第15部分(第4/7 頁)

m　and　he　was　overe。　He　turned　away　indoors；　humbly。　There

was　the　infinite　world；　eternal；　unchanging；　as　well　as　the

world　of　life。

CHAPTER　III

CHILDHOOD　OF　ANNA　LENSKY

Tom　Brangwen　never　loved　his　own　son　as　he　loved　his

stepchild　Anna。　When　they　told　him　it　was　a　boy；　he　had　a　thrill

of　pleasure。　He　liked　the　confirmation　of　fatherhood。　It　gave

him　satisfaction　to　know　he　had　a　son。　But　he　felt　not　very　much

outgoing　to　the　baby　itself。　He　was　its　father；　that　was

enough。

He　was　glad　that　his　wife　was　mother　of　his　child。　She　was

serene；　a　little　bit　shadowy；　as　if　she　were　transplanted。　In

the　birth　of　the　child　she　seemed　to　lose　connection　with　her

former　self。　She　became　now　really　English；　really　Mrs。

Brangwen。　Her　vitality；　however；　seemed　lowered。

She　was　still；　to　Brangwen；　immeasurably　beautiful。　She　was

still　passionate；　with　a　flame　of　being。　But　the　flame　was　not

robust　and　present。　Her　eyes　shone；　her　face　glowed　for　him；　but

like　some　flower　opened　in　the　shade；　that　could　not　bear　the

full　light。　She　loved　the　baby。　But　even　this；　with　a　sort　of

dimness；　a　faint　absence　about　her；　a　shadowiness　even　in　her

mother…love。　When　Brangwen　saw　her　nursing　his　child；　happy；

absorbed　in　it；　a　pain　went　over　him　like　a　thin　flame。　For　he

perceived　how　he　must　subdue　himself　in　his　approach　to　her。　And

he　wanted　again　the　robust；　moral　exchange　of　love　and　passion

such　as　he　had　had　at　first　with　her；　at　one　time　and　another；

when　they　were　matched　at　their　highest　intensity。　This　was　the

one　experience　for　him　now。　And　he　wanted　it；　always；　with

remorseless　cravi