Page 477 - sons-and-lovers

heavily, dumbly, and laid her head on his shoulder. He held
her fast as he looked round. They were safe enough from all
but the small, lonely cows over the river. He sunk his mouth
on her throat, where he felt her heavy pulse beat under his
lips. Everything was perfectly still. There was nothing in the
afternoon but themselves.
When she arose, he, looking on the ground all the time,
saw suddenly sprinkled on the black wet beech-roots many
scarlet carnation petals, like splashed drops of blood; and
red, small splashes fell from her bosom, streaming down
her dress to her feet.
‘Your flowers are smashed,’ he said.
She looked at him heavily as she put back her hair. Sud-
denly he put his finger-tips on her cheek.
‘Why dost look so heavy?’ he reproached her.
She smiled sadly, as if she felt alone in herself. He ca-
ressed her cheek with his fingers, and kissed her.
‘Nay!’ he said. ‘Never thee bother!’
She gripped his fingers tight, and laughed shakily. Then
she dropped her hand. He put the hair back from her brows,
stroking her temples, kissing them lightly.
‘But tha shouldna worrit!’ he said softly, pleading.
‘No, I don’t worry!’ she laughed tenderly and resigned.
‘Yea, tha does! Dunna thee worrit,’ he implored, caress-
ing.
‘No!’ she consoled him, kissing him.
They had a stiff climb to get to the top again. It took them
a quarter of an hour. When he got on to the level grass, he
threw off his cap, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and

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