第66部分(第4/7 頁)

There；　in　the　monstrous

mechanism　that　held　all　matter；　living　or　dead；　in　its　service；

did　she　achieve　her　consummation　and　her　perfect　unison；　her

immortality。

Hatred　sprang　up　in　Ursula's　heart。　If　she　could　she　would

smash　the　machine。　Her　soul's　action　should　be　the　smashing　of

the　great　machine。　If　she　could　destroy　the　colliery；　and　make

all　the　men　of　Wiggiston　out　of　work；　she　would　do　it。　Let　them

starve　and　grub　in　the　earth　for　roots；　rather　than　serve　such　a

Moloch　as　this。

She　hated　her　Uncle　Tom；　she　hated　Winifred　Inger。　They　went

down　to　the　summer…house　for　tea。　It　was　a　pleasant　place　among

a　few　trees；　at　the　end　of　a　tiny　garden；　on　the　edge　of　a

field。　Her　Uncle　Tom　and　Winifred　seemed　to　jeer　at　her；　to

cheapen　her。　She　was　miserable　and　desolate。　But　she　would　never

give　way。

Her　coldness　for　Winifred　should　never　cease。　She　knew　it　was

over　between　them。　She　saw　gross；　ugly　movements　in　her

mistress；　she　saw　a　clayey；　inert；　unquickened　flesh；　that

reminded　her　of　the　great　prehistoric　lizards。　One　day　her　Uncle

Tom　came　in　out　of　the　broiling　sunshine　heated　from　walking。

Then　the　perspiration　stood　out　upon　his　head　and　brow；　his　hand

was　wet　and　hot　and　suffocating　in　its　clasp。　He　too　had

something　marshy　about　him……the　succulent　moistness　and

turgidity；　and　the　same　brackish；　nauseating　effect　of　a　marsh；

where　life　and　decaying　are　one。

He　was　repellent　to　her；　who　was　so　dry　and　fine　in　her　fire。

Her　very　bones　seemed　to　bid　him　keep　his　distance　from　her。

It　was　in　these　weeks　that　Ursula　grew　up。　She　stayed　two

weeks　at　Wiggiston；　and　sh