小说园

第19部分（第1页）

inwardly　the　coarsely　working　nature　of　the　mistress。　Therefore

she　was　always　at　outs　with　authority。　From　constant　telling；

she　came　almost　to　believe　in　her　own　badness；　her　own　intrinsic

inferiority。　She　felt　that　she　ought　always　to　be　in　a　state　of

slinking　disgrace；　if　she　fulfilled　what　was　expected　of　her。

But　she　rebelled。　She　never　really　believed　in　her　own　badness。

At　the　bottom　of　her　heart　she　despised　the　other　people；　who

carped　and　were　loud　over　trifles。　She　despised　them；　and　wanted

revenge　on　them。　She　hated　them　whilst　they　had　power　over

her。

Still　she　kept　an　ideal：　a　free；　proud　lady　absolved　from　the

petty　ties；　existing　beyond　petty　considerations。　She　would　see

such　ladies　in　pictures：　Alexandra；　Princess　of　Wales；　was　one

of　her　models。　This　lady　was　proud　and　royal；　and　stepped

indifferently　over　all　small；　mean　desires：　so　thought　Anna；　in

her　heart。　And　the　girl　did　up　her　hair　high　under　a　little

slanting　hat；　her　skirts　were　fashionably　bunched　up；　she　wore

an　elegant；　skin…fitting　coat。

Her　father　was　delighted。　Anna　was　very　proud　in　her　bearing；

too　naturally　indifferent　to　smaller　bonds　to　satisfy　Ilkeston；

which　would　have　liked　to　put　her　down。　But　Brangwen　was　having

no　such　thing。　If　she　chose　to　be　royal；　royal　she　should　be。　He

stood　like　a　rock　between　her　and　the　world。

After　the　fashion　of　his　family；　he　grew　stout　and　handsome。

His　blue　eyes　were　full　of　light；　twinkling　and　sensitive；　his

manner　was　deliberate；　but　hearty；　warm。　His　capacity　for　living

his　own　life　without　attention　from　his　neighbours　made　them

respect　him。　They　would　run　to　do　anything　for　him。　He　did　not

consider　them；　but　was　open…handed　towards　them；　so　they　made

profit　of　their　willingness。　He　liked　people；　so　long　as　they

remained　in　the　background。

Mrs。　Brangwen　went　on　in　her　own　way；　following　her　own

devices。　She　had　her　husband；　her　two　sons　and　Anna。　These

staked　out　and　marked　her　horizon。　The　other　people　were

outsiders。　Inside　her　own　world；　her　life　passed　along　like　a

dream　for　her；　it　lapsed；　and　she　lived　within　its　lapse；　active

and　always　pleased；　intent。　She　scarcely　noticed　the　outer

things　at　all。　What　was　outside　was　outside；　non…existent。　She

did　not　mind　if　the　boys　fought；　so　long　as　it　was　out　of　her

presence。　But　if　they　fought　when　she　was　by；　she　was　angry；　and