第14部分(第7/7 頁)

〃We'll　just　give　the　cows　their　something…to…eat；　afore　they

go　to　bed；〃　Brangwen　was　saying　to　her；　holding　her　close　and

sure。

There　was　a　trickling　of　water　into　the　butt；　a　burst　of

rain…drops　sputtering　on　to　her　shawl；　and　the　light　of　the

lantern　swinging；　flashing　on　a　wet　pavement　and　the　base　of　a

wet　wall。　Otherwise　it　was　black　darkness：　one　breathed

darkness。

He　opened　the　doors；　upper　and　lower；　and　they　entered　into

the　high；　dry　barn；　that　smelled　warm　even　if　it　were　not　warm。

He　hung　the　lantern　on　the　nail　and　shut　the　door。　They　were　in

another　world　now。　The　light　shed　softly　on　the　timbered　barn；

on　the　whitewashed　walls；　and　the　great　heap　of　hay；　instruments

cast　their　shadows　largely；　a　ladder　rose　to　the　dark　arch　of　a

loft。　Outside　there　was　the　driving　rain；　inside；　the

softly…illuminated　stillness　and　calmness　of　the　barn。

Holding　the　child　on　one　arm；　he　set　about　preparing　the　food

for　the　cows；　filling　a　pan　with　chopped　hay　and　brewer's　grains

and　a　little　meal。　The　child；　all　wonder；　watched　what　he　did。　A

new　being　was　created　in　her　for　the　new　conditions。　Sometimes；

a　little　spasm；　eddying　from　the　bygone　storm　of　sobbing；　shook

her　small　body。　Her　eyes　were　wide　and　wondering；　pathetic。　She

was　silent；　quite　still。

In　a　sort　of　dream；　his　heart　sunk　to　the　bottom；　leaving　the

surface　of　him　still；　quite　still；　he　rose　with　the　panful　of

food；　carefully　balancing　the　child　on　one　arm；　the　pan　in　the

other　hand。　The　silky　fringe　of　the　shawl　swayed　softly