Below her, some couple of hundred feet, ran a little brown stream, on the banks of which a man in tweed clothes was walking. He held a fishing-rod, and every now and then he paused to cast a fly upon the water with a light and dexterous1 hand.
The woman watched him idly. Later he would join her by a clump2 of trees near the stream, and they would have luncheon3 together. The man’s name was Luke Preston, and he was her husband. They had been married exactly a fortnight previously4, and were now spending part of their honeymoon5 in Yorkshire.
The landscape, and particularly the sight of the distant figure by the stream, gave her a great sense of rest. In some ways Luke was like the fells around her she thought—very big, very silent, and very enduring. It was the unwavering assurance of Luke that had first attracted him to her. There was something so unswerving abouthis point of view. It was so direct. There were never more than two ways in his mind—the right and the wrong; never more than two colours—black and white. There were no little chance bypaths, and no shades of grey admissible. Because of this some people found Luke lacking in subtlety6, but to the woman he had married it constituted a strength which she found very pleasant.
All her life she had been swayed by varying moods. Actions seldom appeared to her in a light of her own opinion. They became black, white, or various shades of lighter7 or darker grey as they were presented to her by the minds of others. There was one episode only in her life in which she had resolutely8 adhered to her own determination. And that episode was one she wished to forget, or to remember only as a dream, and not as a time connected with her own waking self.
It had all happened a good many years ago, and some people have a curious faculty9 for disconnecting themselves mentally from their own past actions. Sybil Preston was one of these. During the years that had elapsed since the episode she had had one thing only to remind her of it—a quaint10 signet ring, with which she had never had the courage to part.
On the way up to Yorkshire, the very day of her wedding, she had lost it. She fancied it must have slipped from her finger as she had waved [Pg 252]to a small girl swinging on a gate. But she had not discovered her loss till the evening when they had stopped for the night at an hotel. In a sense she regretted the loss, yet on the other hand she could not help feeling it a relief. She regarded it in a way as a kind of omen—a sign that the past was banished11 forever, especially as the loss had occurred on the very day she had entered her new life.
The episode was known only to herself and to one other living person—a woman friend of hers. She had no smallest fear but that Cecily Mainwaring had kept silence regarding it—would always keep silence. She was a woman with extraordinary strength of character and great reserve. She had always been a staunch friend of Sybil’s. Sybil herself had sometimes marvelled12 that in this matter she had been able to stand firm against Cecily’s opinion; in fact, to persuade her to her own point of view regarding it. Though, to be strictly13 truthful14, Cecily had never adopted Sybil’s point of view, she had acted contrary to her own judgment15, and purely16 from her unswerving friendship to Sybil. They had never again referred to the matter. Sybil had seen considerably17 less of Cecily after it. She had never felt entirely18 comfortable in her presence. Cecily’s eyes were too terribly truthful. They were not unlike Luke’s eyes.
Sybil, sitting up on the moorland, heaved an enormous sigh of relief at the thought that he could never have the smallest suspicion of that episode. She knew that deceit of any kind was the one thing Luke could never forgive. She knew, however, that she was perfectly19 safe. She would soon be safe herself from all memory of it. To-morrow they were returning to London, and a month hence they were sailing for India. Luke was in the Indian Civil Service, and would be returning after a year’s leave. For some years at least they would be out of England, and there would be no chance of meeting Cecily, who just served to remind her of things she now wanted to forget entirely.
And then she saw her husband winding20 in his line and waving to her. She got up and went down the side of the fell towards him.
“Been lonely, little girl?” he asked, putting his arm round her. “I’ve got five beauties. We’ll have them for supper to-night. Now come along and have some lunch. I’m simply ravenous21.”
“So am I,” laughed Sybil. “What a glorious place it is, and how delicious the air is, and how utterly22 happy I am.”
They walked towards the clump of trees where Luke had left a knapsack containing various eatables. They were simple enough—a couple of [Pg 254]packets of sandwiches, a couple of pieces of cake, and a flask24 of claret. He was not the man to burden himself with unnecessary food.
Sybil sat down on the grass, leaning back against a tree-trunk.
“I wish we could stay on here,” she said. “It would be infinitely25 pleasanter than going back to town.”
“Infinitely,” said Luke, taking a great bite of chicken sandwich.
“Then why not write and tell your people that we can’t come, and that we’re staying on here.”
Luke laughed. “Because, darling, there is no earthly reason beyond our own inclination26 to prevent us going back to London. And I promised my parents that we would come to them during the last part of July. They go down to Henley in August, and their cottage is too small to take us in there.”
Sybil pouted27. “Can’t you get out of it, though?” she said. “I could sprain28 my ankle, or break my leg, or something, and be unable to travel.”
Luke frowned. “I don’t like to hear you say that, Sybil. Of course you don’t mean it, but that you should even suggest in fun that you could make an untrue statement——”
Sybil interrupted him quickly. “Of course I didn’t mean it, Luke darling. It was only rather a stupid bit of nonsense. I wouldn’t break our promise for worlds, and you know I love your people. It was just the thought of this heavenly place that tempted29 me. Besides, I have you to myself up here. I’m not sharing you with anyone.“
The last two sentences were the outcome of genuine affection on Sybil’s part. She was honestly devoted30 to her big husband. And though at times she would have preferred him to be a little less literal, his strength and assurance of purpose, as already mentioned, appealed to her enormously.
