The Rainbow-虹(英文版)-第28章

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rose　from　stooping　over　the　earth。　He　was　ing　out　of　the　near
distance。　She　set　down　her　sheaves　to　make　a　new　stook。　They
were　unsure。　Her　hands　fluttered。　Yet　she　broke　away；　and　turned
to　the　moon；　which　laid　bare　her　bosom；　so　she　felt　as　if　her
bosom　were　heaving　and　panting　with　moonlight。　And　he　had　to　put
up　her　two　sheaves；　which　had　fallen　down。　He　worked　in　silence。
The　rhythm　of　the　work　carried　him　away　again；　as　she　was　ing
near。

They　worked　together；　ing　and　going；　in　a　rhythm；　which
carried　their　feet　and　their　bodies　in　tune。　She　stooped；　she
lifted　the　burden　of　sheaves；　she　turned　her　face　to　the　dimness
where　he　was；　and　went　with　her　burden　over　the　stubble。　She
hesitated；　set　down　her　sheaves；　there　was　a　swish　and　hiss　of
mingling　oats；　he　was　drawing　near；　and　she　must　turn　again。　And
there　was　the　flaring　moon　laying　bare　her　bosom　again；　making
her　drift　and　ebb　like　a　wave。

He　worked　steadily；　engrossed；　threading　backwards　and
forwards　like　a　shuttle　across　the　strip　of　cleared　stubble；
weaving　the　long　line　of　riding　shocks；　nearer　and　nearer　to　the
shadowy　trees；　threading　his　sheaves　with　hers。

And　always；　she　was　gone　before　he　came。　As　he　came；　she　drew
away；　as　he　drew　away；　she　came。　Were　they　never　to　meet？
Gradually　a　low；　deep…sounding　will　in　him　vibrated　to　her；
tried　to　set　her　in　accord；　tried　to　bring　her　gradually　to　him；
to　a　meeting；　till　they　should　be　together；　till　they　should
meet　as　the　sheaves　that　swished　together。

And　the　work　went　on。　The　moon　grew　brighter；　clearer；　the
corn　glistened。　He　bent　over　the　prostrate　bundles；　there　was　a
hiss　as　the　sheaves　left　the　ground；　a　trailing　of　heavy　bodies
against　him；　a　dazzle　of　moonlight　on　his　eyes。　And　then　he　was
setting　the　corn　together　at　the　stook。　And　she　was　ing
near。

He　waited　for　her；　he　fumbled　at　the　stook。　She　came。　But　she
stood　back　till　he　drew　away。　He　saw　her　in　shadow；　a　dark
column；　and　spoke　to　her；　and　she　answered。　She　saw　the
moonlight　flash　question　on　his　face。　But　there　was　a　space
between　them；　and　he　went　away；　the　work　carried　them；
rhythmic。

Why　was　there　always　a　space　between　them；　why　were　they
apart？　Why；　as　she　came　up　from　under　the　moon；　would　she　halt
and　stand　off　from　him？　Why　was　he　held　away　from　her？　His　will
drummed　persistently；　darkly；　it　drowned　everything　else。

Into　the　rhythm　of　his　work　there　came　a　pulse　and　a　steadied
purpose。　He　stooped；　he　lifted　the　weight；　he　heaved　it　towards
her；　setting　it　as　in　her；　under　the　moonlit　space。　And　he　went
back　for　more。　Ever　with　increasing　closeness　he　lifted　the
sheaves　and　swung　striding　to　the　centre　with　them；　ever　he
drove　her　more　nearly　to　the　meeting；　ever　he　did　his　share；　and
drew　towards　her；　overtaking　her。　There　was　only　the　moving　to
and　fro　in　the　moonlight；　engrossed；　the　swinging　in　the
silence；　that　was　marked　only　by　the　splash　of　sheaves；　and
silence；　and　a　splash　of　sheaves。　And　ever　the　splash　of　his
sheaves　broke　swifter；　beating　up　to　hers；　and　ever　the　splash
of　her　sheaves　recurred　monotonously；　unchanging；　and　ever　the
splash　of　his　sheaves　beat　nearer。

