第26部分(第3/7 頁)

bluebell　things　out　o'　th'　middle　of　a　bluebell；　what　they　call

'candles'；　up　her　nose；　and　oh；　we　had　some　work！　I'd　seen　her

stickin'　'em　on　the　end　of　her　nose；　like；　but　I　never　thought

she'd　be　so　soft　as　to　shove　it　right　up。　She　was　a　gel　of　eight

or　more。　Oh；　my　word；　we　got　a　crochet…hook　an'　I　don't　know

what　。。。〃

Tom　Brangwen's　mood　of　inspiration　began　to　pass　away。　He

forgot　all　about　it；　and　was　soon　roaring　and　shouting　with　the

rest。　Outside　the　wake　came；　singing　the　carols。　They　were

invited　into　the　bursting　house。　They　had　two　fiddles　and　a

piccolo。　There　in　the　parlour　they　played　carols；　and　the　whole

pany　sang　them　at　the　top　of　its　voice。　Only　the　bride　and

bridegroom　sat　with　shining　eyes　and　strange；　bright　faces；　and

scarcely　sang；　or　only　with　just　moving　lips。

The　wake　departed；　and　the　guysers　came。　There　was　loud

applause；　and　shouting　and　excitement　as　the　old　mystery　play　of

St。　George；　in　which　every　man　present　had　acted　as　a　boy；

proceeded；　with　banging　and　thumping　of　club　and　dripping

pan。

〃By　Jove；　I　got　a　crack　once；　when　I　was　playin'　Beelzebub；〃

said　Tom　Brangwen；　his　eyes　full　of　water　with　laughing。　〃It

knocked　all　th'　sense　out　of　me　as　you'd　crack　an　egg。　But　I

tell　you；　when　I　e　to；　I　played　Old　Johnny　Roger　with　St。

George；　I　did　that。〃

He　was　shaking　with　laughter。　Another　knock　came　at　the　door。

There　was　a　hush。

〃It's　th'　cab；〃　said　somebody　from　the　door。

〃Walk　in；〃　shouted　Tom　Brangwen；　and　a　red…faced　grinning　man

entered。

〃Now；　you　two；　get　yourselves　ready　an'　off　to　blanket　fair；〃

shouted　Tom　Brangwen。　〃St