Chapter 119

Philiphadnotabasketofhisown,butsatwithSally.Janethoughtitmonstrousthatheshouldhelphereldersisterratherthanherself,andhehadtopromisetopickforherwhenSally』sbasketwasfull.Sallywasalmostasquickashermother.

「Won』tithurtyourhandsforsewing?」askedPhilip.

「Oh,no,itwantssofthands.That』swhywomenpickbetterthanmen.Ifyourhandsarehardandyourfingersallstiffwithalotofroughworkyoucan』tpicknearsowell.」

Helikedtoseeherdeftmovements,andshewatchedhimtoonowandthenwiththatmaternalspiritofherswhichwassoamusingandyetsocharming.Hewasclumsyatfirst,andshelaughedathim.Whenshebentoverandshowedhimhowbesttodealwithawholelinetheirhandsmet.Hewassurprisedtoseeherblush.

Hecouldnotpersuadehimselfthatshewasawoman;becausehehadknownherasaflapper,hecouldnothelplookinguponherasachildstill;yetthenumberofheradmirersshowedthatshewasachildnolonger;andthoughtheyhadonlybeendownafewdaysoneofSally』scousinswasalreadysoattentivethatshehadtoendurealotofchaffing.HisnamewasPeterGann,andhewasthesonofMrs.Athelny』ssister,whohadmarriedafarmernearFerne.Everyoneknewwhyhefounditnecessarytowalkthroughthehop-fieldeveryday.

Acall-offbythesoundingofahornwasmadeforbreakfastateight,andthoughMrs.Athelnytoldthemtheyhadnotdeservedit,theyateitveryheartily.Theysettoworkagainandworkedtilltwelve,whenthehornsoundedoncemorefordinner.Atintervalsthemeasurerwenthisroundfrombintobin,accompaniedbythebooker,whoenteredfirstinhisownbookandtheninthehopper』sthenumberofbushelspicked.Aseachbinwasfilleditwasmeasuredoutinbushelbasketsintoahugebagcalledapoke;andthisthemeasurerandthepole-pullercarriedoffbetweenthemandputonthewaggon.AthelnycamebacknowandthenwithstoriesofhowmuchMrs.HeathorMrs.Joneshadpicked,andheconjuredhisfamilytobeather:hewasalwayswantingtomakerecords,andsometimesinhisenthusiasmpickedsteadilyforanhour.Hischiefamusementinit,however,wasthatitshowedthebeautyofhisgracefulhands,ofwhichhewasexcessivelyproud.Hespentmuchtimemanicuringthem.HetoldPhilip,ashestretchedouthistaperingfingers,thattheSpanishgrandeeshadalwayssleptinoiledglovestopreservetheirwhiteness.ThehandthatwrungthethroatofEurope,heremarkeddramatically,wasasshapelyandexquisiteasawoman』s;andhelookedathisown,ashedelicatelypickedthehops,andsighedwithself-satisfaction.WhenhegrewtiredofthisherolledhimselfacigaretteanddiscoursedtoPhilipofartandliterature.Intheafternoonitgrewveryhot.Workdidnotproceedsoactivelyandconversationhalted.Theincessantchatterofthemorningdwindlednowtodesultoryremarks.TinybeadsofsweatstoodonSally』supperlip,andassheworkedherlipswereslightlyparted.Shewaslikearosebudburstingintoflower.

Calling-offtimedependedonthestateoftheoast-house.Sometimesitwasfilledearly,andasmanyhopshadbeenpickedbythreeorfourascouldbedriedduringthenight.Thenworkwasstopped.Butgenerallythelastmeasuringofthedaybeganatfive.Aseachcompanyhaditsbinmeasureditgatheredupitsthingsand,chattingagainnowthatworkwasover,saunteredoutofthegarden.Thewomenwentbacktothehutstocleanupandpreparethesupper,whileagoodmanyofthemenstrolleddowntheroadtothepublic-house.Aglassofbeerwasverypleasantaftertheday』swork.

