第44部分(第1/7 頁)

kissed　her；　and　again　began　to　e　nearer；　nearer。　He　gathered

himself　together。　Even　if　he　did　not　take　her；　he　would　make　her

relax；　he　would　fuse　away　her　resistance。　So　softly；　softly；

with　infinite　caressiveness　he　kissed　her；　and　the　whole　of　his

being　seemed　to　fondle　her。　Till；　at　the　verge；　swooning　at　the

breaking　point；　there　came　from　her　a　beaten；　inarticulate；

moaning　cry：

〃Don't……oh；　don't！〃

His　veins　fused　with　extreme　voluptuousness。　For　a　moment　he

almost　lost　control　of　himself；　and　continued　automatically。　But

there　was　a　moment　of　inaction；　of　cold　suspension。　He　was　not

going　to　take　her。　He　drew　her　to　him　and　soothed　her；　and

caressed　her。　But　the　pure　zest　had　gone。　She　struggled　to

herself　and　realized　he　was　not　going　to　take　her。　And　then；　at

the　very　last　moment；　when　his　fondling　had　e　near　again；　his

hot　living　desire　despising　her；　against　his　cold　sensual

desire；　she　broke　violently　away　from　him。

〃Don't；〃　she　cried；　harsh　now　with　hatred；　and　she　flung　her

hand　across　and　hit　him　violently。　〃Keep　off　of　me。〃

His　blood　stood　still　for　a　moment。　Then　the　smile　came　again

within　him；　steady；　cruel。

〃Why；　what's　the　matter？〃　he　said；　with　suave　irony。

〃Nobody's　going　to　hurt　you。〃

〃I　know　what　you　want；〃　she　said。

〃I　know　what　I　want；〃　he　said。　〃What's　the　odds？〃

〃Well；　you're　not　going　to　have　it　off　me。〃

〃Aren't　I？　Well；　then　I'm　not。　It's　no　use　crying　about　it；

is　it？〃

〃No；　it　isn't；〃　said　the　girl；　rather　disconcerted　by　his

irony。

〃But　there's　no　need　to　have　a　row　about　it。　We　can　kiss　good

night　just　the　same；　can't　w