第65部分(第6/7 頁)

Winifred　Inger　was　startled　when　he　entered　the　library；　his

coat　fastened　and　correct；　his　head　bald　to　the　crown；　but　not

shiny；　rather　like　something　naked　that　one　is　accustomed　to　see

covered；　and　his　dark　eyes　liquid　and　formless。　He　seemed　to

stand　in　the　shadow；　like　a　thing　ashamed。　And　the　clasp　of　his

hand　was　so　soft　and　yet　so　forceful；　that　it　chilled　the　heart。

She　was　afraid　of　him；　repelled　by　him；　and　yet　attracted。

He　looked　at　the　athletic；　seemingly　fearless　girl；　and　he

detected　in　her　a　kinship　with　his　own　dark　corruption。

Immediately；　he　knew　they　were　akin。

His　manner　was　polite；　almost　foreign；　and　rather　cold。　He

still　laughed　in　his　curious；　animal　fashion；　suddenly　wrinkling

up　his　wide　nose；　and　showing　his　sharp　teeth。　The　fine　beauty

of　his　skin　and　his　plexion；　some　almost　waxen　quality；　hid

the　strange；　repellent　grossness　of　him；　the　slight　sense　of

putrescence；　the　monness　which　revealed　itself　in　his　rather

fat　thighs　and　loins。

Winifred　saw　at　once　the　deferential；　slightly　servile；

slightly　cunning　regard　he　had　for　Ursula；　which　made　the　girl

at　once　so　proud　and　so　perplexed。

〃But　is　this　place　as　awful　as　it　looks？〃　the　young　girl

asked；　a　strain　in　her　eyes。

〃It　is　just　what　it　looks；〃　he　said。　〃It　hides　nothing。〃

〃Why　are　the　men　so　sad？〃

〃Are　they　sad？〃　he　replied。

〃They　seem　unutterably；　unutterably　sad；〃　said　Ursula；　out　of

a　passionate　throat。

〃I　don't　think　they　are　that。　They　just　take　it　for

granted。〃

〃What　do　they　take　for　granted？〃

〃This……the　pits　and　the　place　altogether。〃

〃Why　don't　they　alter　it？〃