第89部分(第6/7 頁)

ight　of　some　other；　simpler；

more　finely　natural　world。

But　always　there　was　a　foreboding　waiting　to　mand　her。　She

became　more　aware　of　Skrebensky。　She　knew　he　was　waking　up。　She

must　modify　her　soul；　depart　from　her　further　world；　for

him。

She　knew　he　was　awake。　He　lay　still；　with　a　concrete

stillness；　not　as　when　he　slept。　Then　his　arm　tightened　almost

convulsively　upon　her；　and　he　said；　half　timidly：

〃Did　you　sleep　well？〃

〃Very　well。〃

〃So　did　I。〃

There　was　a　pause。

〃And　do　you　love　me？〃　he　asked。

She　turned　and　looked　at　him　searchingly。　He　seemed　outside

her。

〃I　do；〃　she　said。

But　she　said　it　out　of　placency　and　a　desire　not　to　be

harried。　There　was　a　curious　breach　of　silence　between　them；

which　frightened　him。

They　lay　rather　late；　then　he　rang　for　breakfast。　She　wanted

to　be　able　to　go　straight　downstairs　and　away　from　the　place；

when　she　got　up。　She　was　happy　in　this　room；　but　the　thought　of

the　publicity　of　the　hall　downstairs　rather　troubled　her。

A　young　Italian；　a　Sicilian；　dark　and　slightly　pock…marked；

buttoned　up　in　a　sort　of　grey　tunic；　appeared　with　the　tray。　His

face　had　an　almost　African　imperturbability；　impassive；

inprehensible。

〃One　might　be　in　Italy；〃　Skrebensky　said　to　him；　genially。　A

vacant　look；　almost　like　fear；　came　on　the　fellow's　face。　He　did

not　understand。

〃This　is　like　Italy；〃　Skrebensky　explained。

The　face　of　the　Italian　flashed　with　a　non…prehending

smile；　he　finished　setting　out　the　tray；　and　was　gone。　He　did

not　understand：　he　would　understand　nothing：　he　disappeared　from

the　door　like　a　half…