第31部分(第3/7 頁)

of　her　man；　this　vast；　resounding；　alien　world　which　was　not

herself。　And　he　had　so　many　weapons；　he　might　strike　from　so

many　sides。

When　he　came　in　at　the　door；　his　heart　was　blazed　with　pity

and　tenderness；　she　looked　so　lost　and　forlorn　and　young。　She

glanced　up；　afraid。　And　she　was　surprised　to　see　him；

shining…faced；　clear　and　beautiful　in　his　movements；　as　if　he

were　clarified。　And　a　startled　pang　of　fear；　and　shame　of

herself　went　through　her。

They　waited　for　each　other　to　speak。

〃Do　you　want　to　eat　anything？〃　she　said。

〃I'll　get　it　myself；〃　he　answered；　not　wanting　her　to　serve

him。　But　she　brought　out　food。　And　it　pleased　him　she　did　it　for

him。　He　was　again　a　bright　lord。

〃I　went　to　Nottingham；〃　he　said　mildly。

〃To　your　mother？〃　she　asked；　in　a　flash　of　contempt。

〃No……I　didn't　go　home。〃

〃Who　did　you　go　to　see？〃

〃I　went　to　see　nobody。〃

〃Then　why　did　you　go　to　Nottingham？〃

〃I　went　because　I　wanted　to　go。〃

He　was　getting　angry　that　she　again　rebuffed　him　when　he　was

so　clear　and　shining。

〃And　who　did　you　see？〃

〃I　saw　nobody。〃

〃Nobody？〃

〃No……who　should　I　see？〃

〃You　saw　nobody　you　knew？〃

〃No；　I　didn't；〃　he　replied　irritably。

She　believed　him；　and　her　mood　became　cold。

〃I　bought　a　book；〃　he　said；　handing　her　the　propitiatory

volume。

She　idly　looked　at　the　pictures。　Beautiful；　the　pure　women；

with　their　clear…dropping　gowns。　Her　heart　became　colder。　What

did　they　mean　to　him？

He　sat　and　waited　for　her。　She　bent　over　the　book。

〃Aren't　they　nice？〃　he　said；　his　voice　roused　and　glad。　Her

blood　flushed；　but　she　did