第2部分(第3/7 頁)

　the　brain。　Then　the　shrill　whistle　of　the　trains　re…echoed

through　the　heart；　with　fearsome　pleasure；　announcing　the

far…off　e　near　and　imminent。

As　they　drove　home　from　town；　the　farmers　of　the　land　met　the

blackened　colliers　trooping　from　the　pit…mouth。　As　they　gathered

the　harvest；　the　west　wind　brought　a　faint；　sulphurous　smell　of

pit…refuse　burning。　As　they　pulled　the　turnips　in　November；　the

sharp　clink…clink…clink…clink…clink　of　empty　trucks　shunting　on

the　line；　vibrated　in　their　hearts　with　the　fact　of　other

activity　going　on　beyond　them。

The　Alfred　Brangwen　of　this　period　had　married　a　woman　from

Heanor；　a　daughter　of　the　〃Black　Horse〃。　She　was　a　slim；　pretty；

dark　woman；　quaint　in　her　speech；　whimsical；　so　that　the　sharp

things　she　said　did　not　hurt。　She　was　oddly　a　thing　to　herself；

rather　querulous　in　her　manner；　but　intrinsically　separate　and

indifferent；　so　that　her　long　lamentable　plaints；　when　she

raised　her　voice　against　her　husband　in　particular　and　against

everybody　else　after　him；　only　made　those　who　heard　her　wonder

and　feel　affectionately　towards　her；　even　while　they　were

irritated　and　impatient　with　her。　She　railed　long　and　loud　about

her　husband；　but　always　with　a　balanced；　easy…flying　voice　and　a

quaint　manner　of　speech　that　warmed　his　belly　with　pride　and

male　triumph　while　he　scowled　with　mortification　at　the　things

she　said。

Consequently　Brangwen　himself　had　a　humorous　puckering　at　the

eyes；　a　sort　of　fat　laugh；　very　quiet　and　full；　and　he　was

spoilt　like　a　lord　of　creation。　He　calmly　did　as　he　liked；

laughed　at　their　railing；　excused　himself　in　a　teasing