Till　at　last；　they　met　at　the　shock；　facing　each　other；
sheaves　in　hand。　And　he　was　silvery　with　moonlight；　with　a
moonlit；　shadowy　face　that　frightened　her。　She　waited　for
him。

〃Put　yours　down；〃　she　said。

〃No；　it's　your　turn。〃　His　voice　was　twanging　and
insistent。

She　set　her　sheaves　against　the　shock。　He　saw　her　hands
glisten　among　the　spray　of　grain。　And　he　dropped　his　sheaves　and
he　trembled　as　he　took　her　in　his　arms。　He　had　over…taken　her；
and　it　was　his　privilege　to　kiss　her。　She　was　sweet　and　fresh
with　the　night　air；　and　sweet　with　the　scent　of　grain。　And　the
whole　rhythm　of　him　beat　into　his　kisses；　and　still　he　pursued
her；　in　his　kisses；　and　still　she　e。　He
wondered　over　the　moonlight　on　her　nose！　All　the　moonlight　upon
her；　all　the　darkness　within　her！　All　the　night　in　his　arms；
darkness　and　shine；　he　possessed　of　it　all！　All　the　night　for
him　now；　to　unfold；　to　venture　within；　all　the　mystery　to　be
entered；　all　the　discovery　to　be　made。

Trembling　with　keen　triumph；　his　heart　was　white　as　a　star　as
he　drove　his　kisses　nearer。

〃My　love！〃　she　called；　in　a　low　voice；　from　afar。　The　low
sound　seemed　to　call　to　him　from　far　off；　under　the　moon；　to　him
who　was　unaware。　He　stopped；　quivered；　and　listened。

〃My　love；〃　came　again　the　low；　plaintive　call；　like　a　bird
unseen　in　the　night。

He　was　afraid。　His　heart　quivered　and　broke。　He　was
stopped。

〃Anna；〃　he　said；　as　if　he　answered　her　from　a　distance；
unsure。

〃My　love。〃

And　he　drew　near；　and　she　drew　near。

〃Anna；〃　he　said；　in　wonder　and　the　birthpain　of　love。

〃My　love；〃　she　said；　her　voice　growing　rapturous。　And　they
kissed　on　the　mouth；　in　rapture　and　surprise；　long；　real　kisses。
The　kiss　lasted；　there　among　the　moonlight。　He　kissed　her　again；
and　she　kissed　him。　And　again　they　were　kissing　together。　Till
something　happened　in　him；　he　was　strange。　He　wanted　her。　He
wanted　her　exceedingly。　She　was　something　new。　They　stood　there
folded；　suspended　in　the　night。　And　his　whole　being　quivered
with　surprise；　as　from　a　blow。　He　wanted　her；　and　he　wanted　to
tell　her　so。　But　the　shock　was　too　great　to　him。　He　had　never
realized　before。　He　trembled　with　irritation　and　unusedness；　he
did　not　know　what　to　do。　He　held　her　more　gently；　gently；　much
more　gently。　The　conflict　was　gone　by。　And　he　was　glad；　and
breathless；　and　almost　in　tears。　But　he　knew　he　wanted　her。
Something　fixed　in　him　for　ever。　He　was　hers。　And　he　was　very
glad　and　afraid。　He　did　not　know　what　to　do；　as　they　stood　there
in　the　open；　moonlit　field。　He　looked　through　her　hair　at　the
moon；　which　seemed　to　swim　liquid…bright。

She　sighed；　and　seemed　to　wake　up；　then　she　kissed　him　again。
Then　she　loosened　herself　away　from　him　and　took　his　hand。　It
hurt　him　when　she　drew　away　from　his　breast。　It　hurt　him　with　a
chagrin。　Why　did　she　draw　away　from　him？　But　she　held　his
hand。

〃I　want　to　go　home；〃　she　said；　looking　at　him　in　a　way　he
could　not　understand。

He　held　close　to　her　hand。　He　was　dazed　and　he　could　not
move；　he　did　not　know　how　to　move。　She　drew　him　away。

