Part 5 (1/2)
”Well, you looked pleased about something,” he mumbled.
”No, I was just being friendly to you.”
He took a step nearer. ”That's all very well. Last time I met you you hadn't a look for me, and you saw me right enough.”
”Yes, George, I saw you, but I wasn't in the mood for you.”
”And now you are?”
She looked down. ”Do you like people always to be the same? I don't.”
Laughter bubbled in her voice. ”I get moments, George, when my thoughts are so--so celestial that though I see earthly things like you, I don't understand them. They're like shadows, like trees walking.” She pointed a finger. ”Tell me where that comes from!”
He looked about him. ”What?”
She addressed the stream. ”He doesn't know the foundation of the English language, English morals--I said morals, George--the spiritual food of his fathers. Do you ever go to church?”
He did not answer: he was frowning at his boots.
”Neither do I,” she said. ”Help me up.”
His hand shot out, but she did not take it. She leapt to her feet and jumped the stream, and when he said something in a low voice she put her fingers to her ears and shook her head, pretending that she could not hear and smiling pleasantly. Then she beckoned to him, but it was his turn to shake his head.
”Puss, puss, puss!” she called, twitching her finger at him. ”Don't laugh! Well, I'll come to you.” At his side, she looked up solemnly.
”Let us be sensible and go where we needn't shout at each other. Beside that rock. I want to tell you something.”
When they had settled themselves on a cus.h.i.+on of turf, she drew her knees to her chin and clasped her hands round them, and in that position she swayed lightly to and fro.
”I think I am going away,” she said, and stared at the horizon. For a s.p.a.ce she listened to the chirping of a cheerful insect and the small, regular noise of Halkett's breathing, but as he made no other sound she turned sharply and looked at him.
”All right,” he said.
She moved impatiently, for that was not what she wished to hear, and, even if it expressed his feeling, it was the wrong word. He had roughnesses which almost persuaded her to neglect him.
”Aren't you sorry?”
There was courage in his decision to be truthful. He showed her the full blue of his eyes, and said ”Yes” so simply that she felt compa.s.sionate.
”Where?” he added.
”I'm going to be adopted by an uncle,” she said boldly.
”You'll like that?”
”I'm tired of the moor.”
”You don't fit it. I couldn't tire of it, but it'll be--different when you've gone.”
She consoled him. ”I may not go at once.”
”How soon?”