The Rainbow-虹(英文版)-第16部分

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delightedly：

〃I've　got　it　wrong；　I've　got　it　wrong。〃

〃Oh；　my　sirs；〃　said　Tilly　entering；　〃what　a　racket！〃

Brangwen　hushed　the　child　and　Anna　flipped　and　danced　on。　She
loved　her　wild　bursts　of　rowdiness　with　her　father。　Tilly　hated
it；　Mrs。　Brangwen　did　not　mind。

Anna　did　not　care　much　for　other　children。　She　domineered
them；　she　treated　them　as　if　they　were　extremely　young　and
incapable；　to　her　they　were　little　people；　they　were　not　her
equals。　So　she　was　mostly　alone；　flying　round　the　farm；
entertaining　the　farm…hands　and　Tilly　and　the　servant…girl；
whirring　on　and　never　ceasing。

She　loved　driving　with　Brangwen　in　the　trap。　Then；　sitting
high　up　and　bowling　along；　her　passion　for　eminence　and
dominance　was　satisfied。　She　was　like　a　little　savage　in　her
arrogance。　She　thought　her　father　important；　she　was　installed
beside　him　on　high。　And　they　spanked　along；　beside　the　high；
flourishing　hedge…tops；　surveying　the　activity　of　the
countryside。　When　people　shouted　a　greeting　to　him　from　the　road
below；　and　Brangwen　shouted　jovially　back；　her　little　voice　was
soon　heard　shrilling　along　with　his；　followed　by　her　chuckling
laugh；　when　she　looked　up　at　her　father　with　bright　eyes；　and
they　laughed　at　each　other。　And　soon　it　was　the　custom　for　the
passerby　to　sing　out：　〃How　are　ter；　Tom？　Well；　my　lady！〃　or
else；　〃Mornin'；　Tom；　mornin'；　my　Lass！〃　or　else；　〃You're　off
together　then？〃　or　else；　〃You're　lookin'　rarely；　you　two。〃

Anna　would　respond；　with　her　father：　〃How　are　you；　John！
Good　mornin'；　William！　Ay；　makin'　for　Derby；〃　shrilling
as　loudly　as　she　could。　Though　often；　in　response　to　〃You're　off
out　a　bit　then；〃　she　would　reply；　〃Yes；　we　are；〃　to　the　great
joy　of　all。　She　did　not　like　the　people　who　saluted　him　and　did
not　salute　her。

She　went　into　the　public…house　with　him；　if　he　had　to　call；
and　often　sat　beside　him　in　the　bar…parlour　as　he　drank　his　beer
or　brandy。　The　landladies　paid　court　to　her；　in　the　obsequious
way　landladies　have。

〃Well；　little　lady；　an'　what's　your　name？〃

〃Anna　Brangwen；〃　came　the　immediate；　haughty　answer。

〃Indeed　it　is！　An'　do　you　like　driving　in　a　trap　with　your
father？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Anna；　shy；　but　bored　by　these　inanities。　She　had
a　touch…me…not　way　of　blighting　the　inane　inquiries　of　grown…up
people。

〃My　word；　she's　a　fawce　little　thing；〃　the　landlady　would　say
to　Brangwen。

〃Ay；〃　he　answered；　not　encouraging　ments　on　the　child。
Then　there　followed　the　present　of　a　biscuit；　or　of　cake；　which
Anna　accepted　as　her　dues。

〃What　does　she　say；　that　I'm　a　fawce　little　thing？〃　the　small
girl　asked　afterwards。

〃She　means　you're　a　sharp…shins。〃

Anna　hesitated。　She　did　not　understand。　Then　she　laughed　at
some　absurdity　she　found。

Soon　he　took　her　every　week　to　market　with　him。　〃I　can　e；
can't　I？〃　she　asked　every　Saturday；　or　Thursday　morning；　when　he
made　himself　look　fine　in　his　dress　of　a　gentleman　farmer。　And
his　face　clouded　at　having　to　refuse　her。

So　at　last；　he　overcame　his　own　shyness；　and　tucked　her
beside　him。　They　drove　into　Nottingham　and　put　up　at　the　〃Black
Swan〃。　So　far　all　right。　Then　he　wanted　to　leave　her　at　the　inn。
But　he　saw　her　face；　and　knew　it　was　impossible。　So　he　mustered
his　courage；　and　set　off　with　her；　holding　her　hand；　to　the
cattle…market。

She　stared　in　bewilderment；　flitting　silent　at　his　side。　But
in　the　cattle…market　she　shrank　from　the　press　of　men；　all　men；
all　in　heavy；　filthy　boots；　and　leathern　leggins。　And　the　road
underfoot　was　all　nasty　with　cow…muck。　And　it　frightened　her　to
see　the　cattle　in　the　square　pens；　so　many　horns；　and　so　little
enclosure；　and　such　a　madness　of　men　and　a　yelling　of　drovers。
Also　she　felt　her　father　was　embarrassed　by　her；　and
ill…at…ease。

