What did he think of divorce? She
sighed, and he wondered what her story might be.
They passed out of the dining-room, and stood on the gravel, watching the
night gathering in the open country. In the light of the moon, which had
just risen above the woods, the white road grew whiter, the town was
faintly seen in the tide of blue vapour, which here and there allowed a
field to appear. In the foreground a great silver fir, spiky and solitary,
rose up in the blue night. Beyond it was seen a corner of the ornamental
bridge. The island and its shadow were one black mass rising from the park
up to the level of the moon, which, a little to the right, between the town
and the island, lay reflected in a narrow strip of water. Farther away some
reeds were visible in the illusive light, and the meditative chatter of
dozing ducks stirred the silence which wrapped the country like a cloak.
Hubert and Mrs. Bentley stood looking at the landscape. The fragrance of
his cigar, the presence of the woman, the tenderness of the hour, combined
to make him strangely happy; his past life seemed to him like a harsh,
cruel pain that had suddenly ceased. More than he had ever desired seemed
to be fulfilled; the reality exceeded the dream.
Pages:
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121