第57部分(第2/7 頁)

aissez…aller　bined　with　profound　young　vitality。　Yet

it　irritated　her　deeply。

Notwithstanding；　she　was　proud　of　him　as　he　lounged　in　his

lambent　fashion　in　her　home；　he　was　so　attentive　and　courteous

to　her　mother　and　to　herself　all　the　time。　It　was　wonderful　to

have　his　awareness　in　the　room。　She　felt　rich　and　augmented　by

it；　as　if　she　were　the　positive　attraction　and　he　the　flow

towards　her。　And　his　courtesy　and　his　agreement　might　be　all　her

mother's；　but　the　lambent　flicker　of　his　body　was　for　herself。

She　held　it。

She　must　ever　prove　her　power。

〃I　meant　to　show　you　my　little　wood…carving；〃　she　said。

〃I'm　sure　it's　not　worth　showing；　that；〃　said　her　father。

〃Would　you　like　to　see　it？〃　she　asked；　leaning　towards　the

door。

And　his　body　had　risen　from　the　chair；　though　his　face　seemed

to　want　to　agree　with　her　parents。

〃It　is　in　the　shed；〃　she　said。

And　he　followed　her　out　of　the　door；　whatever　his　feelings

might　be。

In　the　shed　they　played　at　kisses；　really　played　at　kisses。

It　was　a　delicious；　exciting　game。　She　turned　to　him；　her　face

all　laughing；　like　a　challenge。　And　he　accepted　the　challenge　at

once。　He　twined　his　hand　full　of　her　hair；　and　gently；　with　his

hand　wrapped　round　with　hair　behind　her　head；　gradually　brought

her　face　nearer　to　his；　whilst　she　laughed　breathless　with

challenge；　and　his　eyes　gleamed　with　answer；　with　enjoyment　of

the　game。　And　he　kissed　her；　asserting　his　will　over　her；　and

she　kissed　him　back；　asserting　her　deliberate　enjoyment　of　him。

Daring　and　reckless　and　dangerous　they　knew　it　was；　their　game；

each　playing　with　fire；　not　w