第66部分(第5/7 頁)

e　hated　it。　All　was　grey；　dry　ash；

cold　and　dead　and　ugly。　But　she　stayed。　She　stayed　also　to　get

rid　of　Winifred。　The　girl's　hatred　and　her　sense　of

repulsiveness　in　her　mistress　and　in　her　uncle　seemed　to　throw

the　other　two　together。　They　drew　together　as　if　against

her。

In　hardness　and　bitterness　of　soul；　Ursula　knew　that　Winifred

was　bee　her　uncle's　lover。　She　was　glad。　She　had　loved　them

both。　Now　she　wanted　to　be　rid　of　them　both。　Their　marshy；

bitter…sweet　corruption　came　sick　and　unwholesome　in　her

nostrils。　Anything；　to　get　out　of　the　foetid　air。　She　would

leave　them　both　for　ever；　leave　for　ever　their　strange；　soft；

half…corrupt　element。　Anything　to　get　away。

One　night　Winifred　came　all　burning　into　Ursula's　bed；　and

put　her　arms　round　the　girl；　holding　her　to　herself　in　spite　of

unwillingness；　and　said；

〃Dear；　my　dear……shall　I　marry　Mr。　Brangwen……shall

I？〃

The　clinging；　heavy；　muddy　question　weighed　on　Ursula

intolerably。

〃Has　he　asked　you？〃　she　said；　using　all　her　might　of　hard

resistance。

〃He's　asked　me；〃　said　Winifred。　〃Do　you　want　me　to　marry　him；

Ursula？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Ursula。

The　arms　tightened　more　on　her。

〃I　knew　you　did；　my　sweet……and　I　will　marry　him。　You're

fond　of　him；　aren't　you？〃

〃I've　been　awfully　fond　of　him……ever　since　I　was

a　child。〃

〃I　know……I　know。　I　can　see　what　you　like　in　him。　He　is　a

man　by　himself；　he　has　something　apart　from　the　rest。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Ursula。

〃But　he's　not　like　you；　my　dear……ha；　he's　not　as　good　as

you。　There's　something　even　objectionable　in　him……his　thick

thighs……〃

Ursula