第43部分(第2/7 頁)

　And　why；　when　all　women　were　different？　Why；

when　he　would　only　live　once？　He　wanted　the　other　life。　His　own

life　was　barren；　not　enough。　He　wanted　the　other。

Her　open　mouth；　showing　the　small；　irregular；　white　teeth；

appealed　to　him。　It　was　open　and　ready。　It　was　so　vulnerable。

Why　should　he　not　go　in　and　enjoy　what　was　there？　The　slim　arm

that　went　down　so　still　and　motionless　to　the　lap；　it　was

pretty。　She　would　be　small；　he　would　be　able　almost　to　hold　her

in　his　two　hands。　She　would　be　small；　almost　like　a　child；　and

pretty。　Her　childishness　whetted　him　keenly。　She　would　he

helpless　between　his　hands。

〃That　was　the　best　turn　we've　had；〃　he　said　to　her；　leaning

over　as　he　clapped　his　hands。　He　felt　strong　and　unshakeable　in

himself；　set　over　against　all　the　world。　His　soul　was　keen　and

watchful；　glittering　with　a　kind　of　amusement。　He　was　perfectly

self…contained。　He　was　himself；　the　absolute；　the　rest　of　the

world　was　the　object　that　should　contribute　to　his　being。

The　girl　started；　turned　round；　her　eyes　lit　up　with　an

almost　painful　flash　of　a　smile；　the　colour　came　deeply　in　her

cheeks。

〃Yes；　it　eaninglessly；　and　she　covered

her　rather　prominent　teeth　with　her　lips。　Then　she　sat　looking

straight　before　her；　seeing　nothing；　only　conscious　of　the

colour　burning　in　her　cheeks。

It　pricked　him　with　a　pleasant　sensation。　His　veins　and　his

nerves　attended　to　her；　she　was　so　young　and　palpitating。

〃It's　not　such　a　good　programme　as　last　week's；〃　he　said。

Again　she　half　turned　her　face　to　him；　and　her　clear；　bright

eyes；　bright　like　shallow　water；　filled　with　light；　frightened；