按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the bookshelf were never disturbed； they were Eilie'shalf…broken
cases with butterflies； a dead frog in a bottle； a horse…shoe covered
with tinfoil； some shells too； and a cardboard box with three
speckled eggs in it； and these words written on the lid： 'Missel…
thrush from Lucy's treesecond family； only one blown。'〃 He smoked
fiercely； with puffs that were like sharp sighs。
〃Dalton was wrapped up in her。 He was never tired of talking to me
about her； and I was never tired of hearing。 We had a number of
pupils； but in the evening when we sat there； smokingour talk would
sooner or latercome round to her。 Her bedroom opened out of that
sittingroom； he took me in once and showed me a narrow little room
the width of a passage； fresh and white； with a photograph of her
mother above the bed； and an empty basket for a dog or cat。〃 He
broke off with a vexed air； and resumed sternly； as if trying to bind
himself to the narration of his more important facts： 〃She was then
fifteenher mother had been dead twelve yearsa beautiful； face；
her mother's； it had been her death that sent Dalton to fight with
us。 Well； sir； one day in August； very hot weather； he proposed a
run into the country； and who should meet us on the platform when we
arrived but Eilie； in a blue sun…bonnet and frock…flax blue； her
favourite colour。 I was angry with Dalton for not telling me that we
should see her； my clothes were not quitemy hair wanted cutting。
It was black then； sir；〃 he added； tracing a pattern in the darkness
with his stick。 〃She had a little donkey…cart； she drove； and； while
we walked one on each side； she kept looking at me from under her
sunbonnet。 I must tell you that she never laughedher eyes danced；
her cheeks would go pink； and her hair shake about on her neck； but
she never laughed。 Her old nurse； Lucy； a very broad； good woman； had
married the proprietor of the inn in the village there。 I have never
seen anything like that inn： sweetbriar up to the roof！ And the
scentI am very susceptible to scents！〃 His head drooped； and the
cigarette fell from his hand。 A train passing beneath sent up a
shower of sparks。 He started； and went on： 〃We had our lunch in the
parlourI remember that room very well； for I spent the happiest
days of my life afterwards in that inn。。。。 We went into a meadow
after lunch； and my friend Dalton fell asleep。 A wonderful thing
happened then。 Eilie whispered to me； 'Let's have a jolly time。'
She took me for the most glorious walk。 The river was close by。
A lovely stream； your river Thames； so calm and broad； it is like the
spirit of your people。 I was bewitched； I forgot my friend； I
thought of nothing but how to keep her to myself。 It was such a day！
There are days that are the devil's； but that was truly one of God's。
She took me to a little pond under an elm…tree； and we dragged it； we
two； an hour； for a kind of tiny red worm to feed some creature that
she had。 We found them in the mud； and while she was bending over；
the curls got in her eyes。 If you could have seen her then； I think；
sir； you would have said she was like the first sight of spring。。。。
We had tea afterwards； all together； in the long grass under some
fruit…trees。 If I had the knack of words； there are things that I
could say。〃 He bent； as though in deference to those unspoken
memories。 〃Twilight came on while we were sitting there。 A wonderful
thing is twilight in the country！ It became time for us to go。
There was an avenue of trees close bylike a church with a window at
the end； where golden light came through。 I walked up and down it
with her。 'Will you come again？' she whispered； and suddenly she
lifted up her face to be kissed。 I kissed her as if she were a little
child。 And when we said good…bye； her eyes were looking at me across
her father's shoulder； with surprise and sorrow in them。 'Why do you
go away？' they seemed to say。。。。 But I must tell you；〃 he went on
hurriedly； 〃of a thing that happened before we had gone a hundred
yards。 We were smoking our pipes； and I； thinking of herwhen out
she sprang from the hedge and stood in front of us。 Dalton cried
out； 'What are you here for again； you mad girl？' She rushed up to
him and hugged him； but when she looked at me； her face was quite
differentcareless； defiant； as one might sayit hurt me。 I
couldn't understand it； and what one doesn't understand frightens
