第39部分(第2/7 頁)

；　failed　to　find　real

expression。　He　had　to　continue　in　the　old　form。　But　in　spirit；

he　was　uncreated。

Anna　was　absorbed　in　the　child　now；　she　left　her　husband　to

take　his　own　way。　She　was　willing　now　to　postpone　all　adventure

into　unknown　realities。　She　had　the　child；　her　palpable　and

immediate　future　was　the　child。　If　her　soul　had　found　no

utterance；　her　womb　had。

The　church　that　neighboured　with　his　house　became　very

intimate　and　dear　to　him。　He　cherished　it；　he　had　it　entirely　in

his　charge。　If　he　could　find　no　new　activity；　he　would　be　happy

cherishing　the　old；　dear　form　of　worship。　He　knew　this　little；

whitewashed　church。　In　its　shadowy　atmosphere　he　sank　back　into

being。　He　liked　to　sink　himself　in　its　hush　as　a　stone　sinks

into　water。

He　went　across　his　garden；　mounted　the　wall　by　the　little

steps；　and　entered　the　hush　and　peace　of　the　church。　As　the

heavy　door　clanged　to　behind　him；　his　feet　re…echoed　in　the

aisle；　his　heart　re…echoed　with　a　little　passion　of　tenderness

and　mystic　peace。　He　was　also　slightly　ashamed；　like　a　man　who

has　failed；　who　lapses　back　for　his　fulfilment。

He　loved　to　light　the　candles　at　the　organ；　and　sitting　there

alone　in　the　little　glow；　practice　the　hymns　and　chants　for　the

service。　The　whitewashed　arches　retreated　into　darkness；　the

sound　of　the　organ　and　the　organ…pedals　died　away　upon　the

unalterable　stillness　of　the　church；　there　were　faint；　ghostly

noises　in　the　tower；　and　then　the　music　swelled　out　again；

loudly；　triumphantly。

He　ceased　to　fret　about　his　life。　He　relaxed　his　will；　and

let　everything　go。　What　was　between　him　and