male triumph while he scowled with mortification at the things
she said。
Consequently Brangwen himself had a humorous puckering at the
eyes; a sort of fat laugh; very quiet and full; and he was
spoilt like a lord of creation。 He calmly did as he liked;
laughed at their railing; excused himself in a teasing tone that
she loved; followed his natural inclinations; and sometimes;
pricked too near the quick; frightened and broke her by a deep;
tense fury which seemed to fix on him and hold him for days; and
which she would give anything to placate in him。 They were two
very separate beings; vitally connected; knowing nothing of each
other; yet living in their separate ways from one root。
There were four sons and two daughters。 The eldest boy ran
away early to sea; and did not e back。 After this the mother
was more the node and centre of attraction in the home。 The
second boy; Alfred; whom the mother admired most; was the most
reserved。 He was sent to school in Ilkeston and made some
progress。 But in spite of his dogged; yearning effort; he could
not get beyond the rudiments of anything; save of drawing。 At
this; in which he had some power; he worked; as if it were his
hope。 After much grumbling and savage rebellion against
everything; after much trying and shifting about; when his
father was incensed against him and his mother almost
despairing; he became a draughtsman in a lace…factory in
Nottingham。
He remained heavy and somewhat uncouth; speaking with broad
Derbyshire accent; adhering with all his tenacity to his work
and to his town position; making good designs; and being
fairly well…off。 But at drawing; his hand swung naturally in
big; bold lines; rather lax; so that it was cruel for him to
pedgill away at the lace designing; working from the tiny
squares of his paper; counting and plotting and niggling。 He did
it stubbornly; with anguish; crushing the bowels within him;
adhering to his chosen lot whatever it should cost。 And he came
back into life set and rigid; a rare…spoken; almost surly
man。
He married the daughter of a chemist; who affected some
social superiority; and he became something of a snob; in his
dogged fashion; with a passion for outward refinement in the