the dark flower-第43章
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there； save just the square patch of a quite blue sky； and one soft
plume of smoke from his own kitchen chimney； nothing audible save
that tune； and the never…ending street murmur。 Twice birds flew
acrossstarlings。 It was very peaceful； and his thoughts went
floating like the smoke of his cigarette； to meet who…knew…what
other thoughtsfor thoughts； no doubt； had little swift lives of
their own； desired； found their mates； and； lightly blending； sent
forth offspring。 Why not？ All things were possible in this
wonder…house of a world。 Even that waltz tune； floating away；
would find some melody to wed； and twine with； and produce a fresh
chord that might float in turn to catch the hum of a gnat or fly；
and breed again。 Queerhow everything sought to entwine with
something else！ On one of the pinkish blooms of the hydrangea he
noted a beeof all things； in this hidden…away garden of tiles and
gravel and plants in tubs！ The little furry； lonely thing was
drowsily clinging there； as if it had forgotten what it had come
forseduced； maybe； like himself； from labour by these last rays
of the sun。 Its wings； close…furled； were glistening； its eyes
seemed closed。 And the piano…organ played on； a tune of yearning；
waiting； yearning。 。 。 。
Then； through the window above his head； he heard Oliver Dromorea
voice one could always tell； pitched high； with its slight drawl
pleading； very softly at first； then insistent； imperious； and
suddenly Nell's answering voice：
〃I won't； Oliver！ I won't！ I won't！〃
He rose to go out of earshot。 Then a door slammed； and he saw her
at the window above him； her waist on a level with his head；
flushed； with her grey eyes ominously bright； her full lips parted。
And he said：
〃What is it； Nell？〃
She leaned down and caught his hand； her touch was fiery hot。
〃He kissed me！ I won't let himI won't kiss him！〃
Through his head went a medley of sayings to soothe children that
are hurt； but he felt unsteady； unlike himself。 And suddenly she
knelt； and put her hot forehead against his lips。
It was as if she had really been a little child； wanting the place
kissed to make it well。
VII
After that strange outburst； Lennan considered long whether he
should speak to Oliver。 But what could he say； from what
standpoint say it； andwith that feeling？ Or should he speak to
Dromore？ Not very easy to speak on such a subject to one off whose
turf all spiritual matters were so permanently warned。 Nor somehow
could he bring himself to tell Sylvia； it would be like violating a
confidence to speak of the child's outburst and that quivering
moment； when she had kneeled and put her hot forehead to his lips
for comfort。 Such a disclosure was for Nell herself to make； if
she so wished。
And then young Oliver solved the difficulty by coming to the studio
himself next day。 He entered with 'Dromore' composure； very well
groomed； in a silk hat； a cut…away black coat and charming lemon…
coloured gloves； what； indeed； the youth did； besides belonging to
the Yeomanry and hunting all the winter； seemed known only to
himself。 He made no excuse for interrupting Lennan； and for some
time sat silently smoking his cigarette； and pulling the ears of
the dogs。 And Lennan worked on； waiting。 There was always
something attractive to him in this young man's broad； good…looking
face； with its crisp dark hair； and half…insolent good humour； now
so clouded。
At last Oliver got up； and went over to the unfinished 'Girl on the
Magpie Horse。' Turning to it so that his face could not be seen；
he said：
〃You and Mrs。 Lennan have been awfully kind to me； I behaved rather
like a cad yesterday。 I thought I'd better tell you。 I want to
marry Nell； you know。〃
Lennan was glad that the young man's face was so religiously
averted。 He let his hands come to anchor on what he was working at
before he answered： 〃She's only a child； Oliver；〃 and then；
watching his fingers making an inept movement with the clay； was
astonished at himself。
〃She'll be eighteen this month；〃 he heard Oliver say。 〃If she once
gets outamongst peopleI don't know what I shall do。 Old
Johnny's no good to look after her。〃
The young man's face was very red； he was forgetting to hide it
now。 Then it went white； and he said through clenched teeth： 〃She
sends me mad！ I don't know how not to If I don't get her； I
shall shoot myself。 I shall； you knowI'm that sort。 It's her
eyes。 They draw you right out of yourselfand leave you〃 And
from his gloved hand the smoked…out cigarette…end fell to the
floor。 〃They say her mother was like that。 Poor old Johnny！
D'you think I've got a chance； Mr。 Lennan？ I don't mean now； this
minute； I know she's too young。〃
Lennan forced himself to answer。
〃I dare say； my dear fellow； I dare say。 Have you talked with my
wife？〃
Oliver shook his head。
〃She's so goodI don't think she'd quite understand my sort of
feeling。〃
A queer little smile came up on Lennan's lips。
〃Ah； well！〃 he said； 〃you must give the child time。 Perhaps when
she comes back from Ireland； after the summer。〃
The young man answered moodily：
〃Yes。 I've got the run of that； you know。 And I shan't be able to
keep away。〃 He took up his hat。 〃I suppose I oughtn't to have
come and bored you about this； but Nell thinks such a lot of you；
and； you being different to most peopleI thought you wouldn't
mind。〃 He turned again at the door。 〃It wasn't gas what I said
just nowabout not getting her。 Fellows say that sort of thing；
but I mean it。〃
He put on that shining hat and went。
And Lennan stood； staring at the statuette。 So！ Passion broke
down even the defences of Dromoredom。 Passion！ Strange hearts it
chose to bloom in！
'Being different to most peopleI thought you wouldn't mind'！ How
had this youth known that Sylvia would not understand passion so
out of hand as this？ And what had made it clear that he （Lennan）
would？ Was there； then； something in his face？ There must be！
Even Johnny Dromoremost reticent of creatureshad confided to
him that one hour of his astute existence； when the wind had swept
him out to sea！
Yes！ And that statuette would never be any good； try as he might。
Oliver was rightit was her eyes！ How they had smokedin their
childish angerif eyes could be said to smoke； and how they had
drawn and pleaded when she put her face to his in her still more
childish entreaty！ If they were like this now； what would they be
when the woman in her woke？ Just as well not to think of her too
much！ Just as well to work； and take heed that he would soon be
forty…seven！ Just as well that next week she would be gone to
Ireland！
And the last evening before she went they took her to see 〃Carmen〃
at the Opera。 He remembered that she wore a nearly high white
frock； and a dark carnation in the ribbon tying her crinkly hair；
that still hung loose。 How wonderfully entranced she sat； drunk on
that opera that he had seen a score of times； now touching his arm；
now Sylvia's； whispering questions： 〃Who's that？〃 〃What's coming
now？〃 The Carmen roused her to adoration； but Don Jose was 'too
fat in his funny little coat；' till； in the maddened jealousy of
the last act； he rose superior。 Then； quite lost in excitement；
she clutched Lennan's arm； and her gasp； when Carmen at last fell
dead； made all their neighbours jump。 Her emotion was far more
moving than that on the stage； he wanted badly to stroke； and
comfort her and say： 〃There； there； my dear； it's only make…
believe！〃 And； when it was over； and the excellent murdered lady
and her poor fat little lover appeared before the curtain； finally
forgetting that she was a woman of the world； she started forward
in her seat and clapped； and clapped。 Fortunate that Johnny
Dromore was not there to see！ But all things coming to an end；
they had to get up and go。 And； as they made their way out to the
hall； Lennan felt a hot little finger crooked into his own； as if
she simply must have something to squeeze。 He really did not know
what to do with it。 She seemed to feel this half…heartedness； soon
letting it go。 All the way home in the cab she
