第89部分 (第2/9页)

erent。　Skrebensky　sat　motionless　whilst

Ursula　wiped　his　face；　softly；　carefully；　and　yet　clumsily；　not

as　well　as　he　would　have　wiped　it　himself。

Her　handkerchief　was　too　small。　It　was　soon　wet　through。　She

groped　in　his　pocket　for　his　own。　Then；　with　its　more　ample

capacity；　she　carefully　dried　his　face。　He　remained　motionless

all　the　while。　Then　she　drew　his　cheek　to　hers　and　kissed　him。

His　face　was　cold。　Her　heart　was　hurt。　She　saw　the　tears　welling

quickly　to　his　eyes　again。　As　if　he　were　a　child；　she　again

wiped　away　his　tears。　By　now　she　herself　was　on　the　point　of

weeping。　Her　underlip　was　caught　between　her　teeth。

So　she　sat　still；　for　fear　of　her　own　tears；　sitting　close　by

him；　holding　his　hand　warm　and　close　and　loving。　Meanwhile　the

car　ran　on；　and　a　soft；　midsummer　dusk　began　to　gather。　For　a

long　while　they　sat　motionless。　Only　now　and　again　her　hand

closed　more　closely；　lovingly；　over　his　hand；　then　gradually

relaxed。

The　dusk　began　to　fall。　One　or　two　lights　appeared。　The

driver　drew　up　to　light　his　lamps。　Skrebensky　moved　for　the

first　time；　leaning　forward　to　watch　the　driver。　His　face　had

always　the　same　still；　clarified；　almost　childlike　look；

impersonal。

They　saw　the　driver's　strange；　full；　dark　face　peering　into

the　lamps　under　drawn　brows。　Ursula　shuddered。　It　was　the　face

almost　of　an