第27部分(第4/7 頁)

Yes；〃　he　said；　and　he　put　his　arms　round　her；　and　she　lay

with　her　face　on　him。　They　were　faintly　astonished　that　they　did

not　move。　The　minutes　rustled　louder　at　the　window。

〃Let　me　go　then；〃　he　said。

She　lifted　her　head　from　him；　relinquishingly。　With　a　little

breaking　away；　he　moved　out　of　bed；　and　was　taking　his　clothes。

She　stretched　out　her　hand　to　him。

〃You　are　so　nice；〃　she　said；　and　he　went　back　for　a　moment　or

two。

Then　actually　he　did　slip　into　some　clothes；　and；　looking

round　quickly　at　her；　was　gone　out　of　the　room。　She　lay

translated　again　into　a　pale；　clearer　peace。　As　if　she　were　a

spirit；　she　listened　to　the　noise　of　him　downstairs；　as　if　she

were　no　longer　of　the　material　world。

It　was　half…past　one。　He　looked　at　the　silent　kitchen；

untouched　from　last　night；　dim　with　the　drawn　blind。　And　he

hastened　to　draw　up　the　blind；　so　people　should　know　they　were

not　in　bed　any　later。　Well；　it　was　his　own　house；　it　did　not

matter。　Hastily　he　put　wood　in　the　grate　and　made　a　fire。　He

exulted　in　himself；　like　an　adventurer　on　an　undiscovered

island。　The　fire　blazed　up；　he　put　on　the　kettle。　How　happy　he

felt！　How　still　and　secluded　the　house　was！　There　were　only　he

and　she　in　the　world。

But　when　he　unbolted　the　door；　and；　half…dressed；　looked　out；

he　felt　furtive　and　guilty。　The　world　was　there；　after　all。　And

he　had　felt　so　secure；　as　though　this　house　were　the　Ark　in　the

flood；　and　all　the　rest　was　drowned。　The　world　was　there：　and　it

was　afternoon。　The　morning　had　vanished　and　gone　by；　the　day　was

growing　old。　Where　was　the　bright；　fresh　morning？　He　was

accused。