第6部分(第3/7 頁)

When　the　service　was　over；　he　walked　in　the　way　of　another

existence　out　of　the　church。　As　he　went　down　the　church…path

with　his　sister；　behind　the　woman　and　child；　the　little　girl

suddenly　broke　from　her　mother's　hand；　and　slipped　back　with

quick；　almost　invisible　movement；　and　was　picking　at　something

almost　under　Brangwen's　feet。　Her　tiny　fingers　were　fine　and

quick；　but　they　missed　the　red　button。

〃Have　you　found　something？〃　said　Brangwen　to　her。

And　he　also　stooped　for　the　button。　But　she　had　got　it；　and

she　stood　back　with　it　pressed　against　her　little　coat；　her

black　eyes　flaring　at　him；　as　if　to　forbid　him　to　notice　her。

Then；　having　silenced　him；　she　turned　with　a　swift

〃Mother；〃　and　was　gone　down　the　path。

The　mother　had　stood　watching　impassive；　looking　not　at　the

child；　but　at　Brangwen。　He　became　aware　of　the　woman　looking　at

him；　standing　there　isolated　yet　for　him　dominant　in　her　foreign

existence。

He　did　not　know　what　to　do；　and　turned　to　his　sister。　But　the

wide　grey　eyes；　almost　vacant　yet　so　moving；　held　him　beyond

himself。

〃Mother；　I　may　have　it；　mayn't　I？〃　came　the　child's　proud；

silvery　tones。　〃Mother〃…she　seemed　always　to　be　calling　her

mother　to　remember　her…〃mother〃…and　she　had　nothing　to　continue

now　her　mother　had　replied　〃Yes；　my　child。〃　But；　with　ready

invention；　the　child　stumbled　and　ran　on；　〃What　are　those

people's　names？〃

Brangwen　heard　the　abstract：

〃I　don't　know；　dear。〃

He　went　on　down　the　road　as　if　he　were　not　living　inside

himself；　but　somewhere　outside。

〃Who　was　that　person？〃　his　sister　Effie　asked。

〃I　couldn't　tel