第9部分(第2/9 頁)

m；　to　his

intent；　black…clothed　body；　and　laid　her　hand　on　his　arm。　He

remained　unmoved。　Her　eyes；　with　a　blackness　of　memory

struggling　with　passion；　primitive　and　electric　away　at　the　back

of　them；　rejected　him　and　absorbed　him　at　once。　But　he　remained

himself。　He　breathed　with　difficulty；　and　sweat　came　out　at　the

roots　of　his　hair；　on　his　forehead。

〃Do　you　want　to　marry　me？〃　she　asked　slowly；　always

uncertain。

He　was　afraid　lest　he　could　not　speak。　He　drew　breath　hard；

saying：

〃I　do。〃

Then　again；　what　was　agony　to　him；　with　one　hand　lightly

resting　on　his　arm；　she　leaned　forward　a　little；　and　with　a

strange；　primeval　suggestion　of　embrace；　held　him　her　mouth。　It

was　ugly…beautiful；　and　he　could　not　bear　it。　He　put　his　mouth

on　hers；　and　slowly；　slowly　the　response　came；　gathering　force

and　passion；　till　it　seemed　to　him　she　was　thundering　at　him

till　he　could　bear　no　more。　He　drew　away；　white；　unbreathing。

Only；　in　his　blue　eyes；　was　something　of　himself　concentrated。

And　in　her　eyes　was　a　little　smile　upon　a　black　void。

She　was　drifting　away　from　him　again。　And　he　wanted　to　go

away。　It　was　intolerable。　He　could　bear　no　more。　He　must　go。　Yet

he　was　irresolute。　But　she　turned　away　from　him。

With　a　little　pang　of　anguish；　of　denial；　it　was　decided。

〃I'll　e　an'　speak　to　the　vicar　to…morrow；〃　he　said；　ta