TheAthelnys』binwasthelasttobedealtwith.WhenthemeasurercameMrs.Athelny,withasighofrelief,stoodupandstretchedherarms:shehadbeensittinginthesamepositionformanyhoursandwasstiff.

「Now,let』sgotoTheJollySailor,」saidAthelny.「Theritesofthedaymustbedulyperformed,andthereisnonemoresacredthanthat.」

「Takeajugwithyou,Athelny,」saidhiswife,「andbringbackapintandahalfforsupper.」

Shegavehimthemoney,copperbycopper.Thebar-parlourwasalreadywellfilled.Ithadasandedfloor,benchesroundit,andyellowpicturesofVictorianprize-fightersonthewalls.Thelicenceeknewallhiscustomersbyname,andheleanedoverhisbarsmilingbenignlyattwoyoungmenwhowerethrowingringsonastickthatstoodupfromthefloor:theirfailurewasgreetedwithagooddealofheartychafffromtherestofthecompany.Roomwasmadeforthenew

arrivals.Philipfoundhimselfsittingbetweenanoldlabourerincorduroys,withstringtiedunderhisknees,andashiny-facedladofseventeenwithalove-lockneatlyplasteredonhisredforehead.Athelnyinsistedontryinghishandatthethrowingofrings.Hebackedhimselfforhalfapintandwonit.Ashedranktheloser』shealthhesaid:

「IwouldsoonerhavewonthisthanwontheDerby,myboy.」

Hewasanoutlandishfigure,withhiswide-brimmedhatandpointedbeard,amongthosecountryfolk,anditwaseasytoseethattheythoughthimveryqueer;buthisspiritsweresohigh,hisenthusiasmsocontagious,thatitwasimpossiblenottolikehim.Conversationwenteasily.Acertainnumberofpleasantrieswereexchangedinthebroad,slowaccentoftheIsleofThanet,andtherewasuproariouslaughteratthesalliesofthelocalwag.Apleasantgathering!Itwouldhavebeenahard-heartedpersonwhodidnotfeelaglowofsatisfactioninhisfellows.Philip』seyeswanderedoutofthewindowwhereitwasbrightandsunnystill;therewerelittlewhitecurtainsinittiedupwithredribbonlikethoseofacottagewindow,andonthesillwerepotsofgeraniums.Induecourseonebyonetheidlersgotupandsaunteredbacktothemeadowwheresupperwascooking.

「Iexpectyou』llbereadyforyourbed,」saidMrs.AthelnytoPhilip.「You』renotusedtogettingupatfiveandstayingintheopenairallday.」

「You』recomingtobathewithus,UnclePhil,aren』tyou?」theboyscried.

「Rather.」

Hewastiredandhappy.Aftersupper,balancinghimselfagainstthewallofthehutonachairwithoutaback,hesmokedhispipeandlookedatthenight.Sallywasbusy.Shepassedinandoutofthehut,andhelazilywatchedhermethodicalactions.Herwalkattractedhisnotice;itwasnotparticularlygraceful,

butitwaseasyandassured;sheswungherlegsfromthehips,andherfeetseemedtotreadtheearthwithdecision.Athelnyhadgoneofftogossipwithoneoftheneighbours,andpresentlyPhilipheardhiswifeaddresstheworldingeneral.

「Therenow,I』moutofteaandIwantedAthelnytogodowntoMrs.Black』sandgetsome.」Apause,andthenhervoicewasraised:「Sally,justrundowntoMrs.Black』sandgetmehalfapoundoftea,willyou?I』verunquiteoutofit.」

「Allright,mother.」

Mrs.Blackhadacottageabouthalfamilealongtheroad,andshecombinedtheofficeofpostmistresswiththatofuniversalprovider.Sallycameoutofthehut,turningdownhersleeves.

「ShallIcomewithyou,Sally?」askedPhilip.

「Don』tyoutrouble.I』mnotafraidtogoalone.」

「Ididn』tthinkyouwere;butit』sgettingnearmybedtime,andIwasjustthinkingI』dliketostretchmylegs.」

Sallydidnotanswer,andtheysetouttogether.Theroadwaswhiteandsilent.Therewasnotasoundinthesummernight.Theydidnotspeakmuch.

