第55部分(第1/7 页)

intimate　voice。　She　lifted　her　face　with　an　impulsive　flash　to

the　stranger；　as　if　to　declare　a　knowledge；　laughing　her

palpitating；　excited　laugh。

His　eyes　became　confused　with　roused　lights；　his　detached

attention　changed　to　a　readiness　for　her。　He　was　a　young　man　of

twenty…one；　with　a　slender　figure　and　soft　brown　hair　brushed　up

on　the　German　fashion　straight　from　his　brow。

〃Are　you　staying　long？〃　she　asked。

〃I've　got　a　month's　leave；〃　he　said；　glancing　at　Tom

Brangwen。　〃But　I've　various　places　I　must　go　to……put　in

some　time　here　and　there。〃

He　brought　her　a　strong　sense　of　the　outer　world。　It　was　as

if　she　were　set　on　a　hill　and　could　feel　vaguely　the　whole　world

lying　spread　before　her。

〃What　have　you　a　month's　leave　from？〃　she　asked。

〃I'm　in　the　Engineers……in　the　Army。〃

〃Oh！〃　she　exclaimed；　glad。

〃We're　taking　you　away　from　your　studies；〃　said　her

Uncle　Tom。

〃Oh；　no；〃　she　replied　quickly。

Skrebensky　laughed；　young　and　inflammable。

〃She　won't　wait　to　be　taken　away；〃　said　her　father。　But　that

seemed　clumsy。　She　wished　he　would　leave　her　to　say　her　own

things。

〃Don't　you　like　study？〃　asked　Skrebensky；　turning　to　her；

putting　the　question　from　his　own　case。

〃I　like　some　things；〃　said　Ursula。　〃I　like　Latin　and

French……and　grammar。〃

He　watched　her；　and　all　his　being　seemed　attentive　to　her；

then　he　shook　his　head。

〃I　don't；〃　he　said。　〃They　say　all　the　brains　of　the　army　are

in　the　Engineers。　I　think　that's　why　I　joined　them……to　get

the　credit　of　other　people's　brains。〃

He　said　this　quizzically　and　with　chagrin。　And　she　became

alert