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！
in his chair； rested his big hands on its arms； and stared at her。
Chris！ Here was a woman he did not know！ His lips moved under the
heavy droop of his moustache。 The girl's face had suddenly grown
white。 She sank down on her knees； and laid her cheek against his
hand。 He felt it wet； and a lump rose in his throat。 Drawing his
hand away； he stared at it； and wiped it with his sleeve。
〃Don't cry！〃 he said。
She seized it again and clung to it； that clutch seemed to fill him
with sudden rage。
〃What's the matter？ How the devil can I do anything if you don't
tell me？〃
She looked up at him。 The distress of the last days； the passion and
fear of the last hour； the tide of that new life of the spirit and
the flesh； stirring within her； flowed out in a stream of words。
When she had finished； there was so dead a silence that the
fluttering of a moth round the lamp could be heard plainly。
Mr。 Treffry raised himself； crossed the room； and touched the bell。
〃Tell the groom；〃 he said to Dominique； 〃to put the horses to； and
have 'em round at once； bring my old boots； we drive all night。。。。〃
His bent figure looked huge； body and legs outlined by light； head
and shoulders towering into shadow。 〃He shall have a run for his
money！〃 he said。 His eyes stared down sombrely at his niece。 〃It's
more than he deserves！it's more than you deserve； Chris。 Sit down
there and write to him； tell him to put himself entirely in my
hands。〃 He turned his back on her； and went into his bedroom。
Christian rose； and sat down at the writing…table。 A whisper
startled her。 It came from Dominique； who was holding out a pair of
boots。
〃M'mselle Chris； what is this？to run about all night？〃 But
Christian did not answer。
〃M'mselle Chris； are you ill？〃 Then seeing her face； he slipped away
again。
She finished her letter and went out to the carriage。 Mr。 Treffry
was seated under the hood。
〃Shan't want you；〃 he called out to the groom； 〃Get up； Dominique。〃
Christian thrust her letter into his hand。 〃Give him that；〃 she
said； clinging to his arm with sudden terror。 〃Oh！ Uncle！ do take
care！〃
〃Chris； if I do this for you〃 They looked wistfully at one
another。 Then； shaking his head； Mr。 Treffry gathered up the reins。
〃Don't fret； my dear； don't fret！ Whoa； mare！〃
The carriage with a jerk plunged forward into darkness； curved with a
crunch of wheels； and vanished； swinging between the black
treepillars at the entrance。。。。
Christian stood； straining to catch the failing sound of the hoofs。
Down the passage came a flutter of white garments； soft limbs were
twined about her； some ends of hair fell on her face。
〃What is it； Chris？ Where have you been？ Where is Uncle Nic going？
Tell me！〃
Christian tore herself away。 〃I don't know；〃 she cried； 〃I know
nothing！〃
Greta stroked her face。 〃Poor Chris！〃 she murmured。 Her bare feet
gleamed； her hair shone gold against her nightdress。 〃Come to bed；
poor Chris！〃
Christian laughed。 〃You little white moth！ Feel how hot I am！
You'll burn your wings！〃
Harz had lain down； fully dressed。 He was no longer angry； but felt
that he would rather die than yield。 Presently he heard footsteps
coming up the stairs。
〃M'sieu！〃
It was the voice of Dominique； whose face； illumined by a match； wore
an expression of ironical disgust。
〃My master；〃 he said； 〃makes you his compliments； he says there is no
time to waste。 You are to please come and drive with him！〃
〃Your master is very kind。 Tell him I'm in bed。〃
〃Ah； M'sieu；〃 said Dominique； grimacing； 〃I must not go back with
such an answer。 If you would not come； I was to give you this。〃
Harz broke the seal and read Christian's letter。
〃I will come；〃 he said。
A clock was striking as they went out through the gate。 From within
the dark cave of the phaeton hood Mr。 Treffry said gruffly： 〃Come
along； sir！〃
Harz flung his knapsack in； and followed。
His companion's figure swayed； the whiplash slid softly along the
flank of the off horse； and； as the carriage rattled forward； Mr。
Treffry called out； as if by afterthought： 〃Hallo； Dominique！〃
Dominque's voice； shaken and ironical； answered from behind： 〃M'
v'la； M'sieu！〃
In the long street of silent houses； men sitting in the lighted cafes
turned with glasses at their lips to stare after the carriage。 The
narrow river of the sky spread suddenly to a vast； limpid ocean
tremulous with stars。 They had turned into the road for Italy。
Mr。 Treffry took a pull at his horses。 〃Whoa； mare！ Dogged does it！〃
and the near horse； throwing up her head； whinnied； a fleck of foam
drifted into Harz's face。
The painter had come on impulse； because Christian had told him to；
not of his own free will。 He was angry with himself； wounded in
self…esteem； for having allowed any one to render him this service。
The smooth swift movement through velvet blackness splashed on either
hand with the flying lamp…light； the strong sweet air blowing in his
face…air that had kissed the tops of mountains and stolen their
spirit； the snort and snuffle of the horses； and crisp rattling of
their hoofsall this soon roused in him another feeling。 He looked
at Mr。 Treffry's profile； with its tufted chin； at the grey road
adventuring in darkness； at the purple mass of mountains piled above
it。 All seemed utterly unreal。
As if suddenly aware that he had a neighbour； Mr。 Treffry turned his
head。 〃We shall do better than this presently；〃 he said； 〃bit of a
slope coming。 Haven't had 'em out for three days。 Whoa…mare！
Steady！〃
〃Why are you taking this trouble for me？〃 asked Harz。
〃I'm an old chap； Mr。 Harz； and an old chap may do a stupid thing
once in a while！〃
〃You are very good；〃 said Harz； 〃but I want no favours。〃
Mr。 Treffry stared at him。
〃Just so；〃 he said drily； 〃but you see there's my niece to be thought
of。 Look here！ We're not at the frontier yet； Mr。 Harz； by forty
miles； it's long odds we don't get thereso； don't spoil sport！〃 He
pointed to the left。
Harz caught the glint of steel。 They were already crossing the
railway。 The sigh of the telegraph wires fluttered above them。
〃Hear 'em；〃 said Mr。 Treffry； 〃but if we get away up the mountains；
we'll do yet！〃 They had begun to rise； the speed slackened。 Mr。
Treffry rummaged out a flask。
〃Not bad stuff； Mr。 Harztry it。 You won't？ Mother's milk！ Fine
night； eh？〃 Below them the valley was lit by webs of milky mist like
the glimmer of dew on grass。
These two men sitting side by sideunlike in face； age； stature；
thought； and lifebegan to feel drawn towards each other； as if； in
the rolling of the wheels； the snorting of the horses； the huge dark
space； the huge uncertainty； they had found something they could
enjoy in common。 The； steam from the horses' flanks and nostr