The Rainbow-虹(英文版)-第25章

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of　the　mowing…grass　below。

They　reached　the　church。　Fred　led　the　way　to　the　pew；
followed　by　the　cousin；　then　Anna。　She　felt　very　conspicuous　and
important。　Somehow；　this　young　man　gave　her　away　to　other
people。　He　stood　aside　and　let　her　pass　to　her　place；　then　sat
next　to　her。　It　was　a　curious　sensation；　to　sit　next　to　him。

The　colour　came　streaming　from　the　painted　window　above　her。
It　lit　on　the　dark　wood　of　the　pew；　on　the　stone；　worn　aisle；　on
the　pillar　behind　her　cousin；　and　on　her　cousin's　hands；　as　they
lay　on　his　knees。　She　sat　amid　illumination；　illumination　and
luminous　shadow　all　around　her；　her　soul　very　bright。　She　sat；
without　knowing　it；　conscious　of　the　hands　and　motionless　knees
of　her　cousin。　Something　strange　had　entered　into　her　world；
something　entirely　strange　and　unlike　what　she　knew。

She　was　curiously　elated。　She　sat　in　a　glowing　world　of
unreality；　very　delightful。　A　brooding　light；　like　laughter；　was
in　her　eyes。　She　was　aware　of　a　strange　influence　entering　in　to
her；　which　she　enjoyed。　It　was　a　dark　enrichening　influence　she
had　not　known　before。　She　did　not　think　of　her　cousin。　But　she
was　startled　when　his　hands　moved。

She　wished　he　would　not　say　the　responses　so　plainly。　It
diverted　her　from　her　vague　enjoyment。　Why　would　he　obtrude；　and
draw　notice　to　himself？　It　was　bad　taste。　But　she　went　on　all
right　till　the　hymn　came。　He　stood　up　beside　her　to　sing；　and
that　pleased　her。　Then　suddenly；　at　the　very　first　word；　his
voice　came　strong　and　over…riding；　filling　the　church。　He　was
singing　the　tenor。　Her　soul　opened　in　amazement。　His　voice
filled　the　church！　It　rang　out　like　a　trumpet；　and　rang　out
again。　She　started　to　giggle　over　her　hymn…book。　But　he　went　on；
perfectly　steady。　Up　and　down　rang　his　voice；　going　its　own　way。
She　was　helplessly　shocked　into　laughter。　Between　moments　of
dead　silence　in　herself　she　shook　with　laughter。　On　came　the
laughter；　seized　her　and　shook　her　till　the　tears　were　in　her
eyes。　She　was　amazed；　and　rather　enjoyed　it。　And　still　the　hymn
rolled　on；　and　still　she　laughed。　She　bent　over　her　hymn…book
crimson　with　confusion；　but　still　her　sides　shook　with　laughter。
She　pretended　to　cough；　she　pretended　to　have　a　crumb　in　her
throat。　Fred　was　gazing　up　at　her　with　clear　blue　eyes。　She　was
recovering　herself。　And　then　a　slur　in　the　strong；　blind　voice
at　her　side　brought　it　all　on　again；　in　a　gust　of　mad
laughter。

She　bent　down　to　prayer　in　cold　reproof　of　herself。　And　yet；
as　she　knelt；　little　eddies　of　giggling　went　over　her。　The　very
sight　of　his　knees　on　the　praying　cushion　sent　the　little　shock
of　laughter　over　her。

She　gathered　herself　together　and　sat　with　prim；　pure　face；
white　and　pink　and　cold　as　a　Christmas　rose；　her　hands　in　her
silk　gloves　folded　on　her　lap；　her　dark　eyes　all　vague；
abstracted　in　a　sort　of　dream；　oblivious　of　everything。

