小说园

第16部分（第4页）

little　dark；　ancient　eating…house　in　the　Bridlesmith…Gate。　They

had　cows…tail　soup；　and　meat　and　cabbage　and　potatoes。　Other

men；　other　people；　came　into　the　dark；　vaulted　place；　to　eat。

Anna　was　wide…eyed　and　silent　with　wonder。

Then　they　went　into　the　big　market；　into　the　corn　exchange；

then　to　shops。　He　bought　her　a　little　book　off　a　stall。　He　loved

buying　things；　odd　things　that　he　thought　would　be　useful。　Then

they　went　to　the　〃Black　Swan〃；　and　she　drank　milk　and　he　brandy；

and　they　harnessed　the　horse　and　drove　off；　up　the　Derby

Road。

She　was　tired　out　with　wonder　and　marvelling。　But　the　next

day；　when　she　thought　of　it；　she　skipped；　flipping　her　leg　in

the　odd　dance　she　did；　and　talked　the　whole　time　of　what　had

happened　to　her；　of　what　she　had　seen。　It　lasted　her　all　the

week。　And　the　next　Saturday　she　was　eager　to　go　again。

She　became　a　familiar　figure　in　the　cattle…market；　sitting

waiting　in　the　little　booth。　But　she　liked　best　to　go　to　Derby。

There　her　father　had　more　friends。　And　she　liked　the　familiarity

of　the　smaller　town；　the　nearness　of　the　river；　the　strangeness

that　did　not　frighten　her；　it　was　so　much　smaller。　She　liked　the

covered…in　market；　and　the　old　women。　She　liked　the　〃George

Inn〃；　where　her　father　put　up。　The　landlord　was　Brangwens　old

friend；　and　Anna　was　made　much　of。　She　sat　many　a　day　in　the

cosy　parlour　talking　to　Mr。　Wigginton；　a　fat　man　with　red　hair；

the　landlord。　And　when　the　farmers　all　gathered　at　twelve

oclock　for　dinner；　she　was　a　little　heroine。

At　first　she　would　only　glower　or　hiss　at　these　strange　men

with　their　uncouth　accent。　But　they　were　good…humoured。　She　was

a　little　oddity；　with　her　fierce；　fair　hair　like　spun　glass

sticking　out　in　a　flamy　halo　round　the　apple…blossom　face　and

the　black　eyes；　and　the　men　liked　an　oddity。　She　kindled　their

attention。

She　was　very　angry　because　Marriott；　a　gentleman…farmer　from

Ambergate；　called　her　the　little　pole…cat。

〃Why；　youre　a　pole…cat；〃　he　said　to　her。

〃Im　not；〃　she　flashed。

〃You　are。　Thats　just　how　a　pole…cat　goes。〃