five tales-第42章

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noon。　　A　regular　Diana　and　attendant　nymphs！　　After　the　farm　this　crisp；　slangy；　eager　talk；　this　cool；　clean；　off…hand　refinement；　was　queer　at　first；　and　then　so　natural　that　what　he　had　come　from　became　suddenly　remote。　　The　names　of　the　two　little　ones　seemed　to　be　Sabina　and　Freda；　of　the　eldest；　Stella。

Presently　the　one　called　Sabina　turned　to　him　and　said：

〃I　say；　will　you　come　shrimping　with　us？it's　awful　fun！〃

Surprised　by　this　unexpected　friendliness；　Ashurst　murmured：

〃I'm　afraid　I've　got　to　get　back　this　afternoon。〃

〃Oh！〃

〃Can't　you　put　it　off？〃

Ashurst　turned　to　the　new　speaker；　Stella；　shook　his　head；　and　smiled。　　She　was　very　pretty！　　Sabina　said　regretfully：　〃You　might！〃　Then　the　talk　switched　off　to　caves　and　swimming。

〃Can　you　swim　far？〃

〃About　two　miles。〃

〃Oh！〃

〃I　say！〃

〃How　jolly！〃

The　three　pairs　of　blue　eyes；　fixed　on　him；　made　him　conscious　of　his　new　importanceThe　sensation　was　agreeable。　　Halliday　said：

〃I　say；　you　simply　must　stop　and　have　a　bathe。　　You'd　better　stay　the　night。〃

〃Yes；　do！〃'

But　again　Ashurst　smiled　and　shook　his　head。　　Then　suddenly　he　found　himself　being　catechised　about　his　physical　achievements。　　He　had　rowedit　seemedin　his　college　boat；　played　in　his　college　football　team；　won　his　college　mile；　and　he　rose　from　table　a　sort　of　hero。　The　two　little　girls　insisted　that　he　must　see　〃their〃　cave；　and　they　set　forth　chattering　like　magpies；　Ashurst　between　them；　Stella　and　her　brother　a　little　behind。　　In　the　cave；　damp　and　darkish　like　any　other　cave；　the　great　feature　was　a　pool　with　possibility　of　creatures　which　might　be　caught　and　put　into　bottles。　　Sabina　and　Freda；　who　wore　no　stockings　on　their　shapely　brown　legs；　exhorted　Ashurst　to　join　them　in　the　middle　of　it；　and　help　sieve　the　water。　He　too　was　soon　bootless　and　sockless。　　Time　goes　fast　for　one　who　has　a　sense　of　beauty；　when　there　are　pretty　children　in　a　pool　and　a　young　Diana　on　the　edge；　to　receive　with　wonder　anything　you　can　catch！　　Ashurst　never　had　much　sense　of　time。　　It　was　a　shock　when；　pulling　out　his　watch；　he　saw　it　was　well　past　three。　　No　cashing　his　cheque　to…day…the　bank　would　be　closed　before　he　could　get　there。　Watching　his　expression；　the　little　girls　cried　out　at　once：

〃Hurrah！　　Now　you'll　have　to　stay！〃

Ashurst　did　not　answer。　　He　was　seeing　again　Megan's　face；　when　at　breakfast　time　he　had　whispered：　〃I'm　going　to　Torquay；　darling；　to　get　everything；　I　shall　be　back　this　evening。　　If　it's　fine　we　can　go　to…night。　　Be　ready。〃　　He　was　seeing　again　how　she　quivered　and　hung　on　his　words。　　What　would　she　think？　　Then　he　pulled　himself　together；　conscious　suddenly　of　the　calm　scrutiny　of　this　other　young　girl；　so　tall　and　fair　and　Diana…like；　at　the　edge　of　the　pool；　of　her　wondering　blue　eyes　under　those　brows　which　slanted　up　a　little。　If　they　knew　what　was　in　his　mindif　they　knew　that　this　very　night　he　had　meant！　　Well；　there　would　be　a　little　sound　of　disgust；　and　he　would　be　alone　in　the　cave。　　And　with　a　curious　mixture　of　anger；　chagrin；　and　shame；　he　put　his　watch　back　into　his　pocket　and　said　abruptly：

〃Yes；　I'm　dished　for　to…day。〃

〃Hurrah！　　Now　you　can　bathe　with　us。〃

It　was　impossible　not　to　succumb　a　little　to　the　contentment　of　these　pretty　children；　to　the　smile　on　Stella's　lips；　to　Halliday's　〃Ripping；　old　chap！　　I　can　lend　you　things　for　the　night！〃　But　again　a　spasm　of　longing　and　remorse　throbbed　through　Ashurst；　and　he　said　moodily：

