the dark flower-第31章
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like that！ Then his wrinkles began slowly to come alive； and he
gave her waist a squeeze。
Mrs。 Ercott did not resist that treatment。
〃Take Olive alone；〃 she said。 〃I don't really care to go。〃
When the Colonel went to fetch his niece he found her ready； and
very half…heartedly he asked for Cramier。 It appeared she had not
told him。
Relieved； yet somewhat disconcerted； he murmured：
〃He won't mind not going； I suppose？〃
〃If he went； I should not。〃
At this quiet answer the Colonel was beset again by all his fears。
He put his white 'topper' down； and took her hand。
〃My dear；〃 he said； 〃I don't want to intrude upon your feelings；
butbut is there anything I can do？ It's dreadful to see things
going unhappily with you！〃 He felt his hand being lifted； her face
pressed against it； and； suffering acutely； with his other hand；
cased in a bright new glove； he smoothed her arm。 〃We'll have a
jolly good day； sweetheart；〃 he said； 〃and forget all about it。〃
She gave the hand a kiss and turned away。 And the Colonel vowed to
himself that she should not be unhappylovely creature that she
was； so delicate； and straight； and fine in her pearly frock。 And
he pulled himself together； brushing his white 'topper' vigorously
with his sleeve； forgetting that this kind of hat has no nap。
And so he was tenderness itself on the journey down； satisfying all
her wants before she had them； telling her stories of Indian life；
and consulting her carefully as to which horse they should back。
There was the Duke's； of course； but there was another animal that
appealed to him greatly。 His friend Tabor had given him the tip
Tabor； who had the best Arabs in all Indiaand at a nice price。 A
man who practically never gambled； the Colonel liked to feel that
his fancy would bring him in something really substantialif it
won； the idea that it could lose not really troubling him。
However； they would see it in the paddock； and judge for
themselves。 The paddock was the place； away from all the dust and
racketOlive would enjoy the paddock！ Once on the course； they
neglected the first race； it was more important； the Colonel
thought； that they should lunch。 He wanted to see more colour in
her cheeks； wanted to see her laugh。 He had an invitation to his
old regiment's drag； where the champagne was sure to be good。 And
he was so proud of herwould not have missed those young fellows'
admiration of her for the world； though to take a lady amongst them
was； in fact； against the rules。 It was not； then； till the second
race was due to start that they made their way into the paddock。
Here the Derby horses were being led solemnly； attended each by a
little posse of persons； looking up their legs and down their ribs
to see whether they were worthy of support； together with a few who
liked to see a whole horse at a time。 Presently they found the
animal which had been recommended to the Colonel。 It was a
chestnut； with a starred forehead； parading in a far corner。 The
Colonel； who really loved a horse； was deep in admiration。 He
liked its head and he liked its hocks； above all； he liked its eye。
A fine creature； all sense and fireperhaps just a little straight
in the shoulder for coming down the hill！ And in the midst of his
examination he found himself staring at his niece。 What breeding
the child showed； with her delicate arched brows； little ears； and
fine； close nostrils； and the way she movedso sure and springy。
She was too pretty to suffer！ A shame！ If she hadn't been so
pretty that young fellow wouldn't have fallen in love with her。 If
she weren't so prettythat husband of hers wouldn't！ And the
Colonel dropped his gaze； startled by the discovery he had stumbled
on。 If she hadn't been so pretty！ Was that the meaning of it all？
The cynicism of his own reflection struck him between wind and
water。 And yet something in himself seemed to confirm it somehow。
What then？ Was he to let them tear her in two between them；
destroying her； because she was so pretty？ And somehow this
discovery of histhat passion springs from worship of beauty and
warmth； of form and colourdisturbed him horribly； for he had no
habit of philosophy。 The thought seemed to him strangely crude；
even immoral。 That she should be thus between two ravening
desiresa bird between two hawks； a fruit between two mouths！ It
was a way of looking at things that had never before occurred to
him。 The idea of a husband clutching at his wife； the idea of that
young man who looked so gentle； swooping down on her； and the idea
that if she faded； lost her looks； went off； their greed； indeed；
any man's； would die awayall these horrible ideas hurt him the
more for the remarkable suddenness with which they had come to him。
A tragic business！ Dolly had said so。 Queer and quickwere
women！ But his resolution that the day was to be jolly soon
recurred to him； and he hastily resumed inspection of his fancy。
Perhaps they ought to have a ten…pound note on it； and they had
better get back to the Stand！ And as they went the Colonel saw；
standing beneath a tree at a little distance； a young man that he
could have sworn was Lennan。 Not likely for an artist chap to be
down here！ But it WAS undoubtedly young Lennan； brushed…up； in a
top…hat。 Fortunately； however； his face was not turned in their
direction。 He said nothing to Olive； not wishingespecially after
those unpleasant thoughtsto take responsibility； and he kept her
moving towards the gate； congratulating himself that his eyes had
been so sharp。 In the crush there he was separated from her a
little； but she was soon beside him again； and more than ever he
congratulated himself that nothing had occurred to upset her and
spoil the day。 Her cheeks were warm enough now； her dark eyes
glowing。 She was excited no doubt by thoughts of the race； and of
the 'tenner' he was going to put on for her。
He recounted the matter afterwards to Mrs。 Ercott。 〃That chestnut
Tabor put me on to finished nowherecouldn't get down the hill
knew it wouldn't the moment I set eyes on it。 But the child
enjoyed herself。 Wish you'd been there； my dear！〃 Of his deeper
thoughts and of that glimpse of young Lennan he did not speak； for
on the way home an ugly suspicion had attacked him。 Had the young
fellow； after all； seen and managed to get close to her in the
crush at the paddock gateway？
XIV
That letter of hers fanned the flame in Lennan as nothing had yet
fanned it。 Earthiness！ Was it earthiness to love as he did？ If
so； then not for all the world would he be otherwise than earthy。
In the shock of reading it； he crossed his Rubicon； and burned his
boats behind him。 No more did the pale ghost； chivalrous devotion；
haunt him。 He knew now that he could not stop short。 Since she
asked him； he must not； of course； try to see her just yet。 But
when he did； then he would fight for his life； the thought that she
might be meaning to slip away from him was too utterly unbearable。
But she could not be meaning that！ She would never be so cruel！
Ah！ she wouldshe must come to him in the end！ The world； life
itself； would be well lost for love of her！
Thus resolved； he was even able to work again； and all that Tuesday
he modelled at a big version of the fantastic； bull…like figure he
had conceived after the Colonel left him up on the hillside at
Beaulieu。 He worked at it with a sort of evil joy。 Into this
creature he would put the spirit of possession that held her from
him。 And while his fingers forced the clay； he felt as if he had
Cramier's neck within his grip。 Yet； now that he had resolved to
take her if he could； he had not quite the same hatred。 After all；
this man loved her too； could not help it that she loathed him；
could not help it that he had the disposition of her； body and
soul！
June had come in with skies of a blue that not even London glare
and dust could pale。 In every square and park and patch of green
the air simmered with life and with the music of birds swaying on
little boughs。 Piano organs in the streets were no longer wistful
for the South； lovers already sat in the shade of trees。
To remain
