第48部分(第4/7 頁)

elf　in　this　story…land。

〃Did　you　used　to　have　a　wreath　in　your　hair；

grandmother？〃

〃When　I　was　a　little　girl；　I　had　golden　hair；　something　like

Katie's。　Then　I　used　to　have　a　wreath　of　little　blue　flowers；

oh；　so　blue；　that　e　when　the　snow　is　gone。　Andrey；　the

coachman；　used　to　bring　me　the　very　first。〃

They　talked；　and　then　Tilly　brought　the　tea…tray；　set　for

two。　Ursula　had　a　special　green　and　gold　cup　kept　for　herself　at

the　Marsh。　There　was　thin　bread　and　butter；　and　cress　for　tea。

It　was　all　special　and　wonderful。　She　ate　very　daintily；　with

little　fastidious　bites。

〃Why　do　you　have　two　wedding…rings；　grandmother？……Must

you？〃　asked　the　child；　noticing　her　grandmother's　ivory　coloured

hand　with　blue　veins；　above　the　tray。

〃If　I　had　two　husbands；　child。〃

Ursula　pondered　a　moment。

〃Then　you　must　wear　both　rings　together？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Which　was　my　grandfather's　ring？〃

The　woman　hesitated。

〃This　grandfather　whom　you　knew？　This　was　his　ring；　the　red

one。　The　yellow　one　was　your　other　grandfather's　whom　you　never

knew。〃

Ursula　looked　interestedly　at　the　two　rings　on　the　proffered

finger。

〃Where　did　he　buy　it　you？〃　she　asked。

〃This　one？　In　Warsaw；　I　think。〃

〃You　didn't　know　my　own　grandfather　then？〃

〃Not　this　grandfather。〃

Ursula　pondered　this　fascinating　intelligence。

〃Did　he　have　white　whiskers　as　well？〃

〃No；　his　beard　was　dark。　You　have　his　brows；　I　think。〃

Ursula　ceased　and　became　self…conscious。　She　at　once

identified　herself　with　her　Polish　grandfather。

〃And　did　he　have　brown　eyes？〃

〃Yes；　dark　eyes。　He　was　a　clever　man；　as