第11部分(第3/7 頁)

expectantly；　like　a　man　who　goes　to　a　profound；　unknown

satisfaction。　At　dinner…time；　he　appeared　in　the　doorway；

hanging　back　a　moment　from　entering；　to　see　if　she　was　there。　He

saw　her　setting　the　plates　on　the　white…scrubbed　table。　Her　arms

were　slim；　she　had　a　slim　body　and　full　skirts；　she　had　a　dark；

shapely　head　with　close…banded　hair。　Somehow　it　was　her　head；　so

shapely　and　poignant；　that　revealed　her　his　woman　to　him。　As　she

moved　about　clothed　closely；　full…skirted　and　wearing　her　little

silk　apron；　her　dark　hair　smoothly　parted；　her　head　revealed

itself　to　him　in　all　its　subtle；　intrinsic　beauty；　and　he　knew

she　was　his　woman；　he　knew　her　essence；　that　it　was　his　to

possess。　And　he　seemed　to　live　thus　in　contact　with　her；　in

contact　with　the　unknown；　the　unaccountable　and

incalculable。

They　did　not　take　much　notice　of　each　other；　consciously。

〃I'm　betimes；〃　he　said。

〃Yes；〃　she　answered。

He　turned　to　the　dogs；　or　to　the　child　if　she　was　there。　The

little　Anna　played　about　the　farm；　flitting　constantly　in　to

call　something　to　her　mother；　to　fling　her　arms　round　her

mother's　skirts；　to　be　noticed；　perhaps　caressed；　then；

forgetting；　to　slip　out　again。

Then　Brangwen；　talking　to　the　child；　or　to　the　dog　between

his　knees；　would　be　aware　of　his　wife；　as；　in　her　tight；　dark

bodice　and　her　lace　fichu；　she　was　reaching　up　to　the　corner

cupboard。　He　realized　with　a　sharp　pang　that　she　belonged　to

him；　and　he　to　her。　He　realized　that　he　lived　by　her。　Did　he　own

her？　Was　she　here　for　ever？　Or　might　she　go　away？　She　was　not

really　his；　it　was　not　a　real　marriage；　this　marri