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！
his hand。
〃Ah； Shelton！ 〃he said in high…tuned tones； halting his legs in such
an easy attitude that it was impossible to interrupt it： 〃come to
take the air？〃
Shelton's own brown face； nondescript nose； and his amiable but
dogged chin contrasted strangely with the clear…cut features of the
stained…glass man。
〃I hear from Halidome that you're going to stand for Parliament；〃 the
latter said。
Shelton； recalling Halidome's autocratic manner of settling other
people's business； smiled。
〃Do I look like it？〃 he asked。
The eyebrows quivered on the stained…glass man。 It had never
occurred to him； perhaps； that to stand for Parliament a man must
look like it； he examined Shelton with some curiosity。
〃Ah； well；〃 he said； 〃now you mention it； perhaps not。〃 His eyes； so
carefully ironical； although they differed from the eyes of Mabbey；
also seemed to ask of Shelton what sort of a dark horse he was。
〃You 're still in the Domestic Office； then？〃 asked Shelton。
The stained…glass man stooped to sniff a rosebush。 〃Yes；〃 he said；
〃it suits me very well。 I get lots of time for my art work。〃
〃That must be very interesting；〃 said Shelton； whose glance was
roving for Antonia； 〃I never managed to begin a hobby。〃
〃Never had a hobby！〃 said the stained…glass man； brushing back his
hair （he was walking with no hat）； 〃why； what the deuce d' you do？〃
Shelton could not answer； the idea had never troubled him。
〃I really don't know；〃 he said； embarrassed； 〃there's always
something going on； as far as I can see。〃
The stained…glass man placed his hands within his pockets； and his
bright glance swept over his companion。
〃A fellow must have a hobby to give him an interest in life；〃 he
said。
〃An interest in life？〃 repeated Shelton grimly； 〃life itself is good
enough for me。〃
〃Oh！〃 replied the stained…glass man； as though he disapproved of
regarding life itself as interesting。
〃That's all very well； but you want something more than that。 Why
don't you take up woodcarving？〃
〃Wood…carving？〃
〃The moment I get fagged with office papers and that sort of thing I
take up my wood…carving； good as a game of hockey。〃
〃I have n't the enthusiasm。〃
The eyebrows of the stained…glass man twitched； he twisted his
moustache。
〃You 'll find not having a hobby does n't pay；〃 he said； 〃you 'll get
old； then where 'll you be？〃
It came as a surprise that he should use the words 〃it does n't pay；〃
for he had a kind of partially enamelled look； like that modern
jewellery which really seems unconscious of its market value。
〃You've given up the Bar？ Don't you get awfully bored having nothing
to do？〃 pursued the stained…glass man； stopping before an ancient
sundial。
Shelton felt a delicacy； as a man naturally would； in explaining that
being in love was in itself enough to do。 To do nothing is unworthy
of a man！ But he had never felt as yet the want of any occupation。
His silence in no way disconcerted his acquaintance。
〃That's a nice old article of virtue；〃 he said； pointing with his
chin； and； walking round the sundial； he made its acquaintance from
the other side。 Its grey profile cast a thin and shortening shadow
on the turf； tongues of moss were licking at its sides； the daisies
clustered thick around its base； it had acquired a look of growing
from the soil。 〃I should like to get hold of that；〃 the stained…
glass man remarked； 〃I don't know when I 've seen a better specimen；〃
and he walked round it once again。
His eyebrows were still ironically arched； but below them his eyes
were almost calculating； and below them； again； his mouth had opened
just a little。 A person with a keener eye would have said his face
looked greedy； and even Shelton was surprised； as though he had read
in the Spectator a confession of commercialism。
〃You could n't uproot a thing like that；〃 he said； 〃it would lose all
its charm。〃
His companion turned impatiently； and his countenance looked
wonderfully genuine。
〃Couldn't I？〃 he said。 〃By Jove！ I thought so。 1690！ The best
period。〃 He ran his forger round the sundial's edge。 〃Splendid
line…clean as the day they made it。 You don't seem to care much
about that sort of thing〃； and once again； as though accustomed to
the indifference of Vandals； his face regained its mask。
They strolled on towards the kitchen gardens； Shelton still busy
searching every patch of shade。 He wanted to say 〃Can't stop；〃 and
hurry off； but there was about the stained…glass man a something
that； while stinging Shelton's feelings； made the showing of them
quite impossible。 〃Feelings！〃 that person seemed to say； 〃all very
well； but you want more than that。 Why not take up wood…carving？
。 。 。 。 Feelings！ I was born in England； and have been at
Cambridge。〃
〃Are you staying long？〃 he asked Shelton。 〃I go on to Halidome's
to…morrow； suppose I sha'n't see you there？ Good； chap； old
Halidome！ Collection of etchings very fine！〃
〃No； I 'm staying on；〃 said Shelton。
〃Ah！〃 said the stained…glass man； 〃charming people； the Dennants！〃
Shelton； reddening slowly； turned his head away； he picked a
gooseberry； and muttered； 〃Yes。〃
〃The eldest girl especially； no nonsense about her。 I thought she
was a particularly nice girl。〃
Shelton heard this praise of Antonia with an odd sensation； it gave
him the reverse of pleasure； as though the words had cast new light
upon her。 He grunted hastily；
〃I suppose you know that we 're engaged？〃
〃Really！〃 said the stained…glass man； and again his bright； clear；
iron…committal glance swept over Shelton〃really！ I didn't know。
Congratulate you！〃
It was as if he said： 〃You're a man of taste； I should say she would
go well in almost any drawing…room！〃
〃Thanks；〃 said Shelton； 〃there she' is。 If you'll excuse me； I want
to speak to her。〃
CHAPTER XXIV
PARADISE
Antonia； in a sunny angle of the old brick wall； amid the pinks and
poppies and cornflowers； was humming to herself。 Shelton saw the
stained…glass man pass out of sight； then； unobserved； he watched her
smelling at the flowers； caressing her face with each in turn；
casting away spoiled blossoms； and all the time humming that soft
tune。
In two months； or three； all barriers between himself and this
inscrutable young Eve would break； she would be a part of him； and he
a part of her； he would know all her thoughts； and she all his；
together they would be as one； and all would think of them； and talk
of them； as one； and this would come about by standing half an hour
together in a church； by the passing of a ring； and the signing of
their names。
The sun was burnishing her hairshe wore no hat flushing her cheeks；
sweetening and making sensuous her limbs； it had warmed her through
and through； so that； like the flowers and bees； the su