小说园

第26部分（第2页）

〃Bodies　and　souls；　its　the　same；〃　said　Tom。

〃And　what　about　your　missis；　who　was　married　afore　you　knew

her？〃　asked　Alfred；　set　on　edge　by　this　discourse。

〃That　I　cant　tell　you。　If　I　am　to　bee　an　Angel；　itll　be

my　married　soul；　and　not　my　single　soul。　Itll　not　be　the　soul

of　me　when　I　was　a　lad：　for　I　hadnt　a　soul　as　would　make

an　Angel　then。〃

〃I　can　always　remember；〃　said　Franks　wife；　〃when　our　Harold

was　bad；　he　did　nothink　but　see　an　angel　at　th　back　o　th

lookin…glass。　Look；　mother；　e　said；　at　that　angel！　Theer

isnt　no　angel；　my　duck；　I　said；　but　he　wouldnt　have　it。　I

took　th　lookin…glass　offn　th　dressin…table；　but　it　made　no

difference。　He　kep　on　sayin　it　was　there。　My　word；　it　did　give

me　a　turn。　I　thought　for　sure　as　Id　lost　him。〃

〃I　can　remember；〃　said　another　man；　Toms　sisters　husband；

〃my　mother　gave　me　a　good　hidin　once；　for　sayin　Id　got　an

angel　up　my　nose。　She　seed　me　pokin；　an　she　said：　What　are

you　pokin　at　your　nose　for…give　over。　Theres　an　angel　up

it；　I　said；　an　she　fetched　me　such　a　wipe。　But　there　was。　We

used　to　call　them　thistle　things　angels　as　wafts　about。　An

Id　pushed　one　o　these　up　my　nose；　for　some　reason　or

other。〃

〃Its　wonderful　what　children　will　get　up　their　noses；〃　said

Franks　wife。　〃I　cn　remember　our　Hemmie；　she　shoved　one　o　them

bluebell　things　out　o　th　middle　of　a　bluebell；　what　they　call

candles；　up　her　nose；　and　oh；　we　had　some　work！　Id　seen　her

stickin　em　on　the　end　of　her　nose；　like；　but　I　never　thought

shed　be　so　soft　as　to　shove　it　right　up。　She　was　a　gel　of　eight

or　more。　Oh；　my　word；　we　got　a　crochet…hook　an　I　dont　know

what　。。。〃

Tom　Brangwens　mood　of　inspiration　began　to　pass　away。　He

forgot　all　about　it；　and　was　soon　roaring　and　shouting　with　the

rest。　Outside　the　wake　came；　singing　the　carols。　They　were

invited　into　the　bursting　house。　They　had　two　fiddles　and　a

piccolo。　There　in　the　parlour　they　played　carols；　and　the　whole

pany　sang　them　at　the　top　of　its　voice。　Only　the　bride　and

bridegroom　sat　with　shining　eyes　and　strange；　bright　faces；　and

scarcely　sang；　or　only　with　just　moving　lips。