five tales-第43章

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The　two　little　girls　broke　into　clapping；　and　Freda　said：

〃Now；　then；　we　shall　have　to　save　your　life　at　any　time；　that's　settled。　　Can　I　have　another　cup；　Stella；　not　so　beastly　weak？〃　Tea　was　resumed；　and　Ashurst；　folding　up　the　paper；　put　it　in　his　pocket。　　The　talk　turned　on　the　advantages　of　measles；　tangerine　oranges；　honey　in　a　spoon；　no　lessons；　and　so　forth。　　Ashurst　listened；　silent；　exchanging　friendly　looks　with　Stella；　whose　face　was　again　of　its　normal　sun…touched　pink　and　white。　　It　was　soothing　to　be　so　taken　to　the　heart　of　this　jolly　family；　fascinating　to　watch　their　faces。　　And　after　tea；　while　the　two　little　girls　pressed　seaweed；　he　talked　to　Stella　in　the　window　seat　and　looked　at　her　water…colour　sketches。　　The　whole　thing　was　like　a　pleasurable　dream；　time　and　incident　hung　up；　importance　and　reality　suspended。　Tomorrow　he　would　go　back　to　Megan；　with　nothing　of　all　this　left　save　the　paper　with　the　blood　of　these　children；　in　his　pocket。　Children！　　Stella　was　not　quite　thatas　old　as　Megan！　　Her　talk　quick；　rather　hard　and　shy；　yet　friendlyseemed　to　flourish　on　his　silences；　and　about　her　there　was　something　cool　and　virginala　maiden　in　a　bower。　　At　dinner；　to　which　Halliday；　who　had　swallowed　too　much　sea…water；　did　not　come；　Sabina　said：

〃I'm　going　to　call　you　Frank。〃

Freda　echoed：

〃Frank；　Frank；　Franky。〃

Ashurst　grinned　and　bowed。

〃Every　time　Stella　calls　you　Mr。　Ashurst；　she's　got　to　pay　a　forfeit。　It's　ridiculous。〃

Ashurst　looked　at　Stella；　who　grew　slowly　red。　　Sabina　giggled；　Freda　cried：

〃She's　'smoking''smoking！'Yah！〃

Ashurst　reached　out　to　right　and　left；　and　grasped　some　fair　hair　in　each　hand。

〃Look　here；〃　he　said；　〃you　two！　　Leave　Stella　alone；　or　I'll　tie　you　together！〃

Freda　gurgled：

〃Ouch！　　You　are　a　beast！〃

Sabina　murmured　cautiously：

〃You　call　her　Stella；　you　see！〃

〃Why　shouldn't　I？　　It's　a　jolly　name！〃

〃All　right；　we　give　you　leave　to！〃

Ashurst　released　the　hair。　　Stella！　　What　would　she　call　himafter　this？　　But　she　called　him　nothing；　till　at　bedtime　he　said；　deliberately：

〃Good…night；　Stella！〃

〃Good…night；　Mr。　Good…night；　Frank！　　It　was　jolly　of　you；　you　know！〃

〃Oh…that！　　Bosh！〃

Her　quick；　straight　handshake　tightened　suddenly；　and　as　suddenly　became　slack。

Ashurst　stood　motionless　in　the　empty　sitting…room。　　Only　last　night；　under　the　apple　tree　and　the　living　blossom；　he　had　held　Megan　to　him；　kissing　her　eyes　and　lips。　　And　he　gasped；　swept　by　that　rush　of　remembrance。　　To…night　it　should　have　begun…his　life　with　her　who　only　wanted　to　be　with　him！　　And　now；　twenty…four　hours　and　more　must　pass；　because…of　not　looking　at　his　watch！　　Why　had　he　made　friends　with　this　family　of　innocents　just　when　he　was　saying　good…bye　to　innocence；　and　all　the　rest　of　it？　　'But　I　mean　to　marry　her；'　he　thought；　'I　told　her　so！'

He　took　a　candle；　lighted　it；　and　went　to　his　bedroom；　which　was　next　to　Halliday's。　　His　friend's　voice　called；　as　he　was　passing：

〃Is　that　you；　old　chap？　　I　say；　come　in。〃

He　was　sitting　up　in　bed；　smoking　a　pipe　and　reading。

〃Sit　down　a　bit。〃

Ashurst　sat　down　by　the　open　window。

〃I've　been　thinking　about　this　afternoon；　you　know；〃　said　Halliday　rather　suddenly。　　〃They　say　you　go　through　all　your　past。　　I　didn't。　I　suppose　I　wasn't　far　enough　gone。〃

〃What　did　you　think　of？〃

Halliday　was　silent　for　a　little；　then　said　quietly

〃Well；　I　did　think　of　one　thingrather　oddof　a　girl　at　Cambridge　that　I　might　haveyou　know；　I　was　glad　I　hadn't　got　her　on　my　mind。　Anyhow；　old　chap；　I　owe　it　to　you　that　I'm　here；　I　should　have　been　in　the　big　dark　by　now。　　No　more　bed；　or　baccy；　no　more　anything。　　I　say；　what　d'you　suppose　happens　to　us？〃

Ashurst　murmured：

〃Go　out　like　flames；　I　expect。〃

〃Phew！〃

〃We　may　flicker；　and　cling　about　a　bit；　perhaps。〃

〃H'm！　I　think　that's　rather　gloomy。　　I　say；　I　hope　my　young　sisters　have　been　decent　to　you？〃

〃Awfully　decent。〃

Halliday　put　his　pipe　down；　crossed　his　hands　behind　his　neck；　and　turned　his　face　towards　the　window。

