第6部分(第7/7 頁)

the

slits　of　her　cloak；　resting　on　her　lap。

〃You're　not　used　to　these　parts；〃　he　said；　still　standing　on

the　hearthrug　with　his　back　to　the　fire；　coatless；　looking　with

curious　directness　at　the　woman。　Her　self…possession　pleased　him

and　inspired　him；　set　him　curiously　free。　It　seemed　to　him

almost　brutal　to　feel　so　master　of　himself　and　of　the

situation。

Her　eyes　rested　on　him　for　a　moment；　questioning；　as　she

thought　of　the　meaning　of　his　speech。

〃No；〃　she　said；　understanding。　〃No……it　is　strange。〃

〃You　find　it　middlin'　rough？〃　he　said。

Her　eyes　waited　on　him；　so　that　he　should　say　it　again。

〃Our　ways　are　rough　to　you；〃　he　repeated。

〃Yes……yes；　I　understand。　Yes；　it　is　different；　it　is

strange。　But　I　was　in　Yorkshire〃

〃Oh；　well　then；〃　he　said；　〃it's　no　worse　here　than　what　they

are　up　there。〃

She　did　not　quite　understand。　His　protective　manner；　and　his

sureness；　and　his　intimacy；　puzzled　her。　What　did　he　mean？　If　he

was　her　equal；　why　did　he　behave　so　without　formality？

〃No〃　she　said；　vaguely；　her　eyes　resting　on

him。

She　saw　him　fresh　and　naive；　uncouth；　almost　entirely

beyond　relationship　with　her。　Yet　he　was　good…looking；　with　his

fair　hair　and　blue　eyes　full　of　energy；　and　with　his　healthy

body　that　seemed　to　take　equality　with　her。　She　watched　him

steadily。　He　was　difficult　for　her　to　understand；　warm；　uncouth；

and　confident　as　he　was；　sure　on　his　feet　as　if　he　did　not　know

what　it　was　to　be　unsure。　What　then　was　it　that　gave　him　this

curious　stability？

She　did　not　know。　She　wondered。