men, women and ghosts(男人、女人和鬼魂)-第5章
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sight of him； she smiled in comfort knowing Herself laid as before Close
covered on his breast。 And all her glowing Youth answered him； and
ever nearer growing She twined him in her arms and soft festooned
XXXIII
Herself about him like a flowering vine； Drawing his lips to cling
upon her own。 A ray of sunlight pierced the leaves to shine Where her
half…opened bodice let be shown Her white throat fluttering to his soft
caress； Half…gasping with her gladness。 And her pledge She
whispers； melting with delight。 A twig Snaps in the hornbeam hedge。 A
cackling laugh tears through the quietness。 Eunice starts up in terrible
distress。 〃My God！ What's that？〃 Her staring eyes are big。
XXXIV
Revulsed emotion set her body shaking As though she had an ague。
Gervase swore； Jumped to his feet in such a dreadful taking His face was
ghastly with the look it wore。 Crouching and slipping through the trees； a
man In worn； blue livery； a humpbacked thing； Made off。 But
turned every few steps to gaze At Eunice； and to fling Vile looks and
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gestures back。 〃The ruffian！ By Christ's Death！ I will split him to a
span Of hog's thongs。〃 She grasped at his sleeve； 〃Gervase！
XXXV
What are you doing here？ Put down that sword； That's only poor
old Tony； crazed and lame。 We never notice him。 With my dear Lord I
ought not to have minded that he came。 But； Gervase； it surprises me that
you Should so lack grace to stay here。〃 With one hand She held
her gaping bodice to conceal Her breast。 〃I must demand Your instant
absence。 Everard； but new Returned； will hardly care for guests。
Adieu。〃 〃Eunice； you're mad。〃 His brain began to reel。
XXXVI
He tried again to take her； tried to twist Her arms about him。 Truly；
she had said Nothing should ever part them。 In a mist She pushed him
from her； clasped her aching head In both her hands； and rocked and
sobbed aloud。 〃Oh！ Where is Everard？ What does this mean？
So lately come to leave me thus alone！〃 But Gervase had not seen Sir
Everard。 Then； gently； to her bowed And sickening spirit； he told of her
proud Surrender to him。 He could hear her moan。
XXXVII
Then shame swept over her and held her numb； Hiding her
anguished face against the seat。 At last she rose； a woman stricken dumb
And trailed away with slowly…dragging feet。 Gervase looked after her；
but feared to pass The barrier set between them。 All his rare Joy
broke to fragments worse than that； unreal。 And standing lonely there；
His swollen heart burst out； and on the grass He flung himself and wept。
He knew； alas！ The loss so great his life could never heal。
XXXVIII
For days thereafter Eunice lived retired； Waited upon by one old
serving…maid。 She would not leave her chamber； and desired Only to
hide herself。 She was afraid Of what her eyes might trick her into seeing；
Of what her longing urge her then to do。 What was this dreadful
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。
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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
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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 ban