〃They're　not　bad　kids！〃　　he　said。

Watching　his　friend；　lying　there；　with　that　smile；　and　the　candle…　light　on　his　face；　Ashurst　shuddered。　　Quite　true！　　He　might　have　been　lying　there　with　no　smile；　with　all　that　sunny　look　gone　out　for　ever！　　He　might　not　have　been　lying　there　at　all；　but　〃sanded〃　at　the　bottom　of　the　sea；　waiting　for　resurrection　on　the　ninth　day；　was　it？　And　that　smile　of　Halliday's　seemed　to　him　suddenly　something　wonderful；　as　if　in　it　were　all　the　difference　between　life　and　deaththe　little　flamethe　all！　　He　got　up；　and　said　softly：

〃Well；　you　ought　to　sleep；　I　expect。　　Shall　I　blow　out？〃

Halliday　caught　his　hand。

〃I　can't　say　it；　you　know；　but　it　must　be　rotten　to　be　dead。　　Good…　night；　old　boy！〃

Stirred　and　moved；　Ashurst　squeezed　the　hand；　and　went　downstairs。　The　hall　door　was　still　open；　and　he　passed　out　on　to　the　lawn　before　the　Crescent。　　The　stars　were　bright　in　a　very　dark　blue　sky；　and　by　their　light　some　lilacs　had　that　mysterious　colour　of　flowers　by　night　which　no　one　can　describe。　　Ashurst　pressed　his　face　against　a　spray；　and　before　his　closed　eyes　Megan　started　up；　with　the　tiny　brown　spaniel　pup　against　her　breast。　　〃I　thought　of　a　girl　that　I　might　have　you　know。　　I　was　glad　I　hadn't　got　her　on　my　mind！〃　　He　jerked　his　head　away　from　the　lilac；　and　began　pacing　up　and　down　over　the　grass；　a　grey　phantom　coming　to　substance　for　a　moment　in　the　light　from　the　lamp　at　either　end。　　He　was　with　her　again　under　the　living；　breathing　white　ness　of　the　blossom；　the　stream　chattering　by；　the　moon　glinting　steel…blue　on　the　bathing…pool；　back　in　the　rapture　of　his　kisses　on　her　upturned　face　of　innocence　and　humble　passion；　back　in　the　suspense　and　beauty　of　that　pagan　night。　He　stood　still　once　more　in　the　shadow　of　the　lilacs。　　Here　the　sea；　not　the　stream；　was　Night's　voice；　the　sea　with　its　sigh　and　rustle；　no　little　bird；　no　owl；　no　night…Jar　called　or　spun；　but　a　piano　tinkled；　and　the　white　houses　cut　the　sky　with　solid　curve；　and　the　scent　from　the　lilacs　filled　the　air。　　A　window　of　the　hotel；　high　up；　was　lighted；　he　saw　a　shadow　move　across　the　blind。　　And　most　queer　sensations　stirred　within　him；　a　sort　of　churning；　and　twining；　and　turning　of　a　single　emotion　on　itself；　as　though　spring　and　love；　bewildered　and　confused；　seeking　the　way；　were　baffled。　　This　girl；　who　had　called　him　Frank；　whose　hand　had　given　his　that　sudden　little　clutch；　this　girl　so　cool　and　purewhat　would　she　think　of　such　wild；　unlawful　loving？　　He　sank　down　on　the　grass；　sitting　there　cross…legged；　with　his　back　to　the　house；　motionless　as　some　carved　Buddha。　　Was　he　really　going　to　break　through　innocence；　and　steal？　Sniff　the　scent　out　of　a　wild　flower；　andperhapsthrow　it　away？　〃Of　a　girl　at　Cambridge　that　I　might　haveyou　know！〃　　He　put　his　hands　to　the　grass；　one　on　each　side；　palms　downwards；　and　pressed；　it　was　just　warm　stillthe　grass；　barely　moist；　soft　and　firm　and　friendly。　　'What　am　I　going　to　do？'　he　thought。　　Perhaps　Megan　was　at　her　window；　looking　out　at　the　blossom；　thinking　of　him！　　Poor　little　Megan！　　'Why　not？'　he　thought。　　'I　love　her！　　But　do　I　really　love　her？　or　do　I　only　want　her　because　she　is　so　pretty；　and　loves　me？　What　am　I　going　to　do？'　　The　piano　tinkled　on；　the　stars　winked；　and　Ashurst　gazed　out　before　him　at　the　dark　sea；　as　if　spell…bound。　　He　got　up　at　last；　cramped　and　rather　chilly。　　There　was　no　longer　light　in　any　window。　　And　he　went　in　to　bed。

Out　of　a　deep　and　dreamless　sleep　he　was　awakened　by　the　sound　of　thumping　on　the　door。　　A　shrill　voice　called：

〃Hi！　Breakfast's　ready。〃

He　jumped　up。　　Where　was　he？　　Ah！

He　found　them　already　eating　marmalade；　and　sat　down　in　the　empty　place　between　Stella　and　Sabina；　who；　after　watching　him　a　little；　said：

〃I　say；　do　buck　up；　we're　going　to　start　at　half…past　nine。〃

〃We're　going　to　Berry　Head；　old　chap；　you　must　come！〃

Ashurst　thought：　'Come！　　Impossible。　　I　shall　be　getting　things　and　going　back。'　　He　looked　at　Stella。　　She　said　quickly：

〃Do　come！〃

Sabina　chimed　in：

〃It'll　be　no　fun　without　you。〃

Freda　got　up　and　stood　behind　his　chair。

〃You've　got　to　come；　or　else　I'll　pull