the dark flower-第23章
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！
headskip generations and then pop out。 And Olive had something
of his lookthe same ivory skin； same colour of eyes and hair！
Only she was not severe； like her father； not exactly！ And once
more there shot through the Colonel a vague dread； as of a
trusteeship neglected。 It disappeared； however； in his bath。
He was out before eight o'clock； a thin upright figure in hard
straw hat and grey flannel clothes； walking with the indescribable
loose poise of the soldier Englishman； with that air； different
from the French； German； what not； because of shoulders ever
asserting； through their drill； the right to put on mufti； with
that perfectly quiet and modest air of knowing that； whatever might
be said； there was only one way of wearing clothes and moving legs。
And； as he walked； he smoothed his drooping grey moustache；
considering how best to take his niece out of herself。 He passed
along by the Terrace； and stood for a moment looking down at the
sea beyond the pigeon…shooting ground。 Then he moved on round
under the Casino into the gardens at the back。 A beautiful spot！
Wonderful care they had taken with the plants！ It made him think a
little of Tushawore； where his old friend the Rajahprecious old
rascal！had gardens to his palace rather like these。 He paced
again to the front。 It was nice and quiet in the early mornings；
with the sea down there； and nobody trying to get the better of
anybody else。 There were fellows never happy unless they were
doing someone in the eye。 He had known men who would ride at the
devil himself； make it a point of honour to swindle a friend out of
a few pounds！ Odd place this 'Monte'sort of a Garden of Eden
gone wrong。 And all the real； but quite inarticulate love of
Nature； which had supported the Colonel through deserts and
jungles； on transports at sea； and in mountain camps； awoke in the
sweetness of these gardens。 His dear mother！ He had never
forgotten the words with which she had shown him the sunset through
the coppice down at old Withes Norton； when he was nine years old：
〃That is beauty； Jack！ Do you feel it； darling？〃 He had not felt
it at the timenot he； a thick…headed； scampering youngster。 Even
when he first went to India he had had no eye for a sunset。 The
rising generation were different。 That young couple； for instance；
under the pepper…tree； sitting there without a word； just looking
at the trees。 How long； he wondered； had they been sitting like
that？ And suddenly something in the Colonel leaped； his steel…
coloured eyes took on their look of out…facing death。 Choking down
a cough； he faced about； back to where he had stood above the
pigeon…shooting ground。 。 。 。 Olive and that young fellow！ An
assignation！ At this time in the morning！ The earth reeled。 His
brother's childhis favourite niece！ The woman whom he most
admiredthe woman for whom his heart was softest。 Leaning over
the stone parapet； no longer seeing either the smooth green of the
pigeon…shooting ground； or the smooth blue of the sea beyond； he
was moved； distressed； bewildered beyond words。 Before breakfast！
That was the devil of it！ Confession； as it were； of everything。
Moreover； he had seen their hands touching on the seat。 The blood
rushed up to his face； he had seen； spied out； what was not
intended for his eyes。 Nice positionthat！ Dolly； too； last
night； had seen。 But that was different。 Women might see things
it was expected of them。 But for a manaa gentleman！ The
fullness of his embarrassment gradually disclosed itself。 His
hands were tied。 Could he even consult Dolly？ He had a feeling of
isolation； of utter solitude。 Nobodynot anybody in the world
could understand his secret and intense discomfort。 To take up a
positionthe position he was bound to take up； as Olive's nearest
relative and protector； andwhat was itchaperon； by the aid of
knowledge come at in such a way； however unintentionally！ Never in
all his days in the regimentand many delicate matters affecting
honour had come his wayhad he had a thing like this to deal with。
Poor child！ But he had no business to think of her like that。 No；
indeed！ She had not behavedas And there he paused； curiously
unable to condemn her。 Suppose they got up and came that way！
He took his hands off the stone parapet； and made for his hotel。
His palms were white from the force of his grip。 He said to
himself as he went along： 〃I must consider the whole question
calmly； I must think it out。〃 This gave him relief。 With young
Lennan； at all events； he could be angry。 But even there he found；
to his dismay； no finality of judgment。 And this absence of
finality； so unwonted； distressed him horribly。 There was
something in the way the young man had been sitting there beside
herso quiet； so almost timidthat had touched him。 This was
bad； by Jovevery bad！ The two of them； they made； somehow； a
nice couple！ Confound it！ This would not do！ The chaplain of the
little English church； passing at this moment； called out； 〃Fine
morning； Colonel Ercott。〃 The Colonel saluted； and did not answer。
The greeting at the moment seemed to him paltry。 No morning could
be fine that contained such a discovery。 He entered the hotel；
passed into the dining…room； and sat down。 Nobody was there。 They
all had their breakfast upstairs； even Dolly。 Olive alone was in
the habit of supporting him while he ate an English breakfast。 And
suddenly he perceived that he was face to face already with this
dreadful situation。 To have breakfast without； as usual； waiting
for her； seemed too pointed。 She might be coming in at any minute
now。 To wait for her； and have it； without showing anythinghow
could he do that？
He was conscious of a faint rustling behind him。 There she was；
and nothing decided。 In this moment of hopeless confusion the
Colonel acted by pure instinct； rose； patted her cheek； and placed
a chair。
〃Well； my dear；〃 he said； 〃hungry？〃
She was looking very dainty； very soft。 That creamy dress showed
off her dark hair and eyes； which seemed somehow to beflying off
somewhere； yesit was queer； but that was the only way to put it。
He got no reassurance； no comfort； from the sight of her。 And
slowly he stripped the skin from the banana with which he always
commenced breakfast。 One might just as well be asked to shoot a
tame dove or tear a pretty flower to pieces as be expected to take
her to task； even if he could； in honour。 And he sought refuge in
the words：
〃Been out？〃 Then could have bitten his tongue off。 Suppose she
answered： 〃No。〃
But she did not so answer。 The colour came into her cheeks；
indeed； but she nodded： 〃It's so lovely！〃
How pretty she looked saying that！ He had put himself out of court
nowcould never tell her what he had seen； after setting； as it
were； that trap for her； and presently he asked：
〃Got any plans to…day？〃
She answered； without flinching in the least：
〃Mark Lennan and I were going to take mules from Mentone up to
Gorbio。〃
He was amazed at her steadinessnever； to his knowledge； having
encountered a woman armoured at every point to preserve a love that
flies against the world。 How tell what was under her smile！ And
in confusion of feeling that amounted almost to pain he heard her
say：
〃Will you and Aunt Dolly come？〃
Between sense of trusteeship and hatred of spoiling sport； between
knowledge of the danger she was in and half…pitying admiration at
the sight of her； between real disapproval of an illicit and
underhand business （what else was it； after all？） and some dim
perception that here was something he did not begin to be able to
fathomsomething that perhaps no one but those two themselves
could deal withbetween these various extremes he was lost indeed。
And he stammered out：
〃I must ask your aunt； she'sshe's not very good on a mule。〃
Then； in an impulse of sheer affection； he said with startling
suddenness： 〃My dear； I've often meant to ask； are you happy at
home？〃
〃At home？〃
There was something sinister about the way she repeated that； as if
the word 〃home〃 were strange to her。
She drank her coffee and got up； and the Colonel felt afraid
