第5部分(第6/7 頁)

e　was　aware。　He　wanted　it　said　that　there

was　something　between　them。　So　he　stood　anxiously　watching；

looking　at　her　as　she　went　down　the　road。　He　called　to

Tilly。

〃Who　might　that　be？〃　he　asked。

Tilly；　the　cross…eyed　woman　of　forty；　who　adored　him；　ran

gladly　to　the　window　to　look。　She　was　glad　when　he　asked　her　for

anything。　She　craned　her　head　over　the　short　curtain；　the　little

tight　knob　of　her　black　hair　sticking　out　pathetically　as　she

bobbed　about。

〃Oh　why〃……she　lifted　her　head　and　peered　with　her

twisted；　keen　brown　eyes……〃why；　you　know　who　it

is……it's　her　from　th'　vicarage……you　know……〃

〃How　do　I　know；　you　hen…bird；〃　he　shouted。

Tilly　blushed　and　drew　her　neck　in　and　looked　at　him　with　her

squinting；　sharp；　almost　reproachful　look。

〃Why　you　do……it's　the　new　housekeeper。〃

〃Ay……an'　what　by　that？〃

〃Well；　an'　what　by　that？〃　rejoined　the　indignant

Tilly。

〃She's　a　woman；　isn't　she；　housekeeper　or　no　housekeeper？

She's　got　more　to　her　than　that！　Who　is　she……she's　got　a

name？〃

〃Well；　if　she　has；　I　don't　know；〃　retorted　Tilly；　not

to　be　badgered　by　this　lad　who　had　grown　up　into　a　man。

〃What's　her　name？〃　he　asked；　more　gently。

〃I'm　sure　I　couldn't　tell　you；〃　replied　Tilly；　on　her

dignity。

〃An'　is　that　all　as　you've　gathered；　as　she's　housekeeping　at

the　vicarage？〃

〃I've　'eered　mention　of　'er　name；　but　I　couldn't　remember　it

for　my　life。〃

〃Why；　yer　riddle…skulled　woman　o'　nonsense；　what　have　you　got

a　head　for？〃

〃For　what　other　folks　'as　got　theirs　for；〃　retorted　Tilly；

who　loved　nothing　more　than　these　tilts　when　he　would　call　her