第50部分(第2/7 頁)

had　e

from　so　far　and　was　centred　in　so　wide　an　horizon：　people　must

e　up　to　these　standards　before　they　could　be　Ursula's

people。

So　even　as　a　girl　of　twelve　she　was　glad　to　burst　the　narrow

boundary　of　Cossethay；　where　only　limited　people　lived。　Outside；

was　all　vastness；　and　a　throng　of　real；　proud　people　whom　she

would　love。

Going　to　school　by　train；　she　must　leave　home　at　a　quarter　to

eight　in　the　morning；　and　she　did　not　arrive　again　till

half…past　five　at　evening。　Of　this　she　was　glad；　for　the　house

was　small　and　overful。　It　was　a　storm　of　movement；　whence　there

had　been　no　escape。　She　hated　so　much　being　in　charge。

The　house　was　a　storm　of　movement。　The　children　were　healthy

and　turbulent；　the　mother　only　wanted　their　animal　well…being。

To　Ursula；　as　she　grew　a　little　older；　it　became　a　nightmare。

When　she　saw；　later；　a　Rubens　picture　with　storms　of　naked

babies；　and　found　this　was　called　〃Fecundity〃；　she　shuddered；

and　the　world　became　abhorrent　to　her。　She　knew　as　a　child　what

it　was　to　live　amidst　storms　of　babies；　in　the　heat　and　swelter

of　fecundity。　And　as　a　child；　she　was　against　her　mother；

passionately　against　her　mother；　she　craved　for　some

spirituality　and　stateliness。

In　bad　weather；　home　was　a　bedlam。　Children　dashed　in　and　out

of　the　rain；　to　the　puddles　under　the　dismal　yew　trees；　across

the　wet　flagstones　of　the　kitchen；　whilst　the　cleaning…woman

grumbled　and　scolded；　children　were　swarming　on　the　sofa；

children　were　kicking　the　piano　in　the　parlour；　to　make　it　sound

like　a　beehive；　children　were　rolling　on　the　hearthrug；　legs　in

air；　pulling　a　bo