Chapter I
關燈
小
中
大
e.Butshelookedoncemoredownthehillandherheartgaveagreatthudagainstherchestshefeltherselfblushingfuriously.Herbloodseemedtorushthroughthevesselswithsuddenrapidity,andindismayatherwantofcomposureshehadanimpulsetoturnquicklyandfly.Sheforgotthesickeningexpectation,thehoursshehadspentinlookingforthefigurethattrampedupthehill.
Ofcourseitwasaman!Hecamenearer,atallfellowoftwenty-seven,massivelysettogether,bigboned,withlongarmsandlegs,andamagnificentbreadthofchest.Bertharecognisedthecostumethatalwayspleasedher,theknickerbockersandgaiters,theNorfolk-jacketofroughtweed,thewhitestockandthecap—allredolentofthecountrywhichforhissakeshewasbeginningtolove,andallvigorouslymasculine.Eventhehugebootswhichcoveredhisfeetgaveherbytheirverysizeathrillofpleasuretheirdimensionssuggestedacertainfirmnessofcharacter,amasterfulness,whichwereintenselyreassuring.Thestyleofdressfittedperfectlythebackgroundofbrownroadandofploughedfield.Berthawonderedifheknewthathewasexceedinglypicturesqueasheclimbedthehill.
“Afternoon,MissBertha.”
Heshowednosignofpausing,andthegirl’sheartsankatthethoughtthathemightgoonwithonlyacommonplacewordofgreeting.
“IthoughtitwasyouIsawcomingupthehill,”shesaid,stretchingoutherhand.
Hestoppedandshookitthetouchofhisbig,firmfingersmadehertremble.Hishandwasmassiveandhardasifitwerehewnofstone.Shelookedupathimandsmiled.
“Isn’titcold?”shesaid.Itisterribletobedesirousofsayingallsortsofpassionatethings,whileconventiondebarsyoufromanybutthemostcommonplace.
“Youhaven’tbeenwalkingattherateoffivemilesanhour,”hesaid,cheerily.“I’vebeenintoBlackstabletoseeaboutbuyinganag.”
HewastheverypictureofhealththewindsofNovemberwerelikesummerbreezestohim,andhisfaceglowedwiththepleasantcold.Hischeekswereflushedandhiseyesglistened.Hisvitalitywasintense,shiningoutuponotherswithalmostamaterialwarmth.
“Wereyougoingout?”heasked.
“Ohno,”Berthareplied,withoutstrictregardtotruth.“IjustwalkeddowntothegateandIhappenedtocatchsightofyou.”
“Iamveryglad—Iseeyousoseldomnow,MissBertha.”
“Iwishyouwouldn’tcallmeMissBertha”shecried,“itsoundshorrid.”Itwasworsethanthat,itsoundedalmostmenial.“Whenwewereboyandgirl
