第29部分(第2/7 頁)

　hand　was　curiously　sensitive；

shrinking；　as　he　shut　the　door。　He　fixed　the　latch　almost

tenderly。

In　the　kitchen　was　only　the　fireglow；　he　could　not　see　her。

He　quivered　with　dread　lest　she　had　gone……he　knew　not

where。　In　shrinking　dread；　he　went　through　to　the　parlour；　to

the　foot　of　the　stairs。

〃Anna；〃　he　called。

There　was　no　answer。　He　went　up　the　stairs；　in　dread　of　the

empty　house……the　horrible　emptiness　that　made　his　heart

ring　with　insanity。　He　opened　the　bedroom　door；　and　his　heart

flashed　with　certainty　that　she　had　gone；　that　he　was　alone。

But　he　saw　her　on　the　bed；　lying　very　still　and　scarcely

noticeable；　with　her　back　to　him。　He　went　and　put　his　hand　on

her　shoulder；　very　gently；　hesitating；　in　a　great　fear　and

self…offering。　She　did　not　move。

He　waited。　The　hand　that　touched　her　shoulder　hurt　him；　as　if

she　were　sending　it　away。　He　stood　dim　with　pain。

〃Anna；〃　he　said。

But　still　she　was　motionless；　like　a　curled　up；　oblivious

creature。　His　heart　beat　with　strange　throes　of　pain。　Then；　by　a

motion　under　his　hand；　he　knew　she　was　crying；　holding　herself

hard　so　that　her　tears　should　not　be　known。　He　waited。　The

tension　continued……perhaps　she　was　not　crying……then

suddenly　relapsed　with　a　sharp　catch　of　a　sob。　His　heart　flamed

with　love　and　suffering　for　her。　Kneeling　carefully　on　the　bed；

so　that　his　earthy　boots　should　not　touch　it；　he　took　her　in　his

arms　to　fort　her。　The　sobs　gathered　in　her；　she　was　sobbing

bitterly。　But　not　to　him。　She　was　still　away　from　him。

He　held　her　against　his　breast；　whilst　she　sobbed；　withheld

from　him；　and　all　his　body　v