第23部分(第3/7 頁)

rom　under　the　moon；　would　she　halt

and　stand　off　from　him？　Why　was　he　held　away　from　her？　His　will

drummed　persistently；　darkly；　it　drowned　everything　else。

Into　the　rhythm　of　his　work　there　came　a　pulse　and　a　steadied

purpose。　He　stooped；　he　lifted　the　weight；　he　heaved　it　towards

her；　setting　it　as　in　her；　under　the　moonlit　space。　And　he　went

back　for　more。　Ever　with　increasing　closeness　he　lifted　the

sheaves　and　swung　striding　to　the　centre　with　them；　ever　he

drove　her　more　nearly　to　the　meeting；　ever　he　did　his　share；　and

drew　towards　her；　overtaking　her。　There　was　only　the　moving　to

and　fro　in　the　moonlight；　engrossed；　the　swinging　in　the

silence；　that　was　marked　only　by　the　splash　of　sheaves；　and

silence；　and　a　splash　of　sheaves。　And　ever　the　splash　of　his

sheaves　broke　swifter；　beating　up　to　hers；　and　ever　the　splash

of　her　sheaves　recurred　monotonously；　unchanging；　and　ever　the

splash　of　his　sheaves　beat　nearer。

Till　at　last；　they　met　at　the　shock；　facing　each　other；

sheaves　in　hand。　And　he　was　silvery　with　moonlight；　with　a

moonlit；　shadowy　face　that　frightened　her。　She　waited　for

him。

〃Put　yours　down；〃　she　said。

〃No；　it's　your　turn。〃　His　voice　was　twanging　and

insistent。

She　set　her　sheaves　against　the　shock。　He　saw　her　hands

glisten　among　the　spray　of　grain。　And　he　dropped　his　sheaves　and

he　trembled　as　he　took　her　in　his　arms。　He　had　over…taken　her；

and　it　was　his　privilege　to　kiss　her。　She　was　sweet　and　fresh

with　the　night　air；　and　sweet　with　the　scent　of　grain。　And　the

whole　rhythm　of　him　beat　into　his　kisses；　and　still　he　pursued

her；　in　his　kisses；　and　s