Chapter 8 seven

After getting off the train at Torquay Station, Ashurst wandered hesitantly along the seashore. It turned out that he was not familiar with this special famous city among the English water towns.Unaware of what he was wearing, and unaware that he was conspicuous among the local population, he strode in his Norfolk jacket, dusty boots and battered top hat. He stood there, not noticing that people were staring blankly at him.He looked for a branch of his London bank, found it, and found the first obstacle to his plan.Did he have any acquaintances in Torquay?No.In that case, ask him to wire to the bank in London, and they will be happy to comply with his request on a return telegram from London.This breath of mistrust from the world of practical vulgarity could not help overshadowing his imagined prospects.But he sent a telegram anyway.

Almost opposite the post office he saw a store full of women's clothing, and he gazed at the window with a strange feeling.It was more than a little nerve wracking to worry about dressing up his country sweetheart.He stepped into the shop.A young woman came forward, with blue eyes and a slight frown, bewildered.Ashurst gazed at her silently. "Are you shopping, sir?" "I want a dress for a young lady." The young woman smiled.Ashurst frowned—he felt suddenly and strongly the strangeness of his request. The young woman hastily added: "What style do you want—

Is it trendy? " "No. Plain." "What is the figure of the young lady?" "I don't know; I think it's about two years lower than yours...Spine saddle umbrella!?" Can you tell me the size of her waist? " Megan's waist! "Oh! Normal size will do!" "right!" After she was gone, Ashurst stood looking sullenly at the models in the window, and suddenly he found it impossible to believe that Meghan—his Meghan—could take off the rough clothes he had so often seen her wearing. tweed skirts, smocked blouses, and flattened scotch caps, for something else.The young woman had already returned with several dresses, and Ashurst watched her compare them against his beautiful body.There is a color of the dress that he likes very much, it is light gray, but he really can't imagine Megan wearing this dress.The young woman went to fetch some more.But at this moment Ashurst did not know what to do.How to choose?She also wanted a hat, a pair of shoes, and a pair of gloves; but if he bought them all, perhaps they would make her look vulgar, as fine holiday clothes are always vulgar to country people!Why can't she go out in her original attire?what!But being conspicuous is bad; this is a serious elopement.He stared at the young woman and thought to himself: "I don't know if she has guessed and regarded me as a scumbag?"

Would you please keep the gray one for me? "Finally he said bravely. "I can't decide now; I'll come back in the afternoon." The young woman sighed. "Oh! yes. It is a very elegant dress. I don't think you could find anything more suitable to your needs." "I can't find it," muttered Ashurst, coming out. Freed from the vulgar atmosphere of mistrust in the real world, he took a deep breath and returned to his fantasies.In his imagination he saw the trusting, beautiful little thing with whom he was going to live with him, and he saw himself sneaking out with her, walking across the moonlit moors, holding her new dress, arm in arm. With her arms around her waist, she walked straight to a distant woods, and when dawn was coming, she took off her old clothes and put on new ones, and then, at a distant station, an early morning train took them on their honeymoon. A journey until London swallows them up and the dream of love becomes reality.

"Frank Ashurst! Rugby hasn't seen each other since parting, old friend!" Ashurst's frown was lifted, and the face near him had a pair of blue eyes and a sun-kissed face--a face of that type, where the inner sun and the outer sun merged into one, become a gloss.So he replied: "Phil Halliday, it's you!" "What are you doing here?" "Ah! Nothing. Go out and get some money. I'm staying on the moor." "Where are you going to eat? Come to us; I'm here with some sisters. They just had the measles." Ashurst was taken by this friendly arm, and he followed him, up and down the hills, to the outskirts of town, and Khalid's talk was as cheerful as the sunshine in his countenance; Explain why "the only fun things to do in this boring place are swimming and boating", etc.They soon came to a row of crescent-shaped houses, which were slightly higher than the sea and slightly farther away from the sea.The house in the middle was a hotel, and the two walked in.

"Come upstairs to my room and wash up. Dinner will be soon." Ashurst examined his own face in the mirror.After two weeks of living in a farm bedroom with only a comb and a change of shirt, this cluttered room of clothes and brushes was a luxurious Capua; —I don’t understand—” But what exactly he didn’t understand, he couldn’t say. He followed Khalid into the sitting room to eat.At the words "This is Frank Ashurst—that's my sisters," three faces, all very fair and blue-eyed, turned abruptly. The two were really young, about eleven and ten years old.The third one was about seventeen years old, tall, with blond hair, white and red cheeks, slightly tanned, eyebrows darker than hair, and slightly slanted from the middle to the sides.All three spoke like Khalid, with high voices and good spirits.They stood up straight, shook Ashurst's hand quickly, looked at him, and then went away at once to talk about what they were doing for the afternoon.What a real Diana and the two maidens!After a period of rural life, this brisk, enthusiastic conversation full of the students' special language, this fresh, pure and informal elegance, seemed strange at first, and then he felt so natural that the environment he had just left suddenly distant.The two younger ones seemed to be named Sabina and Freda; the oldest seemed to be called Stella.

