第7部分(第3/7 頁)

ge　woman。

A　daze　had　e　over　his　mind；　he　had　another　centre　of

consciousness。　In　his　breast；　or　in　his　bowels；　somewhere　in　his

body；　there　had　started　another　activity。　It　was　as　if　a　strong

light　were　burning　there；　and　he　was　blind　within　it；　unable　to

know　anything；　except　that　this　transfiguration　burned　between

him　and　her；　connecting　them；　like　a　secret　power。

Since　she　had　e　to　the　house　he　went　about　in　a　daze；

scarcely　seeing　even　the　things　he　handled；　drifting；　quiescent；

in　a　state　of　metamorphosis。　He　submitted　to　that　which　was

happening　to　him；　letting　go　his　will；　suffering　the　loss　of

himself；　dormant　always　on　the　brink　of　ecstasy；　like　a　creature

evolving　to　a　new　birth。

She　came　twice　with　her　child　to　the　farm；　but　there　was　this

lull　between　them；　an　intense　calm　and　passivity　like　a　torpor

upon　them；　so　that　there　was　no　active　change　took　place。　He　was

almost　unaware　of　the　child；　yet　by　his　native　good　humour　he

gained　her　confidence；　even　her　affection；　setting　her　on　a

horse　to　ride；　giving　her　corn　for　the　fowls。

Once　he　drove　the　mother　and　child　from　Ilkeston；　picking

them　up　on　the　road。　The　child　huddled　close　to　him　as　if　for

love；　the　mother　sat　very　still。　There　was　a　vagueness；　like　a

soft　mist　over　all　of　them；　and　a　silence　as　if　their　wills　were

suspended。　Only　he　saw　her　hands；　ungloved；　folded　in　her　lap；

and　he　noticed　the　wedding…ring　on　her　finger。　It　excluded　him：

it　was　a　closed　circle。　It　bound　her　life；　the　wedding…ring；　it

stood　for　her　life　in　which　he　could　have　no　part。　Nevertheless；

beyond　all　this；　there　was　herself　and　himself　wh