第56章

Theraindropsnowwerefallingmoregently，andinfinerlinesandmoretransparentnetwork，sothatonecouldoncemoredescrythegreattrunksoftheblackenedoaks，withthegreenandgoldoftheirleaves。Also，ourownhollowhadgrownlessdark，andtherecouldbediscerneditssmoky，satin-brightwalls。FromthosewallsKalininpickedabitofcharcoalwithfingerandthumb，saying:

“Itwasshepherdsthatfiredtheplace。Seewheretheydraggedinhayanddeadleaves！Ashepherd’sfifehereaboutsmustbeatrulygloriousone！“

Lastly，claspinghisheadasthoughhewereabouttofallasleep，hesankhischinbetweenhisknees，andrelapsedintosilence。

Presentlyabrilliant，sinuouslittlerivuletwhichhadlongbeenlavingthebarerootsofourtreebroughtfloatingpastusaredandfawnleaf。

“Howpretty，“Ithought，“thatleafwilllookfromadistancewhenreposingonthesurfaceofthesea！For，likethesunwhenheisinsolitarypossessionoftheheavens，thatleafwillstandoutagainsttheblue，silkyexpanselikealonelyredstar。“

Afterawhilemycompanionbegan，catlike，topurrtohimselfasong。Itsmelody，themelodyof“themoonwithdrewbehindacloud，“wasfamiliarenough，butnotsothewords，whichran:

0hValentina，wondrousmaid，Morecomelythouthane’eraflow’r！

Thenurse’ssondothpineforthee，Andyearntoservetheeeveryhour！

“Whatdoesthatdittymean？“Iinquired。

Kalininstraightenedhimself，gaveawriggletoaformthatwasaslitheasalizard’s，andpassedonehandoverhisface。

“Itisacertaincomposition，“herepliedpresently。“Itisacompositionthatwascomposedbyamilitaryclerkwhoafterwardsdiedofconsumption。Hewasmyfriendhislifelong，andmyonlyfriend，andatrueone，besidesbeingamanoutofthecommon。“

“AndwhowasValentina？“

“Myone-timemistress，“Kalininspokeunwillingly。

“Andhe，theclerk——washeinlovewithher？“

“Ohdearno！“

EvidentlyKalininhadnoparticularwishtodiscussthesubject，forhehuggedhimselftogether，buriedhisfaceinhishands，andmuttered:

“Ishouldliketokindleafire，wereitnotthateverythingintheplaceistoodampforthepurpose。“

Thewindshookthetrees，andwhistleddespondently，whilethefine，persistentrainstillwhippedtheearth。

“Ibuthumbleam，andpoor，Norfatedtobeotherwise，“

sangKalininsoftlyas，flinginguphisheadwithanunexpectedmovement，headdedmeaningly:

“Yes，itisamournfulsong，asongwhichcouldmovetotears。

Onlytotwopersonshasiteverbeenknown；tomyfriendtheclerkandtomyself。Yes，andtoHER，thoughIneedhardlyaddthatatoncesheforgotit。“

AndKalinin’seyesflashedintoasmileasheadded:

“Ithinkthat，asayoungman，youhadbetterlearnforthwithwherethegreatestdangerlurksinlife。Letmetellyouastory。“

Anduponthataveryhumantalefilteredthroughthesilkenmonotonousswishofthedown

后续内容为VIP可读请开通VIP，或购买此章节