the young; wanting the young to belong to him。
The child who clung to him wanted her child…husband。 As was
natural。 And from him; Brangwen; she wanted help; so that her
life might be properly fitted out。 But love she did not want。
Why should there be love between them; between the stout;
middle…aged man and this child? How could there be anything
between them; but mere human willingness to help each other? He
was her guardian; no more。 His heart was like ice; his face cold
and expressionless。 She could not move him any more than a
statue。
She crept to bed; and cried。 But she was going to be married
to Will Brangwen; and then she need not bother any more。
Brangwen went to bed with a hard; cold heart; and cursed
himself。 He looked at his wife。 She was still his wife。 Her dark
hair was threaded with grey; her face was beautiful in its
gathering age。 She was just fifty。 How poignantly he saw her!
And he wanted to cut out some of his own heart; which was
incontinent; and demanded still to share the rapid life of
youth。 How he hated himself。
His wife was so poignant and timely。 She was still young and
naive; with some girls freshness。 But she did not want any more
the fight; the battle; the control; as he; in his incontinence;
still did。 She was so natural; and he was ugly; unnatural; in
his inability to yield place。 How hideous; this greedy
middle…age; which must stand in the way of life; like a large
demon。
What was missing in his life; that; in his ravening soul; he
was not satisfied? He had had that friend at school; his mother;
his wife; and Anna? What had he done? He had failed with his
friend; he had been a poor son; but he had known satisfaction
with his wife; let it be enough; he loathed himself for the
state he was in over Anna。 Yet he was not satisfied。 It was
agony to know it。
Was his life nothing? Had he nothing to show; no work? He did