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！
blue quivering sky； the flutter of leaves on the veranda poles； and Anne
turning over the grains of maize on her palm with one finger。 Then
slowly she shut her hand； and the new world faded as she murmured
slowly； 〃No； never in that way。〃 But he had scarcely time to feel
anything before she walked quickly away； and he followed her down the
steps； along the garden path； under the pink rose arches； across the lawn。
There； with the gay herbaceous border behind her； Anne faced Reginald。
〃It isn't that I'm not awfully fond of you；〃 she said。 〃I am。 But〃her
80
… Page 81…
The Garden Party
eyes widened〃not in the way〃a quiver passed over her face〃one ought
to be fond of〃 Her lips parted； and she couldn't stop herself。 She
began laughing。 〃There； you see； you see；〃 she cried； 〃it's your check t…
tie。 Even at this moment； when one would think one really would be
solemn； your tie reminds me fearfully of the bow…tie that cats wear in
pictures！ Oh； please forgive me for being so horrid； please！〃
Reggie caught hold of her little warm hand。 〃There's no question of
forgiving you；〃 he said quickly。 〃How could there be？ And I do believe
I know why I make you laugh。 It's because you're so far above me in
every way that I am somehow ridiculous。 I see that； Anne。 But if I
were to〃
〃No； no。〃 Anne squeezed his hand hard。 〃It's not that。 That's all
wrong。 I'm not far above you at all。 You're much better than I am。
You're marvellously unselfish and。。。and kind and simple。 I'm none of
those things。 You don't know me。 I'm the most awful character；〃 said
Anne。 〃Please don't interrupt。 And besides； that's not the point。 The
point is〃she shook her head〃I couldn't possibly marry a man I laughed
at。 Surely you see that。 The man I marry〃 breathed Anne softly。 She
broke off。 She drew her hand away； and looking at Reggie she smiled
strangely； dreamily。 〃The man I marry〃
And it seemed to Reggie that a tall； handsome； brilliant stranger
stepped in front of him and took his placethe kind of man that Anne and
he had seen often at the theatre； walking on to the stage from nowhere；
without a word catching the heroine in his arms； and after one long；
tremendous look； carrying her off to anywhere。。。
Reggie bowed to his vision。 〃Yes； I see；〃 he said huskily。
〃Do you？〃 said Anne。 〃Oh； I do hope you do。 Because I feel so
horrid about it。 It's so hard to explain。 You know I've never〃 She
stopped。 Reggie looked at her。 She was smiling。 〃Isn't it funny？〃 she
said。 〃I can say anything to you。 I always have been able to from the
very beginning。〃
He tried to smile； to say 〃I'm glad。〃 She went on。 〃I've never
known any one I like as much as I like you。 I've never felt so happy with
any one。 But I'm sure it's not what people and what books mean when
81
… Page 82…
The Garden Party
they talk about love。 Do you understand？ Oh； if you only knew how
horrid I feel。 But we'd be like。。。like Mr。 and Mrs。 Dove。〃
That did it。 That seemed to Reginald final； and so terribly true that he
could hardly bear it。 〃Don't drive it home；〃 he said； and he turned away
from Anne and looked across the lawn。 There was the gardener's cottage；
with the dark ilex…tree beside it。 A wet； blue thumb of transparent smoke
hung above the chimney。 It didn't look real。 How his throat ached！
Could he speak？ He had a shot。 〃I must be getting along home；〃 he
croaked； and he began walking across the lawn。 But Anne ran after him。
〃No； don't。 You can't go yet；〃 she said imploringly。 〃You can't possibly
go away feeling like that。〃 And she stared up at him frowning； biting her
lip。
〃Oh； that's all right；〃 said Reggie； giving himself a shake。 〃I'll。。。 I'll
〃 And he waved his hand as much to say 〃get over it。〃
〃But this is awful；〃 said Anne。 She clasped her hands and stood in
front of him。 〃Surely you do see how fatal it would be for us to marry；
don't you？〃
〃Oh； quite； quite；〃 said Reggie； looking at her with haggard eyes。
〃How wrong； how wicked； feeling as I do。 I mean； it's all very well
for Mr。 and Mrs。 Dove。 But imagine that in real lifeimagine it！〃
〃Oh； absolutely；〃 said Reggie； and he started to walk on。 But again
Anne stopped him。 She tugged at his sleeve； and to his astonishment；
this time； instead of laughing； she looked like a little girl who was going to
cry。
〃Then why； if you understand； are you so un…unhappy？〃 she wailed。
〃Why do you mind so fearfully？ Why do you look so aw…awful？〃
Reggie gulped； and again he waved something away。 〃I can't help it；〃
he said； 〃I've had a blow。 If I cut off now； I'll be able to〃
〃How can you talk of cutting off now？〃 said Anne scornfully。 She
stamped her foot at Reggie； she was crimson。 〃How can you be so cruel？
I can't let you go until I know for certain that you are just as happy as you
were before you asked me to marry you。 Surely you must see that； it's so
simple。〃
But it did not seem at all simple to Reginald。 It seemed impossibly
82
… Page 83…
The Garden Party
difficult。
〃Even if I can't marry you； how can I know that you're all that way
away； with only that awful mother to write to； and that you're miserable；
and that it's all my fault？〃
〃It's not your fault。 Don't think that。 It's just fate。〃 Reggie took
her hand off his sleeve and kissed it。 〃Don't pity me； dear little Anne；〃 he
said gently。 And this time he nearly ran； under the pink arches； along the
garden path。
〃Roo…coo…coo…coo！ Roo…coo…coo…coo！〃 sounded from the veranda。
〃Reggie； Reggie