Chapter 14 12

August 20, 1916 Central London, Marylebone Cavendish Square * Ashley and Emmogene hadn't found the key, not in Regent's Park, or anywhere else.An hour after dawn, they arrived at Yin Mozhen's house. Ashley stood on the sidewalk in Cavendish Square and watched Yin Mozhen knock on the window on the first floor until the housekeeper opened the door.A few minutes later, the lights on the second floor turned on and off, and Ashley knew she was fine. He caught the train from Paddington station at 9:38 and tried to fall asleep, but now the number of trains is reduced, so the carriages are crowded and stuffy, and Ashley will think of Emmaine as soon as he closes his eyes, repeating in his mind Playing all kinds of last night, my heart is full of joy.He didn't know whether he trusted her or not. Although he talked all night, he probably didn't know her as well as talking with other women for an hour.Did they really chat till dawn?What were we talking about?He forgot all about it.The train runs at half speed to save fuel.Ashley arrived at Didcot Station, and there was an old carriage for two outside the station.

The driver in the cloak sat high in the back of the car and said to him: No taxis, sir, we have no gasoline, where do you want to go?I can take you there. Ashley smiled and got into the car door.When he got home, he paid the fare, knocked on the door, and hurriedly hugged his mother. I'm sorry, I'm just coming back to put my luggage. I have to drive to the city and come back in the afternoon. His mother couldn't take it.Ashley, you just came back. He kisses her on the cheek. I'm going to have dinner with Richard, remember him?It was the archaeologist at Magdalene College.not long

At noon, Ashley picked up Yin Mozhen at Abingdon Station in a borrowed car.She got off the train, held his hand, and whispered in her ear: This is the slowest car I've ever been in.Honey, I have a gift for you. Yin Mozhen opened the purse and rummaged through it, but the stuff was too full, so she couldn't find it for a while, and finally had to find a bench to sit down and look for it.A few tattered political leaflets, a few small leather-bound notebooks, a few celluloid safety pins, a train timetable, a small bottle of perfume, a wooden whistle.Finally, Yin Mozhen triumphantly pulled out an iron key.Ashley shook his head.

Don't say this is the one you lost. You're right, I wouldn't say that. This is the key?What is it used for? Ashley, I won't say it.You have to find out for yourself, that's the point.I promise it's a very important thing.Have you eaten?I am so hungry. They checked in at a nearby hotel under the names of the Worthinghams. When Ashley announced his name, Yin Mozhen touched his hand and looked away. The counter staff smiled and asked: Newly married? Just finished yesterday.Ashley said: How do you know? Newlyweds are always radiant, and you can tell it at a glance.

They had lunch in the hotel restaurant, exhausted and happy.Ashley kept looking around, afraid of being seen through.Yin Mozhen thought he was very funny. Who cares what other people think?You're leaving for France in four days.Besides, the people at the counter also thought we were newlyweds. Ashley originally looked down at Tang, but raised his head after hearing this. You didn't seem too happy when he said that. Not unhappy.Yin Mozhen said: I just don't want to think of our relationship like that.Look at Eleanor and Charles, I've never been able to figure out how it was possible for two so attractive people to be so boring when married.

They are not boring in my opinion. That's because you didn't know them before.Three years ago, Eleanor was still studying at Slade College. Every time she went home, she brought new ideas and new books, and brought new friends to drink tea. Those people were extremely smart.Eleanor and I plan to get a place of our own, where we can entertain guests every day.If she had waited a few years longer to get married, I might have left Cavendish long ago, but it's hopeless now, because Dad would never let me live by myself.And, even if Eleanor spends half her time with us, it's not the same because she's not the same.

What's wrong? Charles showed up.Can you imagine, when I first met him, I thought he was the smartest, most charming guy out there.He had just come out of Trinity College at the time, and he was talking nonsense, but every word was clear.As soon as we poured tea, he began to lecture on the mutation of beauty, the masochism of God, the meaning of mortal love, and once fought for an hour with Baba over universal suffrage.Charles said that Eleanor and I got it wrong. The important thing is not to let women get the right to vote, but to let men vote, because only men can make things like war, and they value interests more than people.

Didn't he also join the army? It is.But of course there is no need to actually fight, just follow a certain major and take notes.I don't know at all what he believes now, because now Eleanor and Charles are talking about who is exhibiting in Bond Street, or how much someone paid for a house in Clerkenwell.They don't want to talk about important things anymore. You can take the initiative to chat. Yin Mozhen sighed.I know, but it's been like this for too long.I couldn't just knock on Eleanor's door and ask her: Do you really love Charles, or do you have to stay with him?Are you really going to have a baby?If you can't have a baby or don't want to have it, don't worry about it, because everyone can see that this thing has made you miserable

These cannot all be blamed on marriage. cannot?They weren't like this before.They don't act like they're expressing their feelings now, they act like they're playing a role, and over time it becomes real.Most people seem to think that wives are servants and fools.I mean, it's not what Charles and Eleanor wanted in the first place, but other people's expectations change you over time.Insisting on naming the relationship between each other will only make it harder for people to be themselves. So what is our relationship? Yin Mozhen smiled and shook her head, looking down at her bowl.

