第16部分(第2/7 頁)

se　to　〃You're　off

out　a　bit　then；〃　she　would　reply；　〃Yes；　we　are；〃　to　the　great

joy　of　all。　She　did　not　like　the　people　who　saluted　him　and　did

not　salute　her。

She　went　into　the　public…house　with　him；　if　he　had　to　call；

and　often　sat　beside　him　in　the　bar…parlour　as　he　drank　his　beer

or　brandy。　The　landladies　paid　court　to　her；　in　the　obsequious

way　landladies　have。

〃Well；　little　lady；　an'　what's　your　name？〃

〃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；　she's　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　I'm　a　fawce　little　thing？〃　the　small

girl　asked　afterwards。

〃She　means　you're　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；

can't　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