Suddenly the one called Sabina turned around and said to him: "Hey, why don't you go catch shrimp with us?—that's fun!" Startled at this unexpected gesture of friendliness, Ashurst muttered: "I'm afraid I'll have to go back this afternoon." "ah!" "Can't it be postponed?" Ashurst looked at Stella who had just spoken, shook his head and smiled.She is so beautiful!"Just put it off," Sabina said ruefully, and the conversation turned to caves and swimming. "Can you swim very far?" "About two miles."

"what!" "oops!" "What fun!" Three pairs of blue eyes staring at him made him aware of his new importance. It was a pleasant feeling, Khalid said: "I say, you just have to stay down and take a bath in the sea. You'd better spend the night here." "Yes, that's it!" But Ashurst smiled again, and shook his head.Then suddenly he found them questioning him about his athleticism.It turned out that he had won the mile on his college regattas team and varsity football team; when he stood up after dinner he looked like a hero.The little girls insisted that he go and see "their" cave, and they set off chattering, Ashurst among them, and Stella and her brother a little behind.In that cave, like any other, dank and dark, the most prominent feature is a pool of water, which may contain various small creatures that can be caught and put in bottles, Sabina and Freda are naked Pretty brown legs, no stockings; and they sent Ashurst into the middle of the pool, too, and helped them pass the water through the sieve together.He immediately took off his boots and socks.Time flies, if you know beauty, when you're standing in the pool with your lovely children, and there's a young Diana at the edge accepting anything you catch with curiosity!Ashurst had never had much sense of time.When he took out his watch and saw that it had been long past three o'clock, he was surprised.Can't cash checks today—

By the time he got there, the bank had already closed.Seeing his expression, the two little girls immediately shouted in unison: "Okay! Now you have to stay!" Ashurst made no answer.He recalled Meghan's face again, whispering at breakfast: "I'll go up to Torquay, my dear, and get everything sorted out; be back to-night. Just go. You get ready." He recalled how she trembled and listened carefully to his words. What would she think?Then he collected himself, and suddenly became aware of the quiet gaze of another young girl—she stood by the edge of the pool, so tall and beautiful and Diana-like—

Be aware of her startled blue eyes beneath slightly slanted eyebrows.If they knew what was going on in his mind--if they knew that this evening he was going-- !Then, then, they'd give a little grunt of disgust and leave him alone in the hole.So he put the watch back in his pocket with a strange mixture of anger, hatred, and shame, and said roughly: "Yes, I'm blowing today." "Okay! Now you can go swimming with us." He couldn't help but feel a little bit about the satisfaction shown by the two lovely children, about the smile on Stella's mouth, about Halliday's saying, "Great, old friend! I'll lend you your pajamas for tonight!" Show a little surrender.But Ashurst's heart was stirred again by longing and Meghan, and he said despondently:

