小说园

第26部分（第4页）

wife。　〃Theres　many　a　man　gets　no　further　than　half…way；　nor

cant　to　save　his　life；　let　him　live　for　ever。〃

〃Why；　how　do　you　know？〃　said　Alfred。

〃Its　plain　enough　in　th　looks　o　some；〃　retorted　Lizzie；

his　sister…in…law。

The　youth　stood　with　a　faint；　half…hearing　smile　on　his　face。

He　was　tense　and　abstracted。　These　things；　or　anything；　scarcely

touched　him。

Anna　came　down；　in　her　day　dress；　very　elusive。　She　kissed

everybody；　men　and　women；　Will　Brangwen　shook　hands　with

everybody；　kissed　his　mother；　who　began　to　cry；　and　the　whole

party　went　surging　out　to　the　cab。

The　young　couple　were　shut　up；　last　injunctions　shouted　at

them。

〃Drive　on；〃　shouted　Tom　Brangwen。

The　cab　rolled　off。　They　saw　the　light　diminish　under　the　ash

trees。　Then　the　whole　party；　quietened；　went　indoors。

〃Theyll　have　three　good　fires　burning；〃　said　Tom　Brangwen；

looking　at　his　watch。　〃I　told　Emma　to　make　em　up　at　nine；　an

then　leave　the　door　on　th　latch。　Its　only　half…past。　Theyll

have　three　fires　burning；　an　lamps　lighted；　an　Emma　will　ha

warmed　th　bed　wi　th　warmin　pan。　So　I　sd　think　theyll　be

all　right。〃

The　party　was　much　quieter。　They　talked　of　the　young

couple。

〃She　said　she　didnt　want　a　servant　in；〃　said　Tom　Brangwen。

〃The　house　isnt　big　enough；　shed　always　have　the　creature

under　her　nose。　Emmall　do　what　is　wanted　of　her；　an　theyll　be

to　themselves。〃

〃Its　best；〃　said　Lizzie；　〃youre　more　free。〃

The　party　talked　on　slowly。　Brangwen　looked　at　his　watch。

〃Lets　go　an　give　em　a　carol；〃　he　said。　〃We　sll　find　th

fiddles　at　the　Cock　an　Robin。〃

〃Ay；　e　on；〃　said　Frank。

Alfred　rose　in　silence。　The　brother…in…law　and　one　of　Wills

brothers　rose　also。

The　five　men　went　out。　The　night　was　flashing　with　stars。

Sirius　blazed　like　a　signal　at　the　side　of　the　hill；　Orion；