five tales-第30章

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！


her's；　and　they　did　not　speak。　　The　moment　speech　began　all　would　be　unreal！　　Spring　has　no　speech；　nothing　but　rustling　and　whispering。　　Spring　has　so　much　more　than　speech　in　its　unfolding　flowers　and　leaves；　and　the　coursing　of　its　streams；　and　in　its　sweet　restless　seeking！　　And　sometimes　spring　will　come　alive；　and；　like　a　mysterious　Presence　stand；　encircling　lovers　with　its　arms；　laying　on　them　the　fingers　of　enchantment；　so　that；　standing　lips　to　lips；　they　forget　everything　but　just　a　kiss。　　While　her　heart　beat　against　him；　and　her　lips　quivered　on　his；　Ashurst　felt　nothing　but　simple　raptureDestiny　meant　her　for　his　arms；　Love　could　not　be　flouted！　　But　when　their　lips　parted　for　breath；　division　began　again　at　once。　　Only；　passion　now　was　so　much　the　stronger；　and　he　sighed：

〃Oh！　　Megan！　　Why　did　you　come？〃　　She　looked　up；　hurt；　amazed。

〃Sir；　you　asked　me　to。〃

〃Don't　call　me　'sir；'　my　pretty　sweet。〃　　〃What　should　I　be　callin〃　you？〃

〃Frank。〃

〃I　could　not。　　Oh；　no！〃

〃But　you　love　medon't　you？〃

〃I　could　not　help　lovin'　you。　　I　want　to　be　with　youthat's　all。〃

〃All！〃

So　faint　that　he　hardly　heard；　she　whispered：　〃I　shall　die　if　I　can't　be　with　you。〃

Ashurst　took　a　mighty　breath。

〃Come　and　be　with　me；　then！〃

〃Oh！〃

Intoxicated　by　the　awe　and　rapture　in　that　〃Oh！〃　he　went　on；　whispering：

〃We'll　go　to　London。　　I'll　show　you　the　world。


And　I　will　take　care　of　you；　I　promise；　Megan。　　I'll　never　be　a　brute　to　you！〃

〃If　I　can　be　with　you…that　is　all。〃

He　stroked　her　hair；　and　whispered　on：

〃To…morrow　I'll　go　to　Torquay　and　get　some　money；　and　get　you　some　clothes　that　won't　be　noticed；　and　then　we'll　steal　away。　　And　when　we　get　to　London；　soon　perhaps；　if　you　love　me　well　enough；　we'll　be　married。〃

He　could　feel　her　hair　shiver　with　the　shake　of　her　head。

〃Oh；　no！　　I　could　not。　　I　only　want　to　be　with　you！〃

Drunk　on　his　own　chivalry；　Ashurst　went　on　murmuring　〃It's　I　who　am　not　good　enough　for　you。　　Oh！　Megan；　when　did　you　begin　to　love　me？〃

〃When　I　saw　you　in　the　road；　and　you　looked　at　me。　　The　first　night　I　loved　you；　but　I　never　thought　you　would　want　me。〃

She　slipped　down　suddenly　to　her　knees；　trying　to　kiss　his　feet。

A　shiver　of　horror　went　through　Ashurst；　he　lifted　her　up　bodily　and　held　her　fasttoo　upset　to　speak。

She　whispered：　〃Why　won't　you　let　me？〃

〃It's　I　who　will　kiss　your　feet！〃

Her　smile　brought　tears　into　his　eyes。　　The　whiteness　of　her　moonlit　face　so　close　to　his；　the　faint　pink　of　her　opened　lips；　had　the　living　unearthly　beauty　of　the　apple　blossom。

And　then；　suddenly；　her　eyes　widened　and　stared　past　him　painfully；　she　writhed　out　of　his　arms；　and　whispered：　〃Look！〃

Ashurst　saw　nothing　but　the　brightened　stream；　the　furze　faintly　gilded；　the　beech　trees　glistening；　and　behind　them　all　the　wide　loom　of　the　moonlit　hill。　　Behind　him　came　her　frozen　whisper：　〃The　gipsy　bogie！〃

〃Where？〃

〃Thereby　the　stoneunder　the　trees！〃

Exasperated；　he　leaped　the　stream；　and　strode　towards　the　beech　clump。　　Prank　of　the　moonlight！　　Nothing！　　In　and　out　of　the　boulders　and　thorn　trees；　muttering　and　cursing；　yet　with　a　kind　of　terror；　he　rushed　and　stumbled。　　Absurd！　　Silly！　　Then　he　went　back　to　the　apple　tree。　　But　she　was　gone；　he　could　hear　a　rustle；　the　grunting　of　the　pigs；　the　sound　of　a　gate　closing。　　Instead　of　her；　only　this　old

apple　tree！　　He　flung　his　arms　round　the　trunk。　　What　a　substitute　for　her　soft　body；　the　rough　moss　against　his　facewhat　a　substitute　for　her　soft　cheek；　only　the　scent；　as　of　the　woods；　a　little　the　same！　　And　above　him；　and　around；　the　blossoms；　more　living；　more　moonlit　than　ever；　seemed　to　glow　and　breathe。




