小说园

第13部分（第5页）

〃I　want　to　go　home。〃

There　would　be　tears　in　a　moment。

〃Can　ter　find　troad；　then？〃

And　he　watched　her　scudding；　silent　and　intent；　along　the

hedge…bottom；　at　a　steady；　anxious　pace；　till　she　turned　and　was

gone　through　the　gateway。　Then　he　saw　her　two　fields　off；　still

pressing　forward；　small　and　urgent。　His　face　was　clouded　as　he

turned　to　plough　up　the　stubble。

The　year　drew　on；　in　the　hedges　the　berries　shone　red　and

twinkling　above　bare　twigs；　robins　were　seen；　great　droves　of

birds　dashed　like　spray　from　the　fallow；　rooks　appeared；　black

and　flapping　down　to　earth；　the　ground　was　cold　as　he　pulled　the

turnips；　the　roads　were　churned　deep　in　mud。　Then　the　turnips

were　pitted　and　work　was　slack。

Inside　the　house　it　was　dark；　and　quiet。　The　child　flitted

uneasily　round；　and　now　and　again　came　her　plaintive；　startled

cry：

〃Mother！〃

Mrs。　Brangwen　was　heavy　and　unresponsive；　tired；　lapsed　back。

Brangwen　went　on　working　out　of　doors。

At　evening；　when　he　came　in　to　milk；　the　child　would　run

behind　him。　Then；　in　the　cosy　cow…sheds；　with　the　doors　shut　and

the　air　looking　warm　by　the　light　of　the　hanging　lantern；　above

the　branching　horns　of　the　cows；　she　would　stand　watching　his

hands　squeezing　rhythmically　the　teats　of　the　placid　beast；

watch　the　froth　and　the　leaping　squirt　of　milk；　watch　his　hand

sometimes　rubbing　slowly；　understandingly；　upon　a　hanging　udder。

So　they　kept　each　other　pany；　but　at　a　distance；　rarely

speaking。

The　darkest　days　of　the　year　came　on；　the　child　was　fretful；

sighing　as　if　some　oppression　were　on　her；　running　hither　and

thither　without　relief。　And　Brangwen　went　about　at　his　work；

heavy；　his　heart　heavy　as　the　sodden　earth。

The　winter　nights　fell　early；　the　lamp　was　lighted　before

tea…time；　the　shutters　were　closed；　they　were　all　shut　into　the

room　with　the　tension　and　stress。　Mrs。　Brangwen　went　early　to

bed；　Anna　playing　on　the　floor　beside　her。　Brangwen　sat　in　the

emptiness　of　the　downstairs　room；　smoking；　scarcely　conscious