第53部分(第2/7 頁)

　sign。　As　evening

drew　on；　hearts　beat　fast　with　anticipation；　hands　were　full　of

ready　gifts。　There　were　the　tremulously　expectant　words　of　the

church　service；　the　night　was　past　and　the　morning　was　e；　the

gifts　were　given　and　received；　joy　and　peace　made　a　flapping　of

wings　in　each　heart；　there　was　a　great　burst　of　carols；　the

Peace　of　the　World　had　dawned；　strife　had　passed　away；　every

hand　was　linked　in　hand；　every　heart　was　singing。

It　was　bitter；　though；　that　Christmas　Day；　as　it　drew　on　to

evening；　and　night；　became　a　sort　of　bank　holiday；　flat　and

stale。　The　morning　was　so　wonderful；　but　in　the　afternoon　and

evening　the　ecstasy　perished　like　a　nipped　thing；　like　a　bud　in

a　false　spring。　Alas；　that　Christmas　was　only　a　domestic　feast；

a　feast　of　sweetmeats　and　toys！　Why　did　not　the　grown…ups　also

change　their　everyday　hearts；　and　give　way　to　ecstasy？　Where　was

the　ecstasy？

How　passionately　the　Brangwens　craved　for　it；　the　ecstasy。

The　father　was　troubled；　dark…faced　and　disconsolate；　on

Christmas　night；　because　the　passion　was　not　there；　because　the

day　was　bee　as　every　day；　and　hearts　were　not　aflame。　Upon

the　mother　was　a　kind　of　absentness；　as　ever；　as　if　she　were

exiled　for　all　her　life。　Where　was　the　fiery　heart　of　joy；　now

the　ing　was　fulfilled；　where　was　the　star；　the　Magi's

transport；　the　thrill　of　new　being　that　shook　the　earth？

Still　it　was　there；　even　if　it　were　faint　and　inadequate。　The

cycle　of　creation　still　wheeled　in　the　Church　year。　After

Christmas；　the　ecstasy　slowly　sank　and　changed。　Sunday　followed

Sunday；　trailing　a　fine　movement；　a　finely　developed