第24部分(第5/7 頁)

　How　she　clutched　him　to　her；　his　body　the　central　body

of　all　life。　Out　of　the　rock　of　his　form　the　very　fountain　of

life　flowed。

But　to　him；　she　was　a　flame　that　consumed　him。　The　flame

flowed　up　his　limbs；　flowed　through　him；　till　he　was　consumed；

till　he　existed　only　as　an　unconscious；　dark　transit　of　flame；

deriving　from　her。

Sometimes；　in　the　darkness；　a　cow　coughed。　There　was；　in　the

darkness；　a　slow　sound　of　cud　chewing。　And　it　all　seemed　to　flow

round　them　and　upon　them　as　the　hot　blood　flows　through　the

womb；　laving　the　unborn　young。

Sometimes；　when　it　was　cold；　they　stood　to　be　lovers　in　the

stables；　where　the　air　was　warm　and　sharp　with　ammonia。　And

during　these　dark　vigils；　he　learned　to　know　her；　her　body

against　his；　they　drew　nearer　and　nearer　together；　the　kisses

came　more　subtly　close　and　fitting。　So　when　in　the　thick

darkness　a　horse　suddenly　scrambled　to　its　feet；　with　a　dull；

thunderous　sound；　they　listened　as　one　person　listening；　they

knew　as　one　person；　they　were　conscious　of　the　horse。

Tom　Brangwen　had　taken　them　a　cottage　at　Cossethay；　on　a

twenty…one　years'　lease。　Will　Brangwen's　eyes　lit　up　as　he　saw

it。　It　was　the　cottage　next　the　church；　with　dark　yew…trees；

very　black　old　trees；　along　the　side　of　the　house　and　the　grassy

front　garden；　a　red；　squarish　cottage　with　a　low　slate　roof；　and

low　windows。　It　had　a　long　dairy…scullery；　a　big　flagged

kitchen；　and　a　low　parlour；　that　went　up　one　step　from　the

kitchen。　There　were　whitewashed　beams　across　the　ceilings；　and

odd　corners　with　cupboards。　Looking　out　through　the　windows；

there　was　the　grassy　garden