小说园

第40部分（第2页）

verified。　The　child　knew　him；　a　queer　contortion　of　laughter

came　on　its　face　for　him。　He　caught　it　to　his　breast；　clapping

with　a　triumphant　laugh。

The　golden…brown　eyes　of　the　child　gradually　lit　up　and

dilated　at　the　sight　of　the　dark…glowing　face　of　the　youth。　It

knew　its　mother　better；　it　wanted　its　mother　more。　But　the

brightest；　sharpest　little　ecstasy　was　for　the　father。

It　began　to　be　strong；　to　move　vigorously　and　freely；　to　make

sounds　like　words。　It　was　a　baby　girl　now。　Already　it　knew　his

strong　hands；　it　exulted　in　his　strong　clasp；　it　laughed　and

crowed　when　he　played　with　it。

And　his　heart　grew　red……hot　with　passionate　feeling　for

the　child。　She　was　not　much　more　than　a　year　old　when　the　second

baby　was　born。　Then　he　took　Ursula　for　his　own。　She　his　first

little　girl。　He　had　set　his　heart　on　her。

The　second　had　dark　blue　eyes　and　a　fair　skin：　it　was　more　a

Brangwen；　people　said。　The　hair　was　fair。　But　they　forgot　Annas

stiff　blonde　fleece　of　childhood。　They　called　the　newer

Gudrun。

This　time；　Anna　was　stronger；　and　not　so　eager。　She　did　not

mind　that　the　baby　was　not　a　boy。　It　was　enough　that　she　had

milk　and　could　suckle　her　child：　Oh；　oh；　the　bliss　of　the　little

life　sucking　the　milk　of　her　body！　Oh；　oh；　oh　the　bliss；　as　the

infant　grew　stronger；　of　the　two　tiny　hands　clutching；　catching

blindly　yet　passionately　at　her　breast；　of　the　tiny　mouth

seeking　her　in　blind；　sure；　vital　knowledge；　of　the　sudden

consummate　peace　as　the　little　body　sank；　the　mouth　and　throat

sucking；　sucking；　sucking；　drinking　life　from　her　to　make　a　new

life；　almost　sobbing　with　passionate　joy　of　receiving　its　own

existence；　the　tiny　hands　clutching　frantically　as　the　nipple

was　drawn　back；　not　to　be　gainsaid。　This　was　enough　for　Anna。

She　seemed　to　pass　off　into　a　kind　of　rapture　of　motherhood；　her

rapture　of　motherhood　was　everything。

So　that　the　father　had　the　elder　baby；　the　weaned　child；　the

golden…brown；　wondering　vivid　eyes　of　the　little　Ursula　were　for