小说园

第15部分（第1页）

other　hand。　The　silky　fringe　of　the　shawl　swayed　softly；　grains

and　hay　trickled　to　the　floor；　he　went　along　a　dimly…lit　passage

behind　the　mangers；　where　the　horns　of　the　cows　pricked　out　of

the　obscurity。　The　child　shrank；　he　balanced　stiffly；　rested　the

pan　on　the　manger　wall；　and　tipped　out　the　food；　half　to　this

cow；　half　to　the　next。　There　was　a　noise　of　chains　running；　as

the　cows　lifted　or　dropped　their　heads　sharply；　then　a

contented；　soothing　sound；　a　long　snuffing　as　the　beasts　ate　in

silence。

The　journey　had　to　be　performed　several　times。　There　was　the

rhythmic　sound　of　the　shovel　in　the　barn；　then　the　man　returned

walking　stiffly　between　the　two　weights；　the　face　of　the　child

peering　out　from　the　shawl。　Then　the　next　time；　as　he　stooped；

she　freed　her　arm　and　put　it　round　his　neck；　clinging　soft　and

warm；　making　all　easier。

The　beasts　fed；　he　dropped　the　pan　and　sat　down　on　a　box；　to

arrange　the　child。

〃Will　the　cows　go　to　sleep　now？〃　she　said；　catching　her

breath　as　she　spoke。

〃Yes。〃

〃Will　they　eat　all　their　stuff　up　first？〃

〃Yes。　Hark　at　them。〃

And　the　two　sat　still　listening　to　the　snuffing　and　breathing

of　cows　feeding　in　the　sheds　municating　with　this　small　barn。

The　lantern　shed　a　soft；　steady　light　from　one　wall。　All　outside

was　still　in　the　rain。　He　looked　down　at　the　silky　folds　of　the

paisley　shawl。　It　reminded　him　of　his　mother。　She　used　to　go　to

church　in　it。　He　was　back　again　in　the　old　irresponsibility　and

security；　a　boy　at　home。

The　tind；　in　a　sort　of　trance；　seemed

to　bee　more　and　more　vague。　He　held　the　child　close　to　him。　A

quivering　little　shudder；　re…echoing　from　her　sobbing；　went　down

her　limbs。　He　held　her　closer。　Gradually　she　relaxed；　the

eyelids　began　to　sink　over　her　dark；　watchful　eyes。　As　she　sank

to　sleep；　his　mind　became　blank。