第57部分(第4/7 頁)

　must　go　on；

the　passion　of　Ursula　to　know　her　own　maximum　self；　limited　and

so　defined　against　him。　She　could　limit　and　define　herself

against　him；　the　male；　she　could　be　her　maximum　self；　female；　oh

female；　triumphant　for　one　moment　in　exquisite　assertion　against

the　male；　in　supreme　contradistinction　to　the　male。

The　next　afternoon；　when　he　came；　prowling；　she　went　with　him

across　to　the　church。　Her　father　was　gradually　gathering　in

anger　against　him；　her　mother　was　hardening　in　anger　against

her。　But　the　parents　were　naturally　tolerant　in　action。

They　went　together　across　the　churchyard；　Ursula　and

Skrebensky；　and　ran　to　hiding　in　the　church。　It　was　dimmer　in

there　than　the　sunny　afternoon　outside；　but　the　mellow　glow

among　the　bowed　stone　was　very　sweet。　The　windows　burned　in　ruby

and　in　blue；　they　made　magnificent　arras　to　their　bower　of

secret　stone。

〃What　a　perfect　place　for　a　rendezvous；〃　he　said；　in　a

hushed　voice；　glancing　round。

She　too　glanced　round　the　familiar　interior。　The　dimness　and

stillness　chilled　her。　But　her　eyes　lit　up　with　daring。　Here；

here　she　would　assert　her　indomitable　gorgeous　female　self；

here。　Here　she　would　open　her　female　flower　like　a　flame；　in

this　dimness　that　was　more　passionate　than　light。

They　hung　apart　a　moment；　then　wilfully　turned　to　each　other

for　the　desired　contact。　She　put　her　arms　round　him；　she　cleaved

her　body　to　his；　and　with　her　hands　pressed　upon　his　shoulders；

on　his　back；　she　seemed　to　feel　right　through　him；　to　know　his

young；　tense　body　right　through。　And　it　was　so　fine；　so　hard；

yet　so　exquisitely　subject　and　under　her