Almostdirectlyafterthis，Ifeltaman’shandonmyshoulderandheardSaumarezbellowinginmyearThroughtherattlingofthetreesandhowlingofthewind，Ididnotcatchhiswordsatonce，butatlastIheardhimsay：“I’veproposedtothewrongone！WhatshallIdo？”SaumarezhadnooccasiontomakethisconfidencetomeIwasneverafriendofhis，noramInow；butIfancyneitherofuswereourselvesjustthenHewasshakingashestoodwithexcitement，andIwasfeelingqueeralloverwiththeelectricity。
Icouldnotthinkofanythingtosayexcept：——“Morefoolyouforproposinginadust-storm。”ButIdidnotseehowthatwouldimprovethemistake。
Thenheshouted：“Where’sEdith——EdithCopleigh？”EdithwastheyoungestsisterIansweredoutofmyastonishment：——“WhatdoyouwantwithHER？”Wouldyoubelieveit，forthenexttwominutes，heandIwereshoutingateachotherlikemaniacs——hevowingthatitwastheyoungestsisterhehadmeanttoproposetoallalong，andI
tellinghimtillmythroatwashoarsethathemusthavemadeamistake！Ican’taccountforthisexcept，again，bythefactthatwewereneitherofusourselvesEverythingseemedtomelikeabaddream——fromthestampingofthehorsesinthedarknesstoSaumareztellingmethestoryofhislovingEdithCopleighsincethefirstHewasstillclawingmyshoulderandbeggingmetotellhimwhereEdithCopleighwas，whenanotherlullcameandbroughtlightwithit，andwesawthedust-cloudformingontheplaininfrontofusSoweknewtheworstwasoverThemoonwaslowdown，andtherewasjusttheglimmerofthefalsedawnthatcomesaboutanhourbeforetherealoneButthelightwasveryfaint，andtheduncloudroaredlikeabullIwonderedwhereEdithCopleighhadgone；andasIwaswonderingIsawthreethingstogether：FirstMaudCopleigh’sfacecomesmilingoutofthedarknessandmovetowardsSaumarez，whowasstandingbymeI
heardthegirlwhisper，“George。”andslideherarmthroughthearmthatwasnotclawingmyshoulder，andIsawthatlookonherfacewhichonlycomesonceortwiceinalifetime-whenawomanisperfectlyhappyandtheairisfulloftrumpetsandgorgeous-
coloredfireandtheEarthturnsintocloudbecauseshelovesandislovedAtthesametime，IsawSaumarez’sfaceasheheardMaudCopleigh’svoice，andfiftyyardsawayfromtheclumpoforange-
treesIsawabrownhollandhabitgettinguponahorse。
Itmusthavebeenmystateofover-excitementthatmademesoquicktomeddlewithwhatdidnotconcernmeSaumarezwasmovingofftothehabit；butIpushedhimbackandsaid：——“Stophereandexplain。
I’llfetchherback！”andIranouttogetatmyownhorseIhadaperfectlyunnecessarynotionthateverythingmustbedonedecentlyandinorder，andthatSaumarez’sfirstcarewastowipethehappylookoutofMaudCopleigh’sfaceAllthetimeIwaslinkingupthecurb-chainIwonderedhowhewoulddoit。
IcanteredafterEdithCopleigh，thinkingtobringherbackslowlyonsomepretenceoranotherButshegallopedawayassoonasshesawme，andIwasforcedtorideafterherinearnestShecalledbackoverhershoulder——“Goaway！I’mgoinghomeOh，goaway！”
twoorthreetimes；butmybusinesswastocatchherfirst，andarguelaterTheridejustfittedinwiththerestoftheevildreamThegroundwasverybad，andnowandagainwerushedthroughthewhirling，choking“dust-devils“intheskirtsoftheflyingstormTherewasaburninghotwindblowingthatbroughtupastenchofstalebrick-kilnswithit；andthroughthehalflightandthroughthedust-devils，acrossthatdesolateplain，flickeredthebrownhollandhabitonthegrayhorseSheheadedfortheStationatfirstThenshewheeledroundandsetofffortheriverthroughbedsofburntdownjungle-grass，badeventorideapigoverIncoldbloodIshouldneverhavedreamedofgoingoversuchacountryatnight，butitseemedquiterightandnaturalwiththelightningcracklingoverhead，andareeklikethesmellofthePitinmynostrilsIrodeandshouted，andshebentforwardandlashedherhorse，andtheaftermathofthedust-stormcameupandcaughtusboth，anddroveusdownwindlikepiecesofpaper。
Idon’tknowhowfarwerode；butthedrummingofthehorse-hoofsandtheroarofthewindandtheraceofthefaintblood-redmoonthroughtheyellowmistseemedtoha...完整阅读请扫描二维码下载丁香书院APP免费看：