the dark flower-第26章
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Yes！ He's a gentleman！〃
Lifting his hand to the salute； he said： 〃Well； I must be getting
back。 See you at dinner perhaps？〃 And turning on his heel he
marched away。
The remembrance of that face in the 'putty stuff' up there by the
side of the road accompanied him home。 It was badit was serious！
And the sense that he counted for nothing in all of it grew and
grew in him。 He told no one of where he had been。 。 。 。
When the Colonel turned with ceremony and left him； Lennan sat down
again on the flat stone； took up his 'putty stuff；' and presently
effaced that image。 He sat still a long time； to all appearance
watching the little blue butterflies playing round the red and
tawny roses。 Then his fingers began to work； feverishly shaping a
head； not of a man； not of a beast； but a sort of horned； heavy
mingling of the two。 There was something frenetic in the movement
of those rather short； blunt…ended fingers； as though they were
strangling the thing they were creating。
VIII
In those days； such as had served their country travelled； as
befitted Spartans； in ordinary first…class carriages； and woke in
the morning at La Roche or some strange…sounding place； for paler
coffee and the pale brioche。 So it was with Colonel and Mrs。
Ercott and their niece； accompanied by books they did not read；
viands they did not eat； and one somnolent Irishman returning from
the East。 In the disposition of legs there was the usual
difficulty； no one quite liking to put them up； and all ultimately
doing so； save Olive。 More than once during that night the
Colonel； lying on the seat opposite； awoke and saw her sitting；
withdrawn into her corner； with eyes still open。 Staring at that
little head which he admired so much； upright and unmoving； in its
dark straw toque against the cushion； he would become suddenly
alert。 Kicking the Irishman slightly in the effort； he would slip
his legs down； bend across to her in the darkness； and； conscious
of a faint fragrance as of violets； whisper huskily： 〃Anything I
can do for you； my dear？〃 When she had smiled and shaken her head；
he would retreat； and after holding his breath to see if Dolly were
asleep； would restore his feet； slightly kicking the Irishman。
After one such expedition； for full ten minutes he remained awake；
wondering at her tireless immobility。 For indeed she was spending
this night entranced； with the feeling that Lennan was beside her；
holding her hand in his。 She seemed actually to feel the touch of
his finger against the tiny patch of her bare palm where the glove
opened。 It was wonderful； this uncanny communion in the dark
rushing nightshe would not have slept for worlds！ Never before
had she felt so close to him； not even when he had kissed her that
once under the olives； nor even when at the concert yesterday his
arm pressed hers； and his voice whispered words she heard so
thirstily。 And that golden fortnight passed and passed through her
on an endless band of reminiscence。 Its memories were like
flowers； such scent and warmth and colour in them； and of all； none
perhaps quite so poignant as the memory of the moment； at the door
of their carriage； when he said； so low that she just heard： 〃Good…
bye； my darling！〃
He had never before called her that。 Not even his touch on her
cheek under the olives equalled the simple treasure of that word。
And above the roar and clatter of the train； and the snoring of the
Irishman； it kept sounding in her ears； hour after dark hour。 It
was perhaps not wonderful； that through all that night she never
once looked the future in the facemade no plans； took no stock of
her position； just yielded to memory； and to the half…dreamed
sensation of his presence close beside her。 Whatever might come
afterwards； she was his this night。 Such was the trance that gave
to her the strange； soft； tireless immobility which so moved her
Uncle whenever he woke up。
In Paris they drove from station to station in a vehicle unfit for
three'to stretch their legs'as the Colonel said。 Since he saw
in his niece no signs of flagging； no regret； his spirits were
rising； and he confided to Mrs。 Ercott in the buffet at the Gare du
Nord； when Olive had gone to wash； that he did not think there was
much in it； after all； looking at the way she'd travelled。
But Mrs。 Ercott answered：
〃Haven't you ever noticed that Olive never shows what she does not
want to？ She has not got those eyes for nothing。〃
〃What eyes？〃
〃Eyes that see everything； and seem to see nothing。〃
Conscious that something was hurting her； the Colonel tried to take
her hand。
But Mrs。 Ercott rose quickly； and went where he could not follow。
Thus suddenly deserted； the Colonel brooded； drumming on the little
table。 What now！ Dolly was unjust！ Poor Dolly！ He was as fond
of her as ever！ Of course！ How could he help Olive's being young
and pretty； how could he help looking after her； and wanting to
save her from this mess！ Thus he sat wondering； dismayed by the
unreasonableness of women。 It did not enter his head that Mrs。
Ercott had been almost as sleepless as his niece； watching through
closed eyes every one of those little expeditions of his； and
saying to herself： 〃Ah！ He doesn't care how I travel！〃
She returned serene enough； concealing her 'grief；' and soon they
were once more whirling towards England。
But the future had begun to lay its hand on Olive； the spell of the
past was already losing power； the sense that it had all been a
dream grew stronger every minute。 In a few hours she would re…
enter the little house close under the shadow of that old Wren
church； which reminded her somehow of childhood； and her austere
father with his chiselled face。 The meeting with her husband！ How
go through that！ And to…night！ But she did not care to
contemplate to…night。 And all those to…morrows wherein there was
nothing she had to do of which it was reasonable to complain； yet
nothing she could do without feeling that all the friendliness and
zest and colour was out of life； and she a prisoner。 Into those
to…morrows she felt she would slip back； out of her dream； lost；
with hardly perhaps an effort。 To get away to the house on the
river； where her husband came only at weekends； had hitherto been a
refuge； only she would not see Mark thereunless！ Then； with
the thought that she would； must still see him sometimes； all again
grew faintly glamorous。 If only she did see him； what would the
rest matter？ Never again as it had before！
The Colonel was reaching down her handbag； his cheery： 〃Looks as if
it would be rough！〃 aroused her。 Glad to be alone； and tired
enough now； she sought the ladies' cabin； and slept through the
crossing； till the voice of the old stewardess awakened her：
〃You've had a nice sleep。 We're alongside； miss。〃 Ah！ if she were
but THAT now！ She had been dreaming that she was sitting in a
flowery field； and Lennan had drawn her up by the hands； with the
words： 〃We're here； my darling！〃
On deck； the Colonel； laden with bags； was looking back for her；
and trying to keep a space between him and his wife。 He signalled
with his chin。 Threading her way towards him； she happened to look
up。 By the rails of the pier above she saw her husband。 He was
leaning there； looking intently down； his tall broad figure made
the people on each side of him seem insignificant。 The clean…
shaved； square…cut face； with those almost epileptic； forceful
eyes； had a stillness and intensity beside which the neighbouring
faces seemed to disappear。 She saw him very clearly； even noting
the touch of silver in his dark hair； on each side under his straw
hat； noting that he seemed too massive for his neat blue suit。 His
face relaxed； he made a little movement of one hand。 Suddenly it
shot through her： Suppose Mark had travelled with them； as he had
wished to do？ For ever and ever now； that dark massive creature；
smiling down at her； was her enemy； from whom she must guard and
keep herself if she could； keep； at all events； each one of her
real thoughts and hopes！ She could have writhed； and cried out；
instead； she tightened her grip on the h
