第6部分(第5/7 頁)

cry　from　the　distance。

He　shouted　his　question　again。

〃We've　got　what's　on　t'　table；〃　answered　Tilly's　shrill　voice

out　of　the　dairy。

Brangwen　looked　at　the　table。　There　was　a　large　pat　of　butter

on　a　plate；　almost　a　pound。　It　was　round；　and　stamped　with

acorns　and　oak…leaves。

〃Can't　you　e　when　you're　wanted？〃　he　shouted。

〃Why；　what　d'you　want？〃　Tilly　protested；　as　she　came　peeking

inquisitively　through　the　other　door。

She　saw　the　strange　woman；　stared　at　her　with　cross…eyes；　but

said　nothing。

〃Haven't　we　any　butter？〃　asked　Brangwen　again；

impatiently；　as　if　he　could　mand　some　by　his　question。

〃I　tell　you　there's　what's　on　t'　table；〃　said　Tilly；

impatient　that　she　was　unable　to　create　any　to　his　demand。　〃We

haven't　a　morsel　besides。〃

There　was　a　moment's　silence。

The　stranger　spoke；　in　her　curiously　distinct；　detached

manner　of　one　who　must　think　her　speech　first。

〃Oh；　then　thank　you　very　much。　I　am　sorry　that　I　have　e　to

trouble　you。〃

She　could　not　understand　the　entire　lack　of　manners；　was

slightly　puzzled。　Any　politeness　would　have　made　the　situation

quite　impersonal。　But　here　it　was　a　case　of　wills　in　confusion。

Brangwen　flushed　at　her　polite　speech。　Still　he　did　not　let　her

go。

〃Get　summat　an'　wrap　that　up　for　her；〃　he　said　to

Tilly；　looking　at　the　butter　on　the　table。

And　taking　a　clean　knife；　he　cut　off　that　side　of　the　butter

where　it　was　touched。

His　speech；　the　〃for　her〃；　penetrated　slowly　into　the　foreign

woman　and　angered　Tilly。

〃Vicar　has　his　butter　fra　Brown's　by　rights；〃　said　the

insuppressible　servant…woman。　〃We　s'll　be