第46部分(第2/7 頁)

tend。

His　family　understood　that　he　would　enjoy　himself。

The　season　had　been　rainy　and　dreary。　In　the　evening　it　was

pouring　with　rain。　Fred　Brangwen；　unsettled；　uneasy；　did　not　go

out；　as　was　his　wont。　He　smoked　and　read　and　fidgeted；　hearing

always　the　trickling　of　water　outside。　This　wet；　black　night

seemed　to　cut　him　off　and　make　him　unsettled；　aware　of　himself；

aware　that　he　wanted　something　else；　aware　that　he　was　scarcely

living。　There　seemed　to　him　to　be　no　root　to　his　life；　no　place

for　him　to　get　satisfied　in。　He　dreamed　of　going　abroad。　But　his

instinct　knew　that　change　of　place　would　not　solve　his　problem。

He　wanted　change；　deep；　vital　change　of　living。　And　he　did　not

know　how　to　get　it。

Tilly；　an　old　woman　now；　came　in　saying　that　the　labourers

who　had　been　suppering　up　said　the　yard　and　everywhere　was　just

a　slew　of　water。　He　heard　in　indifference。　But　he　hated　a

desolate；　raw　wetness　in　the　world。　He　would　leave　the

Marsh。

His　mother　was　in　bed。　At　last　he　shut　his　book；　his　mind　was

blank；　he　walked　upstairs　intoxicated　with　depression　and　anger；

and；　intoxicated　with　depression　and　anger；　locked　himself　into

sleep。

Tilly　set　slippers　before　the　kitchen　fire；　and　she　also　went

to　bed；　leaving　the　door　unlocked。　Then　the　farm　was　in

darkness；　in　the　rain。

At　eleven　o'clock　it　was　still　raining。　Tom　Brangwen　stood　in

the　yard　of　the　〃Angel〃；　Nottingham；　and　buttoned　his　coat。

〃Oh；　well；〃　he　said　cheerfully；　〃it's　rained　on　me　before。

Put　'er　in；　Jack；　my　lad；　put　her　in……Tha'rt　a　rare　old

cock；　Jacky…boy；　wi'　a　belly　on　thee　as　does　credit　to　thy

dri