下载辰思小说免费APP
ThemiddaysunwhichHirsthadforetoldwasbeginningtobeatdownhotly。Thehighertheygotthemoreoftheskyappeared，untilthemountainwasonlyasmalltentofearthagainstanenormousbluebackground。TheEnglishfellsilent；thenativeswhowalkedbesidethedonkeysbrokeintoqueerwaveringsongsandtossedjokesfromonetotheother。Thewaygrewverysteep，andeachriderkepthiseyesfixedonthehobblingcurvedformoftherideranddonkeydirectlyinfrontofhim。Rathermorestrainwasbeingputupontheirbodiesthanisquitelegitimateinapartyofpleasure，andHewetoverheardoneortwoslightlygrumblingremarks。
“Expeditionsinsuchheatareperhapsalittleunwise，“Mrs。ElliotmurmuredtoMissAllan。
ButMissAllanreturned，“Ialwaysliketogettothetop“；
anditwastrue，althoughshewasabigwoman，stiffinthejoints，andunusedtodonkey-riding，butasherholidayswerefewshemadethemostofthem。
Thevivaciouswhitefigurerodewellinfront；shehadsomehowpossessedherselfofaleafybranchandworeitroundherhatlikeagarland。
Theywentonforafewminutesinsilence。
“Theviewwillbewonderful，“Hewetassuredthem，turningroundinhissaddleandsmilingencouragement。Rachelcaughthiseyeandsmiledtoo。Theystruggledonforsometimelonger，nothingbeingheardbuttheclatterofhoovesstrivingontheloosestones。
ThentheysawthatEvelynwasoffherass，andthatMr。PerrottwasstandingintheattitudeofastatesmaninParliamentSquare，stretchinganarmofstonetowardstheview。Alittletotheleftofthemwasalowruinedwall，thestumpofanElizabethanwatch-tower。
“Icouldn’thavestooditmuchlonger，“Mrs。ElliotconfidedtoMrs。Thornbury，buttheexcitementofbeingatthetopinanothermomentandseeingtheviewpreventedanyonefromansweringher。
Oneafteranothertheycameoutontheflatspaceatthetopandstoodovercomewithwonder。Beforethemtheybeheldanimmensespace——
greysandsrunningintoforest，andforestmerginginmountains，andmountainswashedbyair，theinfinitedistancesofSouthAmerica。
Ariverranacrosstheplain，asflatastheland，andappearingquiteasstationary。Theeffectofsomuchspacewasatfirstratherchilling。Theyfeltthemselvesverysmall，andforsometimenoonesaidanything。ThenEvelynexclaimed，“Splendid！“
Shetookholdofthehandthatwasnexther；itchancedtobeMissAllan’shand。
“North——South——East——West，“saidMissAllan，jerkingherheadslightlytowardsthepointsofthecompass。
Hewet，whohadgonealittleinfront，lookedupathisguestsasiftojustifyhimselfforhavingbroughtthem。Heobservedhowstrangelythepeoplestandinginarowwiththeirfiguresbentslightlyforwardandtheirclothesplasteredbythewindtotheshapeoftheirbodiesresemblednakedstatues。Ontheirpedestalofearththeylookedunfamiliarandnoble，butinanothermomenttheyhadbrokentheirrank，andhehadtoseetothelayingoutoffood。
Hirstcametohishelp，andtheyhandedpacketsofchickenandbreadfromonetoanother。
AsSt。JohngaveHelenherpacketshelookedhimfullinthefaceandsaid:
“Doyouremember——twowomen？“
Helookedathersharply。
“Ido，“heanswered。
“Soyou’rethetwowomen！“Hewetexclaimed，lookingfromHelentoRachel。
“Yourlightstemptedus，“saidHelen。“Wewatchedyouplayingcards，butweneverknewthatwewerebeingwatched。“
“Itwaslikeathinginaplay，“Racheladded。
“AndHirstcouldn’tdescribeyou，“saidHewet。
ItwascertainlyoddtohaveseenHelenandtofindnothingtosayabouther。
HughlingElliotputuphiseyeglassandgraspedthesituation。
“Idon’tknowofanythingmoredreadful，“hesaid，pullingatthejointofachicken’sleg，“thanbeingseenwhenoneisn’tconsciousofit。
Onefeelssureonehasbeencaughtdoingsomethingridiculous——
lookingatone’stongueinahansom，forinstance。“
Nowtheothersceasedtolookattheview，anddrawingtogethersatdowninacircleroundthebaskets。
“Andyetthoselittlelooking-glassesinhansomshaveafascinationoft
