第43部分(第4/7 頁)

nce；　while　the　other　girl

felt　her　ground。

〃No；　thanks；〃　she　said。　〃I've　promised　to　meet　a　friend。〃

〃Another　time；　then？〃　he　said。

〃Oh；　thanks；〃　she　replied；　very　awkward。

〃Good　night；〃　he　said。

〃See　you　later；〃　said　his　girl　to　her　friend。

〃Where？〃　said　the　friend。

〃You　know；　Gertie；〃　replied　his　girl。

〃All　right；　Jennie。〃

The　friend　was　gone　into　the　darkness。　He　turned　with　his

girl　to　the　tea…shop。　They　talked　all　the　time。　He　made　his

sentences　in　sheer；　almost　muscular　pleasure　of　exercising

himself　with　her。　He　was　looking　at　her　all　the　time；　perceiving

her；　appreciating　her；　finding　her　out；　gratifying　himself　with

her。　He　could　see　distinct　attractions　in　her；　her　eyebrows；

with　their　particular　curve；　gave　him　keen　aesthetic　pleasure。

Later　on　he　would　see　her　bright；　pellucid　eyes；　like　shallow

water；　and　know　those。　And　there　remained　the　open；　exposed

mouth；　red　and　vulnerable。　That　he　reserved　as　yet。　And　all　the

while　his　eyes　were　on　the　girl；　estimating　and　handling　with

pleasure　her　young　softness。　About　the　girl　herself；　who　or　what

she　was；　he　cared　nothing；　he　was　quite　unaware　that　she　was

anybody。　She　was　just　the　sensual　object　of　his　attention。

〃Shall　we　go；　then？〃　he　said。

She　rose　in　silence；　as　if　acting　without　a　mind；　merely

physically。　He　seemed　to　hold　her　in　his　will。　Outside　it　was

still　raining。

〃Let's　have　a　walk；〃　he　said。　〃I　don't　mind　the　rain；　do

you？〃

〃No；　I　don't　mind　it；〃　she　said。

He　was　alert　in　every　sense　and　fibre；　and　yet　quite　sure　and

steady；　and　lit　up；　as　if　transfused。　He　had　a　free　sensation　of