"I have to send a telegram!" After getting tired of playing in the pool, everyone went back to the hotel.Ashurst's telegram was to Mrs. Narracombe: "Business tonight. I'll be back tomorrow. Sorry." Of course Meghan would understand that he was overwhelmed; In the afternoon, the weather was warm, the sea was calm and blue, and swimming was his great passion.It flattered him that the two dear children were so kind to him; they, and Stella, and Halliday's cheerful face, were a delight to look at; it all seemed a little unreal, yet Extremely natural again - it seemed like he was taking a last peek at normal life, and then he was about to plunge into an extraordinary adventure with Meghan!He took the borrowed swimsuit and set off with everyone.Khalid was changing behind one rock with him, and the three girls were changing behind another.He was the first to go into the sea, and immediately used his skills to swim out, wanting to prove his boast.He looked back and saw Khalid swimming along the bank, the girls in the water, kicking awkwardly, riding small waves up and down.This is something he has always looked down upon, but now he thinks it is very interesting and reasonable, because it seems that he is the only one who is proficient in water skills.But when he swam over, he wondered if they would welcome an outsider like him to join their water splashing group.He was a little shy to approach the slender girl.Later, when Sabina called him over, the two little girls were so overwhelmed with their squabbling over him to teach him how to float, that he didn't even have time to notice if Stella was used to his presence.It wasn't until she suddenly heard a cry of surprise that she was standing in the water up to her waist, her body was slightly bent forward, her two slender white arms were stretched out pointing forward, her wet face was covered with sunshine and fear. Showing a panicked look. "Look at Phil! Is there something wrong with him? Ah, look!" Ashurst saw at once that something was wrong with Phil.He was struggling with the water, which was more than his height, and perhaps a hundred yards away from them; with a cry, he threw up his arms, and sank.Ashurst saw the girl swam towards Phil with all her might, and shouted, "Go back, Stella! Go back!" and rushed out.He had never swam so fast before and reached Khalid just as he came up for the second time.It turned out that it was due to leg cramps, and it was not difficult to get him back, because he didn't struggle.The girl stopped where Ashurst told her to stand, and helped Phil as soon as he could touch the bottom; and once on the beach, they sat on either side of him and rubbed his cheeks. Hands and feet, the two little ones stood aside with a look of horror.Halliday smiled quickly.He said he was so useless, so useless to the extreme!If Frank gave him a hand, he would be able to put his clothes on now.Ashurst went to help him, and then he saw Stella's face, wet and red, with tears in her eyes, despondent, and completely lost; he thought, "I call her Stella! I don't know." Will she be unhappy?" While everyone was dressing, Khalid said quietly: "Old friend, you saved my life!" "nonsense!" When they were dressed, we all went back to the hotel together, feeling a little uncomfortable, and sat down to tea, except for Khalid, who lay in his room.After eating a few slices of jam bread, Sabina said: "I say, you know, you're such a good man!" Frieda echoed: "That's right!" Ashurst saw Stella lower her eyes; he rose in embarrassment, and went to the window.There he heard Sabina whisper, "I say, let's make a blood oath. Where's your knife, Frieda?" Out of the corner of his eye he saw each of them stab his own. skin, squeeze out a little blood, and spread it on a piece of paper.He turned and walked towards the door. "Don't be a weasel! Come back!" He was caught by the arms; two little girls carried him back to the table.There is a piece of paper on the table, with a portrait drawn in blood on the paper, and three names—— Stella Halliday, Sabina Halliday, Freida Halliday, also written in blood, all turned toward the portrait like the light of a star.Sabina says: "It's you. We gotta kiss you, you know." Freda responded: "Ah! Kiss—yes!" Ashurst had no time to escape, a few strands of wet hair had already swayed onto his face, his nose seemed to be bitten lightly, and then his left arm was tightened again, and the teeth in the other mouth came together lightly. to his cheek.Then he let go, and Freda said: "Now it's Stella's time." Ashurst blushed and stiffened, he looked across the table at Stella, who was also blushing and stiff.Sabina couldn't help giggling. Freda cried out: "Come on—it's so bad!" Ashurst felt a sudden longing that made him feel strange and ashamed, and he said quietly: "Don't make trouble, you two brats!" Sabina giggled again. "Okay, then let her kiss her hand, and you put her hand on your nose. It's really cheap for you!" To his surprise, the girl kissed his hand and held it out.He held this cool and slender hand solemnly, and pressed it to his face. Immediately the two little girls clapped their hands, and Freda said: "Well, we've got to save your life whenever we want; it's over. Stella, may I have another drink, not so damn weak?" Tea was resumed, and Ashes would fold the paper and put it in his pocket.The conversation turned to the benefits of having measles, such as eating oranges, spoonfuls of honey, skipping school, and so on.Ashurst listened without speaking, exchanging friendly glances with Stella, while her face returned to its normal sun-affected reddish-white complexion.It was comforting to be close to this happy family, and enchanting to see their faces.After tea, when the two little girls were pressing seaweed, he and Stella sat in the window seat talking and looking over her water-colour sketches.The scene now seems like a happy dream; time and events are set aside, importance and reality temporarily absent.Tomorrow he would go back to Megan's and all that would be gone except for the paper in the bag smeared with the children's blood.What to say child!Stella wasn't much of a child anymore - she was Megan's age!She spoke quickly, a little stiffly and unintelligibly, but friendly; now, when he was silent, she seemed to talk lively;During the meal, Khalid did not come because he drank too much sea water, and Sabina said: "I'm going to call you Frank." Freda said at once: "Frank, Frank, Frank." Ashurst smiled and bowed. "Every time Stella calls you Mr. Ashurst, you have to be punished. It's ridiculous." Ashurst looked at Stella, who gradually blushed.Sabina giggled; Frieda shouted: "She's 'smoking', 'smoking'!