第13部分(第1/7 页)

critical　of　her。　It　was：

〃I　don't　like　you　to　do　that；　mother；〃　or；　〃I　don't　like　you

to　say　that。〃　She　was　a　sore　problem　to　Brangwen　and　to　all　the

people　at　the　Marsh。　As　a　rule；　however；　she　was　active；　lightly

flitting　about　the　farmyard；　only　appearing　now　and　again　to

assure　herself　of　her　mother。　Happy　she　never　seemed；　but　quick；

sharp；　absorbed；　full　of　imagination　and　changeability。　Tilly

said　she　was　bewitched。　But　it　did　not　matter　so　long　as　she　did

not　cry。　There　was　something　heart…rending　about　Anna's　crying；

her　childish　anguish　seemed　so　utter　and　so　timeless；　as　if　it

were　a　thing　of　all　the　ages。

She　made　playmates　of　the　creatures　of　the　farmyard；　talking

to　them；　telling　them　the　stories　she　had　from　her　mother；

counselling　them　and　correcting　them。　Brangwen　found　her　at　the

gate　leading　to　the　paddock　and　to　the　duckpond。　She　was　peering

through　the　bars　and　shouting　to　the　stately　white　geese；　that

stood　in　a　curving　line：

〃You're　not　to　call　at　people　when　they　want　to　e。　You

must　not　do　it。〃

The　heavy；　balanced　birds　looked　at　the　fierce　little　face

and　the　fleece　of　keen　hair　thrust　between　the　bars；　and　they

raised　their　heads　and　swayed　off；　producing　the　long；

can…canking；　protesting　noise　of　geese；　rocking　their　ship…like；

beautiful　white　bodies　in　a　line　beyond　the　gate。

〃You're　naughty；　you're　naughty；〃　cried　Anna；　tears　of　dismay

and　vexation　in　her　eyes。　And　she　stamped　her　slipper。

〃Why；　what　are　they　doing？〃　said　Brangwen。

〃They　won't　let　me　e　in；〃　she　said；　turning　her　flushed

little　face　to　him。

〃Yi；　they　will。　You　can　go　in　if