第58部分(第5/7 頁)

ween　the　autumn

hedges；　on　towards　the　greenness　of　a　small　hill。　On　the　left

was　the　whole　black　agitation　of　colliery　and　railway　and　the

town　which　rose　on　its　hill；　the　church　tower　topping　all。　The

round　white　dot　of　the　clock　on　the　tower　was　distinct　in　the

evening　light。

That　way；　Ursula　felt；　was　the　way　to　London；　through　the

grim；　alluring　seethe　of　the　town。　On　the　other　hand　was　the

evening；　mellow　over　the　green　water…meadows　and　the　winding

alder　trees　beside　the　river；　and　the　pale　stretches　of　stubble

beyond。　There　the　evening　glowed　softly；　and　even　a　pee…wit　was

flapping　in　solitude　and　peace。

Ursula　and　Anton　Skrebensky　walked　along　the　ridge　of　the

canal　between。　The　berries　on　the　hedges　were　crimson　and　bright

red；　above　the　leaves。　The　glow　of　evening　and　the　wheeling　of

the　solitary　pee…wit　and　the　faint　cry　of　the　birds　came　to　meet

the　shuffling　noise　of　the　pits；　the　dark；　fuming　stress　of　the

town　opposite；　and　they　two　walked　the　blue　strip　of　water…way；

the　ribbon　of　sky　between。

He　was　looking；　Ursula　thought；　very　beautiful；　because　of　a

flush　of　sunburn　on　his　hands　and　face。　He　was　telling　her　how

he　had　learned　to　shoe　horses　and　select　cattle　fit　for

killing。

〃Do　you　like　to　be　a　soldier？〃　she　asked。

〃I　am　not　exactly　a　soldier；〃　he　replied。

〃But　you　only　do　things　for　wars；〃　she　said。

〃Yes。〃

〃Would　you　like　to　go　to　war？〃

〃I？　Well；　it　would　be　exciting。　If　there　were　a　war　I　would

want　to　go。〃

A　strange；　distracted　feeling　came　over　her；　a　sense　of

potent　unrealities。

〃Why　would　you　want　to　go？〃

〃I　should