第43部分(第3/7 頁)

yet　involuntarily　lighting　and　shaking　with　response。

〃Oh；　isn't　it！　I　wasn't　able　to　e　last　week。〃

He　noted　the　mon　accent。　It　pleased　him。　He　knew　what

class　she　came　of。　Probably　she　was　a　warehouse…lass。　He　was

glad　she　was　a　mon　girl。

He　proceeded　to　tell　her　about　the　last　week's　programme。　She

answered　at　random；　very　confusedly。　The　colour　burned　in　her

cheek。　Yet　she　always　answered　him。　The　girl　on　the　other　side

sat　remotely；　obviously　silent。　He　ignored　her。　All　his　address

was　for　his　own　girl；　with　her　bright；　shallow　eyes　and　her

vulnerably　opened　mouth。

The　talk　went　on；　meaningless　and　random　on　her　part；　quite

deliberate　and　purposive　on　his。　It　was　a　pleasure　to　him　to

make　this　conversation；　an　activity　pleasant　as　a　fine　game　of

chance　and　skill。　He　oured；　but

so　full　of　strength。　She　fluttered　beside　his　steady　pressure　of

warmth　and　his　surety。

He　saw　the　performance　drawing　to　a　close。　His　senses　were

alert　and　wilful。　He　would　press　his　advantages。　He　followed　her

and　her　plain　friend　down　the　stairs　to　the　street。　It　was

raining。

〃It's　a　nasty　night；〃　he　said。　〃Shall　you　e　and　have　a

drink　of　something……a　cup　of　coffee……it's　early

yet。〃

〃Oh；　I　don't　think　so；〃　she　said；　looking　away　into　the

night。

〃I　wish　you　would；〃　he　said；　putting　himself　as　it　were　at

her　mercy。　There　was　a　moment's　pause。

〃e　to　Rollins？〃　he　said。

〃No……not　there。〃

〃To　Carson's；　then？〃

There　was　a　silence。　The　other　girl　hung　on。　The　man　was　the

centre　of　positive　force。

〃Will　your　friend　e　as　well？〃

There　was　another　moment　of　sile