第52章

Hecalledtothewomanacrossthepear-trees。“Hullo!“

Thewomanraisedherself，andadvancedtowardhimslowly——lookingathim，asshecameon，withthesunkeneyes，thesorrow-strickenface，thestonytranquillityofHesterDethridge。

Geoffreywasstaggered。Hehadnotbargainedforexchangingthedullestproduciblevulgaritiesofhumanspeech(calledinthelanguageofslang，“Chaff“)withsuchawomanasthis。

“What’sthatslatefor？“heasked，notknowingwhatelsetosay，tobeginwith。

Thewomanliftedherhandtoherlips——touchedthem——andshookherhead。

“Dumb？“

Thewomanbowedherhead。

“Whoareyou？“

Thewomanwroteonherslate，andhandedittohimoverthepear-trees。Heread：——“Iamthecook。“

“Well，cook，wereyouborndumb？“

Thewomanshookherhead。

“Whatstruckyoudumb？“

Thewomanwroteonherslate：——“Ablow。“

“Whogaveyoutheblow？“

Sheshookherhead。

“Won’tyoutellme？“

Sheshookherheadagain。

Hereyeshadrestedonhisfacewhilehewasquestioningher；

staringathim，cold，dull，andchangelessastheeyesofacorpse。Firmashisnerveswere——denseashewas，onallordinaryoccasions，toanythingintheshapeofanimaginativeimpression——theeyesofthedumbcookslowlypenetratedhimwithastealthyinnerchill。Somethingcreptatthemarrowofhisback，andshudderedundertherootsofhishair。Hefeltasuddenimpulsetogetawayfromher。Itwassimpleenough；hehadonlytosaygood-morning，andgoon。Hedidsaygood-morning——buthenevermoved。Heputhishandintohispocket，andofferedhersomemoney，asawayofmaking_her_go。Shestretchedoutherhandacrossthepear-treestotakeit——andstoppedabruptly，withherarmsuspendedintheair。Asinisterchangepassedoverthedeathliketranquillityofherface。Herclosedlipsslowlydroppedapart。Herdulleyesslowlydilated；lookedaway，sideways，from_his_eyes；stoppedagain；andstared，rigidandglittering，overhisshoulder——staredasiftheysawasightofhorrorbehindhim。“Whatthedevilareyoulookingat？“heasked——andturnedroundquickly，withastart。Therewasneitherpersonnorthingtobeseenbehindhim。Heturnedbackagaintothewoman。Thewomanhadlefthim，undertheinfluenceofsomesuddenpanic。Shewashurryingawayfromhim——running，oldasshewas——flyingthesightofhim，asifthesightofhimwasthepestilence。

“Mad!“hethought——andturnedhisbackonthesightofher。

Hefoundhimself(hardlyknowinghowhehadgotthere)underthewalnut-treeoncemore。Inafewminuteshishardynerveshadrecoveredthemselves——hecouldlaughovertheremembranceofthestrangeimpressionthathadbeenproducedonhim。“Frightenedforthefirsttimeinmylife，“hethought——“andthatbyanoldwoman!It’stimeIwentintotrainingagain，whenthingshavecometothis!“

Helookedathiswatch。Itwascloseontheluncheonhourupatthehou