第13部分(第3/7 頁)

longing　to　the

household；　never　as　a　person。

For　the　first　weeks；　the　black　eyes　of　the　child　were　for

ever　on　the　watch。　Brangwen；　good…humoured　but　impatient；

spoiled　by　Tilly；　was　an　easy　blusterer。　If　for　a　few　minutes　he

upset　the　household　with　his　noisy　impatience；　he　found　at　the

end　the　child　glowering　at　him　with　intense　black　eyes；　and　she

was　sure　to　dart　forward　her　little　head；　like　a　serpent；　with

her　biting：

〃Go　away。〃

〃I'm　not　going　away；〃　he　shouted；　irritated　at　last。

〃Go　yourself……hustle……stir　thysen……hop。〃　And　he

pointed　to　the　door。　The　child　backed　away　from　him；　pale　with

fear。　Then　she　gathered　up　courage；　seeing　him　bee

patient。

〃We　don't　live　with　you；〃　she　said；　thrusting　forward

her　little　head　at　him。　〃You……you're……you're　a

bomakle。〃

〃A　what？〃　he　shouted。

Her　voice　wavered……but　it　came。

〃A　bomakle。〃

〃Ay；　an'　you're　a　akle。〃

She　meditated。　Then　she　hissed　forwards　her　head。

〃I'm　not。〃

〃Not　what？〃

〃A　akle。〃

〃No　more　am　I　a　bomakle。〃

He　was　really　cross。

Other　times　she　would　say：

〃My　mother　doesn't　live　here。〃

〃Oh；　ay？〃

〃I　want　her　to　go　away。〃

〃Then　want's　your　portion；〃　he　replied　laconically。

So　they　drew　nearer　together。　He　would　take　her　with　him　when

he　went　out　in　the　trap。　The　horse　ready　at　the　gate；　he　came

noisily　into　the　house；　which　seemed　quiet　and　peaceful　till　he

appeared　to　set　everything　awake。

〃Now　then；　Topsy；　pop　into　thy　bonnet。〃

The　child　drew　herself　up；　resenting　the　indignity　of　the

address。

〃I　can't　fasten　my　bonnet　myself；〃　she　said　haught