小说园

第59部分（第1页）

bustled　in　again。　Childrens　voices　were　heard。　A　thin　blue

smoke　ascended　from　the　cabin　chimney；　there　was　a　smell　of

cooking。

Ursula；　white　as　a　moth；　lingered　to　look。　Skrebensky

lingered　by　her。　The　man　glanced　up。

〃Good　evening；〃　he　called；　half　impudent；　half　attracted。　He

had　blue　eyes　which　glanced　impudently　from　his　grimy　face。

〃Good　evening；〃　said　Ursula；　delighted。　〃Isnt　it

nice　now？〃

〃Ay；〃　said　the　man；　〃very　nice。〃

His　mouth　was　red　under　his　ragged；　sandy　moustache。　His

teeth　were　white　as　he　laughed。

〃Oh；　but……〃　stammered　Ursula；　laughing；　〃it　is。　Why　do

you　say　it　as　if　it　werent？〃

〃Appen　for　them　as　is　childt…nursin　its　none　so　rosy。〃

〃May　I　look　inside　your　barge？〃　asked　Ursula。

〃Theres　nobodyll　stop　you；　you　e　if　you　like。〃

The　barge　lay　at　the　opposite　bank；　at　the　wharf。　It　was　the

Annabel；　belonging　to　J。　Ruth　of　Loughborough。　The　man

watched　Ursula　closely　from　his　keen；　twinkling　eyes。　His　fair

hair　was　wispy　on　his　grimed　forehead。　Two　dirty　children

appeared　to　see　who　was　talking。

Ursula　glanced　at　the　great　lock　gates。　They　were　shut；　and

the　water　was　sounding；　spurting　and　trickling　down　in　the　gloom

beyond。　On　this　side　the　bright　water　was　almost　to　the　top　of

the　gate。　She　went　boldly　across；　and　round　to　the　wharf。

Stooping　from　the　bank；　she　peeped　into　the　cabin；　where　was

a　red　glow　of　fire　and　the　shadowy　figure　of　a　woman。　She　did

want　to　go　down。

〃Youll　mess　your　frock；〃　said　the　man；　warningly。

〃Ill　be　careful；〃　she　answered。　〃May　I　e？〃

〃Ay；　e　if　you　like。〃

She　gathered　her　skirts；　lowered　her　foot　to　the　side　of　the

boat；　and　leapt　down；　laughing。　Coal…dust　flew　up。

The　woman　came　to　the　door。　She　was　plump　and　sandy…haired；

young；　with　an　odd；　stubby　nose。

〃Oh；　you　will　make　a　mess　of　yourself；〃　she　cried；

surprised　and　laughing　with　a　little　wonder。