第47部分(第3/7 頁)

〃I　know　your　father　is　drowned；〃　she　said；　in　a　curious

dismay。

The　flood　rose　through　the　night；　till　it　washed　the　kettle

off　the　hob　in　the　kitchen。　Mrs。　Brangwen　sat　alone　at　a　window

upstairs。　She　called　no　more。　The　men　were　busy　with　the　pigs

and　the　cattle。　They　were　ing　with　a　boat　for　her。

Towards　morning　the　rain　ceased；　the　stars　came　out　over　the

noise　and　the　terrifying　clucking　and　trickling　of　the　water。

Then　there　was　a　pallor　in　the　east；　the　light　began　to　e。　In

the　ruddy　light　of　the　dawn　she　saw　the　waters　spreading　out；

moving　sluggishly；　the　buildings　rising　out　of　a　waste　of　water。

Birds　began　to　sing；　drowsily；　and　as　if　slightly　hoarse　with

the　dawn。　It　grew　brighter。　Up　the　second　field　was　the　great；

raw　gap　in　the　canal　embankment。

Mrs。　Brangwen　went　from　window　to　window；　watching　the　flood。

Somebody　had　brought　a　little　boat。　The　light　grew　stronger；　the

red　gleam　was　gone　off　the　flood…waters；　day　took　place。　Mrs。

Brangwen　went　from　the　front　of　the　house　to　the　back；　looking

out；　intent　and　unrelaxing；　on　the　pallid　morning　of　spring。

She　saw　a　glimpse　of　her　husband's　buff　coat　in　the　floods；

as　the　water　rolled　the　body　against　the　garden　hedge。　She

called　to　the　men　in　the　boat。　She　was　glad　he　was　found。　They

dragged　him　out　of　the　hedge。　They　could　not　lift　him　into　the

boat。　Fred　Brangwen　jumped　into　the　water；　up　to　his　waist；　and

half　carried　the　body　of　his　father　through　the　flood　to　the

road。　Hay　and　twigs　and　dirt　were　in　the　beard　and　hair。　The

youth　pushed　through　the　water　crying　loudly　without　tears；　like

a　stricken　animal。　The　moth