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and brought to an abrupt halt。
〃Well；〃 said Ivor as he tightened his embrace； 〃you're caught now；
Anne。〃
She made an effort to release herself。 〃It's not Anne。 It's Mary。〃
Ivor burst into a peal of amused laughter。 〃So it is！〃 he exclaimed。
〃I seem to be making nothing but floaters this evening。 I've already
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made one with Jenny。〃 He laughed again； and there was something so
jolly about his laughter that Mary could not help laughing too。 He did
not remove his encircling arm； and somehow it was all so amusing and
natural that Mary made no further attempt to escape from it。 They
walked along by the side of the pool； interlaced。 Mary was too short for
him to be able； with any comfort； to lay his head on her shoulder。 He
rubbed his cheek； caressed and caressing； against the thick； sleek mass of
her hair。 In a little while he began to sing again； the night trembled
amorously to the sound of his voice。 When he had finished he kissed her。
Anne or Mary： Mary or Anne。 It didn't seem to make much difference
which it was。 There were differences in detail； of course； but the general
effect was the same； and； after all； the general effect was the important
thing。
Denis made his way down the hill。
〃Any damage done？〃 he called out。
〃Is that you； Denis？ I've hurt my ankle soand my knee； and my
hand。 I'm all in pieces。〃
〃My poor Anne；〃 he said。 〃But then；〃 he couldn't help adding； 〃it
was silly to start running downhill in the dark。〃
〃Ass！〃 she retorted in a tone of tearful irritation； 〃of course it was。〃
He sat down beside on the grass； and found himself breathing the faint；
delicious atmosphere of perfume that she carried always with her。
〃Light a match；〃 she commanded。 〃I want to look at my wounds。〃
He felt in his pockets for the match…box。 The light spurted and then
grew steady。 Magically； a little universe had been created； a world of
colours and formsAnne's face； the shimmering orange of her dress； her
white； bare arms； a patch of green turfand round about a darkness that
had become solid and utterly blind。 Anne held out her hands； both were
green and earthy with her fall； and the left exhibited two or three red
abrasions。
〃Not so bad；〃 she said。 But Denis was terribly distressed； and his
emotion was intensified when； looking up at her face； he saw that the trace
of tears； involuntary tears of pain； lingered on her eyelashes。 He pulled
out his handkerchief and began to wipe away the dirt from the wounded
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hand。 The match went out； it was not worth while to light another。
Anne allowed herself to be attended to； meekly and gratefully。 〃Thank
you；〃 she said； when he had finished cleaning and bandaging her hand；
and there was something in her tone that made him feel that she had lost
her superiority over him； that she was younger than he； had become；
suddenly； almost a child。 He felt tremendously large and protective。
The feeling was so strong that instinctively he put his arm about her。 She
drew closer； leaned against him； and so they sat in silence。 Then； from
below； soft but wonderfully clear through the still darkness； they heard the
sound of Ivor's singing。 He was going on with his half…finished song：
〃Le lendemain Phillis plus tendre； Ne voulant deplaire au berger； Fut
trop heureuse de lui rendre Trente moutons pour un baiser。〃
There was a rather prolonged pause。 It was as though time were
being allowed for the giving and receiving of a few of those thirty kisses。
Then the voice sang on：
〃Le lendemain Phillis peu sage Aurait donne moutons et chien Pour un
baiser que le volage A Lisette donnait pour rien。〃
The last note died away into an uninterrupted silence。
〃Are you better？〃 Denis whispered。 〃Are you comfortable like this？〃
She nodded a Yes to both questions。
〃Trente moutons pour un baiser。〃 The sheep； the woolly mutton baa；
baa； baa。。。？ Or the shepherd？ Yes； decidedly； he felt himself to be the
shepherd now。 He was the master； the protector。 A wave of courage
swelled through him； warm as wine。 He turned his head； and began to kiss
her face； at first rather randomly； then； with more precision； on the mouth。
Anne averted her head； he kissed the ear； the smooth nape that this
movement presented him。 〃No；〃 she protested； 〃no； Denis。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃It spoils our friendship； and that was so jolly。〃
〃Bosh！〃 said Denis。
She tried to explain。 〃Can't you see；〃 she said； 〃it isn't。。。it isn't our
stunt at all。〃 It was true。 Somehow she had never thought of Denis in
the light of a man who might make love； she had never so much as
conceived the possibilities of an amorous relationship with him。 He was
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so absurdly young； so。。。so。。。she couldn't find the adjective； but she knew
what she meant。
〃Why isn't it our stunt？〃 asked Denis。 〃And； by the way； that's a
horrible and inappropriate expression。〃
〃Because it isn't。〃
〃But if I say it is？〃
〃It makes no difference。 I say it isn't。〃
〃I shall make you say it is。〃
〃All right； Denis。 But you must do it another time。 I must go in and
get my ankle into hot water。 It's beginning to swell。〃
Reasons of health could not be gainsaid。 Denis got up reluctantly；
and helped his companion to her feet。 She took a cautious step。 〃Ooh！〃
She halted and leaned heavily on his arm。
〃I'll carry you；〃 Denis offered。 He had never tried to carry a woman；
but on the cinema it always looked an easy piece of heroism。
〃You couldn't；〃 said Anne。
〃Of course I can。〃 He felt larger and more protective than ever。 〃Put
your arms round my