小说园

第23部分（第5页）

He　spoke　to　his　uncle　and　aunt　that　night。

〃Uncle；〃　he　said；　〃Anna　and　me　think　of　getting　married。〃

〃Oh　ay！〃　said　Brangwen。

〃But　how；　you　have　no　money？〃　said　the　mother。

The　youth　went　pale。　He　hated　these　words。　But　he　was　like　a

gleaming；　bright　pebble；　something　bright　and　inalterable。　He

did　not　think。　He　sat　there　in　his　hard　brightness；　and　did　not

speak。

〃Have　you　mentioned　it　to　your　own　mother？〃　asked

Brangwen。

〃No……Ill　tell　her　on　Saturday。〃

〃Youll　go　and　see　her？〃

〃Yes。〃

There　was　a　long　pause。

〃And　what　are　you　going　to　marry　on……your　pound　a

week？〃

Again　the　youth　went　pale；　as　if　the　spirit　were　being

injured　in　him。

〃I　dont　know；〃　he　said；　looking　at　his　uncle　with　his　bright

inhuman　eyes；　like　a　hawks。

Brangwen　stirred　in　hatred。

〃It　needs　knowing；〃　he　said。

〃I　shall　have　the　money　later　on；〃　said　the　nephew。　〃I　will

raise　some　now；　and　pay　it　back　then。〃

〃Oh　ay！……And　why　this　desperate　hurry？　Shes　a　child　of

eighteen；　and　youre　a　boy　of　twenty。　Youre　neither　of　you　of

age　to　do　as　you　like　yet。〃

Will　Brangwen　ducked　his　head　and　looked　at　his　uncle　with

swift；　mistrustful　eyes；　like　a　caged　hawk。

〃What　does　it　matter　how　old　she　is；　and　how　old　I　am？〃　he

said。　〃Whats　the　difference　between　me　now　and　when　Im

thirty？〃

〃A　big　difference；　let　us　hope。〃

〃But　you　have　no　experience……you　have　no　experience；　and

no　money。　Why　do　you　want　to　marry；　without　experience　or

money？〃　asked　the　aunt。