小说园

第46部分（第2页）

aware　that　he　wanted　something　else；　aware　that　he　was　scarcely

living。　There　seemed　to　him　to　be　no　root　to　his　life；　no　place

for　him　to　get　satisfied　in。　He　dreamed　of　going　abroad。　But　his

instinct　knew　that　change　of　place　would　not　solve　his　problem。

He　wanted　change；　deep；　vital　change　of　living。　And　he　did　not

know　how　to　get　it。

Tilly；　an　old　woman　now；　came　in　saying　that　the　labourers

who　had　been　suppering　up　said　the　yard　and　everywhere　was　just

a　slew　of　water。　He　heard　in　indifference。　But　he　hated　a

desolate；　raw　wetness　in　the　world。　He　would　leave　the

Marsh。

His　mother　was　in　bed。　At　last　he　shut　his　book；　his　mind　was

blank；　he　walked　upstairs　intoxicated　with　depression　and　anger；

and；　intoxicated　with　depression　and　anger；　locked　himself　into

sleep。

Tilly　set　slippers　before　the　kitchen　fire；　and　she　also　went

to　bed；　leaving　the　door　unlocked。　Then　the　farm　was　in

darkness；　in　the　rain。

At　eleven　oclock　it　was　still　raining。　Tom　Brangwen　stood　in

the　yard　of　the　〃Angel〃；　Nottingham；　and　buttoned　his　coat。

〃Oh；　well；〃　he　said　cheerfully；　〃its　rained　on　me　before。

Put　er　in；　Jack；　my　lad；　put　her　in……Thart　a　rare　old

cock；　Jacky…boy；　wi　a　belly　on　thee　as　does　credit　to　thy

drink；　if　not　to　thy　corn。　Co　up　lass；　lets　get　off　ter　th

old　homestead。　Oh；　my　heart；　what　a　wetness　in　the　night！

Therell　be　no　volcanoes　after　this。　Hey；　Jack；　my　beautiful

young　slender　feller；　which　of　us　is　Noah？　It　seems　as　though

the　water…works　is　bursted。　Ducks　and　ayquatic　fowl　ll　be　king

o　the　castle　at　this　rate……dove　an　olive　branch　an　all。

Stand　up　then；　gel；　stand　up；　were　not　stoppin　here　all　night；

even　if　you　thought　we　was。　Im　dashed　if　the　jumping　rain

wouldnt　make　anybody　think　they　was　drunk。　Hey；　Jack……does

rain…water　wash　the　sense　in；　or　does　it　wash　it　out？〃　And　he

laughed　to　himself　at　the　joke。