Darling, you know there is no way to say this in any language. I think it should be found. Yin Mozhen looked up at him.Those are what other people use to call other things.We are here by feeling, not obligation.What are you going to say?Went to Wiltshire after a walk in Regent's Park berkshire. Yin Mozhen smiled and said: Berkshire.My point is that it's not good at all for two people to live together and not know whether they come home every night because they care about each other or because they are obligated. One has to have somewhere to sleep. Yin Mozhen kicked his feet under the table.

Seriously. I'm serious.Ashley said: People can never do everything with great reason.I think sometimes people share a bed simply because they're married, but other times they have a valid reason to do so.Besides, if you don't know whether the other party will still be there next second, how can you live with him for the rest of your life? Yin Mozhen put down the spoon and shrugged. We'll never know anyway.Even if you married me, I could still be killed by a mine or a bomb dropped by a Zeppelin.Or, one day you will come home and find me gone, regardless of the promises you made before God and the law would you do that? Yin Mozhen smiled.Absolutely not.But I won't get married either. After lunch, they went upstairs to their room.It was the first chance to be alone, and they kissed each other wildly.Ashley immediately remembered the smell of her mouth and neck, the touch of her in Regent's Park, her skin against his, her breath warming his face.They kissed like this until their lips were tired, and then they still couldn't take their eyes off each other, and they hugged and lay down with their clothes on, and they didn't even take off their socks.He felt crazy and tired, and in this muddled state, Yin Mozhen looked more amazing, more beautiful, and more lovely than he could imagine.They wake up and sleep, sleep and wake up, and finally there is almost no difference between sleeping and waking.Sometimes Yin Mozhen kissed him as soon as she woke up, without even opening her eyes, as if it was her more basic instinct than breathing. Now, Ashley should go home.They get out of bed, and he dresses, belts, and tie in front of the mirror.Yin Mozhen opened a curtain and looked out. I can't stay inside all day, I need fresh air.Is it possible to rent bicycles here?i want to go shopping Nothing to see here. I just love seeing places that have nothing to look at.You promise to be back tonight? Nine at the latest. If you're a minute late, it seems like an hour to me. By the door, Ashley kissed her again for a long time, unable to part.After closing the door, he tried to straighten his shoulders, put on a military look, walked down the long corridor, and walked towards the stairs, but his steps on the carpet were very soft.He thought to himself, Yin Mozhen.Soames|Anderson, she's waiting for me to come back at nine.Just thinking of the name drives him crazy. When he got home, Ashley was half asleep and half awake to have dinner with his mother and aunt.After dinner, my aunt played Algar's music on the piano in the living room, and Ashley sat on the sofa with a glass of Madeira wine in his hand, and passed out.He slept too soundly, knocked over his wine glass, stained the sleeves of his coat, and his mother screamed. He woke up, took off his coat with sleepy eyes, wiped it with a napkin, said he was going to bed, and went back to the room. As soon as he entered the room, Ashley immediately changed into a light flannel suit and climbed out of the window on the first floor.He was carrying an old hiking backpack with two bottles of champagne from the cellar.He felt ridiculous, but couldn't help smiling.Yin Mozhen was waiting for him in the lobby of the hotel, she could tell by the expression on her face that there was a secret to be revealed. I have a surprise for you tonight.She said: "It's all planned out." My plan is just two bottles of champagne for my mother. can go from there. It was hot tonight and they drove out of the village.Ashley would walk here alone when he was a child, but now there is someone beside him, it feels strange, not to mention that this person is Yin Mozhen.After parking the car, Ashley led her along the familiar dirt path, which was used for delivery wagons, hadn't been used for many years, and was overgrown with weeds.They found the driest grass and sat down. Ashley took out champagne and two teacups wrapped in a tablecloth from his backpack.He brought teacups instead of champagne flutes because he thought teacups were less likely to break, but one of them broke the stem anyway. Now I can't take it back, Yin Mozhen said: They will find out what's going on from the broken cup. Including you? especially me. Ashley shook his head. No one can guess you. Yeah?You went to the concert, right?So you must have pushed something, or felt something Ashley looked away awkwardly.Yin Mozhen smiled and combed his hair with her hands. Honey, what color should your hair be? Red-brown?Auburn? It's so unimaginative, it might as well be called Dark Venetian, like a Renaissance courtesan, but a little more insidious than that.It's too beautiful for a young man She smiled and said again: My dear courtesan, are you ready for a surprise? certainly. Then go back and drive, we're going to church.