第68部分(第6/7 頁)

gorgeous　barge　of　the　Queen　float　down；　the　crimson　carpet　put

upon　the　landing　stairs；　the　gentlemen　in　their　purple…velvet

cloaks；　bare…headed；　standing　in　the　sunshine　grouped　on　either

side　waiting。

〃Sweet　Thames；　run　softly　till　I　end　my　song。〃

Evening　came；　her　father　returned　home；　sanguine　and　alert

and　detached　as　ever。　He　was　less　real　than　her　fancies。　She

waited　whilst　he　ate　his　tea。　He　took　big　mouthfuls；　big　bites；

and　ate　unconsciously　with　the　same　abandon　an　animal　gives　to

its　food。

Immediately　after　tea　he　went　over　to　the　church。　It　was

choir…practice；　and　he　wanted　to　try　the　tunes　on　his　organ。

The　latch　of　the　big　door　clicked　loudly　as　she　came　after

him；　but　the　organ　rolled　more　loudly　still。　He　was　unaware。　He

was　practicing　the　anthem。　She　saw　his　small；　jet…black　head　and

alert　face　between　the　candle…flames；　his　slim　body　sagged　on

the　music…stool。　His　face　was　so　luminous　and　fixed；　the

movements　of　his　limbs　seemed　strange；　apart　from　him。　The　sound

of　the　organ　seemed　to　belong　to　the　very　stone　of　the　pillars；

like　sap　running　in　them。

Then　there　was　a　close　of　music　and　silence。

〃Father！〃　she　said。

He　looked　round　as　if　at　an　apparition。　Ursula　stood

shadowily　within　the　candle…light。

〃What　now？〃　he　said；　not　ing　to　earth。

It　was　difficult　to　speak　to　him。

〃I've　got　a　situation；〃　she　said；　forcing　herself　to

speak。

〃You've　got　what？〃　he　answered；　unwilling　to　e　out　of　his

mood　of　organ…playing。　He　closed　the　music　before　him。

〃I've　got　a　situation　to　go　to。〃

Then　he　turned　to　her；　still　abstracted；　unwilling。