小说园

第48部分（第3页）

skyrocket。　My　word；　but　thats　a　fine　posy！　Did　you　do　it　all　by

yourself；　an　all？〃

Tilly　stealthily　ushered　her　into　the　bedroom。　The　child

entered　with　a　strange；　dragging　hesitation　characteristic　of

her　when　she　was　moved。　Her　grandmother　was　sitting　up　in　bed；

wearing　a　little　grey　woollen　jacket。

The　child　hesitated　in　silence　near　the　bed；　clutching　the

nosegay　in　front　of　her。　Her　childish　eyes　were　shining。　The

grandmothers　grey　eyes　shone　with　a　similar　light。

〃How　pretty！〃　she　said。　〃How　pretty　you　have　made　them！　What

a　darling　little　bunch。〃

Ursula；　glowing；　thrust　them　into　her　grandmothers　hand；

saying；　〃I　made　them　you。〃

〃That　is　how　the　peasants　tied　them　at　home；〃　said　the

grandmother；　pushing　the　pinks　with　her　fingers；　and　smelling

them。　〃Just　such　tight　little　bunches！　And　they　make　wreaths　for

their　hair……they　weave　the　stalks。　Then　they　go　round　with

wreaths　in　their　hair；　and　wearing　their　best　aprons。〃

Ursula　immediately　imagined　herself　in　this　story…land。

〃Did　you　used　to　have　a　wreath　in　your　hair；

grandmother？〃

〃When　I　was　a　little　girl；　I　had　golden　hair；　something　like

Katies。　Then　I　used　to　have　a　wreath　of　little　blue　flowers；

oh；　so　blue；　that　e　when　the　snow　is　gone。　Andrey；　the

coachman；　used　to　bring　me　the　very　first。〃

They　talked；　and　then　Tilly　brought　the　tea…tray；　set　for

two。　Ursula　had　a　special　green　and　gold　cup　kept　for　herself　at

the　Marsh。　There　was　thin　bread　and　butter；　and　cress　for　tea。

It　was　all　special　and　wonderful。　She　ate　very　daintily；　with

little　fastidious　bites。

〃Why　do　you　have　two　wedding…rings；　grandmother？……Must

you？〃　asked　the　child；　noticing　her　grandmothers　ivory　coloured

hand　with　blue　veins；　above　the　tray。

〃If　I　had　two　husbands；　child。〃

Ursula　pondered　a　moment。