—whew!" Ashurst stretched out his hands to the left and right, grabbing handfuls of flaxen hair with one hand. "Listen to me," he said. "You two! Leave Stella alone, or I'll chain you together!" Freddie giggled and said: "Ouch! What a villain you are!" Sabina muttered cautiously: "Look, you call her Stella!" "Why not? It's a nice name!" "Well, we give you permission to bark!" Ashurst let go.Stella!What would she call him from now on? But she said nothing until it was time to go to bed, when he deliberately said: "Good night, Stella!" "Good night, E—good night, Frank! You're funny, you know!" "Ah—this! Nonsense!" She shook his hand quickly and bluntly, tightening it suddenly, relaxing it suddenly. Ashurst stood motionless in the empty sitting room.Just last night, under the apple tree and the living apple blossoms, he had hugged Megan and kissed her eyes and lips.Shocked by this sudden memory, he couldn't help but gasp.Tonight he should have started—started living with this girl who only wanted to be with him.Now, more than twenty-four hours have to pass, because - no watch!Why should he befriend this innocent family when he was saying goodbye to an innocent life and everything else that belonged to it? "But I mean to marry her," he thought, "I told her so!" He took a stick of wax, lit a fire, and went to his bedroom, which was next to Halliday's.As he passed, his friend's voice called: "Is that you, old friend? Come in, I say." He was sitting on the bed, smoking a pipe, and reading a book. "Sit for a while." Ashurst sat down by the open window. "I've been thinking about this afternoon, you know," Khalid said abruptly. "It is said that when a man is dying he recalls the whole past. But I did not. Probably I'm not there yet. " "What do you remember?" Khalid was silent for a moment, then said quietly: "Yes, I did think of one thing--a strange--a girl in Cambridge, and I could have--you know; I'm relieved I didn't do her any wrong. Anyway, I'm here now, old friend, thanks to you; otherwise I'd be dead in the dark sea. No bed, no tobacco; nothing. I say, what do you think death is? " Ashurst muttered: "I think it's like a flame goes out and it's over." "What words!" "Maybe, we can flash and cling for a while." "Well, I think it's kind of miserable. I said, I hope my sisters are nice to you?" "great." Khalid put down his pipe, folded his hands behind his neck, and turned his head to look out the window. "They're not bad kids!" he said. Seeing his friend lying there, smiling in the candlelight, Ashurst shuddered.Quite right!Gone was the radiant air he might have been lying there without a smile on his face!Probably not lying there at all, but "stranded" on the bottom of the sea, waiting to be resurrected - on the ninth day, isn't it?Khalid's smile suddenly seemed to him something strange, as if the difference between life and death, the little flame, everything—it was all contained in it!He stood up and said softly: "Well, I think it's time for you to sleep. Shall I put out the fire?" Khalid took his hand. "I can't explain, you know; but death must be bad. Good night, old friend!" Ashurst, disturbed and moved, pressed Halliday's outstretched hand firmly, and went downstairs.The door in the porch was still open, and he went out onto the lawn in front of the Crescent Hotel.In the very dark blue sky, where the stars were so bright, some lilacs under their light had that mysterious color that flowers have at night, which no one can describe.Ashurst pressed his face to a twig; and before his closed eyes there suddenly appeared Megan, with the little brown long-eared dog cradled on her breast. "I think of a girl I could have--you know. I've done nothing wrong to her, and I'm so relieved!" He turned his head away from the lilac, and started pacing up and down the grass.At this moment, under the light from both ends of the grass, a gray phantom appeared again for a moment.He stood with her again under the living, breathing white light of the apple blossoms, with the river gurgling nearby, and the moon throwing steel-blue flashes on the bathing-pool; and he returned to the kiss. In her joy at that time--the passion of innocence and humbleness in that upturned face--returned to the beauty and uneasiness of that unorthodox night.He once again stood in the shadow of lilac flowers.Here, the voice of the night is the sea, not the brook; it is the sigh and the microwave of the sea; there are no birds, no owls, nor the chirping or chirping of the mother bird; only the tinkling of a piano Then, the white houses draw a three-dimensional curve in the sky, and the fragrance of cloves fills the space.One of the hotel windows, high, was lit; he saw a figure move across the shutter.He was throbbing with the strangest sensations, a single emotion churning, twisting, turning sideways, as if spring and love, distraught, were looking for a way out, and were thwarted.The girl, whom she had just called Frank, whose hand had squeezed his so suddenly—what could she have thought of such capricious and illegal love, this girl so pure?He squatted down and sat cross-legged on the grass with his back to the house, motionless like a Buddha statue.Does he really want to break through his innocence and become a thief?Steal the scent of a wildflower, and— Maybe - throw it away? "Thinking of a girl at Cambridge, I could have-- you know! He put his hands on the grass, one on each side, palms down, and pressed hard; the grass was still warm—the grass was just a little wet, soft and firm and kind. "What should I do?" he thought. Maybe Megan was standing at the window, looking at the flowers, thinking of him! Poor little Megan! "Why not?" he thought. "I love her!"But do I—do I really love her?Do I want her just because she is so beautiful and loves me?what should I do? The piano continued to tinkle, and the stars blinked; Ashurst gazed, as if fascinated, at the dark sea ahead. At last he stood up, numb and cold. There were no lights in all the windows.So he went in to sleep.