The　sermon　rolled　on　vaguely；　in　a　tide　of　pregnant
peace。

Her　cousin　took　out　his　pocket…handkerchief。　He　seemed　to　be
drifted　absorbed　into　the　sermon。　He　put　his　handkerchief　to　his
face。　Then　something　dropped　on　to　his　knee。　There　lay　the　bit
of　flowering　currant！　He　was　looking　down　at　it　in　real
astonishment。　A　wild　snort　of　laughter　came　from　Anna。　Everybody
heard：　it　was　torture。　He　had　shut　the　crumpled　flower　in　his
hand　and　was　looking　up　again　with　the　same　absorbed　attention
to　the　sermon。　Another　snort　of　laughter　from　Anna。　Fred　nudged
her　remindingly。

Her　cousin　sat　motionless。　Somehow　he　was　aware　that　his　face
was　red。　She　could　feel　him。　His　hand；　closed　over　the　flower；
remained　quite　still；　pretending　to　be　normal。　Another　wild
struggle　in　Anna's　breast；　and　the　snort　of　laughter。　She　bent
forward　shaking　with　laughter。　It　was　now　no　joke。　Fred　was
nudge…nudging　at　her。　She　nudged　him　back　fiercely。　Then　another
vicious　spasm　of　laughter　seized　her。　She　tried　to　ward　it　off
in　a　little　cough。　The　cough　ended　in　a　suppressed　whoop。　She
wanted　to　die。　And　the　closed　hand　crept　away　to　the　pocket。
Whilst　she　sat　in　taut　suspense；　the　laughter　rushed　back　at
her；　knowing　he　was　fumbling　in　his　pocket　to　shove　the　flower
away。

In　the　end；　she　felt　weak；　exhausted　and　thoroughly
depressed。　A　blankness　of　wincing　depression　came　over　her。　She
hated　the　presence　of　the　other　people。　Her　face　became　quite
haughty。　She　was　unaware　of　her　cousin　any　more。

When　the　collection　arrived　with　the　last　hymn；　her　cousin
was　again　singing　resoundingly。　And　still　it　amused　her。　In
spite　of　the　shameful　exhibition　she　had　made　of　herself；　it
amused　her　still。　She　listened　to　it　in　a　spell　of　amusement。
And　the　bag　was　thrust　in　front　of　her；　and　her　sixpence　was
mingled　in　the　folds　of　her　glove。　In　her　haste　to　get　it　out；
it　flipped　away　and　went　twinkling　in　the　next　pew。　She　stood
and　giggled。　She　could　not　help　it：　she　laughed　outright；　a
figure　of　shame。

〃What　were　you　laughing　about；　our　Anna？〃　asked　Fred；　the
moment　they　were　out　of　the　church。

〃Oh；　I　couldn't　help　it；〃　she　said；　in　her　careless；
half…mocking　fashion。　〃I　don't　know　why　Cousin　Will's
singing　set　me　off。〃

〃What　was　there　in　my　singing　to　make　you　laugh？〃　he
asked。

〃It　was　so　loud；〃　she　said。

They　did　not　look　at　each　other；　but　they　both　laughed　again；
both　reddening。

〃What　were　you　snorting　and　laughing　for；　our　Anna？〃　asked
Tom；　the　elder　brother；　at　the　dinner　table；　his　hazel　eyes
bright　with　joy。　〃Everybody　stopped　to　look　at　you。〃　Tom　was　in
the　choir。

She　was　aware　of　Will's　eyes　shining　steadily　upon　her；
waiting　for　her　to　speak。

〃It　was　Cousin　Will's　singing；〃　she　said。

At　which　her　cousin　burst　into　a　suppressed；　chuckling　laugh；
suddenly　showing　all　his　small；　regular；　rather　sharp　teeth；　and
just　as　quickly　closing　his　mouth　again。

