小说园

第22部分（第4页）

and　given　him　a　vast　space　to　walk　in。　Whither；　through　this

darkness　of　infinite　space；　was　he　walking　blindly？　Where；　at

the　end　of　all　the　darkness；　was　God　the　Almighty　still　darkly；

seated；　thrusting　him　on？　〃I　love　you；　Will；　I　love　you。〃　He

trembled　with　fear　as　the　words　beat　in　his　heart　again。　And　he

dared　not　think　of　her　face；　of　her　eyes　which　shone；　and　of　her

strange；　transfigured　face。　The　hand　of　the　Hidden　Almighty；

burning　bright；　had　thrust　out　of　the　darkness　and　gripped　him。

He　went　on　subject　and　in　fear；　his　heart　gripped　and　burning

from　the　touch。

The　days　went　by；　they　ran　on　dark…padded　feet　in　silence。　He

went　to　see　Anna；　but　again　there　had　e　a　reserve　between

them。　Tom　Brangwen　was　gloomy；　his　blue　eyes　sombre。　Anna　was

strange　and　delivered　up。　Her　face　in　its　delicate　colouring　was

mute；　touched　dumb　and　poignant。　The　mother　bowed　her　head　and

moved　in　her　own　dark　world；　that　was　pregnant　again　with

fulfilment。

Will　Brangwen　worked　at　his　wood…carving。　It　was　a　passion；　a

passion　for　him　to　have　the　chisel　under　his　grip。　Verily　the

passion　of　his　heart　lifted　the　fine　bite　of　steel。　He　was

carving；　as　he　had　always　wanted；　the　Creation　of　Eve。　It　was　a

panel　in　low　relief；　for　a　church。　Adam　lay　asleep　as　if

suffering；　and　God；　a　dim；　large　figure；　stooped　towards　him；

stretching　forward　His　unveiled　hand；　and　Eve；　a　small　vivid；

naked　female　shape；　was　issuing　like　a　flame　towards　the　hand　of

God；　from　the　torn　side　of　Adam。

Now；　Will　Brangwen　was　working　at　the　Eve。　She　was　thin；　a

keen；　unripe　thing。　With　trembling　passion；　fine　as　a　breath　of

air；　he　sent　the　chisel　over　her　belly；　her　hard；　unripe；　small

belly。　She　was　a　stiff　little　figure；　with　sharp　lines；　in　the

throes　and　torture　and　ecstasy　of　her　creation。　But　he　trembled

as　he　touched　her。　He　had　not　finished　any　of　his　figures。　There

was　a　bird　on　a　bough　overhead；　lifting　its　wings　for　flight；

and　a　serpent　wreathing　up　to　it。　It　was　not　finished　yet。　He

trembled　with　passion；　at　last　able　to　create　the　new；　sharp

body　of　his　Eve。

At　the　sides；　at　the　far　sides；　at　either　end；　were　two

Angels　covering　their　faces　with　their　wings。　They　were　like

trees。　As　he　went　to　the　Marsh；　in　the　twilight；　he　felt　that

the　Angels；　with　covered　faces；　were　standing　back　as　he　went