小说园

第68部分（第1页）

within　herself；　she　slipped　out　one　evening　to　the　workshed。　She

heard　the　tap…tap…tap　of　the　hammer　upon　the　metal。　Her　father

lifted　his　head　as　the　door　opened。　His　face　was　ruddy　and

bright　with　instinct；　as　when　he　was　a　youth；　his　black

moustache　was　cut　close　over　his　wide　mouth；　his　black　hair　was

fine　and　close　as　ever。　But　there　was　about　him　an　abstraction；

a　sort　of　instrumental　detachment　from　human　things。　He　was　a

worker。　He　watched　his　daughters　hard；　expressionless　face。　A

hot　anger　came　over　his　breast　and　belly。

〃What　now？〃　he　said。

〃Cant　I；〃　she　answered；　looking　aside；　not　looking　at　him；

〃cant　I　go　out　to　work？〃

〃Go　out　to　work；　what　for？〃

His　voice　was　so　strong；　and　ready；　and　vibrant。　It　irritated

her。

〃I　want　some　other　life　than　this。〃

A　flash　of　strong　rage　arrested　all　his　blood　for　a

moment。

〃Some　other　life？〃　he　repeated。　〃Why；　what　other　life　do　you

want？〃

She　hesitated。

〃Something　else　besides　housework　and　hanging　about。　And　I

want　to　earn　something。〃

Her　curious；　brutal　hardness　of　speech；　and　the　fierce

invincibility　of　her　youth；　which　ignored　him；　made　him　also

harden　with　anger。

〃And　how　do　you　think　youre　going　to　earn　anything？〃

he　asked。

〃I　can　bee　a　teacher……Im　qualified　by　my

matric。〃

He　wished　her　matric。　in　hell。

〃And　how　much　are　you　qualified　to　earn　by　your　matric。？〃　he

asked；　jeering。

〃Fifty　pounds　a　year；〃　she　said。

He　was　silent；　his　power　taken　out　of　his　hand。

He　had　always　hugged　a　secret　pride　in　the　fact　that　his

daughters　need　not　go　out　to　work。　With　his　wifes　money　and　his

own　they　had　four　hundred　a　year。　They　could　draw　on　the　capital