the dark flower-第22章
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be troubled！ He should not be troubled。 And she said：
〃The water's boiling！ Now sip a good glass slowly； and get into
bed； or I'll take your temperature！〃
Obediently the Colonel took from her the glass； and as he sipped；
she put her hand up and stroked his head。
IV
In the room below them the subject of their discussion was lying
very wide awake。 She knew that she had betrayed herself； made
plain to Mark Lennan what she had never until now admitted to
herself。 But the love…look； which for the life of her she could
not keep back； had been followed by a feeling of having 'lost
caste。' For； hitherto； the world of women had been strictly
divided by her into those who did and those who did not do such
things； and to be no longer quite sure to which half she belonged
was frightening。 But what was the good of thinking； of being
frightened？it could not lead to anything。 Yesterday she had not
known this would come； and now she could not guess at to…morrow！
To…night was enough！ To…night with its swimming loveliness！ Just
to feel！ To love； and to be loved！
A new sensation for heras different from those excited by the
courtships of her girlhood； or by her marriage； as light from
darkness。 For she had never been in love； not even with her
husband。 She knew it now。 The sun was shining in a world where
she had thought there was none。 Nothing could come of it。 But the
sun was shining； and in that sunshine she must warm herself a
little。
Quite simply she began to plan what he and she would do。 There
were six days left。 They had not yet been to Gorbio； nor to
Castellarnone of those long walks or rides they had designed to
do for the beauty of them。 Would he come early to…morrow？ What
could they do together？ No one should know what these six days
would be to hernot even he。 To be with him； watch his face； hear
his voice； and now and then just touch him！ She could trust
herself to show no one。 And then； it would beover！ Though； of
course； she would see him again in London。
And； lying there in the dark； she thought of their first meeting；
one Sunday morning； in Hyde Park。 The Colonel religiously observed
Church Parade； and would even come all the way down to Westminster；
from his flat near Knightsbridge； in order to fetch his niece up to
it。 She remembered how； during their stroll； he had stopped
suddenly in front of an old gentleman with a puffy yellow face and
eyes half open。
〃Ah！ Mr。 Heatherleyyou up from Devonshire？ How's your nephew
theersculptor？〃
And the old gentleman； glaring a little； as it seemed to her； from
under his eyelids and his grey top hat； had answered： 〃Colonel
Ercott； I think？ Here's the fellow himselfMark！〃 And a young
man had taken off his hat。 She had only noticed at first that his
dark hair grewnot longbut very thick； and that his eyes were
very deep…set。 Then she saw him smile； it made his face all eager；
yet left it shy； and she decided that he was nice。 Soon after； she
had gone with the Ercotts to see his 'things'； for it was； of
course； and especially in those days； quite an event to know a
sculptorrather like having a zebra in your park。 The Colonel had
been delighted and a little relieved to find that the 'things' were
nearly all of beasts and birds。 〃Very interestin'〃 to one full of
curious lore about such； having in his time killed many of them；
and finding himself at the end of it with a curious aversion to
killing any morewhich he never put into words。
Acquaintanceship had ripened fast after that first visit to his
studio； and now it was her turn to be relieved that Mark Lennan
devoted himself almost entirely to beasts and birds instead of to
the human form； so…called divine。 Ah！ yesshe would have
suffered； now that she loved him； she saw that。 At all events she
could watch his work and help it with sympathy。 That could not be
wrong。 。 。 。
She fell asleep at last； and dreamed that she was in a boat alone
on the river near her country cottage； drifting along among spiky
flowers like asphodels； with birds singing and flying round her。
She could move neither face nor limbs； but that helpless feeling
was not unpleasant； till she became conscious that she was drawing
nearer and nearer to what was neither water nor land； light nor
darkness； but simply some unutterable feeling。 And then she saw；
gazing at her out of the rushes on the banks； a great bull head。
It moved as she movedit was on both sides of her； yet all the
time only one head。 She tried to raise her hands and cover her
eyes； but could notand woke with a sob。 。 。 。 It was light。
Nearly six o'clock already！ Her dream made her disinclined to
trust again to sleep。 Sleep was a robber nowof each minute of
these few days！ She got up； and looked out。 The morning was fine；
the air warm already； sweet with dew； and heliotrope nailed to the
wall outside her window。 She had but to open her shutters and walk
into the sun。 She dressed； took her sunshade； stealthily slipped
the shutters back； and stole forth。 Shunning the hotel garden；
where the eccentricity of her early wandering might betray the
condition of her spirit； she passed through into the road toward
the Casino。 Without perhaps knowing it； she was making for where
she had sat with him yesterday afternoon； listening to the band。
Hatless； but defended by her sunshade； she excited the admiration
of the few connoisseurs as yet abroad； strolling in blue blouses to
their labours； and this simple admiration gave her pleasure。 For
once she was really conscious of the grace in her own limbs；
actually felt the gentle vividness of her own face； with its nearly
black hair and eyes； and creamy skinstrange sensation； and very
comforting！
In the Casino gardens she walked more slowly； savouring the
aromatic trees； and stopping to bend and look at almost every
flower； then； on the seat； where she had sat with him yesterday；
she rested。 A few paces away were the steps that led to the
railway…station； trodden upwards eagerly by so many； day after day；
night after night； and lightly or sorrowfully descended。 Above
her； two pines； a pepper…tree； and a palm mingled their shadeso
fantastic the jumbling of trees and souls in this strange place！
She furled her sunshade and leaned back。 Her gaze； free and
friendly； passed from bough to bough。 Against the bright sky；
unbesieged as yet by heat or dust； they had a spiritual look； lying
sharp and flat along the air。 She plucked a cluster of pinkish
berries from the pepper…tree； crushing and rubbing them between her
hands to get their fragrance。 All these beautiful and sweet things
seemed to be a part of her joy at being loved； part of this sudden
summer in her heart。 The sky； the flowers； that jewel of green…
blue sea； the bright acacias； were nothing in the world but love。
And those few who passed； and saw her sitting there under the
pepper…tree； wondered no doubt at the stillness of this dame bien
mise； who had risen so early。
V
In the small hours； which so many wish were smaller； the Colonel
had awakened； with the affair of the handkerchief swelling visibly。
His niece's husband was not a man that he had much liking fora
taciturn fellow； with possibly a bit of the brute in him； a man who
rather rode people down； but； since Dolly and he were in charge of
Olive； the notion that young Lennan was falling in love with her
under their very noses was alarming to one naturally punctilious。
It was not until he fell asleep again； and woke in full morning
light； that the remedy occurred to him。 She must be taken out of
herself！ Dolly and he had been slack； too interested in this queer
place； this queer lot of people！ They had neglected her； left her
to。 。 。 Boys and girls！One ought always to remember。 But it was
not too late。 She was old Lindsay's daughter； would not forget
herself。 Poor old Lindsayfine fellow； bit too much； perhaps； of
theHuguenot in him！ Queer； those throw…backs！ Had noticed in
horses； time and againwhite hairs about the tail； carriage of the
headskip generations and then pop out。 And Olive had something
of his lookthe same ivory skin； same colour of ey
