men, women and ghosts(男人、女人和鬼魂)-第3章
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！
And made the fish…line hum； and bent the rod Almost to snapping。
Care The young man took against the twigs； with slight； Deft movements
he kept fish and line in tight Obedience to his will with every prod。
IX
He lay there； and the fish hung just beyond。 He seemed uncertain
what more he should do。 He drew back； pulled the rod to correspond；
Tossed it and caught it； every time he threw； He caught it nearer to the
point。 At last The fish was near enough to touch。 He paused。
Eunice knew well the craft 〃What's got the thing！〃 She cried。
〃What can have caused Where is his net？ The moment will be past。
8
… Page 9…
Men； Women and Ghosts
The fish will wriggle free。〃 She stopped aghast。 He turned and
bowed。 One arm was in a sling。
X
The broad； black ribbon she had thought his basket Must hang from；
held instead a useless arm。 〃I do not wonder； Madam； that you ask it。〃
He smiled； for she had spoke aloud。 〃The charm Of trout fishing is in my
eyes enhanced When you must play your fish on land as well。〃
〃How will you take him？〃 Eunice asked。 〃In truth I really cannot tell。
'Twas stupid of me； but it simply chanced I never thought of that until he
glanced Into the branches。 'Tis a bit uncouth。〃
XI
He watched the fish against the blowing sky； Writhing and glittering；
pulling at the line。 〃The hook is fast； I might just let him die；〃 He mused。
〃But that would jar against your fine Sense of true sportsmanship； I know
it would；〃 Cried Eunice。 〃Let me do it。〃 Swift and light She ran
towards him。 〃It is so long now Since I have felt a bite； I lost all heart
for everything。〃 She stood； Supple and strong； beside him； and her blood
Tingled her lissom body to a glow。
XII
She quickly seized the fish and with a stone Ended its flurry； then
removed the hook； Untied the fly with well…poised fingers。 Done； She
asked him where he kept his fishing…book。 He pointed to a coat flung on
the ground。 She searched the pockets； found a shagreen case；
Replaced the fly； noticed a golden stamp Filling the middle space。 Two
letters half rubbed out were there； and round About them gay rococo
flowers wound And tossed a spray of roses to the clamp。
XIII
The Lady Eunice puzzled over these。 〃G。 D。〃 the young man gravely
said。 〃My name Is Gervase Deane。 Your servant； if you please。〃 〃Oh；
Sir； indeed I know you； for your fame For exploits in the field has reached
my ears。 I did not know you wounded and returned。〃 〃But just
come back； Madam。 A silly prick To gain me such unearned Holiday
making。 And you； it appears； Must be Sir Everard's lady。 And my fears
At being caught a…trespassing were quick。〃
9
… Page 10…
Men； Women and Ghosts
XIV
He looked so rueful that she laughed out loud。 〃You are forgiven； Mr。
Deane。 Even more； I offer you the fishing； and am proud That you
should find it pleasant from this shore。 Nobody fishes now； my husband
used To angle daily； and I too with him。 He loved the spotted trout；
and pike； and dace。 He even had a whim That flies my fingers tied
swiftly confused The greater fish。 And he must be excused； Love
weaves odd fancies in a lonely place。〃
XV
She sighed because it seemed so long ago； Those days with Everard；
unthinking took The path back to the orchard。 Strolling so She walked；
and he beside her。 In a nook Where a stone seat withdrew beneath low
boughs； Full…blossomed； hummed with bees； they sat them down。
She questioned him about the war； the share Her husband had； and
grown Eager by his clear answers； straight allows Her hidden hopes and
fears to speak； and rouse Her numbed love； which had slumbered
unaware。
XVI
Under the orchard trees daffodils danced And jostled； turning
sideways to the wind。 A dropping cherry petal softly glanced Over her
hair； and slid away behind。 At the far end through twisted cherry…trees
The old house glowed； geranium…hued； with bricks Bloomed in the
sun like roses； low and long； Gabled； and with quaint tricks Of chimneys
carved and fretted。 Out of these Grey smoke was shaken； which the faint
Spring breeze Tossed into nothing。 Then a thrush's song
XVII
Needled its way through sound of bees and river。 The notes fell；
round and starred； between young leaves； Trilled to a spiral lilt； stopped on
a quiver。 The Lady Eunice listens and believes。 Gervase has many tales
of her dear Lord； His bravery； his knowledge； his charmed life。 She
quite forgets who's speaking in the gladness Of being this man's wife。
Gervase is wounded； grave indeed； the word Is kindly said； but to a softer
chord She strings her voice to ask with wistful sadness；
XVIII
10
… Page 11…
Men； Women and Ghosts
〃And is Sir Everard still unscathed？ I fain Would know the truth。〃
〃Quite well； dear Lady； quite。〃 She smiled in her content。 〃So many slain；
You must forgive me for a little fright。〃 And he forgave her； not alone for
that； But because she was fingering his heart； Pressing and
squeezing it； and thinking so Only to ease her smart Of painful；
apprehensive longing。 At Their feet the river swirled and chucked。
They sat An hour there。 The thrush flew to and fro。
XIX
The Lady Eunice supped alone that day； As always since Sir Everard
had gone； In the oak…panelled parlour； whose array Of faded portraits in
carved mouldings shone。 Warriors and ladies； armoured； ruffed； peruked。
Van Dykes with long； slim fingers； Holbeins； stout And heavy…
featured； and one Rubens dame； A peony just burst out； With flaunting；
crimson flesh。 Eunice rebuked Her thoughts of gentler blood； when these
had duked It with the best； and scorned to change their name。
XX
A sturdy family； and old besides； Much older than her own； the Earls
of Crowe。 Since Saxon days； these men had sought their brides Among
the highest born； but always so； Taking them to themselves； their wealth；
their lands； But never their titles。 Stern perhaps； but strong； The
Framptons fed their blood from richest streams； Scorn