7

Descending　from　the　train　at　Torquay　station；　Ashurst　wandered　uncertainly　along　the　front；　for　he　did　not　know　this　particular　queen　of　English　watering　places。　　Having　little　sense　of　what　he　had　on；　he　was　quite　unconscious　of　being　remarkable　among　its　inhabitants；　and　strode　along　in　his　rough　Norfolk　jacket；　dusty　boots；　and　battered　hat；　without　observing　that　people　gazed　at　him　rather　blankly。　　He　was　seeking　a　branch　of　his　London　bank；　and　having　found　one；　found　also　the　first　obstacle　to　his　mood。　　Did　he　know　anyone　in　Torquay？　　No。　　In　that　case；　if　he　would　wire　to　his　bank　in　London；　they　would　be　happy　to　oblige　him　on　receipt　of　the　reply。　　That　suspicious　breath　from　the　matter…of…fact　world　somewhat　tarnished　the　brightness　of　his　visions。　　But　he　sent　the　telegram。

Nearly　opposite　to　the　post　office　he　saw　a　shop　full　of　ladies'　garments；　and　examined　the　window　with　strange　sensations。　　To　have　to　undertake　the　clothing　of　his　rustic　love　was　more　than　a　little　disturbing。　　He　went　in。　　A　young　woman　came　forward；　she　had　blue　eyes　and　a　faintly　puzzled　forehead。　　Ashurst　stared　at　her　in　silence。

〃Yes；　sir？〃

〃I　want　a　dress　for　a　young　lady。〃

The　young　woman　smiled。　　Ashurst　frowned　the　peculiarity　of　his　request　struck　him　with　sudden　force。

The　young　woman　added　hastily：

〃What　style　would　you　likesomething　modish？〃

〃No。　　Simple。〃

〃What　figure　would　the　young　lady　be？〃

〃I　don't　know；　about　two　inches　shorter　than　you；　I　should　say。〃

〃Could　you　give　me　her　waist　measurement？〃

Megan's　waist！

〃Oh！　　anything　usual！〃

〃Quite！〃

While　she　was　gone　he　stood　disconsolately　eyeing　the　models　in　the　window；　and　suddenly　it　seemed　to　him　incredible　that　Meganhis　Megan　could　ever　be　dressed　save　in　the　rough　tweed　skirt；　coarse　blouse；　and　tam…o'…shanter　cap　he　was　wont　to　see　her　in。　　The　young　woman　had　come　back　with　several　dresses　in　her　arms；　and　Ashurst　eyed　her　laying　them　against　her　own　modish　figure。　　There　was　one　whose　colour　he　liked；　a　dove…grey；　but　to　imagine　Megan　clothed　in　it　was　beyond　him。　　The　young　woman　went　away；　and　brought　some　more。　But　on　Ashurst　there　had　now　come　a　feeling　of　paralysis。　　How　choose？　　She　would　want　a　hat　too；　and　shoes；　and　gloves；　and；　suppose；　when　he　had　got　them　all；　they　commonised　her；　as　Sunday　clothes　always　commonised　village　folk！　　Why　should　she　not　travel　as　she　was？　　Ah！　　But　conspicuousness　would　matter；　this　was　a　serious　elopement。　　And；　staring　at　the　young　woman；　he　thought：　'I　wonder　if　she　guesses；　and　thinks　me　a　blackguard？'

〃Do　you　mind　putting　aside　that　grey　one　for　me？〃　　he　said　desperately　at　last。　　〃I　can't　decide　now；　I'll　come　in　again　this　afternoon。〃

The　young　woman　sighed。

〃Oh！　　certainly。　　It's　a　very　tasteful　costume。　　I　don't　think　you'll　get　anything　that　will　suit　your　purpose　better。〃

〃I　expect　not；〃　Ashurst　murmured；　and　went　out。

Freed　again　from　the　suspicious　matter…of…factness　of　the　world；　he　took　a　long　breath；　and　went　back　to　visions。　　In　fancy　he　saw　the　trustful；　pretty　creature　who　was　going　to　join　her　life　to　his；　saw　himself　and　her　stealing　forth　at　night；　walking　over　the　moor　under　the　moon；　he　with　his　arm　round　her；　and　carrying　her　new　garments；　till；　in　some　far…off　wood；　when　dawn　was　coming；　she　would　slip　off　her　old　things　and　put　on　these；　and　an　early　train　at　a　distant　station　would　bear　them　away　on　their　honeymoon　journey；　till　London　swallowed　them　up；　and　the　dreams　of　love　came　true。

〃Frank　Ashurst！　　Haven't　seen　you　since　Rugby；　old　chap！〃

Ashurst's　frown　dissolved；　the　face；　close　to　his　own；　was　blue…eyed；　suffused　with　sunone　of　those　faces　where　sun　from　within　and　without　join　in　a　sort　of　lustre。　　And　he　answered：

