The Rainbow-虹(英文版)

第13部分 (第6/7頁)

k；　and　quiet。　The　child　flitted

uneasily　round；　and　now　and　again　came　her　plaintive；　startled

cry：

〃Mother！〃

Mrs。　Brangwen　was　heavy　and　unresponsive；　tired；　lapsed　back。

Brangwen　went　on　working　out　of　doors。

At　evening；　when　he　came　in　to　milk；　the　child　would　run

behind　him。　Then；　in　the　cosy　cow…sheds；　with　the　doors　shut　and

the　air　looking　warm　by　the　light　of　the　hanging　lantern；　above

the　branching　horns　of　the　cows；　she　would　stand　watching　his

hands　squeezing　rhythmically　the　teats　of　the　placid　beast；

watch　the　froth　and　the　leaping　squirt　of　milk；　watch　his　hand

sometimes　rubbing　slowly；　understandingly；　upon　a　hanging　udder。

So　they　kept　each　other　pany；　but　at　a　distance；　rarely

speaking。

The　darkest　days　of　the　year　came　on；　the　child　was　fretful；

sighing　as　if　some　oppression　were　on　her；　running　hither　and

thither　without　relief。　And　Brangwen　went　about　at　his　work；

heavy；　his　heart　heavy　as　the　sodden　earth。

The　winter　nights　fell　early；　the　lamp　was　lighted　before

tea…time；　the　shutters　were　closed；　they　were　all　shut　into　the

room　with　the　tension　and　stress。　Mrs。　Brangwen　went　early　to

bed；　Anna　playing　on　the　floor　beside　her。　Brangwen　sat　in　the

emptiness　of　the　downstairs　room；　smoking；　scarcely　conscious

even　of　his　own　misery。　And　very　often　he　went　out　to　escape

it。

Christmas　passed；　the　wet；　drenched；　cold　days　of　January

recurred　monotonously；　with　now　and　then　a　brilliance　of　blue

flashing　in；　when　Brangwen　went　out　into　a　morning　like　crystal；

when　every　sound　rang　again；　and　the　birds　were　many　and　sudden

and　brusque　in　the　hedges。