第86部分(第1/7 頁)

plication　of　dead　reality；　then　what　had　his　under…life　to　do

with　her？　One's　social　wife　was　almost　a　material　symbol。

Whereas　now　she　was　something　more　vivid　to　him　than　anything　in

conventional　life　could　be。　She　gave　the　plete　lie　to　all

conventional　life；　he　and　she　stood　together；　dark；　fluid；

infinitely　potent；　giving　the　living　lie　to　the　dead　whole　which

contained　them。

He　watched　her　pensive；　puzzled　face。

〃I　don't　think　I　want　to　marry　you；〃　she　said；　her　brow

clouded。

It　piqued　him　rather。

〃Why　not？〃　he　asked。

〃Let's　think　about　it　afterwards；　shall　we？〃　she　said。

He　was　crossed；　yet　he　loved　her　violently。

〃You've　got　a　museau；　not　a　face；〃　he　said。

〃Have　I？〃　she　cried；　her　face　lighting　up　like　a　pure　flame。

She　thought　she　had　escaped。　Yet　he　returned……he　was　not

satisfied。

〃Why？〃　he　asked；　〃why　don't　you　want　to　marry　me？〃

〃I　don't　want　to　be　with　other　people；〃　she　said。　〃I　want　to

be　like　this。　I'll　tell　you　if　ever　I　want　to　marry　you。〃

〃All　right；〃　he　said。

He　would　rather　the　thing　was　left　indefinite；　and　that　she

took　the　responsibility。

They　talked　of　the　Easter　vacation。　She　thought　only　of

plete　enjoyment。

They　went　to　an　hotel　in　Piccadilly。　She　was　supposed　to　be

his　wife。　They　bought　a　wedding…ring　for　a　shilling；　from　a　shop

in　a　poor　quarter。

They　had　revoked　altogether　the　ordinary　mortal　world。　Their

confidence　was　like　a　possession　upon　them。　They　were　possessed。

Perfectly　and　supremely　free　they　felt；　proud　beyond　all

question；　and　surpassing　mortal　conditions。

They　were　perfect；　therefore　nothing　else　e