第27部分(第2/9 頁)

desultorily　with　her。　It　was　sweeter　than　sunshine；　and　not　so

evanescent。　It　was　even　irritating　the　way　the　church…clock　kept

on　chiming：　there　seemed　no　space　between　the　hours；　just　a

moment；　golden　and　still；　whilst　she　traced　his　features　with

her　finger…tips；　utterly　careless　and　happy；　and　he　loved　her　to

do　it。

But　he　was　strange　and　unused。　So　suddenly；　everything　that

had　been　before　was　shed　away　and　gone。　One　day；　he　was　a

bachelor；　living　with　the　world。　The　next　day；　he　was　with　her；

as　remote　from　the　world　as　if　the　two　of　them　were　buried　like

a　seed　in　darkness。　Suddenly；　like　a　chestnut　falling　out　of　a

burr；　he　was　shed　naked　and　glistening　on　to　a　soft；　fecund

earth；　leaving　behind　him　the　hard　rind　of　worldly　knowledge　and

experience。　He　heard　it　in　the　huckster's　cries；　the　noise　of

carts；　the　calling　of　children。　And　it　was　all　like　the　hard；

shed　rind；　discarded。　Inside；　in　the　softness　and　stillness　of

the　room；　was　the　naked　kernel；　that　palpitated　in　silent

activity；　absorbed　in　reality。

Inside　the　room　was　a　great　steadiness；　a　core　of　living

eternity。　Only　far　outside；　at　the　rim；　went　on　the　noise　and

the　destruction。　Here　at　the　centre　the　great　wheel　was

motionless；　centred　upon　itself。　Here　was　a　poised；　unflawed

stillness　that　was　beyond　time；　because　it　remained　the　same；

inexha