Her last two sentences, in fact her whole speech, pleased Luke. He patted her hand and looked at her with tender eyes. He loved her from the very bottom of his extremely truthful heart. He had placed her carefully on a little pedestal of his own building, and her first remark had distressed31 him, as it had caused her to sway a trifle unsteadily on the same pedestal.
As soon as they had finished lunch he returned to his fishing, and she strolled across some fields to a little pond in a bit of heathery moorland, where she found some sundew and a bog32 violet.
It was nearly seven o’clock before they went back to the little white cottage in the small village. They found that the evening post had come in, and with it a couple of letters and a London paper.
“Wonder why this has been sent?” asked Luke, opening it. “We’ve been eschewing33 London [Pg 256]papers since we’ve been up here. The ‘Yorkshire Post’ is quite good enough on a holiday.” He turned the pages. “Oh, it’s Talbot’s wedding”—Talbot had been his best man. “Ah, well, that kind of rigmarole will interest you far more than me. I’ve no use for other people’s weddings. I’m quite satisfied with my own. Eh! little girl?”
Sybil laughed, returned his kiss, and went upstairs to take off her hat.
Later in the evening she took up the paper, and because she had nothing else to read she studied the pages rather carefully. Suddenly an advertisement caught her eye. She read it slowly, then put down the paper. It told her that her ring had been found, and that she could get it by applying at a certain address.
For a moment she decided34 that she would take no notice of the advertisement. Then it occurred to her that there might be the smallest element of risk in leaving the ring in other hands. It was certainly unique, and once seen not likely to be forgotten. No doubt other people had seen and observed it long before it had come into her hands—people who had known its previous owner.
They were going back to London to-morrow. If Luke saw the advertisement he would at once recognize it as a description of the ring she had worn. She had told him that Cecily had given it to her. He had mentioned it once to Cecily as her gift to Sybil. Sybil remembered the tiny trace of scorn in Cecily’s eyes at the lie, though she had not contradicted the statement.
If Luke saw the advertisement he would promptly35 go and fetch the ring for her, and then there was no knowing whether he would not learn something of its previous history. She knew it was ridiculous to imagine such a thing, and yet she felt that she dared run no tiniest risk.
Whoever had found the ring was advertising36 the fact assiduously, for the loss was now a fortnight old. They might continue to advertise. The moment she got back to London she would go to the address given by Mr. Kirby and claim the ring. And perhaps on the way out to India she would drop it overboard. She wanted to forget. Whatever Sybil’s faults and weaknesses she was genuinely in love with Luke.
Luke looked up with a big yawn.
“Read the account of the wedding?” he asked. “They were going to Biarritz, weren’t they?”
“Yes,” said Sybil.
“Ah, well, I want all I can get out of old England. I don’t have too much of her. And now, little girl, how about bed?” He heaved himself out of his chair.
“By the way,” he said suddenly, “did you read [Pg 258]the account of the exhibition of pictures at the Grafton Galleries? I see there’s a portrait exhibited there by a fellow named John Kirby.”
Sybil thought of the advertisement and her heart stood suddenly still, then began to race furiously, though she had no real notion why it was doing so.
“Do you know the man?” she asked carelessly.
“We were at school together,” said Luke. “I’ve seen him occasionally since then. He took up painting. I haven’t looked him up this time or let him know I was in England—don’t know why. If I’ve time I might look him up before I leave.”
The simple statement troubled Sybil. She felt that she must get the ring from Mr. Kirby before her husband should see him. She had no reason for feeling this, but the idea was strong upon her, though she told herself it was entirely absurd.
“You’re looking tired, little girl,” said Luke solicitously38. “Hope you didn’t overwalk to-day?”
“Oh, no,” she said lightly. “I’m sleepy, that’s all. I’ll go up now and leave you to have your last pipe in the garden.”
She left the room and Luke strolled into the garden, where he smoked under the quiet stars, and sniffed39 the night air, and watched the light in Sybil’s room with a feeling of great content. The world, in his opinion, was an extraordinarily40 pleasant place.
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1
dexterous
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| adj.灵敏的；灵巧的 | |
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clump
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| n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
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luncheon
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| n.午宴，午餐，便宴 | |
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previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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honeymoon
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| n.蜜月（假期）；vi.度蜜月 | |
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subtlety
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| n.微妙，敏锐，精巧；微妙之处，细微的区别 | |
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lighter
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| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
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8
resolutely
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| adj.坚决地，果断地 | |
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faculty
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| n.才能；学院，系；(学院或系的)全体教学人员 | |
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quaint
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| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
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banished
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| v.放逐，驱逐( banish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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marvelled
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| v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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14
truthful
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| adj.真实的，说实话的，诚实的 | |
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15
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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purely
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| adv.纯粹地，完全地 | |
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considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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20
winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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ravenous
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| adj.极饿的，贪婪的 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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24
flask
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| n.瓶，火药筒，砂箱 | |
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25
infinitely
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| adv.无限地，无穷地 | |
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inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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pouted
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| v.撅（嘴）( pout的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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sprain
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| n.扭伤,扭筋 | |
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29
tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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30
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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31
distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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32
bog
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| n.沼泽；室...陷入泥淖 | |
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33
eschewing
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| v.（尤指为道德或实际理由而）习惯性避开，回避( eschew的现在分词 ) | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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35
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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36
advertising
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| n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的 | |
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37
crumpled
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| adj. 弯扭的, 变皱的 动词crumple的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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38
solicitously
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| adv.热心地，热切地 | |
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39
sniffed
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| v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
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40
extraordinarily
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| adv.格外地；极端地 | |
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