下载辰思小说免费APP
“Presentiments，“hescoffed，“aretheexcusesofcowards。Don’tbeafraid，Florence。RememberalwaysthatIlookahead。DoyouthinkthatIcouldstayherecontentedwithwhatyoucallmycompensations-myart，thestudyofbeautifulthings，thecalmepicureanismofthesedateandsimplelife？YouknowverywellthatIcouldnotdothat。Thecravingforotherthingsisinmyheartandblood。TheexcitementwhichIcannothaveinoneway，Imustfindinanother，andIthinkthatbeforemanynightshavepassed，Ishalllieonmypillowandhearthegunsroar，hearthefootstepsofthegreatarmiesoftheworldmovingintobattle。ItisforthatIlive，Florence。“
Shetookupherknittingagain。Hereyeswerefixeduponthesky-line。Twicesheopenedherlips，buttwicenowordscame。
“Youunderstand？“hewhispered。“Youbegintounderstand，don’tyou？“
Shelookedathimonlyforamomentandbackatherwork。
“Isupposeso，“shesighed。
InthemiddleofthatnightHamelsatupinbed，awakenedwithasuddenstartbysomesound，onlythefaintestechoofwhichremainedinhisconsciousness。Hisnervesweretinglingwithasenseofexcitement。Hesatupinbedandlistened。Suddenlyitcameagain-along，lowmoanofpain，stifledattheendasthoughrepressedbysomeoutsideagency。Heleapedfromhisbed，hurriedonafewclothes，andsteppedoutontothelanding。Thecryhadseemedtohimtocomefromthefurtherendofthelongcorridor-inthedirection，indeed，oftheroomwhereMr。Dunsterlay。Hemadehiswaythere，walkingontiptoe，althoughhisfeetfellnoiselesslyuponthethickcarpet。Asinglelightwasburningfromabracketinthewall，insufficienttoilluminatetheemptyspaces，butenoughtokeephimfromstumbling。Thecorridortowardsthesouthendgraduallywidened，terminatinginasplendidhighwindowwithstainedglass，abroadseat，andatable。Ontheright，theendroomwasMr。Dunster’sapartment，andontheleftaflightofstairsledtothefloorabove。Hamelstoodquitestill，listening。
Therewasalightintheroom，ashecouldseefromunderthedoor，buttherewasnosoundofanyonemoving。Hamellistenedintently，everysensestrained。Thenthesoundofastaircreakingbehinddivertedhisattention。Helookedquicklyaround。Geraldwasdescending。Theboy’sfacewaswhite，andhiseyeswerefilledwithfear。Hamelsteppedsoftlybackfromthedoorandmethimatthefootofthestairs。
“Didyouhearthatcry？“hewhispered。
Geraldnodded。
“Itwokemeup。Whatdoyousupposeitwas？“Hamelshookhishead。
“Someoneinpain，“hereplied。“Idon’tunderstandit。Itcamefromthisroom。“
“Youknowwhosleepsthere？“Geraldaskedhoarsely。
Hamelnodded。
“Amanwithconcussionofthebraindoesn’tcryoutlikethat。
Besides，didyouheartheendofit？Itsoundedasthoughsomeonewerechokinghim。Hush！“
Theyhadspokenonlyinbatedbreath，butthedooroftheroombeforewhichtheywerestandingwassuddenlyopened。Meekinsstoodthere，fullydressed，hisdark，heavyfacefullofsomberwarning。
Hestartedalittleashesawthetwowhisperingtogether。Geraldaddressedhimalmostapologetically。
“Webothheardthesamesound，Meekins。Isanyoneill？Itsoundedlikesomeoneinpain。“
Themanhesi
