第22部分(第7/7 頁)

　in　the　dusk；

waiting。　Anna　and　the　young　man　went　on　noiselessly　by　the

hedge；　along　where　the　farm…carts　had　made　dark　ruts　in　the

grass。　They　came　through　a　gate　into　a　wide　open　field　where

still　much　light　seemed　to　spread　against　their　faces。　In　the

under…shadow　the　sheaves　lay　on　the　ground　where　the　reapers　had

left　them；　many　sheaves　like　bodies　prostrate　in　shadowy　bulk；

others　were　riding　hazily　in　shocks；　like　ships　in　the　haze　of

moonlight　and　of　dusk；　farther　off。

They　did　not　want　to　turn　back；　yet　whither　were　they　to　go；

towards　the　moon？　For　they　were　separate；　single。

〃We　will　put　up　some　sheaves；〃　said　Anna。　So　they　could

remain　there　in　the　broad；　open　place。

They　went　across　the　stubble　to　where　the　long　rows　of

upreared　shocks　ended。　Curiously　populous　that　part　of　the　field

looked；　where　the　shocks　rode　erect；　the　rest　was　open　and

prostrate。

The　air　was　all　hoary　silver。　She　looked　around　her。　Trees

stood　vaguely　at　their　distance；　as　if　waiting　like　heralds；　for

the　signal　to　approach。　In　this　space　of　vague　crystal　her　heart

seemed　like　a　bell　ringing。　She　was　afraid　lest　the　sound　should

be　heard。

〃You　take　this　row；〃　she　said　to　the　youth；　and　passing　on；

she　stooped　in　the　next　row　of　lying　sheaves；　grasping　her　hands

in　the　tresses　of　the　oats；　lifting　the　heavy　corn　in　either

hand；　carrying　it；　as　it　hung　heavily　against　her；　to　the

cleared　space；　where　she　set　the　two　sheaves　sharply　down；

bringing　them　together　with　a　faint；　keen　clash。　He