第56部分(第2/7 頁)

ing　of　secular　voices　and　to　blows　of　the

hammer。

She　had　e　to　plunge　in　the　utter　gloom　and　peace　for　a

moment；　bringing　all　her　yearning；　that　had　returned　on　her

uncontrolled　after　the　reckless　riding　over　the　face　of　the

crowd；　in　the　fair。　After　pride；　she　wanted　fort；　solace；　for

pride　and　scorn　seemed　to　hurt　her　most　of　all。

And　she　found　the　immemorial　gloom　full　of　bits　of　falling

plaster；　and　dust　of　floating　plaster；　smelling　of　old　lime；

having　scaffolding　and　rubbish　heaped　about；　dust　cloths　over

the　altar。

〃Let　us　sit　down　a　minute；〃　she　said。

They　sat　unnoticed　in　the　back　pew；　in　the　gloom；　and　she

watched　the　dirty；　disorderly　work　of　bricklayers　and

plasterers。　Workmen　in　heavy　boots　walking　grinding　down　the

aisles；　calling　out　in　a　vulgar　accent：

〃Hi；　mate；　has　them　corner　mouldin's　e？〃

There　were　shouts　of　coarse　answer　from　the　roof　of　the

church。　The　place　echoed　desolate。

Skrebensky　sat　close　to　her。　Everything　seemed　wonderful；　if

dreadful　to　her；　the　world　tumbling　into　ruins；　and　she　and　he

clambering　unhurt；　lawless　over　the　face　of　it　all。　He　sat　close

to　her；　touching　her；　and　she　was　aware　of　his　influence　upon

her。　But　she　was　glad。　It　excited　her　to　feel　the　press　of　him

upon　her；　as　if　his　being　were　urging　her　to　something。

As　they　drove　home；　he　sat　near　to　her。　And　when　he　swayed　to

the　cart；　he　swayed　in　a　voluptuous；　lingering　way；　against　her；

lingering　as　he　swung　away　to　recover　balance。　Without　speaking；

he　took　her　hand　across；　under　the　wrap；　and　with　his　unseeing

face　lifted　to　the　road；　his　soul　intent；　he　began　with　his　o