第27部分(第3/7 页)

rnity；　whilst　time　roared　far　off；　for　ever　far　off；　towards

the　rim。

Then　gradually　they　were　passed　away　from　the　supreme　centre；

down　the　circles　of　praise　and　joy　and　gladness；　further　and

further　out；　towards　the　noise　and　the　friction。　But　their

hearts　had　burned　and　were　tempered　by　the　inner　reality；　they

were　unalterably　glad。

Gradually　they　began　to　wake　up；　the　noises　outside　became

more　real。　They　understood　and　answered　the　call　outside。　They

counted　the　strokes　of　the　bell。　And　when　they　counted　midday；

they　understood　that　it　was　midday；　in　the　world；　and　for

themselves　also。

It　dawned　upon　her　that　she　was　hungry。　She　had　been　getting

hungrier　for　a　lifetime。　But　even　yet　it　was　not　sufficiently

real　to　rouse　her。　A　long　way　off　she　could　hear　the　words；　〃I

am　dying　of　hunger。〃　Yet　she　lay　still；　separate；　at　peace；　and

the　words　were　unuttered。　There　was　still　another　lapse。

And　then；　quite　calmly；　even　a　little　surprised；　she　was　in

the　present；　and　was　saying：

〃I　am　dying　with　hunger。〃

〃So　am　I；〃　he　said　calmly；　as　if　it　were　of　not　the　slightest

significance。　And　they　relapsed　into　the　warm；　golden　stillness。

And　the　minutes　flowed　unheeded　past　the　window　outside。

Then　suddenly　she　stirred　against　him。

〃My　dear；　I　am　dying　of　hunger；〃　she　said。

It　was　a　slight　pain　to　him　to　be　brought　to。

〃We'll　get　up；〃　he　said；　unmoving。

And　she　sank　her　head　on　to　him　again；　and　they　lay　still；

lapsing。　Half　consciously；　he　heard　the　clock　chime　the　hour。

She　did　not　hear。

〃Do　get　up；〃　she　murmured　at　length；　〃and　give　me　something

to　eat。〃

〃