第59章

ThenIhadlanded，andwasgoingbacktowhereherhorsestoodstillandtrembling。

Weexchangednogreetings。Sheslidfromhersaddleintomyarms，andforoneinstantIheldher。

“Thosegreatwings。”shesaid，andthatwasall。

Shelayinmyarms，andIthoughtforamomentshehadfainted。

“Verynearanastyaccident。”saidCothope，comingupandregardingourgroupingwithdisfavour。Hetookherhorsebythebridle。“Verydangerousthingcomingacrossuslikethat。”

Beatricedisengagedherselffromme，stoodforamomenttrembling，andthensatdownontheturf“I’lljustsitdownforamoment。”shesaid。

“Oh！”shesaid。

Shecoveredherfacewithherhands，whileCothopelookedatherwithanexpressionbetweensuspicionandimpatience。

Forsomemomentsnobodymoved。ThenCothoperemarkedthatperhapshe’dbettergetherwater。

Asforme，Iwasfilledwithanewoutrageousidea，begottenI

scarcelyknowhowfromthisincident，withitsinstantcontactsandswiftemotions，andthatwasthatImustmakelovetoandpossessBeatrice。Iseenoparticularreasonwhythatthoughtshouldhavecometomeinthatmoment，butitdid。IdonotbelievethatbeforethenIhadthoughtofourrelationsinsuchtermsatall。Suddenly，asIrememberit，thefactorofpassioncame。Shecrouchedthere，andIstoodoverher，andneitherofussaidaword。Butitwasjustasthoughsomethinghadbeenshoutedfromthesky。

Cothopehadgonetwentypacesperhapswhensheuncoveredherface。“Ishan’twantanywater。”shesaid。“Callhimback。”

Afterthatthespiritofourrelationschanged。Theoldeasehadgone。Shecametomelessfrequently，andwhenshecameshewouldhavesomeonewithher，usuallyoldCarnaby，andhewoulddothebulkofthetalking。AllthroughSeptembershewasaway。

Whenwewerealonetogethertherewasacuriousconstraint。Webecamecloudsofinexpressiblefeelingtowardsoneanother；wecouldthinkofnothingthatwasnottoomomentousforwords。

ThencamethesmashofLordRobertsA，andIfoundmyselfwithabandagedfaceinabedroomintheBedleyCornerdower-housewithBeatricepresidingoveraninefficientnurse，LadyOspreyverypinkandshockedintheba