小说园

第20部分（第2页）

might　be；　since　he　was　himself。

When　Anna　came　downstairs　in　her　Sunday　clothes；　ready　for

church；　he　rose　and　greeted　her　conventionally；　shaking　hands。

His　manners　were　better　than　hers。　She　flushed。　She　noticed　that

he　now　had　a　thick　fledge　on　his　upper　lip；　a　black；

finely…shapen　line　marking　his　wide　mouth。　It　rather　repelled

her。　It　reminded　her　of　the　thin；　fine　fur　of　his　hair。　She　was

aware　of　something　strange　in　him。

His　voice　had　rather　high　upper　notes；　and　very　resonant

middle　notes。　It　was　queer。　She　wondered　why　he　did　it。　But　he

sat　very　naturally　in　the　Marsh　living…room。　He　had　some

uncouthness；　some　natural　self…possession　of　the　Brangwens；　that

made　him　at　home　there。

Anna　was　rather　troubled　by　the　strangely　intimate；

affectionate　way　her　father　had　towards　this　young　man。　He

seemed　gentle　towards　him；　he　put　himself　aside　in　order　to　fill

out　the　young　man。　This　irritated　Anna。

〃Father；〃　she　said　abruptly；　〃give　me　some　collection。〃

〃What　collection？〃　asked　Brangwen。

〃Dont　be　ridiculous；〃　she　cried；　flushing。

〃Nay；〃　he　said；　〃what　collections　this？〃

〃You　know　its　the　first　Sunday　of　the　month。〃

Anna　stood　confused。　Why　was　he　doing　this；　why　was　he　making

her　conspicuous　before　this　stranger？

〃I　want　some　collection；〃　she　reasserted。

〃So　tha　says；〃　he　replied　indifferently；　looking　at　her；　then

turning　again　to　this　nephew。

She　went　forward；　and　thrust　her　hand　into　his　breeches

pocket。　He　smoked　steadily；　making　no　resistance；　talking　to　his

nephew。　Her　hand　groped　about　in　his　pocket；　and　then　drew　out

his　leathern　purse。　Her　colour　was　bright　in　her　clear　cheeks；

her　eyes　shone。　Brangwens　eyes　were　twinkling。　The　nephew　sat

sheepishly。　Anna；　in　her　finery；　sat　down　and　slid　all　the　money

into　her　lap。　There　was　silver　and　gold。　The　youth　could　not

help　watching　her。　She　was　bent　over　the　heap　of　money；