小说园

第16部分（第2页）

〃Anna　Brangwen；〃　came　the　immediate；　haughty　answer。

〃Indeed　it　is！　An　do　you　like　driving　in　a　trap　with　your

father？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Anna；　shy；　but　bored　by　these　inanities。　She　had

a　touch…me…not　way　of　blighting　the　inane　inquiries　of　grown…up

people。

〃My　word；　shes　a　fawce　little　thing；〃　the　landlady　would　say

to　Brangwen。

〃Ay；〃　he　answered；　not　encouraging　ments　on　the　child。

Then　there　followed　the　present　of　a　biscuit；　or　of　cake；　which

Anna　accepted　as　her　dues。

〃What　does　she　say；　that　Im　a　fawce　little　thing？〃　the　small

girl　asked　afterwards。

〃She　means　youre　a　sharp…shins。〃

Anna　hesitated。　She　did　not　understand。　Then　she　laughed　at

some　absurdity　she　found。

Soon　he　took　her　every　week　to　market　with　him。　〃I　can　e；

cant　I？〃　she　asked　every　Saturday；　or　Thursday　morning；　when　he

made　himself　look　fine　in　his　dress　of　a　gentleman　farmer。　And

his　face　clouded　at　having　to　refuse　her。

So　at　last；　he　overcame　his　own　shyness；　and　tucked　her

beside　him。　They　drove　into　Nottingham　and　put　up　at　the　〃Black

Swan〃。　So　far　all　right。　Then　he　wanted　to　leave　her　at　the　inn。

But　he　saw　her　face；　and　knew　it　was　impossible。　So　he　mustered

his　courage；　and　set　off　with　her；　holding　her　hand；　to　the

cattle…market。

She　stared　in　bewilderment；　flitting　silent　at　his　side。　But

in　the　cattle…market　she　shrank　from　the　press　of　men；　all　men；

all　in　heavy；　filthy　boots；　and　leathern　leggins。　And　the　road

underfoot　was　all　nasty　with　cow…muck。　And　it　frightened　her　to

see　the　cattle　in　the　square　pens；　so　many　horns；　and　so　little

enclosure；　and　such　a　madness　of　men　and　a　yelling　of　drovers。

Also　she　felt　her　father　was　embarrassed　by　her；　and

ill…at…ease。

He　brought　her　a　cake　at　the　refreshment…booth；　and　set　her

on　a　seat。　A　man　hailed　him。

〃Good　morning；　Tom。　That　thine；　then？〃……and　the