第 9 节
作者:飘雪的季节      更新:2023-08-22 20:47      字数:9322
  all blurred。  Then; making an effort; she said quietly:
  〃Of course; you must go。  You cannot miss your only sister's
  wedding。〃
  Without protest he looked at her; and she could hardly bear that
  lookit seemed to know so little; and ask so much。  She said: 〃It
  is nothingonly a few days。  You will come back; or we will come
  to you。〃
  His face brightened at once。
  〃Will you really come to us soon; at onceif they ask you?  Then I
  don't mindII〃  And then he stopped; choking。
  She said again:
  〃Ask us。  We will come。〃
  He seized her hand; pressed and pressed it in both his own; then
  stroked it gently; and said:
  〃Oh!  I'm hurting it!〃
  She laughed; not wishing to cry。
  In a few minutes he would have to start to catch the only train
  that would get him home in time。
  She went and helped him to pack。  Her heart felt like lead; but;
  not able to bear that look on his face again; she kept cheerfully
  talking of their return; asking about his home; how to get to it;
  speaking of Oxford and next term。  When his things were ready she
  put her arms round his neck; and for a moment pressed him to her。
  Then she escaped。  Looking back from his door; she saw him standing
  exactly as when she had withdrawn her arms。  Her cheeks were wet;
  she dried them as she went downstairs。  When she felt herself safe;
  she went out on the terrace。  Her husband was there; and she said
  to him:
  〃Will you come with me into the town?  I want to buy some things。〃
  He raised his eyebrows; smiled dimly; and followed her。  They
  walked slowly down the hill into the long street of the little
  town。  All the time she talked of she knew not what; and all the
  time she thought: His carriage will passhis carriage will pass!
  Several carriages went jingling by。  At last he came。  Sitting
  there; and staring straight before him; he did not see them。  She
  heard her husband say:
  〃Hullo!  Where is our young friend Lennan off to; with his luggage
  looking like a lion cub in trouble?〃
  She answered in a voice that she tried to make clear and steady:
  〃There must be something wrong; or else it is his sister's
  wedding。〃
  She felt that her husband was gazing at her; and wondered what her
  face was like; but at that moment the word 〃Madre!〃 sounded close
  in her ear and they were surrounded by a small drove of 'English
  Grundys。'
  XI
  That twenty mile drive was perhaps the worst part of the journey
  for the boy。  It is always hard to sit still and suffer。
  When Anna left him the night before; he had wandered about in the
  dark; not knowing quite where he went。  Then the moon came up; and
  he found himself sitting under the eave of a barn close to a chalet
  where all was dark and quiet; and down below him the moon…whitened
  valley villageits roofs and spires and little glamorous unreal
  lights。
  In his evening suit; his dark ruffled hair uncovered; he would have
  made a quaint spectacle for the owners of that chalet; if they had
  chanced to see him seated on the hay…strewn boards against their
  barn; staring before him with such wistful rapture。  But they were
  folk to whom sleep was precious。 。 。 。
  And now it was all snatched away from him; relegated to some
  immensely far…off future。  Would it indeed be possible to get his
  guardian to ask them down to Hayle?  And would they really come?
  His tutor would surely never care to visit a place right away in
  the countryfar from books and everything!  He frowned; thinking
  of his tutor; but it was with perplexityno other feeling。  And
  yet; if he could not have them down there; how could he wait the
  two whole months till next term began!  So went his thoughts; round
  and round; while the horses jogged; dragging him further and
  further from her。
  It was better in the train; the distraction of all the strange
  crowd of foreigners; the interest of new faces and new country; and
  then sleepa long night of it; snoozed up in his corner;
  thoroughly fagged out。  And next day more new country; more new
  faces; and slowly; his mood changing from ache and bewilderment to
  a sense of something promised; delightful to look forward to。  Then
  Calais at last; and a night…crossing in a wet little steamer; a
  summer gale blowing spray in his face; waves leaping white in a
  black sea; and the wild sound of the wind。  On again to London; the
  early drive across the town; still sleepy in August haze; an
  English breakfastporridge; chops; marmalade。  And; at last; the
  train for home。  At all events he could write to her; and tearing a
  page out of his little sketch…book; he began:
  I am writing in the train; so please forgive this joggly writing〃
  Then he did not know how to go on; for all that he wanted to say
  was such as he had never even dreamed of writingthings about his
  feelings which would look horrible in words; besides; he must not
  put anything that might not be read; by anyone; so what was there
  to say?
