第21部分(第1/7 頁)

Whilst　she　sat　in　taut　suspense；　the　laughter　rushed　back　at

her；　knowing　he　was　fumbling　in　his　pocket　to　shove　the　flower

away。

In　the　end；　she　felt　weak；　exhausted　and　thoroughly

depressed。　A　blankness　of　wincing　depression　came　over　her。　She

hated　the　presence　of　the　other　people。　Her　face　became　quite

haughty。　She　was　unaware　of　her　cousin　any　more。

When　the　collection　arrived　with　the　last　hymn；　her　cousin

was　again　singing　resoundingly。　And　still　it　amused　her。　In

spite　of　the　shameful　exhibition　she　had　made　of　herself；　it

amused　her　still。　She　listened　to　it　in　a　spell　of　amusement。

And　the　bag　was　thrust　in　front　of　her；　and　her　sixpence　was

mingled　in　the　folds　of　her　glove。　In　her　haste　to　get　it　out；

it　flipped　away　and　went　twinkling　in　the　next　pew。　She　stood

and　giggled。　She　could　not　help　it：　she　laughed　outright；　a

figure　of　shame。

〃What　were　you　laughing　about；　our　Anna？〃　asked　Fred；　the

moment　they　were　out　of　the　church。

〃Oh；　I　couldn't　help　it；〃　she　said；　in　her　careless；

half…mocking　fashion。　〃I　don't　know　why　Cousin　Will's

singing　set　me　off。〃

〃What　was　there　in　my　singing　to　make　you　laugh？〃　he

asked。

〃It　was　so　loud；〃　she　said。

They　did　not　look　at　each　other；　but　they　both　laughed　again；

both　reddening。

〃What　were　you　snorting　and　laughing　for；　our　Anna？〃　asked

Tom；　the　elder　brother；　at　the　dinner　table；　his　hazel　eyes

bright　with　joy。　〃Everybody　stopped　to　look　at　you。〃　Tom　was　in

the　choir。

She　was　aware　of　Will's　eyes　shining　steadily　upon　her；

waiting　for　her　to　speak。

〃It　was　Cousin　Will's　singing；〃　she　said。