men, women and ghosts(男人、女人和鬼魂)-第5节
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！
illness solitude Had tortured her into？ Her hours went by in a long
constant fleeing The thought of that one morning。 And her being
Bruised itself on a happening so rude。
15
… Page 16…
Men； Women and Ghosts
XXXIX
It grew ripe Summer； when one morning came Her tirewoman with a
letter； printed Upon the seal were the Deane crest and name。 With utmost
gentleness； the letter hinted His understanding and his deep regret。 But
would she not permit him once again To pay her his profound
respects？ No word Of what had passed should pain Her resolution。
Only let them get Back the old comradeship。 Her eyes were wet
With starting tears； now truly she deplored
XL
His misery。 Yes； she was wrong to keep Away from him。 He
hardly was to blame。 'Twas she she shuddered and began to weep。
'Twas her fault！ Hers！ Her everlasting shame Was that she suffered him；
whom not at all She loved。 Poor Boy！ Yes； they must still be friends。
She owed him that to keep the balance straight。 It was such poor amends
Which she could make for rousing hopes to gall Him with their
unfulfilment。 Tragical It was； and she must leave him desolate。
XLI
Hard silence he had forced upon his lips For long and long； and
would have done so still Had not she here she pressed her finger tips
Against her heavy eyes。 Then with forced will She wrote that he might
come； sealed with the arms Of Crowe and Frampton twined。 Her heart
felt lighter When this was done。 It seemed her constant care
Might some day cease to fright her。 Illness could be no crime； and dreadful
harms Did come from too much sunshine。 Her alarms Would
lessen when she saw him standing there；
XLII
Simple and kind； a brother just returned From journeying； and he
would treat her so。 She knew his honest heart； and if there burned A
spark in it he would not let it show。 But when he really came； and stood
beside Her underneath the fruitless cherry boughs； He seemed a
tired man； gaunt； leaden…eyed。 He made her no more vows； Nor did he
mention one thing he had tried To put into his letter。 War supplied
Him topics。 And his mind seemed occupied。
XLIII
16
… Page 17…
Men； Women and Ghosts
Daily they met。 And gravely walked and talked。 He read her no
more verses； and he stayed Only until their conversation； balked Of
every natural channel； fled dismayed。 Again the next day she would meet
him； trying To give her tone some healthy sprightliness； But his
uneager dignity soon chilled Her well…prepared address。 Thus Summer
waned； and in the mornings； crying Of wild geese startled Eunice； and
their flying Whirred overhead for days and never stilled。
XLIV
One afternoon of grey clouds and white wind； Eunice awaited
Gervase by the river。 The Dartle splashed among the reeds and whined
Over the willow…roots； and a long sliver Of caked and slobbered foam
crept up the bank。 All through the garden； drifts of skirling leaves
Blew up； and settled down； and blew again。 The cherry…trees were
weaves Of empty； knotted branches； and a dank Mist hid the house；
mouldy it smelt and rank With sodden wood； and still unfalling rain。
XLV
Eunice paced up and down。 No joy she took At meeting Gervase；
but the custom grown Still held her。 He was late。 She sudden shook；
And caught at her stopped heart。 Her eyes had shown Sir Everard
emerging from the mist。 His uniform was travel…stained and torn；
His jackboots muddy； and his eager stride Jangled his spurs。 A thorn
Entangled； trailed behind him。 To the tryst He hastened。 Eunice
shuddered； ran a twist Round a sharp turning and she fled to hide。
XLVI
But he had seen her as she swiftly ran； A flash of white against the
river's grey。 〃Eunice；〃 he called。 〃My Darling。 Eunice。 Can You
hear me？ It is Everard。 All day I have been riding like the very devil
To reach you sooner。 Are you startled； Dear？〃 He broke into a run
and followed her； And caught her； faint with fear； Cowering and
trembling as though she some evil Spirit were seeing。 〃What means this
uncivil Greeting； Dear Heart？〃 He saw her senses blur。
XLVII
Swaying and catching at the seat； she tried To speak； but only
gurgled in her throat。 At last； straining to hold herself； she cried To him
17
… Page 18…
Men； Women and Ghosts
for pity； and her strange words smote A coldness through him； for she
begged Gervase To leave her； 'twas too much a second time。
Gervase must go； always Gervase； her mind Repeated like a rhyme This
name he did not know。 In sad amaze He watched her； and that hunted；
fearful gaze； So unremembering and so unkind。
XLVIII
Softly he spoke to her； patiently dealt With what he feared her
madness。 By and by He pierced her understanding。 Then he knelt
Upon the seat； and took her hands： 〃Now try To think a minute I am
come； my Dear； Unharmed and back on furlough。 Are you glad
To have your lover home again？ To me； Pickthorn has never had A
greater pleasantness。 Could you not bear To come and sit awhile beside
me here？ A stone between us surely should not be。〃
XLIX
She smiled a little wan and ravelled smile； Then came to him and on
his shoulder laid Her head； and they two rested there awhile； Each taking
comfort。 Not a word was said。 But when he put his hand upon her breast
And felt her beating heart； and with his lips Sought solace for her
and himself。 She started As one sharp lashed with whips； And pushed
him from her； moaning； his dumb quest Denied and shuddered from。
And he； distrest； Loosened his wife； and long they sat there； parted。
L
Eunice was very quiet all that day； A little dazed； and yet she seemed
content。 At candle…time； he asked if she would play Upon her
harpsichord； at once she went And tinkled airs from Lully's ‘Carnival'
And ‘Bacchus'； newly brought away from France。 Then jaunted
through a lively rigadoon To please him with a dance By Purcell； for he
said that surely all Good Englishmen had pride in national
Accomplishment。 But tiring of it soon
LI
He whispered her that if she had forgiven His startling her that
afternoon； the clock Marked early bed…time。 Surely it was Heaven He
entered when she opened to his knock。 The hours rustled in the trailing
wind Over the chimney。 Close they lay and knew Only that they
18
… Page 19…
Men； Women and Ghosts
were wedded。 At his touch Anxiety she threw Away
