第25部分(第7/7 頁)

ust　spread　himself　wordily。

〃Marriage；〃　he　began；　his　eyes　twinkling　and　yet　quite

profound；　for　he　was　deeply　serious　and　hugely　amused　at　the

same　time；　〃Marriage；〃　he　said；　speaking　in　the　slow；

full…mouthed　way　of　the　Brangwens；　〃is　what　we're　made

for〃

〃Let　him　talk；〃　said　Alfred　Brangwen；　slowly　and　inscrutably；

〃let　him　talk。〃　Mrs。　Alfred　darted　indignant　eyes　at　her

husband。

〃A　man；〃　continued　Tom　Brangwen；　〃enjoys　being　a　man：　for

what　purpose　was　he　made　a　man；　if　not　to　enjoy　it？〃

〃That　a　true　word；〃　said　Frank；　floridly。

〃And　likewise；〃　continued　Tom　Brangwen；　〃a　woman　enjoys　being

a　woman：　at　least　we　surmise　she　does〃

〃Oh；　don't　you　bother〃　called　a　farmer's

wife。

〃You　may　back　your　life　they'd　be　summisin'。〃　said　Frank's

wife。

〃Now；〃　continued　Tom　Brangwen；　〃for　a　man　to　be　a　man；　it

takes　a　woman〃

〃It　does　that；〃　said　a　woman　grimly。

〃And　for　a　woman　to　be　a　woman；　it　takes　a　man〃

continued　Tom　Brangwen。

〃All　speak　up；　men；〃　chimed　in　a　feminine　voice。

〃Therefore　we　have　marriage；〃　continued　Tom　Brangwen。

〃Hold；　hold；〃　said　Alfred　Brangwen。　〃Don't　run　us　off　our

legs。〃

And　in　dead　silence　the　glasses　were　filled。　The　bride　and

bridegroom；　two　children；　sat　with　intent；　shining　faces　at　the

head　of　the　table；　abstracted。

〃There's　no　marriage　in　heaven；〃　went　on　Tom　Brangwen；　〃but

on　earth　there　is　marriage。〃

〃That's　the　difference　between　'em；〃　said　Alfred　Brangwen；

mocking。

〃Alfred；〃　said　Tom　Brangwen；　〃keep　your　remarks　till

afterwards；　and　then　we'l