one。
IV
〃Time went on。 There was no swordsman； or pistol…shot like me in
London； they said。 We had as many pupils as we likedit was the
only part of my life when I have been able to save money。 I had no
chance to spend it。 We gave lessons all day； and in the evening were
too tired to go out。 That year I had the misfortune to lose my dear
mother。 I became a rich manyes； sir； at that time I must have had
not less than six hundred a year。
〃It was a long time before I saw Eilie again。 She went abroad to
Dresden with her father's sister to learn French and German。 It was
in the autumn of 1875 when she came back to us。 She was seventeen
thena beautiful young creature。〃 He paused； as if to gather his
forces for description； and went on。
〃Tall； as a young tree； with eyes like the sky。 I would not say she
was perfect； but her imperfections were beautiful to me。 What is it
makes you loveah！ sir； that is very hidden and mysterious。 She had
never lost the trick of closing her lips tightly when she remembered
her uneven tooth。 You may say that was vanity； but in a young girl
and which of us is not vain； eh？ 'Old men and maidens； young men and
children！'
〃As I said； she came back to London to her little room； and in the
evenings was always ready with our tea。 You mustn't suppose she was
housewifely； there is something in me that never admired
housewifelinessa fine quality； no doubt； still〃 He sighed。
〃No；〃 he resumed； 〃Eilie was not like that； for she was never quite
the same two days together。 I told you her eyes were like the sky
that was true of all of her。 In one thing； however； at that time；
she always seemed the samein love for her father。 For me！ I don't
know what I should have expected； but my presence seemed to have the
effect of making her dumb； I would catch her looking at me with a
frown； and then； as if to make up to her own natureand a more
loving nature never came into this world； that I shall maintain to my
dying dayshe would go to her father and kiss him。 When I talked
with him she pretended not to notice； but I could see her face grow
cold and stubborn。 I am not quick； and it was a long time before I
understood that she was jealous； she wanted him all to herself。 I've
often wondered how she could be his daughter； for he was the very
soul of justice and a slow man tooand she was as quick as a bird。
For a long time after I saw her dislike of me； I refused to believe
itif one does not want to believe a thing there are always reasons
why it should not seem true； at least so it is with me； and I suppose
with all selfish men。
〃I spent evening after evening there； when； if I had not thought only
of myself； I should have kept away。 But one day I could no longer be
blind。
〃It was a Sunday in February。 I always had an invitation on Sundays
to dine with them in the middle of the day。 There was no one in the
sitting…room； but the door of Eilie's bedroom was open。 I heard her
voice： 'That man； always that man！' It was enough for me； I went
down again without coming in； and walked about all day。
〃For three weeks I kept away。 To the school of course I came as
usual； but not upstairs。 I don't know what I told Daltonit did not
signify what you told him； he always had a theory of his own； and was
persuaded of its trutha very single…minded man； sir。
〃But now I come to the most wonderful days of my life。 It was an
early spring that year。 I had fallen away already from my
resolution； and used to slink upseldom； it's trueand spend the
evening with them as before。 One afternoon I came up to the sitting…
room； the light was failingit was warm； and the windows were open。
In the air was that feeling which comes to you once a year； in the
spring； no matter where you may be； in a crowded street； or alone in
a forest； only oncea feeling likebut I cannot describe it。
〃Eilie was sitting there。 If you don't know； sir； I can't tell you
what it means to be near the woman one loves。 She was leaning on the
windowsill； staring down into the street。 It was as though she might
be looking out for some one。 I stood； hardly breathing。 She turned
her head； and saw me。 Her eyes were strange。 They seemed to ask me
a question。 But I couldn't have spoken for the world。 I can't tell
you what I feltI dared not speak； or think； or hope。 I have been
in nineteen battlesseveral times in positions of some danger； when
the lifting of a finger perhaps meant death； but