小说园

第3部分（第2页）

torn　to　pieces　rather　than　attempt　to　write　another　word。

He　soon　got　used　to　the　Grammar　School；　and　the　Grammar

School　got　used　to　him；　setting　him　down　as　a　hopeless　duffer　at

learning；　but　respecting　him　for　a　generous；　honest　nature。　Only

one　narrow；　domineering　fellow；　the　Latin　master；　bullied　him

and　made　the　blue　eyes　mad　with　shame　and　rage。　There　was　a

horrid　scene；　when　the　boy　laid　open　the　masters　head　with　a

slate；　and　then　things　went　on　as　before。　The　teacher　got　little

sympathy。　But　Brangwen　winced　and　could　not　bear　to　think　of　the

deed；　not　even　long　after；　when　he　was　a　grown　man。

He　was　glad　to　leave　school。　It　had　not　been　unpleasant；　he

had　enjoyed　the　panionship　of　the　other　youths；　or　had

thought　he　enjoyed　it；　the　time　had　passed　very　quickly；　in

endless　activity。　But　he　knew　all　the　time　that　he　was　in　an

ignominious　position；　in　this　place　of　learning。　He　was　aware　of

failure　all　the　while；　of　incapacity。　But　he　was　too　healthy　and

sanguine　to　be　wretched；　he　was　too　much　alive。　Yet　his　soul　was

wretched　almost　to　hopelessness。

He　had　loved　one　warm；　clever　boy　who　was　frail　in　body；　a

consumptive　type。　The　two　had　had　an　almost　classic　friendship；

David　and　Jonathan；　wherein　Brangwen　was　the　Jonathan；　the

server。　But　he　had　never　felt　equal　with　his　friend；　because　the

others　mind　outpaced　his；　and　left　him　ashamed；　far　in　the

rear。　So　the　two　boys　went　at　once　apart　on　leaving　school。　But

Brangwen　always　remembered　his　friend　that　had　been；　kept　him　as

a　sort　of　light；　a　fine　experience　to　remember。

Tom　Brangwen　was　glad　to　get　back　to　the　farm；　where　he　was

in　his　own　again。　〃I　have　got　a　turnip　on　my　shoulders；　let　me

stick　to　th　fallow；〃　he　said　to　his　exasperated　mother。　He　had

too　low　an　opinion　of　himself。　But　he　went　about　at　his　work　on

the　farm　gladly　enough；　glad　of　the　active　labour　and　the　smell

of　the　land　again；　having　youth　and　vigour　and　humour；　and　a

ic　wit；　having　the　will　and　the　power　to　forget　his　own

shortings；　finding　himself　violent　with　occasional　rages；　but

usually　on　good　terms　with　everybody　and　everything。

When　he　was　seventeen；　his　father　fell　from　a　stack　and　broke

his　neck。　Then　the　mother　and　son　and　daughter　lived　on　at　the

farm；　interrupted　by　occasional　loud…mouthed　lamenting；