小说园

第51部分（第4页）

She　loved　the　very　confusion　of　the　household。　It　was　lucky

if　the　children　slept　till　seven　oclock。　Usually；　soon　after

six；　a　chirp　was　heard；　a　voice；　an　excited　chirrup　began；

announcing　the　creation　of　a　new　day；　there　was　a　thudding　of

quick　little　feet；　and　the　children　were　up　and　about；

scampering　in　their　shirts；　with　pink　legs　and　glistening；

flossy　hair　all　clean　from　the　Saturdays　night　bathing；　their

souls　excited　by　their　bodies　cleanliness。

As　the　house　began　to　teem　with　rushing；　half…naked　clean

children；　one　of　the　parents　rose；　either　the　mother；　easy　and

slatternly；　with　her　thick；　dark　hair　loosely　coiled　and

slipping　over　one　ear；　or　the　father；　warm　and　fortable；　with

ruffled　black　hair　and　shirt　unbuttoned　at　the　neck。

Then　the　girls　upstairs　heard　the　continual：

〃Now　then；　Billy；　what　are　you　up　to？〃　in　the　fathers

strong；　vibrating　voice：　or　the　mothers　dignified：

〃I　have　said；　Cassie；　I　will　not　have　it。〃

It　was　amazing　how　the　fathers　voice　could　ring　out　like　a

gong；　without　his　being　in　the　least　moved；　and　how　the　mother

could　speak　like　a　queen　holding　an　audience；　though　her　blouse

was　sticking　out　all　round　and　her　hair　was　not　fastened　up　and

the　children　were　yelling　a　pandemonium。

Gradually　breakfast　was　produced；　and　the　elder　girls　came

down　into　the　babel；　whilst　half…naked　children　flitted　round

like　the　wrong　ends　of　cherubs；　as　Gudrun　said；　watching　the

bare　little　legs　and　the　chubby　tails　appearing　and

disappearing。

Gradually　the　young　ones　were　captured；　and　nightdresses

finally　removed；　ready　for　the　clean　Sunday　shirt。　But　before

the　Sunday　shirt　was　slipped　over　the　fleecy　head；　away　darted

the　naked　body；　to　wallow　in　the　sheepskin　which　formed　the

parlour　rug；　whilst　the　mother　walked　after；　protesting　sharply；

holding　the　shirt　like　a　noose；　and　the　fathers　bronze　voice

rang　out；　and　the　naked　child　wallowing　on　its　back　in　the　deep

sheepskin　announced　gleefully：