第47部分(第1/7 页)

〃Go　upstairs；　mother；〃　he　said；　〃I'll　go　an'　see　where　he

is。〃

〃To……om！　To……o……om！〃　rang　out　the　shrill；

unearthly　cry　of　the　small　woman。　There　was　only　the　noise　of

water　and　the　mooing　of　uneasy　cattle；　and　the　long　yelping　of

the　dog；　clamouring　in　the　darkness。

Fred　Brangwen　splashed　out　into　the　flood　with　a　lantern。　His

mother　stood　on　a　chair　in　the　doorway；　watching　him　go。　It　was

all　water；　water；　running；　flashing　under　the　lantern。

〃Tom！　Tom！　To……o……om！〃　came　her　long；　unnatural

cry；　ringing　over　the　night。　It　made　her　son　feel　cold　in　his

soul。

And　the　unconscious；　drowning　body　of　the　father　rolled　on

below　the　house；　driven　by　the　black　water　towards　the

high…road。

Tilly　appeared；　a　skirt　over　her　nightdress。　She　saw　her

mistress　clinging　on　the　top　of　a　chair　in　the　open　doorway；　a

candle　burning　on　the　table。

〃God's　sake！〃　cried　the　old　serving…woman。　〃The　cut's　burst。

That　embankment's　broke　down。　Whativer　are　we　goin'　to　do！〃

Mrs。　Brangwen　watched　her　son；　and　the　lantern；　go　along　the

upper　causeway　to　the　stable。　Then　she　saw　the　dark　figure　of　a

horse：　then　her　son　hung　the　lamp　in　the　stable；　and　the　light

shone　out　faintly　on　him　as　he　untackled　the　mare。　The　mother

saw　the　soft　blazed　face　of　the　horse　thrust　forward　into　the

stable…door。　The　stables　were　still　above　the　flood。　But　the

water　flowed　strongly　into　the　house。

〃It's　getting　higher；〃　said　Tilly。　〃Hasn't　master　e

in？〃

Mrs。　Brangwen　did　not　hear。

〃Isn't　he　the……ere？〃　she　called；　in　her　far…reaching；

terrifying　voice。

〃No；〃　came　the　short　answer　out　of　the　night。