第22部分(第1/7 頁)

always　sounded　strange；　re…echoing　in　the　dark　places　of　her

being。

They　very　rarely　touched　each　other。　They　liked　to　be　alone

together；　near　to　each　other；　but　there　was　still　a　distance

between　them。

In　the　cool　dairy　the　candle…light　lit　on　the　large；　white

surfaces　of　the　cream　pans。　He　turned　his　head　sharply。　It　was

so　cool　and　remote　in　there；　so　remote。　His　mouth　was　open　in　a

little；　strained　laugh。　She　stood　with　her　head　bent；　turned

aside。　He　wanted　to　go　near　to　her。　He　had　kissed　her　once。

Again　his　eye　rested　on　the　round　blocks　of　butter；　where　the

emblematic　bird　lifted　its　breast　from　the　shadow　cast　by　the

candle　flame。　What　was　restraining　him？　Her　breast　was　near　him；

his　head　lifted　like　an　eagle's。　She　did　not　move。　Suddenly；

ent；　he　put　his　arms

round　her　and　drew　her　to　him。　It　was　quick；　cleanly　done；　like

a　bird　that　swoops　and　sinks　close；　closer。

He　was　kissing　her　throat。　She　turned　and　looked　at　him。　Her

eyes　were　dark　and　flowing　with　fire。　His　eyes　were　hard　and

bright　with　a　fierce　purpose　and　gladness；　like　a　hawk's。　She

felt　him　flying　into　the　dark　space　of　her　flames；　like　a　brand；

like　a　gleaming　hawk。

They　had　looked　at　each　other；　and　seen　each　other　strange；

yet　near；　very　near；　like　a　hawk　stooping；　swooping；　dropping

into　a　flame　of　darkness。　So　she　took　the　candle　and　they　went

back　to　the　kitchen。

They　went　on　in　this　way　for　some　time；　always　ing

together；　but　rarely　touching；　very　seldom　did　they　kiss。　And

then；　often；　it　was　merely　a　touch　of　the　lips；　a　sign。　But　her

eyes　began　to　waken　with　a　constant　fire；　she　paus