毛姆月亮与六便士英文版36～40章chapter36～40.doc

Chapter XXXVIThe next week was dreadful. Stroeve went twice a day to the hospital to enquire after his wife, who still declined to see him; and came away at first relieved and hopeful because he was told that she seemed to be growing better, and then in despair because, the complication which the doctor had feared having ensued, recovery was impossible・ The nurse was pitiful to his distress, but she had little to say that could console him. The poor woman lay quite still, refusing to speak, with her eyes intent, as though she watched for the coming of death・ It could now be only the question of a day or two; and when, late one evening, Stroeve came to see me I knew it was to tell me she was dead. He was absolutely exhausted・ His volubility had left him at last, and he sank down wearily on my sofa・ I felt that no words of condolence availed, and I let him lie there quietly. I feared he would think it heartless if I read, so I sat by the window, smoking a pipe, till he felt inclined to speak.,,You,ve been very kind to me,,f he said at last. "EveryoneW been very kind.”"Nonsense,f, I said, a little embarrassed・HAt the hospital they told me I might wait. They gave me a chair, and I sat outside the door. When she became unconscious they said I might go in. Her mouth and chin were all burnt by the acid・ It was awful to see her lovely skin all wounded. She died very peacefully, so that I didnft know she was dead till the sister told me."He was too tired to weep・ He lay on his back limply, as though all the strength had gone out of his limbs, and presently I saw that he had fallen asleep・ It was the first natural sleep he had had for a week. Nature, sometimes so cruel, is sometimes merciful. I covered him and turned down the light・ In the morning when I awoke he was still asleep・ He had not moved・ His gold-rimmed spectacles were still on his nose・Literature Network William Somerset Maugham Moon and Sixpence Chapter XXXV・Chapter XXXVIIThe circumstances of Blanche Stroeve^ death necessitated all manner of dreadful formalities, but at last we were allowed to bury her. Dirk and I alone followed the hearse to the cemetery. We went at a foot-pace, but on the way back we trotted, and there was something to my mind singularly horrible in the way the driver of the hearse whipped up his horses・ It seemed to dismiss the dead with a shrug of the shoulders. Now and then I caught sight of the swaying hearse in front of us, and our own driver urged his pair so that we might not remain behind. I felt in myself, too, the desire to get the whole thing out of my mind. I was beginning to be bored with a tragedy that did not really concern me, and pretending to myself that I spoke in order to distract Stroeve, I turned with relief to other subjects."Dont you think youfd better go away for a bit?” I said. "There can be no object in your staying in Paris now/1He did not answer, but I went on ruthlessly:•Have you made any plans for the immediate future?11“No.”"You must try and gather together the threads again. Why donft you go down to Italy and start working?"Again he made no reply, but the driver of our carriage came to my rescue・ Slackening his pace for a moment, he leaned over and spoke・ I could not hear what he said, so I put my head out of the window・ he wanted to know where we wished to be set down・ I told him to wait a minute."YoiTd better come and have lunch with me,M I said to Dirk. Til tell him to drop us in the Place Pigalle. “Xd rather not・ I want to go to the studio/I hesitated a moment・HWould you like me to come with you?H I asked then."No; I should prefer to be alone.ffMAII right/1I gave the driver the necessary direction, and in renewed silence we drove on. Dirk had not been to the studio since the wretched morning on which they had taken Blanche to the hospital. I was glad he did not want me to accompany him, and when I left him at the door I walked away with relief. I took a new pleasure in the streets of Paris, and I looked with smiling eyes at the people who hurried to and fro. The day was fine and sunny, and I felt in myself a more acute delight in life・ I could not help it; I put Stroeve and his sorrows out of my mind. I wanted to enjoy.Literature Network William Somerset Mauqham Moon and Sixpence Chapter XXXVHChapter XXXVIIII did not see him again for nearly a week・ Then he fetched me soon after seven one evening and took me out to dinner・ He was dressed in the deepest mourning, and on his bowler was a broad black band. He had even a black border to his handkerchief. His garb of woe suggested that he had lost in one catastrophe every relation he had in the world, even to cousins by marriage twice removed・ His plumpness and his red, fat cheeks made his mourning not a little incongruous・ It was cruel that his extreme unhappiness should have in it something of buffoonery.He told me he had made up his mind to go away, though not to Italy, as I had sugges。