〃Phil　Halliday；　by　Jove！〃

〃What　are　you　doing　here？〃

〃Oh！　　nothing。　　Just　looking　round；　and　getting　some　money。　　I'm　staying　on　the　moor。〃

〃Are　you　lunching　anywhere？　　Come　and　lunch　with　us；　I'm　here　with　my　young　sisters。　　They've　had　measles。〃

Hooked　in　by　that　friendly　arm　Ashurst　went　along；　up　a　hill；　down　a　hill；　away　out　of　the　town；　while　the　voice　of　Halliday；　redolent　of　optimism　as　his　face　was　of　sun；　explained　how　〃in　this　mouldy　place　the　only　decent　things　were　the　bathing　and　boating；〃　and　so　on；　till　presently　they　came　to　a　crescent　of　houses　a　little　above　and　back　from　the　sea；　and　into　the　centre　one　an　hotelmade　their　way。

〃Come　up　to　my　room　and　have　a　wash。　　Lunch'll　be　ready　in　a　jiffy。〃

Ashurst　contemplated　his　visage　in　a　looking…glass。　　After　his　farmhouse　bedroom；　the　comb　and　one　spare　shirt　regime　of　the　last　fortnight；　this　room　littered　with　clothes　and　brushes　was　a　sort　of　Capua；　and　he　thought：　'Queerone　doesn't　realise　But　whathe　did　not　quite　know。

When　he　followed　Halliday　into　the　sitting　room　for　lunch；　three　faces；　very　fair　and　blue…eyed；　were　turned　suddenly　at　the　words：　〃This　is　Frank　Ashurst　my　young　sisters。〃

Two　were　indeed　young；　about　eleven　and　ten。　　The　third　was　perhaps　seventeen；　tall　and　fair…haired　too；　with　pink…and…white　cheeks　just　touched　by　the　sun；　and　eyebrows；　rather　darker　than　the　hair；　running　a　little　upwards　from　her　nose　to　their　outer　points。　　The　voices　of　all　three　were　like　Halliday's；　high　and　cheerful；　they　stood　up　straight；　shook　hands　with　a　quick　movement；　looked　at　Ashurst　critically；　away　again　at　once；　and　began　to　talk　of　what　they　were　going　to　do　in　the　afternoon。　　A　regular　Diana　and　attendant　nymphs！　　After　the　farm　this　crisp；　slangy；　eager　talk；　this　cool；　clean；　off…hand　refinement；　was　queer　at　first；　and　then　so　natural　that　what　he　had　come　from　became　suddenly　remote。　　The　names　of　the　two　little　ones　seemed　to　be　Sabina　and　Freda；　of　the　eldest；　Stella。

Presently　the　one　called　Sabina　turned　to　him　and　said：

〃I　say；　will　you　come　shrimping　with　us？it's　awful　fun！〃

Surprised　by　this　unexpected　friendliness；　Ashurst　murmured：

〃I'm　afraid　I've　got　to　get　back　this　afternoon。〃

〃Oh！〃

〃Can't　you　put　it　off？〃

Ashurst　turned　to　the　new　speaker；　Stella；　shook　his　head；　and　smiled。　　She　was　very　pretty！　　Sabina　said　regretfully：　〃You　might！〃　Then　the　talk　switched　off　to　caves　and　swimming。

〃Can　you　swim　far？〃

〃About　two　miles。〃

〃Oh！〃

〃I　say！〃

〃How　jolly！〃

The　three　pairs　of　blue　eyes；　fixed　on　him；　made　him　conscious　of　his　new　importanceThe　sensation　was　agreeable。　　Halliday　said：

〃I　say；　you　simply　must　stop　and　have　a　bathe。　　You'd　better　stay　the　night。〃

〃Yes；　do！〃'

But　again　Ashurst　smiled　and　shook　his　head。　　Then　suddenly　he　found　himself　being　catechised　about　his　physical　achievements。　　He　had　rowedit　seemedin　his　college　boat；　played　in　his　college　football　team；　won　his　college　mile；　and　he　rose　from　table　a　sort　of　hero。　The　two　little　girls　insisted　that　he　must　see　〃their〃　cave；　and　they　set　forth　chattering　like　magpies；　Ashurst　between　them；　Stella　and　her　brother　a　little　behind。　　In　the　cave；　damp　and　darkish　like　any　other　cave；　the　great　feature　was　a　pool　with　possibility　of　creatures　which　might　be　caught　and　put　into　bottles。　　Sabina　and　Freda；　who　wore　no　stockings　on　their　shapely　brown　legs；　exhorted　Ashurst　to　join　them　in　the　middle　of　it；　and　help　sieve　the　water。　He　too　was　soon　bootless　and　sockless。　　Time　goes　fast　for　one　who　has　a　sense　of　beauty；　when　there　are　pretty　children　in　a　pool　and　a　young　Diana　on　the　edge；　to　receive　with　wonder　anything　you　can　catch！　　Ashurst　never　had　much　sense　of　time。　　It　was　a　shock　when；　pulling　out　his　watch；　he　saw　it　was　well　past　three。　　No　ca