第57部分(第1/7 頁)

She　spoke　with　some　contempt。

〃Yes；　I　do。　He　is　half　a　Pole；　and　a　Baron　too。　In　England　he

is　equivalent　to　a　Lord。　My　grandmother　was　his　father's

friend。〃

But　the　two　friends　were　hostile。　It　was　as　if　Ursula

wanted　to　divide　herself　from　her　acquaintances；　in

asserting　her　connection　with　Anton；　as　she　now　called　him。

He　came　a　good　deal　to　Cossethay；　because　her　mother　was　fond

of　him。　Anna　Brangwen　became　something　of　a　grande　dame

with　Skrebensky；　very　calm；　taking　things　for　granted。

〃Aren't　the　children　in　bed？〃　cried　Ursula　petulantly；　as　she

came　in　with　the　young　man。

〃They　will　be　in　bed　in　half　an　hour；〃　said　the　mother。

〃There　is　no　peace；〃　cried　Ursula。

〃The　children　must　live；　Ursula；〃　said　her　mother。

And　Skrebensky　was　against　Ursula　in　this。　Why　should　she　be

so　insistent？

But　then；　as　Ursula　knew；　he　did　not　have　the　perpetual

tyranny　of　young　children　about　him。　He　treated　her　mother　with

great　courtliness；　to　which　Mrs。　Brangwen　returned　an　easy；

friendly　hospitality。　Something　pleased　the　girl　in　her　mother's

calm　assumption　of　state。　It　seemed　impossible　to　abate　Mrs。

Brangwen's　position。　She　could　never　be　beneath　anyone　in　public

relation。　Between　Brangwen　and　Skrebensky　there　was　an

unbridgeable　silence。　Sometimes　the　two　men　made　a　slight

conversation；　but　there　was　no　interchange。　Ursula　rejoiced　to

see　her　father　retreating　into　himself　against　the　young

man。

She　was　proud　of　Skrebensky　in　the　house。　His　lounging；

languorous　indifference　irritated　her　and　yet　cast　a　spell　over

her。　She　knew　it　was　the　oute　of　a　spirit　of

l