第33部分(第2/7 頁)

〃I'll　back　my　life；　if　you　can　do　nowt　else；　you　can　make　him

as　miserable　as　a　dog。　You'd　be　a　dab　hand　at　that；　my

lass。〃

〃I　do　nothing　to　make　him　miserable；〃　she　retorted。

〃Oh　no……oh　no！　A　packet　o'　butterscotch；　you　are。〃

She　laughed　a　little。

〃You　mustn't　think　I　want　him　to　be　miserable；〃　she

cried。　〃I　don't。〃

〃We　quite　readily　believe　it；〃　retorted　Brangwen。　〃Neither　do

you　intend　him　to　be　hopping　for　joy　like　a　fish　in　a　pond。〃

This　made　her　think。　She　was　rather　surprised　to　find　that

she　did　not　intend　her　husband　to　be　hopping　for　joy　like

a　fish　in　a　pond。

Her　mother　came；　and　they　all　sat　down　to　tea；　talking

casually。

〃Remember；　child；〃　said　her　mother；　〃that　everything　is　not

waiting　for　your　hand　just　to　take　or　leave。　You　mustn't

expect　it。　Between　two　people；　the　love　itself　is　the　important

thing；　and　that　is　neither　you　nor　him。　It　is　a　third　thing　you

must　create。　You　mustn't　expect　it　to　be　just　your　way。〃

〃Ha…nor　do　I。　If　I　did　I　should　soon　find　my　mistake　out。　If

I　put　my　hand　out　to　take　anything；　my　hand　is　very　soon

bitten；　I　can　tell　you。〃

〃Then　you　must　mind　where　you　put　your　hand；〃　said　her

father。

Anna　was　rather　indignant　that　they　took　the　tragedy　of　her

young　married　life　ity。

〃You　love　the　man　right　enough；〃　said　her　father；　wrinkling

his　forehead　in　distress。　〃That's　all　as　counts。〃

〃I　do　love　him；　more　shame　to　him；〃　she　cried。　〃I　want

to　tell　him……I've　been　waiting　for　four　days　now　to　tell

him〃　her　face　began　to　quiver；　the　tears　came。　Her

parents　watched　her　in　silence。　She　did　not　go　on。

〃Tell　him