〃Has　he　got　such　a　remarkable　voice　on　him　then？〃　asked
Brangwen。

〃No；　it's　not　that；〃　said　Anna。　〃Only　it　tickled　me……I
couldn't　tell　you　why。〃

And　again　a　ripple　of　laughter　went　down　the　table。

Will　Brangwen　thrust　forward　his　dark　face；　his　eyes　dancing；
and　said：

〃I'm　in　the　choir　of　St。　Nicholas。〃

〃Oh；　you　go　to　church　then！〃　said　Brangwen。

〃Mother　does……father　doesn't；〃　replied　the　youth。

It　was　the　little　things；　his　movement；　the　funny　tones　of
his　voice；　that　showed　up　big　to　Anna。　The　matter…of…fact　things
he　said　were　absurd　in　contrast。　The　things　her　father　said
seemed　meaningless　and　neutral。

During　the　afternoon　they　sat　in　the　parlour；　that　smelled　of
geranium；　and　they　ate　cherries；　and　talked。　Will　Brangwen　was
called　on　to　give　himself　forth。　And　soon　he　was　drawn　out。

He　was　interested　in　churches；　in　church　architecture。　The
influence　of　Ruskin　had　stimulated　him　to　a　pleasure　in　the
medieval　forms。　His　talk　was　fragmentary；　he　was　only　half
articulate。　But　listening　to　him；　as　he　spoke　of　church　after
church；　of　nave　and　chancel　and　transept；　of　rood…screen　and
font；　of　hatchet…carving　and　moulding　and　tracery；　speaking
always　with　close　passion　of　particular　things；　particular
places；　there　gathered　in　her　heart　a　pregnant　hush　of　churches；
a　mystery；　a　ponderous　significance　of　bowed　stone；　a
dim…coloured　light　through　which　something　took　place　obscurely；
passing　into　darkness：　a　high；　delighted　framework　of　the　mystic
screen；　and　beyond；　in　the　furthest　beyond；　the　altar。　It　was　a
very　real　experience。　She　was　carried　away。　And　the　land　seemed
to　be　covered　with　a　vast；　mystic　church；　reserved　in　gloom；
thrilled　with　an　unknown　Presence。

Almost　it　hurt　her；　to　look　out　of　the　window　and　see　the
lilacs　towering　in　the　vivid　sunshine。　Or　was　this　the　jewelled
glass？

He　talked　of　Gothic　and　Renaissance　and　Perpendicular；　and
Early　English　and　Norman。　The　words　thrilled　her。

〃Have　you　been　to　Southwell？〃　he　said。　〃I　was　there　at　twelve
o'clock　at　midday；　eating　my　lunch　in　the　churchyard。　And　the
bells　played　a　hymn。

〃Ay；　it's　a　fine　Minster；　Southwell；　heavy。　It's　got　heavy；
round　arches；　rather　low；　on　thick　pillars。　It's　grand；　the　way
those　arches　travel　forward。

〃There's　a　sedilia　as　well……pretty。　But　I　like　the　main
body　of　the　church……and　that　north　porch……〃

He　was　very　much　excited　and　filled　with　himself　that
afternoon。　A　flame　kindled　round　him；　making　his　experience
passionate　and　glowing；　burningly　real。

His　uncle　listened　with　twinkling　eyes；　half…moved。　His　aunt
bent　forward　her　dark　face；　half…moved；　but　held　by　other
knowledge。　Anna　went　with　him。

He　returned　to　his　lodging　at　night　treading　quick；　his　eyes
glittering；　and　his　face　shining　darkly　as　if　he　came　from　some
passionate；　vital　tryst。

The　glow　remained　in　him；　the　fire　burned；　his　heart　was
fierce　like　a　sun。　He　enjoyed　his　unknown　life　and　his　own　self。
And　he　was　ready　to　go　back　to　the　Marsh。

Without　knowing　it；　Anna　was　wanting　him　to　e。　In　him　she
had　escaped。　In　him　the　bounds　of　her　experience　were
transgressed：　he　was　the　hole　in　the　wall；　beyond　which　the
sunshine　blazed　on　an　outside　world。

He　came。　Sometimes；　not　often；　but　sometimes；　talking　again；
there　recurred　the　strange；　remote　reality　which　carried
everything　before　it。　Sometimes；　he　talked　of　his　father；　whom