He　brought　her　a　cake　at　the　refreshment…booth；　and　set　her
on　a　seat。　A　man　hailed　him。

〃Good　morning；　Tom。　That　thine；　then？〃……and　the
bearded　farmer　jerked　his　head　at　Anna。

〃Ay；〃　said　Brangwen；　deprecating。

〃I　did…na　know　tha'd　one　that　old。〃

〃No；　it's　my　missis's。〃

〃Oh；　that's　it！〃　And　the　man　looked　at　Anna　as　if　she　were
some　odd　little　cattle。　She　glowered　with　black　eyes。

Brangwen　left　her　there；　in　charge　of　the　barman；　whilst　he
went　to　see　about　the　selling　of　some　young　stirks。　Farmers；
butchers；　drovers；　dirty；　uncouth　men　from　whom　she　shrank
instinctively　stared　down　at　her　as　she　sat　on　her　seat；　then
went　to　get　their　drink；　talking　in　unabated　tones。　All　was　big
and　violent　about　her。

〃Whose　child　met　that　be？〃　they　asked　of　the　barman。

〃It　belongs　to　Tom　Brangwen。〃

The　child　sat　on　in　neglect；　watching　the　door　for　her
father。　He　never　came；　many；　many　men　came；　but　not　he；　and　she
sat　like　a　shadow。　She　knew　one　did　not　cry　in　such　a　place。　And
every　man　looked　at　her　inquisitively；　she　shut　herself　away
from　them。

A　deep；　gathering　coldness　of　isolation　took　hold　on　her。　He
was　never　ing　back。　She　sat　on；　frozen；　unmoving。

When　she　had　bee　blank　and　timeless　he　came；　and　she
slipped　off　her　seat　to　him；　like　one　e　back　from　the　dead。
He　had　sold　his　beast　as　quickly　as　he　could。　But　all　the
business　was　not　finished。　He　took　her　again　through　the
hurtling　welter　of　the　cattle…market。

Then　at　last　they　turned　and　went　out　through　the　gate。　He
was　always　hailing　one　man　or　another；　always　stopping　to　gossip
about　land　and　cattle　and　horses　and　other　things　she　did　not
understand；　standing　in　the　filth　and　the　smell；　among　the　legs
and　great　boots　of　men。　And　always　she　heard　the　questions：

〃What　lass　is　that；　then？　I　didn't　know　tha'd　one　o'　that
age。〃

〃It　belongs　to　my　missis。〃

Anna　was　very　conscious　of　her　derivation　from　her　mother；　in
the　end；　and　of　her　alienation。

But　at　last　they　were　away；　and　Brangwen　went　with　her　into　a
little　dark；　ancient　eating…house　in　the　Bridlesmith…Gate。　They
had　cow's…tail　soup；　and　meat　and　cabbage　and　potatoes。　Other
men；　other　people；　came　into　the　dark；　vaulted　place；　to　eat。
Anna　was　wide…eyed　and　silent　with　wonder。

Then　they　went　into　the　big　market；　into　the　corn　exchange；
then　to　shops。　He　bought　her　a　little　book　off　a　stall。　He　loved
buying　things；　odd　things　that　he　thought　would　be　useful。　Then
they　went　to　the　〃Black　Swan〃；　and　she　drank　milk　and　he　brandy；
and　they　harnessed　the　horse　and　drove　off；　up　the　Derby
Road。

She　was　tired　out　with　wonder　and　marvelling。　But　the　next
day；　when　she　thought　of　it；　she　skipped；　flipping　her　leg　in
the　odd　dance　she　did；　and　talked　the　whole　time　of　what　had
happened　to　her；　of　what　she　had　seen。　It　lasted　her　all　the
week。　And　the　next　Saturday　she　was　eager　to　go　again。

She　became　a　familiar　figure　in　the　cattle…market；　sitting
waiting　in　the　little　booth。　But　she　liked　best　to　go　to　Derby。
There　her　father　had　more　friends。　And　she　liked　the　familiarity
of　the　smaller　town；　the　nearness　of　the　river；　the　strangeness
that　did　not　frighten　her；　it　was　so　much　smaller。　She　liked　the
covered…in　market；　and　the　old　women。　She　liked　the　〃George
Inn〃；　where　her　father　put　up。　The　landlord　was　Brangwen's　old
friend；　and　Anna　was　made　much　of。　She　sat　many　a　day　in　the
cosy　parlour　talking　to　Mr。　Wigginton；　a　fat　man　with　red　hair；
the　landlord。　And　when　the　farmers　all　gathered　at　twelve
o'clock　for　dinner；　she　was　a　little　heroine。

At　first　she　would　only　glower　or　hiss　at　these　strange　men
with　their　uncouth　accent。　But　they　were　good…humoured。　She　was
a　little　oddity；　with　her　fierce；　fair　hair　like　spun　glass
sticking　out　in　a　flamy　halo　round　the　apple…blossom　face　and
the　black　eyes；　and　the　men　liked　an　oddity。　She　kindled　their
attention。

