小说园

第21部分（第5页）

from　the　elders；　to　create　a　new　thing　by　themselves。　He　worked

in　the　garden　to　propitiate　his　uncle。　He　talked　churches　to

propitiate　his　aunt。　He　followed　Anna　like　a　shadow：　like　a

long；　persistent；　unswerving　black　shadow　he　went　after　the

girl。　It　irritated　Brangwen　exceedingly。　It　exasperated　him

beyond　bearing；　to　see　the　lit…up　grin；　the　cat…grin　as　he

called　it；　on　his　nephews　face。

And　Anna　had　a　new　reserve；　a　new　independence。　Suddenly　she

began　to　act　independently　of　her　parents；　to　live　beyond　them。

Her　mother　had　flashes　of　anger。

But　the　courtship　went　on。　Anna　would　find　occasion　to　go

shopping　in　Ilkeston　at　evening。　She　always　returned　with　her

cousin；　he　walking　with　his　head　over　her　shoulder；　a　little　bit

behind　her；　like　the　Devil　looking　over　Lincoln；　as　Brangwen

noted　angrily　and　yet　with　satisfaction。

To　his　own　wonder；　Will　Brangwen　found　himself　in　an　electric

state　of　passion。　To　his　wonder；　he　had　stopped　her　at　the　gate

as　they　came　home　from　Ilkeston　one　night；　and　had　kissed　her；

blocking　her　way　and　kissing　her　whilst　he　felt　as　if　some　blow

were　struck　at　him　in　the　dark。　And　when　they　went　indoors；　he

was　acutely　angry　that　her　parents　looked　up　scrutinizing　at　him

and　her。　What　right　had　they　there：　why　should　they　look　up！　Let

them　remove　themselves；　or　look　elsewhere。

And　the　youth　went　home　with　the　stars　in　heaven　whirling

fiercely　about　the　blackness　of　his　head；　and　his　heart　fierce；

insistent；　but　fierce　as　if　he　felt　something　baulking　him。　He

wanted　to　smash　through　something。

A　spell　was　cast　over　her。　And　how　uneasy　her　parents　were；

as　she　went　about　the　house　unnoticing；　not　noticing　them；

moving　in　a　spell　as　if　she　were　invisible　to　them。　She　was

invisible　to　them。　It　made　them　angry。　Yet　they　had　to　submit。

She　went　about　absorbed；　obscured　for　a　while。

Over　him　too　the　darkness　of　obscurity　settled。　He　seemed　to

be　hidden　in　a　tense；　electric　darkness；　in　which　his　soul；　his

life　was　intensely　active；　but　without　his　aid　or　attention。　His