下载辰思小说免费APP
“Ofcourse，“hesaidwithashrugofhisshoulders，whenTerenceaskedhim，“Issheveryill？“
TheywerebothconsciousofacertainsenseofreliefwhenDr。Lesagewasgone，leavingexplicitdirections，andpromisinganothervisitinafewhours’time；but，unfortunately，theriseoftheirspiritsledthemtotalkmorethanusual，andintalkingtheyquarrelled。
Theyquarrelledaboutaroad，thePortsmouthRoad。St。JohnsaidthatitismacadamisedwhereitpassesHindhead，andTerenceknewaswellasheknewhisownnamethatitisnotmacadamisedatthatpoint。
Inthecourseoftheargumenttheysaidsomeverysharpthingstoeachother，andtherestofthedinnerwaseateninsilence，saveforanoccasionalhalf-stifledreflectionfromRidley。
Whenitgrewdarkandthelampswerebroughtin，Terencefeltunabletocontrolhisirritationanylonger。St。Johnwenttobedinastateofcompleteexhaustion，biddingTerencegood-nightwithrathermoreaffectionthanusualbecauseoftheirquarrel，andRidleyretiredtohisbooks。Leftalone，Terencewalkedupanddowntheroom；hestoodattheopenwindow。
Thelightswerecomingoutoneafteranotherinthetownbeneath，anditwasverypeacefulandcoolinthegarden，sothathesteppedoutontotheterrace。Ashestoodthereinthedarkness，ableonlytoseetheshapesoftreesthroughthefinegreylight，hewasovercomebyadesiretoescape，tohavedonewiththissuffering，toforgetthatRachelwasill。Heallowedhimselftolapseintoforgetfulnessofeverything。Asifawindthathadbeenragingincessantlysuddenlyfellasleep，thefretandstrainandanxietywhichhadbeenpressingonhimpassedaway。Heseemedtostandinanunvexedspaceofair，onalittleislandbyhimself；hewasfreeandimmunefrompain。
ItdidnotmatterwhetherRachelwaswellorill；itdidnotmatterwhethertheywereapartortogether；nothingmattered——nothingmattered。
Thewavesbeatontheshorefaraway，andthesoftwindpassedthroughthebranchesofthetrees，seemingtoencirclehimwithpeaceandsecurity，withdarkandnothingness。Surelytheworldofstrifeandfretandanxietywasnottherealworld，butthiswastherealworld，theworldthatlaybeneaththesuperficialworld，sothat，whateverhappened，onewassecure。Thequietandpeaceseemedtolaphisbodyinafinecoolsheet，soothingeverynerve；
hismindseemedoncemoretoexpand，andbecomenatural。
Butwhenhehadstoodthusforatimeanoiseinthehouserousedhim；
heturnedinstinctivelyandwentintothedrawing-room。Thesightofthelamp-litroombroughtbacksoabruptlyallthathehadforgottenthathestoodforamomentunabletomove。
Herememberedeverything，thehour，theminuteeven，whatpointtheyhadreached，andwhatwastocome。Hecursedhimselfformakingbelieveforaminutethatthingsweredifferentfromwhattheyare。
Thenightwasnowhardertofacethanever。
Unabletostayintheemptydrawing-room，hewanderedoutandsatonthestairshalf-wayuptoRachel’sroom。Helongedforsomeonetotalkto，butHirstwasasleep，andRidleywasasleep；
therewasnosoundinRachel’sroom。TheonlysoundinthehousewasthesoundofChaileymovinginthekitchen。Atlasttherewasarustlingonthestairsoverhead，andNurseMcInniscamedownfasteningthelinksinhercuffs，inpreparationforthenight’swatch。
Terenceroseandstoppedher。Hehadscarcelyspokentoher，butitwaspossiblethatshemightconfirmhiminthebeliefwhichstillpersistedinhisownmindthatRachelwasnotseriouslyill。
HetoldherinawhisperthatDr。Lesagehadbeenandwhathehadsaid。
“Now，Nurse，“hewhispered，“pleasetellmeyouropinion。Doyouconsiderthatsheisveryseriouslyill？Issheinanydanger？“
“Thedoctorhassaid——“shebegan。
“Yes，butIwantyouropinion。Youhavehadexperienceofmanycaseslikethis？“
“IcouldnottellyoumorethanDr。Lesage，Mr。Hewet，“sherepliedcautiously，asthoughherwordsmightbeusedagainsther。“Thecaseisserious，butyoumayfeelquitecertainthatwearedoingallwecanforMissVinrace。“Shespokewithsomeprofessionalself-approbation。
Butsherealisedperhapsthatshedidnot