He　walked　helplessly　beside　her；　holding　her　hand。　She　went
with　bent　head。　Suddenly　he　said；　as　the　simple　solution　stated
itself　to　him：

〃We'll　get　married；　Anna。〃

She　was　silent。

〃We'll　get　married；　Anna；　shall　we？〃

She　stopped　in　the　field　again　and　kissed　him；　clinging　to
him　passionately；　in　a　way　he　could　not　understand。　He　could　not
understand。　But　he　left　it　all　now；　to　marriage。　That　was　the
solution　now；　fixed　ahead。　He　wanted　her；　he　wanted　to　be
married　to　her；　he　wanted　to　have　her　altogether；　as　his　own　for
ever。　And　he　waited；　intent；　for　the　acplishment。　But　there
was　all　the　while　a　slight　tension　of　irritation。

He　spoke　to　his　uncle　and　aunt　that　night。

〃Uncle；〃　he　said；　〃Anna　and　me　think　of　getting　married。〃

〃Oh　ay！〃　said　Brangwen。

〃But　how；　you　have　no　money？〃　said　the　mother。

The　youth　went　pale。　He　hated　these　words。　But　he　was　like　a
gleaming；　bright　pebble；　something　bright　and　inalterable。　He
did　not　think。　He　sat　there　in　his　hard　brightness；　and　did　not
speak。

〃Have　you　mentioned　it　to　your　own　mother？〃　asked
Brangwen。

〃No……I'll　tell　her　on　Saturday。〃

〃You'll　go　and　see　her？〃

〃Yes。〃

There　was　a　long　pause。

〃And　what　are　you　going　to　marry　on……your　pound　a
week？〃

Again　the　youth　went　pale；　as　if　the　spirit　were　being
injured　in　him。

〃I　don't　know；〃　he　said；　looking　at　his　uncle　with　his　bright
inhuman　eyes；　like　a　hawk's。

Brangwen　stirred　in　hatred。

〃It　needs　knowing；〃　he　said。

〃I　shall　have　the　money　later　on；〃　said　the　nephew。　〃I　will
raise　some　now；　and　pay　it　back　then。〃

〃Oh　ay！……And　why　this　desperate　hurry？　She's　a　child　of
eighteen；　and　you're　a　boy　of　twenty。　You're　neither　of　you　of
age　to　do　as　you　like　yet。〃

Will　Brangwen　ducked　his　head　and　looked　at　his　uncle　with
swift；　mistrustful　eyes；　like　a　caged　hawk。

〃What　does　it　matter　how　old　she　is；　and　how　old　I　am？〃　he
said。　〃What's　the　difference　between　me　now　and　when　I'm
thirty？〃

〃A　big　difference；　let　us　hope。〃

〃But　you　have　no　experience……you　have　no　experience；　and
no　money。　Why　do　you　want　to　marry；　without　experience　or
money？〃　asked　the　aunt。

〃What　experience　do　I　want；　Aunt？〃　asked　the　boy。

And　if　Brangwen's　heart　had　not　been　hard　and　intact　with
anger；　like　a　precious　stone；　he　would　have　agreed。

Will　Brangwen　went　home　strange　and　untouched。　He　felt　he
could　not　alter　from　what　he　was　fixed　upon；　his　will　was　set。
To　alter　it　he　must　be　destroyed。　And　he　would　not　be　destroyed。
He　had　no　money。　But　he　would　get　some　from　somewhere；　it　did
not　matter。　He　lay　awake　for　many　hours；　hard　and　clear　and
unthinking；　his　soul　crystallizing　more　inalterably。　Then　he
went　fast　asleep。

It　was　as　if　his　soul　had　turned　into　a　hard　crystal。　He
might　tremble　and　quiver　and　suffer；　it　did　not　alter。

The　next　morning　Tom　Brangwen；　inhuman　with　anger　spoke　to
Anna。

〃What's　this　about　wanting　to　get　married？〃　he　said。

She　stood；　paling　a　little