〃I　must　send　a　wire！〃

The　attractions　of　the　pool　palling；　they　went　back　to　the　hotel。　Ashurst　sent　his　wire；　addressing　it　to　Mrs。　Narracombe：　〃Sorry；　detained　for　the　night；　back　to…morrow。〃　　Surely　Megan　would　understand　that　he　had　too　much　to　do；　and　his　heart　grew　lighter。　It　was　a　lovely　afternoon；　warm；　the　sea　calm　and　blue；　and　swimming　his　great　passion；　the　favour　of　these　pretty　children　flattered　him；　the　pleasure　of　looking　at　them；　at　Stella；　at　Halliday's　sunny　face；　the　slight　unreality；　yet　extreme　naturalness　of　it　allas　of　a　last　peep　at　normality　before　be　took　this　plunge　with　Megan！　　He　got　his　borrowed　bathing　dress；　and　they　all　set　forth。　　Halliday　and　he　undressed　behind　one　rock；　the　three　girls　behind　another。　　He　was　first　into　the　sea；　and　at　once　swam　out　with　the　bravado　of　justifying　his　self…given　reputation。　　When　he　turned　he　could　see　Halliday　swimming　along　shore；　and　the　girls　flopping　and　dipping；　and　riding　the　little　waves；　in　the　way　he　was　accustomed　to　despise；　but　now　thought　pretty　and　sensible；　since　it　gave　him　the　distinction　of　the　only　deep…water　fish。　　But　drawing　near；　he　wondered　if　they　would　like　him；　a　stranger；　to　come　into　their　splashing　group；　he　felt　shy；　approaching　that　slim　nymph。　　Then　Sabina　summoned　him　to　teach　her　to　float；　and　between　them　the　little　girls　kept　him　so　busy　that　he　had　no　time　even　to　notice　whether　Stella　was　accustomed　to　his　presence；　till　suddenly　he　heard　a　startled　sound　from　her：　She　was　standing　submerged　to　the　waist；　leaning　a　little　forward；　her　slim　white　arms　stretched　out　and　pointing；　her　wet　face　puckered　by　the　sun　and　an　expression　of　fear。

〃Look　at　Phil！　　Is　he　all　right？　　Oh；　look！〃

Ashurst　saw　at　once　that　Phil　was　not　all　right。　　He　was　splashing　and　struggling　out　of　his　depth；　perhaps　a　hundred　yards　away；　suddenly　he　gave　a　cry；　threw　up　his　arms；　and　went　down。　　Ashurst　saw　the　girl　launch　herself　towards　him；　and　crying　out：　〃Go　back；　Stella！　　Go　back！〃　　he　dashed　out。　　He　had　never　swum　so　fast；　and　reached　Halliday　just　as　he　was　coming　up　a　second　time。　　It　was　a　case　of　cramp；　but　to　get　him　in　was　not　difficult；　for　he　did　not　struggle。　　The　girl；　who　had　stopped　where　Ashurst　told　her　to；　helped　as　soon　as　he　was　in　his　depth；　and　once　on　the　beach　they　sat　down　one　on　each　side　of　him　to　rub　his　limbs；　while　the　little　ones　stood　by　with　scared　faces。　　Halliday　was　soon　smiling。　　It　washe　saidrotten　of　him；　absolutely　rotten！　　If　Frank　would　give　him　an

arm；　he　could　get　to　his　clothes　all　right　now。　　Ashurst　gave　him　the　arm；　and　as　he　did　so　caught　sight　of　Stella's　face；　wet　and　flushed　and　tearful；　all　broken　up　out　of　its　calm；　and　he　thought：　'I　called　her　Stella！　　Wonder　if　she　minded？'

While　they　were　dressing；　Halliday　said　quietly　〃You　saved　my　life；　old　chap！〃

〃Rot！；〃

Clothed；　but　not　quite　in　their　right　minds；　they　went　up　all　together　to　the　hotel　and　sat　down　to　tea；　except　Halliday；　who　was　lying　down　in　his　room。　　After　some　slices　of　bread　and　jam；　Sabina　said：

〃I　say；　you　know；　you　are　a　brick！〃　　And　Freda　chimed　in：

〃Rather！〃

Ashurst　saw　Stella　looking　down；　he　got　up　in　confusion；　and　went　to　the　window。　　From　there　he　heard　Sabina　mutter：　〃I　say；　let's　swear　blood　bond。　　Where's　your　knife；　Freda？〃　　and　out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye　could　see　each　of　them　solemnly　prick　herself；　squeeze　out　a　drop　of　blood　and　dabble　on　a　bit　of　paper。　　He　turned　and　made　for　the　door。

〃Don't　be　a　stoat！　　Come　back！〃　　His　arms　were　seized；　imprisoned　between　the　little　girls　he　was　brought　back　to　the　table。　　On　it　lay　a　piece　of　paper　with　an　effigy　drawn　in　blood；　and　the　three　names　Stella　Halliday；　Sabina　Halliday；　Freda　Hallidayalso　in　blood；　running　towards　it　like　the　rays　of　a　star。　　Sabina　said：

〃That's　you。　　We　shall　have　to　kiss　you；　you　know。〃

And　Freda　echoed：

〃Oh！　　BlowYes！〃

Before　Ashurst　could　escape；　some　wettish　hair　dangled　against　his　face；　something　like　a　bite　descended　on　his　nose；　he　felt　his　left　arm　pinched；　and　other　teeth　softly　searching　his　cheek。　　Then　he　was　released；　and　Freda　said：

〃Now；　Stella。〃

Ashurst；　red　and　rigid；　looked　across　the　table　at　a　red　and　rigid　Stella。　　Sabina　giggled；　Freda　cried：

'Buck　upit　spoils　everything！〃

A　queer；　ashamed　eagerness　shot　through　Ashurst：　then　he　said　quietly：

〃Shut　up；　you　little　demons！〃

Again　Sabina　giggled。

〃Well；　then；　she　can　kiss　her　hand；　and　you　can　put　it　against　your　nose。　　It　is　on　one　side！〃

To　his　amazement　the　girl　did　kiss　her　hand　and　stretch　it　out。　Solemnly　he　took　that　cool；　slim　hand　and　laid　it　to　his　cheek。　　The　two　little　girls　broke　into　clapping；　and　Freda　said：

〃Now；　then；　we　shall　have　to　save　your