第51部分(第5/7 頁)

slatternly；　with　her　thick；　dark　hair　loosely　coiled　and

slipping　over　one　ear；　or　the　father；　warm　and　fortable；　with

ruffled　black　hair　and　shirt　unbuttoned　at　the　neck。

Then　the　girls　upstairs　heard　the　continual：

〃Now　then；　Billy；　what　are　you　up　to？〃　in　the　father's

strong；　vibrating　voice：　or　the　mother's　dignified：

〃I　have　said；　Cassie；　I　will　not　have　it。〃

It　was　amazing　how　the　father's　voice　could　ring　out　like　a

gong；　without　his　being　in　the　least　moved；　and　how　the　mother

could　speak　like　a　queen　holding　an　audience；　though　her　blouse

was　sticking　out　all　round　and　her　hair　was　not　fastened　up　and

the　children　were　yelling　a　pandemonium。

Gradually　breakfast　was　produced；　and　the　elder　girls　came

down　into　the　babel；　whilst　half…naked　children　flitted　round

like　the　wrong　ends　of　cherubs；　as　Gudrun　said；　watching　the

bare　little　legs　and　the　chubby　tails　appearing　and

disappearing。

Gradually　the　young　ones　were　captured；　and　nightdresses

finally　removed；　ready　for　the　clean　Sunday　shirt。　But　before

the　Sunday　shirt　was　slipped　over　the　fleecy　head；　away　darted

the　naked　body；　to　wallow　in　the　sheepskin　which　formed　the

parlour　rug；　whilst　the　mother　walked　after；　protesting　sharply；

holding　the　shirt　like　a　noose；　and　the　father's　bronze　voice

rang　out；　and　the　naked　child　wallowing　on　its　back　in　the　deep

sheepskin　announced　gleefully：

〃I'm　bading　in　the　sea；　mother。〃

〃Why　should　I　walk　after　you　with　your　shirt？〃　said　the

mother。　〃Get　up　now。〃

〃I'm　bading　in　the　sea；　mother；〃　repeated　the　wallowing；

naked　figure。

〃We　say　bathing；　not　bading；〃　s