She　was　very　angry　because　Marriott；　a　gentleman…farmer　from
Ambergate；　called　her　the　little　pole…cat。

〃Why；　you're　a　pole…cat；〃　he　said　to　her。

〃I'm　not；〃　she　flashed。

〃You　are。　That's　just　how　a　pole…cat　goes。〃

She　thought　about　it。

〃Well；　you're……you're〃　she　began。

〃I'm　what？〃

She　looked　him　up　and　down。

〃You're　a　bow…leg　man。〃

Which　he　was。　There　was　a　roar　of　laughter。　They　loved　her
that　she　was　indomitable。

〃Ah；〃　said　Marriott。　〃Only　a　pole…cat　says　that。〃

〃Well；　I　am　a　pole…cat；〃　she　flamed。

There　was　another　roar　of　laughter　from　the　men。

They　loved　to　tease　her。

〃Well；　me　little　maid；〃　Braithwaite　would　say　to　her；　〃an'
how's　th'　lamb's　wool？〃

He　gave　a　tug　at　a　glistening；　pale　piece　of　her　hair。

〃It's　not　lamb's　wool；〃　said　Anna；　indignantly　putting　back
her　offended　lock。

〃Why；　what'st　ca'　it　then？〃

〃It's　hair。〃

〃Hair！　Wheriver　dun　they　rear　that　sort？〃

〃Wheriver　dun　they？〃　she　asked；　in　dialect；　her　curiosity
overing　her。

Instead　of　answering　he　shouted　with　joy。　It　was　the　triumph；
to　make　her　speak　dialect。

She　had　one　enemy；　the　man　they　called　Nut…Nat；　or　Nat…Nut；　a
cretin；　with　inturned　feet；　who　came　flap…lapping　along；
shoulder　jerking　up　at　every　step。　This　poor　creature　sold　nuts
in　the　public…houses　where　he　was　known。　He　had　no　roof　to　his
mouth；　and　the　men　used　to　mock　his　speech。

The　first　time　he　came　into　the　〃George〃　when　Anna　was　there；
she　asked；　after　he　had　gone；　her　eyes　very　round：

〃Why　does　he　do　that　when　he　walks？〃

〃'E　canna　'elp　'isself；　Duckie；　it's　th'　make　o'　th'
fellow。〃

She　thought　about　it；　then　she　laughed　nervously。　And　then
she　bethought　herself；　her　cheeks　flushed；　and　she　cried：

〃He's　a　horrid　man。〃

〃Nay；　he's　non　horrid；　he　canna　help　it　if　he　wor　struck　that
road。〃

But　when　poor　Nat　came　wambling　in　again；　she　slid　away。　And
she　would　not　eat　his　nuts；　if　the　men　bought　them　for　her。　And
when　the　farmers　gambled　at　dominoes　for　them；　she　was
angry。

〃They　are　dirty…man's　nuts；〃　she　cried。

So　a　revulsion　started　against　Nat；　who　had　not　long　after　to
go　to　the　workhouse。

There　grew　in　Brangwen's　heart　now　a　secret　desire　to　make
her　a　lady。　His　brother　Alfred；　in　Nottingham；　had　caused　a
great　scandal　by　being　the　lover　of　an　educated　woman；　a
lady；　widow　of　a　doctor。　Very　often；　Alfred　Brangwen　went　down
as　a　friend　to　her　cottage；　which　was　in　Derbyshire；　leaving　his
wife　and　family　for　a　day　or　two；　then　returning　to　them。　And
no…one　dared　gainsay　him；　for　he　was　a　strong…willed；　direct
man；　and　he　said　he　was　a　friend　of　this　widow。

One　day　Brangwen　met　his　brother　on　the　station。

〃Where　are　you　going　to；　then？〃　asked　the　younger
brother。

〃I'm　going　down　to　Wirksworth。〃

〃You've　got　friends　down　there；　I'm　told。〃

〃Yes。〃

〃I　s'll　have　to　be　lookin'　in　when　I'm　down　that　road。〃

〃You　please　yourself。〃

Tom　Brangwen　was　so　curious　about　the　woman　that　the　next
time　he　was　in　Wirksworth　he　asked　for　her　house。

He　found　a　beautiful　cottage　on　the　steep　side　of　a　hill；
looking　clean　over　the　town；　that　lay　in　the　bottom　of　the
basin；　and　away　at　the　old　quarries　on　the　opposite　side　of　the
space。　Mrs。　Forbes　was　in　the　garden。　She　was　a　tall　woman　with
white　hair。　She　came　up　the　path　taking　off　her　thick　gloves；
laying　down　her　shears。　It　was　autumn。　She　wore　a　wide…brimmed
hat。

Brangwen　blushed　to　the　roots　of　his　hair；　and　did　not　know
what　to　say。

〃I　thought　I　might　look　in；〃　he　said；　〃knowing　you　were
friends　of　my　brother's。　I　had　to　e　to　Wirksworth。