Sanine

As Sina ceased on a clear, high note, the silence seemed yet more

intense. The sunset light had faded; the sky grew dark and more vast.

The leaves and the grass quivered imperceptibly; across the meadow and

through the garden there passed a soft, perfumed breeze; faint as a

sigh. Sina's eyes, shining in the gloom, turned to Yourii.

"Why so silent?" she asked.

"It is almost too delightful here!" he murmured, and again he grasped

a dewy branch of lilac.

"Yes, it is very beautiful," replied Sina dreamily.

"In fact it is beautiful to be alive," she added.

A thought, vague and disquieting, crossed Yourii's mind, but it

vanished without taking any clear shape. Some one loudly whistled twice

on the other side of the meadow, and then came silence, as before.

"Do you like Schafroff?" asked Sina suddenly, being inwardly amused at

so apparently inept a question.

Yourii felt a momentary pang of jealousy, but with a slight effort he

replied gravely. "He's a good fellow."

"How devoted he is to his work!"

Yourii was silent.

A faint grey mist rose from the meadow and the grass grew paler in the

dew.

"It is getting damp," said Sina, shivering slightly.

Yourii unconsciously looked at her round, soft shoulders, feeling

instantly confused, and she, aware of his glance became confused also,

although it was pleasant to her.

"Let us go."

Regretfully they returned along the narrow garden-path, each brushing

lightly against the other at times as they walked. All around seemed

dark and deserted, and Yourii fancied that now the garden's own life

was about to begin, a life mysterious and to all unknown. Yonder, amid

the trees and across the dew-laden grass strange shadows soon would

steal, as the dusk deepened, and voices whispered in green, silent

places. This he said to Sina, and her dark eyes wistfully peered into

the gloom. If, so Yourii thought, she were suddenly to fling all her

clothing aside, and rush all white and nude and joyous over the dewy

grass towards the dim thicket, this would not be in the least strange,

but beautiful and natural; nor would it disturb the life of the green,

dark garden, but would make this more complete. This, too, he had a

wish to tell her, but he dared not do so, and spoke instead of the

people and of lectures. But their conversation flagged, and then

ceased, as if they were only wasting words. Thus they reached the

gateway in silence, smiling to themselves, brushing the dew from the

branches with their shoulders. Everything seemed as calm and happy and

pensive as they were themselves. As before, the courtyard was dark and

solitary, but the outer gate was open, and a sound of hasty footsteps

in the house could be heard, and of the opening and shutting of

drawers.