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.