小说园

第22部分（第2页）

now；　only　to　touch　him。

There　was　the　queer；　abstract　look　on　her　silvery　radiant

face　that　maddened　her　father；　her　dark　eyes　were　hidden。　But

she　raised　them　to　the　youth。　And　they　were　dark　with　a　flare

that　made　him　quail　for　a　moment。

She　went　into　the　second　kitchen　and　took　a　lantern。　Her

father　watched　her　as　she　returned。

〃e　with　me；　Will；〃　she　said　to　her　cousin。　〃I　want　to　see

if　I　put　the　brick　over　where　that　rat　es　in。〃

〃Youve　no　need　to　do　that；〃　retorted　her　father。　She　took　no

notice。　The　youth　was　between　the　two　wills。　The　colour　mounted

into　the　fathers　face；　his　blue　eyes　stared。　The　girl　stood

near　the　door；　her　head　held　slightly　back；　like　an　indication

that　the　youth　must　e。　He　rose；　in　his　silent；　intent　way；

and　was　gone　with　her。　The　blood　swelled　in　Brangwens　forehead

veins。

It　was　raining。　The　light　of　the　lantern　flashed　on　the

cobbled　path　and　the　bottom　of　the　wall。　She　came　to　a　small

ladder；　and　climbed　up。　He　reached　her　the　lantern；　and

followed。　Up　there　in　the　fowl…loft；　the　birds　sat　in　fat

bunches　on　the　perches；　the　red　bs　shining　like　fire。　Bright；

sharp　eyes　opened。　There　was　a　sharp　crawk　of　expostulation　as

one　of　the　hens　shifted　over。　The　cock　sat　watching；　his　yellow

neck…feathers　bright　as　glass。　Anna　went　across　the　dirty　floor。

Brangwen　crouched　in　the　loft　watching。　The　light　was　soft　under

the　red；　naked　tiles。　The　girl　crouched　in　a　corner。　There　was

another　explosive　bustle　of　a　hen　springing　from　her　perch。

Anna　came　back；　stooping　under　the　perches。　He　was　waiting

for　her　near　the　door。　Suddenly　she　had　her　arms　round　him；　was

clinging　close　to　him；　cleaving　her　body　against　his；　and

crying；　in　a　whispering；　whimpering　sound。

〃Will；　I　love　you；　I　love　you；　Will；　I　love　you。〃　It　sounded

as　if　it　were　tearing　her。

He　was　not　even　very　much　surprised。　He　held　her　in　his　arms；

and　his　bones　melted。　He　leaned　back　against　the　wall。　The　door

of　the　loft　was　open。　Outside；　the　rain　slanted　by　in　fine；

steely；　mysterious　haste；　emerging　out　of　the　gulf　of　darkness。

He　held　her　in　his　arms；　and　he　and　she　together　seemed　to　be

swinging　in　big；　swooping　oscillations；　the　two　of　them　clasped

together　up　in　the　darkness。　Outside　the　open　door　of　the　loft