第68部分(第2/7 頁)

ife's　money　and　his

own　they　had　four　hundred　a　year。　They　could　draw　on　the　capital

if　need　be　later　on。　He　was　not　afraid　for　his　old　age。　His

daughters　might　be　ladies。

Fifty　pounds　a　year　was　a　pound　a　week……which　was　enough

for　her　to　live　on　independently。

〃And　what　sort　of　a　teacher　do　you　think　you'd　make？　You

haven't　the　patience　of　a　Jack…gnat　with　your　own　brothers　and

sisters；　let　alone　with　a　class　of　children。　And　I　thought　you

didn't　like　dirty；　board…school　brats。〃

〃They're　not　all　dirty。〃

〃You'd　find　they're　not　all　clean。〃

There　was　silence　in　the　workshop。　The　lamplight　fell　on　the

burned　silver　bowl　that　lay　between　him；　on　mallet　and　furnace

and　chisel。　Brangwen　stood　with　a　queer；　catlike　light　on　his

face；　almost　like　a　smile。　But　it　was　no　smile。

〃Can　I　try？〃　she　said。

〃You　can　do　what　the　deuce　you　like；　and　go　where　you

like。〃

Her　face　was　fixed　and　expressionless　and　indifferent。　It

always　sent　him　to　a　pitch　of　frenzy　to　see　it　like　that。　He

kept　perfectly　still。

Cold；　without　any　betrayal　of　feeling；　she　turned　and　left

the　shed。　He　worked　on；　with　all　his　nerves　jangled。　Then　he　had

to　put　down　his　tools　and　go　into　the　house。

In　a　bitter　tone　of　anger　and　contempt　he　told　his　wife。

Ursula　was　present。　There　was　a　brief　altercation；　closed　by

Mrs。　Brangwen's　saying；　in　a　tone　of　biting　superiority　and

indifference：

〃Let　her　find　out　what　it's　like。　She'll　soon　have　had

enough。〃

The　matter　was　left　there。　But　Ursula　considered　herself　free

to　act。　For　some　days　she　made　no　move。　She　was　reluctant　to

take　the　cruel