  〃It has been such a long journey;〃 he wrote at last; 〃away from the
  Tyrol;〃 (he did not dare even to put 〃from you;〃) 〃I thought it
  would never end。  But at last it hasvery nearly。  I have thought
  a great deal about the Tyrol。  It was a lovely timethe loveliest
  time I have ever had。  And now it's over; I try to console myself
  by thinking of the future; but not the immediate futureTHAT is
  not very enjoyable。  I wonder how the mountains are looking to…day。
  Please give my love to them; especially the lion ones that come and
  lie out in the moonlightyou will not recognize them from this〃
  then followed a sketch。  〃And this is the church we went to; with
  someone kneeling。  And this is meant for the 'English Grundys;'
  looking at someone who is coming in very late with an alpenstock
  only; I am better at the 'English Grundys' than at the person with
  the alpenstock。  I wish I were the 'English Grundys' now; still in
  the Tyrol。  I hope I shall get a letter from you soon; and that it
  will say you are getting ready to come back。  My guardian will be
  awfully keen for you to come and stay with us。  He is not half bad
  when you know him; and there will be his sister; Mrs。 Doone; and
  her daughter left there after the wedding。  It will be simply
  disgusting if you and Mr。 Stormer don't come。  I wish I could write
  all I feel about my lovely time in the Tyrol; but you must please
  imagine it。〃
  And just as he had not known how to address her; so he could not
  tell how to subscribe himself; and only put 〃Mark Lennan。〃
  He posted the letter at Exeter; where he had some time to wait; and
  his mind moved still more from past to future。  Now that he was
  nearing home he began to think of his sister。  In two days she
  would be gone to Italy; he would not see her again for a long time;
  and a whole crowd of memories began to stretch out hands to him。
  How she and he used to walk together in the walled garden; and on
  the sunk croquet ground; she telling him stories; her arm round his
  neck; because she was two years older; and taller than he in those
  days。  Their first talk each holidays; when he came back to her;
  the first teawith unlimited jamin the old mullion…windowed;
  flower…chintzed schoolroom; just himself and her and old Tingle
  (Miss Tring; the ancient governess; whose chaperonage would now be
  gone); and sometimes that kid Sylvia; when she chanced to be
  staying there with her mother。  Cicely had always understood him
  when he explained to her how inferior school was; because nobody
  took any interest in beasts or birds except to kill them; or in
  drawing; or making things; or anything decent。  They would go off
  together; rambling along the river; or up the park; where
  everything looked so jolly and wildthe ragged oak…trees; and huge
  boulders; of whose presence old Godden; the coachman; had said: 〃I
  can't think but what these ha' been washed here by the Flood; Mast'
  Mark!〃  These and a thousand other memories beset his conscience
  now。  And as the train drew closer to their station; he eagerly
  made ready to jump out and greet her。  There was the honeysuckle
  full out along the paling of the platform over the waiting…room;
  wonderful; this yearand there was she; standing alone on the
  platform。  No; it was not Cicely!  He got out with a blank
  sensation; as if those memories had played him false。  It was a
  girl; indeed; but she only looked about sixteen; and wore a
  sunbonnet that hid her hair and half her face。  She had on a blue
  frock; and some honeysuckle in her waist…belt。  She seemed to be
  smiling at him; and expecting him to smile at her; and so he did
  smile。  She came up to him then; and said:
  〃I'm Sylvia。〃
  He answered: 〃Oh! thanks awfullyit was awfully good of you to
  come and meet me。〃
  〃Cicely's so busy。  It's only the T…cart。  Have you got much
  luggage?〃
  She took up his hold…all; and he took it from her; she took his
  bag; and he took it from her; then they went out to the T…cart。  A
  small groom stood there; holding a silver…roan cob with a black
  mane and black swish tail。
  She said: 〃D'you mind if I drive; because I'm learning。〃
  And he answered: 〃Oh; no! rather not。〃
  She got up; he noticed that her eyes looked quite excited。  Then
  his portmanteau came out and was deposited with the other things
  behind; and he got up beside he