第87部分(第3/7 頁)

the　blue　heavens；　the　whitest　blossom！　How　excited　it　made

her。

She　had　to　hurry　through　her　dressing　to　go　and　walk　in　the

garden　under　the　plum　trees；　before　anyone　should　e　and　talk

to　her。　Out　she　slipped；　and　paced　like　a　queen　in　fairy

pleasaunces。　The　blossom　was　silver…shadowy　when　she　looked　up

from　under　the　tree　at　the　blue　sky。　There　was　a　faint　scent；　a

faint　noise　of　bees；　a　orning。

She　heard　the　breakfast　gong　and　went　indoors。

〃Where　have　you　been？〃　asked　the　others。

〃I　had　to　go　out　under　the　plum　trees；〃　she　said；　her　face

glowing　like　a　flower。　〃It　is　so　lovely。〃

A　shadow　of　anger　crossed　Skrebensky's　soul。　She　had　not

wanted　him　to　be　there。　He　hardened　his　will。

At　night　there　was　a　moon；　and　the　blossom　glistened　ghostly；

they　went　together　to　look　at　it。　She　saw　the　moonlight　on　his

face　as　he　waited　near　her；　and　his　features　were　like　silver

and　his　eyes　in　shadow　were　unfathomable。　She　was　in　love　with

him。　He　was　very　quiet。

They　went　indoors　and　she　pretended　to　be　tired。　So　she　went

quickly　to　bed。

〃Don't　be　long　ing　to　me；〃　she　whispered；　as　she　was

supposed　to　be　kissing　him　good　night。

And　he　waited；　intent；　obsessed；　for　the　moment　when　he　could

e　to　her。

She　enjoyed　him；　she　made　much　of　him。　She　liked　to　put　her

fingers　on　the　soft　skin　of　his　sides；　or　on　the　softness　of　his

back；　when　he　made　the　muscles　hard　underneath；　the　muscles

developed　very　strong　through　riding；　and　she　had　a　great　thrill

of　excitement　and　passion；　because　of　the　unimpressible　hardness

of　his　body；　that　was　so　soft　and　smooth　under　her　fingers；　that