the dark flower-第3章
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IV
When young Mark heard a soft tapping at his door； though out of
bed； he was getting on but dreamilyit was so jolly to watch the
mountains lying out in this early light like huge beasts。 That one
they were going up； with his head just raised above his paws；
looked very far away out there！ Opening the door an inch； he
whispered：
〃Is it late？〃
〃Five o'clock； aren't you ready？〃
It was awfully rude of him to keep her waiting！ And he was soon
down in the empty dining…room； where a sleepy maid was already
bringing in their coffee。 Anna was there alone。 She had on a
flax…blue shirt； open at the neck； a short green skirt； and a grey…
green velvety hat； small； with one black…cock's feather。 Why could
not people always wear such nice things； and be as splendid…
looking！ And he said：
〃You do look jolly； Mrs。 Stormer！〃
She did not answer for so long that he wondered if it had been rude
to say that。 But she DID look so strong； and swift； and happy…
looking。
Down the hill； through a wood of larch…trees； to the river； and
across the bridge； to mount at once by a path through hay…fields。
How could old Stormer stay in bed on such a morning！ The peasant
girls in their blue linen skirts were already gathering into
bundles what the men had scythed。 One； raking at the edge of a
field； paused and shyly nodded to them。 She had the face of a
Madonna； very calm and grave and sweet； with delicate arched brows
a face it was pure pleasure to see。 The boy looked back at her。
Everything to him； who had never been out of England before； seemed
strange and glamorous。 The chalets； with their long wide burnt…
brown wooden balconies and low…hanging eaves jutting far beyond the
walls； these bright dresses of the peasant women； the friendly
little cream…coloured cows； with blunt； smoke…grey muzzles。 Even
the feel in the air was new； that delicious crisp burning warmth
that lay so lightly as it were on the surface of frozen stillness；
and the special sweetness of all places at the foot of mountains
scent of pine…gum； burning larch…wood； and all the meadow flowers
and grasses。 But newest of all was the feeling within hima sort
of pride； a sense of importance； a queer exhilaration at being
alone with her； chosen companion of one so beautiful。
They passed all the other pilgrims bound the same waystout square
Germans with their coats slung through straps； who trailed behind
them heavy alpenstocks； carried greenish bags； and marched stolidly
at a pace that never varied； growling； as Anna and the boy went by：
〃Aber eilen ist nichts！〃
But those two could not go fast enough to keep pace with their
spirits。 This was no real climbjust a training walk to the top
of the Nuvolau； and they were up before noon； and soon again
descending； very hungry。 When they entered the little dining…room
of the Cinque Torre Hutte； they found it occupied by a party of
English people； eating omelettes； who looked at Anna with faint
signs of recognition； but did not cease talking in voices that all
had a certain half…languid precision； a slight but brisk pinching
of sounds； as if determined not to tolerate a drawl； and yet to
have one。 Most of them had field…glasses slung round them； and
cameras were dotted here and there about the room。 Their faces
were not really much alike； but they all had a peculiar drooping
smile； and a particular lift of the eyebrows； that made them seem
reproductions of a single type。 Their teeth； too； for the most
part were a little prominent； as though the drooping of their
mouths had forced them forward。 They were eating as people eat who
distrust the lower senses； preferring not to be compelled to taste
or smell。
〃From our hotel；〃 whispered Anna； and； ordering red wine and
schnitzels； she and the boy sat down。 The lady who seemed in
command of the English party inquired now how Mr。 Stormer washe
was not laid up； she hoped。 No？ Only lazy？ Indeed！ He was a
great climber； she believed。 It seemed to the boy that this lady
somehow did not quite approve of them。 The talk was all maintained
between her； a gentleman with a crumpled collar and puggaree； and a
short thick…set grey…bearded man in a dark Norfolk jacket。 If any
of the younger members of the party spoke； the remark was received
with an arch lifting of the brows； and drooping of the lids； as who
should say： 〃Ah！ Very promising！〃
〃Nothing in my life has given me greater pain than to observe the
aptitude of human nature for becoming crystallized。〃 It was the
lady in command who spoke； and all the young people swayed their
faces up and down； as if assenting。 How like they were； the boy
thought； to guinea…fowl； with their small heads and sloping
shoulders and speckly grey coats！
〃Ah！ my dear lady〃it was the gentleman with the crumpled collar
〃you novelists are always girding at the precious quality of
conformity。 The sadness of our times lies in this questioning
spirit。 Never was there more revolt； especially among the young。
To find the individual judging for himself is a grave symptom of
national degeneration。 But this is not a subject〃
〃Surely； the subject is of the most poignant interest to all young
people。〃 Again all the young ones raised their faces and moved
them slightly from side to side。
〃My dear lady； we are too prone to let the interest that things
arouse blind our judgment in regard to the advisability of
discussing them。 We let these speculations creep and creep until
they twine themselves round our faith and paralyze it。〃
One of the young men interjected suddenly： 〃Madre〃and was silent。
〃I shall not； I think〃it was the lady speaking〃be accused of
licence when I say that I have always felt that speculation is only
dangerous when indulged in by the crude intelligence。 If culture
has nothing to give us； then let us have no culture； but if culture
be； as I think it； indispensable； then we must accept the dangers
that culture brings。〃
Again the young people moved their faces； and again the younger of
the two young men said： 〃Madre〃
〃Dangers？ Have cultured people dangers？〃
Who had spoken thus？ Every eyebrow was going up； every mouth was
drooping； and there was silence。 The boy stared at his companion。
In what a strange voice she had made that little interjection！
There seemed a sort of flame； too； lighted in her eyes。 Then the
little grey…bearded man said； and his rather whispering voice
sounded hard and acid：
〃We are all human； my dear madam。〃
The boy felt his heart go thump at Anna's laugh。 It was just as if
she had said： 〃Ah！ but not yousurely！〃 And he got up to follow
her towards the door。
The English party had begun already talkingof the weather。
The two walked some way from the 'hut' in silence； before Anna
said：
〃You didn't like me when I laughed？〃
〃You hurt their feelings； I think。〃
〃I wanted tothe English Grundys！ Ah！ don't be cross with me！
They WERE English Grundys； weren't theyevery one？〃
She looked into his face so hard； that he felt the blood rush to
his cheeks； and a dizzy sensation of being drawn forward。
〃They have no blood； those people！ Their voices； their
supercilious eyes that look you up and down！ Oh！ I've had so much
of them！ That woman with her Liberalism； just as bad as any。 I
hate them all！〃
He would have liked to hate them； too； since she did； but they had
only seemed to him amusing。
〃They aren't human。 They don't FEEL！ Some day you'll know them。
They won't amuse you then！〃
She went on； in a quiet； almost dreamy voice：
〃Why do they come here？ It's still young and warm and good out
here。 Why don't they keep to their Culture； where no one knows
what it is to ache and feel hunger； and hearts don't beat。 Feel！〃
Disturbed beyond measure； the boy could not tell whether it was in
her heart or in his hand that the blood was pulsing so。 Was he
glad or sorry when she let his hand go？
〃Ah； well！ They can't spoil this day。 Let's rest。〃
At the edge of the larch…wood where they sat； were growing numbers
of little mountain pinks； with fringed edges and the sweetest scent
imaginable； and she got up presently to gather them。 But he staye
