged　in　a　dramatic　performance；　which　he　apparently
considered　likely　to　rouse　into　life　and　attention　the　two　unshaven
men　in　smocks；　who　were　smoking　cigarettes；　and　staring　vaguely　at　the
metal　sheet　on　which　the　luggage　was　placed　to　be　weighed。　Suzanne
remained　expectantly　in　attendance；　and　Domini；　having　nothing　to　do；
and　seeing　no　bench　to　rest　on；　walked　slowly　up　and　down　the　hall
near　the　entrance。

It　was　now　half…past　four　in　the　morning；　and　in　the　air　Domini
fancied　that　she　felt　the　cold　breath　of　the　coming　dawn。　Beyond　the
opening　of　the　station；　as　she　passed　and　repassed　in　her　slow　and
aimless　walk；　she　saw　the　soaking　tarpaulin　curtains　of　the　carriage
she　had　just　left　glistening　in　the　faint　lamp…light。　After　a　few
minutes　the　Arabs　she　had　noticed　on　the　road　entered。　Their　brown；
slipperless　feet　were　caked　with　sticky　mud；　and　directly　they　found
themselves　under　shelter　in　a　dry　place　they　dropped　the　robes　they
had　been　holding　up；　and；　bending　down；　began　to　flick　it　off　on　to
the　floor　with　their　delicate　fingers。　They　did　this　with
extraordinary　care　and　precision；　rubbed　the　soles　of　their　feet
repeatedly　against　the　boards；　and　then　put　on　their　yellow　slippers
and　threw　back　the　hoods　which　had　been　drawn　over　their　heads。

A　few　French　passengers　straggled　in；　yawning　and　looking　irritable。
The　touts　surrounded　them；　with　noisy　offers　of　assistance。　The　men　in
smocks　still　continued　to　smoke　and　to　stare　at　the　metal　sheet　on　the
floor。　Although　the　luggage　now　extended　in　quite　a　long　line　upon　the
counter　they　paid　no　attention　to　it；　or　to　the　violent　and　reiterated
cries　of　the　Arabs　who　stood　behind　it；　anxious　to　earn　a　tip　by
getting　it　weighed　and　registered　quickly。　Apparently　they　were
wrapped　in　savage　dreams。　At　length　a　light　shone　through　the　small
opening　of　the　ticket…office；　the　men　in　smocks　stirred　and　threw　down
their　cigarette　stumps；　and　the　few　travellers　pressed　forward　against
the　counter；　and　pointed　to　their　boxes　with　their　sticks　and　hands。
Suzanne　Charpot　assumed　an　expression　of　attentive　suspicion；　and
Domini　ceased　from　walking　up　and　down。　Several　of　the　recruits　came
in　hastily；　accompanied　by　two　Zouaves。　They　were　wet；　and　looked
dazed　and　tired　out。　Grasping　their　bags　and　bundles　they　went　towards
the　platform。　A　train　glided　slowly　in；　gleaming　faintly　with　lights。
Domini's　trunks　were　slammed　down　on　the　weighing　machine；　and
Suzanne；　drawing　out　her　purse；　took　her　stand　before　the　shining　hole
of　the　ticket…office。

In　the　wet　darkness　there　rose　up　a　sound　like　a　child　calling　out　an
insulting　remark。　This　was　followed　immediately　by　the　piping　of　a
horn。　With　a　jerk　the　train　started；　passed　one　by　one　the　station
lamps；　and；　with　a　steady　jangling　and　rattling；　drew　out　into　the
shrouded　country。　Domini　was　in　a　wretchedly…lit　carriage　with　three
Frenchmen；　facing　the　door　which　opened　on　to　the　platform。　The　man
opposite　to　her　was　enormously　fat；　with　a　coal…black　beard　growing　up
to　his　eyes。　He　wore　black　gloves　and　trousers；　a　huge　black　cloth
hat；　and　a　thick　black　cloak　with　a　black　buckle　near　the　throat。　His
eyes　were　shut；　and　his　large；　heavy　head　drooped　forward。　Domini
wondered　if　he　was　travelling　to　the　funeral　of　some　relative。　The　two
other　men；　one　of　whom　looked　like　a　commercial　traveller；　kept
shifting　their　feet　upon　the　hot…water　tins　that　lay　on　the　floor；
clearing　their　throats　and　sighing　loudly。　One　of　them　coughed；　let
down　the　window；　spat；　drew　the　window　up；　sat　sideways；　put　his　legs
suddenly　up　on　the　seat　and　groaned。　The　train　rattled　more　harshly；
and　shook　from　side　to　side　as　it　got　up　speed。　Rain　streamed　down　the
window…panes；　through　which　it　was　impossible　to　see　anything。

Domini　still　felt　alert；　but　an　overpowering　sensation　of　dreariness
had　come　to　her。　She　did　not　attribute　this　sensation　to　fatigue。　She
did　not　try　to　analyse　it。　She　only　felt　as　if　she　had　never　seen　or
heard　anything　that　was　not　cheerless；　as　if　she　had　never　known
anything　that　was　not　either　sad；　or　odd；　or　inexplicable。　What　did
she　remember？　A　train　of　trifles　that　seemed　to　have　been　enough　to
fill　all　her　life；　the　arrival　of　the　nervous　and　badly…dressed
recruits　at　the　wharf；　their　embarkation；　their　last　staring　and
pathetic　look　at　France；　the　stormy　voyage；　the　sordid　illness　of
almost　everyone　on　board；　the　approach　long　after　sundown　to　the　small
and　unknown　town；　of　which　it　was　impossible　to　see　anything　clearly；
the　marshalling　of　the　recruits　pale　with　sickness；　their　pitiful
attempt　at　cheerful　singing；　angrily　checked　by　the　Zouaves　in　charge
of　them；　their　departure　up　the　hill　carrying　their　poor　belongings；
the　sleepless　night；　the　sound　of　the　rain　falling；　the　scents　rising
from　the　unseen　earth。　The　tap　of　the　Italian　waiter　at　the　door；　the
damp　drive　to　the　station；　the　long　wait　there；　the　sneering　signal；
followed　by　the　piping　horn；　the　jerking　and　rattling　of　the　carriage；
the　dim　light　within　it　falling　upon　the　stout　Frenchman　in　his
mourning；　the　streaming　water　upon　the　window…panes。　These　few　sights；
sounds；　sensations　were　like　the　story　of　a　life　to　Domini　just　then；
were　more；　were　like　the　whole　of　life；　always　dull　noise；　strange；
flitting；　pale　faces；　and　an　unknown　region　that　remained　perpeturally
invisible；　and　that　must　surely　be　ugly　or　terrible。

The　train　stopped　frequently　at　lonely　little　stations。　Domini　looked
out；　letting　down　the　window　for　a　moment。　At　each　station　she　saw　a
tiny　house　with　a　peaked　roof；　a　wooden　railing　dividing　the　platform
from　the　country　road；　mud；　grass　bending　beneath　the　weight　of　water…
drops；　and　tall；　dripping；　shaggy　eucalyptus　trees。　Sometimes　the
station…master's　children　peered　at　the　train　with　curious　eyes；　and
depressed…looking　Arabs；　carefully　wrapped　up；　their　mouths　and　chins
covered　by　folds　of　linen；　got　in　and　out　slowly。

Once　Domini　saw　two　women；　in　thin；　floating　white　dresses　and
spangled　veils；　hurrying　by　like　ghosts　in　the　dark。　Heavy　silver
ornaments　jangled　on　their　ankles；　above　their　black　slippers　splashed
with　mud。　Their　sombre　eyes　stared　out　from