第62部分(第4/7 頁)

　great　sense　of　disaster

impending。　Day　after　day　was　made　inert　with　a　sense　of

disaster。　She　became　morbidly　sensitive；　depressed；

apprehensive。　It　was　anguish　to　her　when　she　saw　one　rook　slowly

flapping　in　the　sky。　That　was　a　sign　of　ill…omen。　And　the

foreboding　became　so　black　and　so　powerful　in　her；　that　she　was

almost　extinguished。

Yet　what　was　the　matter？　At　the　worst　he　was　only　going　away。

Why　did　she　mind；　what　was　it　she　feared？　She　did　not　know。　Only

she　had　a　black　dread　possessing　her。　When　she　went　at　night　and

saw　the　big；　flashing　stars　they　seemed　terrible；　by　day　she　was

always　expecting　some　charge　to　be　made　against　her。

He　wrote　in　March　to　say　that　he　was　going　to　South　Africa　in

a　short　time；　but　before　he　went；　he　would　snatch　a　day　at　the

Marsh。

As　if　in　a　painful　dream；　she　waited　suspended；　unresolved。

She　did　not　know；　she　could　not　understand。　Only　she　felt　that

all　the　threads　of　her　fate　were　being　held　taut；　in　suspense。

She　only　wept　sometimes　as　she　went　about；　saying　blindly：

〃I　am　so　fond　of　him；　I　am　so　fond　of　him。〃

He　came。　But　why　did　he　e？　She　looked　at　him　for　a　sign。

He　gave　no　sign。　He　did　not　even　kiss　her。　He　behaved　as　if　he

were　an　affable；　usual　acquaintance。　This　was　superficial；　but

what　did　it　hide？　She　waited　for　him；　she　wanted　him　to　make

some　sign。

So　the　whole　of　the　day　they　wavered　and　avoided　contact；

until　evening。　Then；　laughing；　saying　he　would　be　back　in　six

months'　time　and　would　tell　them　all　about　it；　he　shook　hands

with　her　mother　and　took　his　leave。

Ursula　acpanied　him　into　the　lane。　The　night　was　win