第46部分(第5/7 頁)

however。　But　there　was　a　curious　roar　in　the　night　which　seemed

to　be　made　in　the　darkness　of　his　own　intoxication。　Reeling；

blinded；　almost　without　consciousness　he　carried　his　parcels　and

the　rug　and　cushions　into　the　house；　dropped　them；　and　went　out

to　put　up　the　horse。

Now　he　was　at　home；　he　was　a　sleep…walker；　waiting　only　for

the　moment　of　activity　to　stop。　Very　deliberately　and　carefully；

he　led　the　horse　down　the　slope　to　the　cart…shed。　She　shied　and

backed。

〃Why；　wha's　amiss？〃　he　hiccupped；　plodding　steadily　on。　And

he　was　again　in　a　wash　of　water；　the　horse　splashed　up　water　as

he　went。　It　was　thickly　dark；　save　for　the　gig…lamps；　and　they

lit　on　a　rippling　surface　of　water。

〃Well；　that's　a　knock…out；〃　he　said；　as　he　came　to　the

cart…shed；　and　was　wading　in　six　inches　of　water。　But　everything

seemed　to　him　amusing。　He　laughed　to　think　of　six　inches　of

water　being　in　the　cart…shed。

He　backed　in　the　mare。　She　was　restive。　He　laughed　at　the　fun

of　untackling　the　mare　with　a　lot　of　water　washing　round　his

feet。　He　laughed　because　it　upset　her。　〃What's　amiss；　what's

amiss；　a　drop　o'　water　won't　hurt　you！〃　As　soon　as　he　had　undone

the　traces；　she　walked　quickly　away。

He　hung　up　the　shafts　and　took　the　gig…lamp。　As　he　came　out

of　the　familiar　jumble　of　shafts　and　wheels　in　the　shed；　the

water；　in　little　waves；　came　washing　strongly　against　his　legs。

He　staggered　and　almost　fell。

〃Well；　what　the　deuce！〃　he　said；　staring　round　at　the　running

water　in　the　black；　watery　night。

He　went　to　meet　the　running　flood；　sinking　deeper　and　deeper。

His　soul　was　full　of　great　aston