第13部分(第5/7 頁)

istress。

Summer　came；　and　hay…harvest；　Anna　was　a　brown　elfish　mite

dancing　about。　Tilly　always　marvelled　over　her；　more　than　she

loved　her。

But　always　in　the　child　was　some　anxious　connection　with　the

mother。　So　long　as　Mrs。　Brangwen　was　all　right；　the　little　girl

played　about　and　took　very　little　notice　of　her。　But

corn…harvest　went　by；　the　autumn　drew　on；　and　the　mother；　the

later　months　of　her　pregnancy　beginning；　was　strange　and

detached；　Brangwen　began　to　knit　his　brows；　the　old；　unhealthy

uneasiness；　the　unskinned　susceptibility　came　on　the　child

again。　If　she　went　to　the　fields　with　her　father；　then；　instead

of　playing　about　carelessly；　it　was：

〃I　want　to　go　home。〃

〃Home；　why　tha's　nobbut　this　minute　e。〃

〃I　want　to　go　home。〃

〃What　for？　What　ails　thee？〃

〃I　want　my　mother。〃

〃Thy　mother！　Thy　mother　none　wants　thee。〃

〃I　want　to　go　home。〃

There　would　be　tears　in　a　moment。

〃Can　ter　find　t'road；　then？〃

And　he　watched　her　scudding；　silent　and　intent；　along　the

hedge…bottom；　at　a　steady；　anxious　pace；　till　she　turned　and　was

gone　through　the　gateway。　Then　he　saw　her　two　fields　off；　still

pressing　forward；　small　and　urgent。　His　face　was　clouded　as　he

turned　to　plough　up　the　stubble。

The　year　drew　on；　in　the　hedges　the　berries　shone　red　and

twinkling　above　bare　twigs；　robins　were　seen；　great　droves　of

birds　dashed　like　spray　from　the　fallow；　rooks　appeared；　black

and　flapping　down　to　earth；　the　ground　was　cold　as　he　pulled　the

turnips；　the　roads　were　churned　deep　in　mud。　Then　the　turnips

were　pitted　and　work　was　slack。

Inside　the　house　it　was　dar