「It』squitehotevennow,isn』tit?」saidPhilip.

「Ithinkit』swonderfulforthetimeofyear.」

Buttheirsilencedidnotseemawkward.Theyfounditwaspleasanttowalksidebysideandfeltnoneedofwords.Suddenlyatastileinthehedgerowtheyheardalowmurmurofvoices,andinthedarknesstheysawtheoutlineoftwopeople.TheyweresittingveryclosetooneanotheranddidnotmoveasPhilipandSallypassed.

「Iwonderwhothatwas,」saidSally.

「Theylookedhappyenough,didn』tthey?」

「Iexpecttheytookusforloverstoo.」

Theysawthelightofthecottageinfrontofthem,andinaminutewentintothelittleshop.Theglaredazzledthemforamoment.

「Youarelate,」saidMrs.Black.「Iwasjustgoingtoshutup.」Shelookedattheclock.「Gettingonfornine.」

Sallyaskedforherhalfpoundoftea(Mrs.Athelnycouldneverbringherselftobuymorethanhalfapoundatatime),andtheysetoffuptheroadagain.Nowandthensomebeastofthenightmadeashort,sharpsound,butitseemedonlytomakethesilencemoremarked.

「Ibelieveifyoustoodstillyoucouldhearthesea,」saidSally.

Theystrainedtheirears,andtheirfancypresentedthemwithafaintsoundoflittlewaveslappingupagainsttheshingle.Whentheypassedthestileagaintheloverswerestillthere,butnowtheywerenotspeaking;theywereinoneanother』sarms,andtheman』slipswerepressedagainstthegirl』s.

「Theyseembusy,」saidSally.

Theyturnedacorner,andabreathofwarmwindbeatforamomentagainsttheirfaces.Theearthgaveforthitsfreshness.Therewassomethingstrangeinthetremulousnight,andsomething,youknewnotwhat,seemedtobewaiting;thesilencewasonasuddenpregnantwithmeaning.Philiphadaqueerfeelinginhisheart,itseemedveryfull,itseemedtomelt(thehackneyedphrasesexpressedpreciselythecurioussensation),hefelthappyandanxiousandexpectant.TohismemorycamebackthoselinesinwhichJessicaandLorenzomurmurmelodiouswordstooneanother,cappingeachother』sutterance;butpassionshinesbrightandclearthroughtheconceitsthatamusethem.Hedidnotknowwhattherewasintheairthatmadehissensessostrangelyalert;itseemedtohimthathewaspuresoultoenjoythescentsandthesoundsandthesavoursoftheearth.Hehadneverfeltsuchanexquisitecapacityforbeauty.HewasafraidthatSallybyspeakingwouldbreakthespell,butshesaidneveraword,andhewantedtohearthesoundofhervoice.

Itslowrichnesswasthevoiceofthecountrynightitself.Theyarrivedatthefieldthroughwhichshehadtowalktogetbacktothehuts.Philipwentintoholdthegateopenforher.

「Well,hereIthinkI』llsaygood-night.」

「Thankyouforcomingallthatwaywithme.」

Shegavehimherhand,andashetookit,hesaid:

「Ifyouwereveryniceyou』dkissmegood-nightliketherestofthefamily.」

「Idon』tmind,」shesaid.

Philiphadspokeninjest.Hemerelywantedtokissher,becausehewashappyandhelikedherandthenightwassolovely.

「Good-nightthen,」hesaid,withalittlelaugh,drawinghertowardshim.

Shegavehimherlips;theywerewarmandfullandsoft;helingeredalittle,theywerelikeaflower;then,heknewnothow,withoutmeaningit,heflunghisarmsroundher.Sheyieldedquitesilently.Herbodywasfirmandstrong.Hefeltherheartbeatagainsthis.Thenhelosthishead.Hissensesoverwhelmedhimlikeafloodofrushingwaters.Hedrewherintothedarkershadowofthehedge.