第14部分(第4/7 頁)

nning　with　grief　and

tears；　her　body　shaken。

〃Oh；　but　let　Tilly　undress　you。　Let　Tilly　undress　you；　who

loves　you；　don't　be　wilful　to…night。　Mother's　poorly；　she

doesn't　want　you　to　cry。〃

The　child　sobbed　distractedly；　she　could　not　hear。

〃I　want……my……mother；〃　she　wept。

〃When　you're　undressed；　you　s'll　go　up　to　see　your

mother……when　you're　undressed；　pet；　when　you've　let　Tilly

undress　you；　when　you're　a　little　jewel　in　your　nightie；　love。

Oh；　don't　you　cry；　don't　you……〃

Brangwen　sat　stiff　in　his　chair。　He　felt　his　brain　going

tighter。　He　crossed　over　the　room；　aware　only　of　the　maddening

sobbing。

〃Don't　make　a　noise；〃　he　said。

And　a　new　fear　shook　the　child　from　the　sound　of　his　voice。

She　cried　mechanically；　her　eyes　looking　watchful　through　her

tears；　in　terror；　alert　to　what　might　happen。

〃I　want……my……mother；〃　quavered　the　sobbing；　blind

voice。

A　shiver　of　irritation　went　over　the　man's　limbs。　It　was　the

utter；　persistent　unreason；　the　maddening　blindness　of　the　voice

and　the　crying。

〃You　must　e　and　be　undressed；〃　he　said；　in　a　quiet　voice

that　was　thin　with　anger。

And　he　reached　his　hand　and　grasped　her。　He　felt　her　body

catch　in　a　convulsive　sob。　But　he　too　was　blind；　and　intent；

irritated　into　mechanical　action。　He　began　to　unfasten　her

little　apron。　She　would　have　shrunk　from　him；　but　could　not。　So

her　small　body　remained　in　his　grasp；　while　he　fumbled　at　the

little　buttons　and　tapes；　unthinking；　intent；　unaware　of

anything　but　the　irritation　of　her。　Her　body　was　held　taut　and

resistant；　he　pushed　off　the　little　dress　and　the　petticoats；