第36部分(第3/7 頁)

suffered；　but　was　all　the　time　curiously　alive　and　vital。　She

felt　so　powerfully　alive　and　in　the　hands　of　such　a　masterly

force　of　life；　that　her　bottom…most　feeling　was　one　of

exhilaration。　She　knew　she　was　winning；　winning；　she　was　always

winning；　with　each　onset　of　pain　she　was　nearer　to　victory。

Probably　he　suffered　more　than　she　did。　He　was　not　shocked　or

horrified。　But　he　was　screwed　very　tight　in　the　vise　of

suffering。

It　was　a　girl。　The　second　of　silence　on　her　face　when　they

said　so　showed　him　she　was　disappointed。　And　a　great　blazing

passion　of　resentment　and　protest　sprang　up　in　his　heart。　In

that　moment　he　claimed　the　child。

But　when　the　milk　came；　and　the　infant　sucked　her　breast；　she

seemed　to　be　leaping　with　extravagant　bliss。

〃It　sucks　me；　it　sucks　me；　it　likes　me……oh；　it　loves

it！〃　she　cried；　holding　the　child　to　her　breast　with　her　two

hands　covering　it；　passionately。

And　in　a　few　moments；　as　she　became　used　to　her　bliss；　she

looked　at　the　youth　with　glowing；　unseeing　eyes；　and　said：

〃Anna　Victrix。〃

He　went　away；　trembling；　and　slept。　To　her；　her　pains　were

the　wound…smart　of　a　victor；　she　was　the　prouder。

When　she　was　well　again　she　was　very　happy。　She　called　the

baby　Ursula。　Both　Anna　and　her　husband　felt　they　must　have　a

name　that　gave　them　private　satisfaction。　The　baby　was　tawny

skinned；　it　had　a　curious　downy　skin；　and　wisps　of　bronze　hair；

and　the　yellow　grey　eyes　that　wavered；　and　then　became

golden…brown　like　the　father's。　So　they　called　her　Ursula

because　of　the　picture　of　the　saint。

It　was　a　rather　delicate　baby　at　first；　but　soon　it