第22部分(第3/7 頁)

sat　in　fat

bunches　on　the　perches；　the　red　bs　shining　like　fire。　Bright；

sharp　eyes　opened。　There　was　a　sharp　crawk　of　expostulation　as

one　of　the　hens　shifted　over。　The　cock　sat　watching；　his　yellow

neck…feathers　bright　as　glass。　Anna　went　across　the　dirty　floor。

Brangwen　crouched　in　the　loft　watching。　The　light　was　soft　under

the　red；　naked　tiles。　The　girl　crouched　in　a　corner。　There　was

another　explosive　bustle　of　a　hen　springing　from　her　perch。

Anna　came　back；　stooping　under　the　perches。　He　was　waiting

for　her　near　the　door。　Suddenly　she　had　her　arms　round　him；　was

clinging　close　to　him；　cleaving　her　body　against　his；　and

crying；　in　a　whispering；　whimpering　sound。

〃Will；　I　love　you；　I　love　you；　Will；　I　love　you。〃　It　sounded

as　if　it　were　tearing　her。

He　was　not　even　very　much　surprised。　He　held　her　in　his　arms；

and　his　bones　melted。　He　leaned　back　against　the　wall。　The　door

of　the　loft　was　open。　Outside；　the　rain　slanted　by　in　fine；

steely；　mysterious　haste；　emerging　out　of　the　gulf　of　darkness。

He　held　her　in　his　arms；　and　he　and　she　together　seemed　to　be

swinging　in　big；　swooping　oscillations；　the　two　of　them　clasped

together　up　in　the　darkness。　Outside　the　open　door　of　the　loft

in　which　they　stood；　beyond　them　and　below　them；　was　darkness；

with　a　travelling　veil　of　rain。

〃I　love　you；　Will；　I　love　you；〃　she　moaned；　〃I　love　you；

Will。〃

He　held　her　as　thought　they　were　one；　and　was　silent。

In　the　house；　Tom　Brangwen　waited　a　while。　Then　he　got　up　and

went　out。　He　went　down　the　yard。　He　saw　the　curious　misty　shaft

ing　from　the　loft　door。　He　scarcely　knew　it　was　the　light　in