第13部分(第4/7 頁)

ily。

〃Not　man　enough　yet；〃　he　said；　tying　the　ribbons　under　her

chin　with　clumsy　fingers。

She　held　up　her　face　to　him。　Her　little　bright…red　lips　moved

as　he　fumbled　under　her　chin。

〃You　talk……nonsents；〃　she　said；　re…echoing　one　of　his

phrases。

〃That　face　shouts　for　th'　pump；〃　he　said；　and　taking

out　a　big　red　handkerchief；　that　smelled　of　strong　tobacco；

began　wiping　round　her　mouth。

〃Is　Kitty　waiting　for　me？〃　she　asked。

〃Ay；〃　he　said。　〃Let's　finish　wiping　your　face……it'll

pass　wi'　a　cat…lick。〃

She　submitted　prettily。　Then；　when　he　let　her　go；　she　began

to　skip；　with　a　curious　flicking　up　of　one　leg　behind　her。

〃Now　my　young　buck…rabbit；〃　he　said。　〃Slippy！〃

She　came　and　was　shaken　into　her　coat；　and　the　two　set　off。

She　sat　very　close　beside　him　in　the　gig；　tucked　tightly；

feeling　his　big　body　sway；　against　her；　very　splendid。　She　loved

the　rocking　of　the　gig；　when　his　big；　live　body　swayed　upon　her；

against　her。　She　laughed；　a　poignant　little　shrill　laugh；　and

her　black　eyes　glowed。

She　was　curiously　hard；　and　then　passionately　tenderhearted。

Her　mother　was　ill；　the　child　stole　about　on　tip…toe　in　the

bedroom　for　hours；　being　nurse；　and　doing　the　thing　thoughtfully

and　diligently。　Another　day；　her　mother　was　unhappy。　Anna　would

stand　with　her　legs　apart；　glowering；　balancing　on　the　sides　of

her　slippers。　She　laughed　when　the　goslings　wriggled　in　Tilly's

hand；　as　the　pellets　of　food　were　rammed　down　their　throats　with

a　skewer；　she　laughed　nervously。　She　was　hard　and　imperious　with

the　animals；　squandering　no　love；　running　about　amongst　them

like　a　cruel　m