The Rainbow-虹(英文版)-第22部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

always　sounded　strange；　re…echoing　in　the　dark　places　of　her
being。

They　very　rarely　touched　each　other。　They　liked　to　be　alone
together；　near　to　each　other；　but　there　was　still　a　distance
between　them。

In　the　cool　dairy　the　candle…light　lit　on　the　large；　white
surfaces　of　the　cream　pans。　He　turned　his　head　sharply。　It　was
so　cool　and　remote　in　there；　so　remote。　His　mouth　was　open　in　a
little；　strained　laugh。　She　stood　with　her　head　bent；　turned
aside。　He　wanted　to　go　near　to　her。　He　had　kissed　her　once。
Again　his　eye　rested　on　the　round　blocks　of　butter；　where　the
emblematic　bird　lifted　its　breast　from　the　shadow　cast　by　the
candle　flame。　What　was　restraining　him？　Her　breast　was　near　him；
his　head　lifted　like　an　eagle's。　She　did　not　move。　Suddenly；
ent；　he　put　his　arms
round　her　and　drew　her　to　him。　It　was　quick；　cleanly　done；　like
a　bird　that　swoops　and　sinks　close；　closer。

He　was　kissing　her　throat。　She　turned　and　looked　at　him。　Her
eyes　were　dark　and　flowing　with　fire。　His　eyes　were　hard　and
bright　with　a　fierce　purpose　and　gladness；　like　a　hawk's。　She
felt　him　flying　into　the　dark　space　of　her　flames；　like　a　brand；
like　a　gleaming　hawk。

They　had　looked　at　each　other；　and　seen　each　other　strange；
yet　near；　very　near；　like　a　hawk　stooping；　swooping；　dropping
into　a　flame　of　darkness。　So　she　took　the　candle　and　they　went
back　to　the　kitchen。

They　went　on　in　this　way　for　some　time；　always　ing
together；　but　rarely　touching；　very　seldom　did　they　kiss。　And
then；　often；　it　was　merely　a　touch　of　the　lips；　a　sign。　But　her
eyes　began　to　waken　with　a　constant　fire；　she　paused　often　in
the　midst　of　her　transit；　as　if　to　recollect　something；　or　to
discover　something。

And　his　face　became　sombre；　intent；　he　did　not　really　hear
what　was　said　to　him。

One　evening　in　August　he　came　when　it　was　raining。　He　came　in
with　his　jacket　collar　turned　up；　his　jacket　buttoned　close；　his
face　wet。　And　he　looked　so　slim　and　definite；　ing　out　of　the
chill　rain；　she　was　suddenly　blinded　with　love　for　him。　Yet　he
sat　and　talked　with　her　father　and　mother；　meaninglessly；　whilst
her　blood　seethed　to　anguish　in　her。　She　wanted　to　touch　him
now；　only　to　touch　him。

There　was　the　queer；　abstract　look　on　her　silvery　radiant
face　that　maddened　her　father；　her　dark　eyes　were　hidden。　But
she　raised　them　to　the　youth。　And　they　were　dark　with　a　flare
that　made　him　quail　for　a　moment。

She　went　into　the　second　kitchen　and　took　a　lantern。　Her
father　watched　her　as　she　returned。

〃e　with　me；　Will；〃　she　said　to　her　cousin。　〃I　want　to　see
if　I　put　the　brick　over　where　that　rat　es　in。〃

〃You've　no　need　to　do　that；〃　retorted　her　father。　She　took　no
notice。　The　youth　was　between　the　two　wills。　The　colour　mounted
into　the　father's　face；　his　blue　eyes　stared。　The　girl　stood
near　the　door；　her　head　held　slightly　back；　like　an　indication
that　the　youth　must　e。　He　rose；　in　his　silent；　intent　way；
and　was　gone　with　her。　The　blood　swelled　in　Brangwen's　forehead
veins。

It　was　raining。　The　light　of　the　lantern　flashed　on　the
cobbled　path　and　the　bottom　of　the　wall。　She　came　to　a　small
ladder；　and　climbed　up。　He　reached　her　the　lantern；　and
followed。　Up　there　in　the　fowl…loft；　the　birds　sat　in　fat
bunches　on　the　perches；　the　red　bs　shining　like　fire。　Bright；
sharp　eyes　opened。　There　was　a　sharp　crawk　of　expostulation　as
one　of　the　hens　shifted　over。　The　cock　sat　watching；　his　yellow
neck…feathers　bright　as　glass。　Anna　went　across　the　dirty　floor。
Brangwen　crouched　in　the　loft　watching。　The　light　was　soft　under
the　red；　naked　tiles。　The　girl　crouched　in　a　corner。　There　was
another　explosive　bustle　of　a　hen　springing　from　her　perch。

Anna　came　back；　stooping　under　the　perches。　He　was　waiting
for　her　near　the　door。　Suddenly　she　had　her　arms　round　him；　was
clinging　close　to　him；　cleaving　her　body　against　his；　and
crying；　in　a　whispering；　whimpering　sound。

〃Will；　I　love　you；　I　love　you；　Will；　I　love　you。〃　It　sounded
as　if　it　were　tearing　her。

He　was　not　even　very　much　surprised。　He　held　her　in　his　arms；
and　his　bones　melted。　He　leaned　back　against　the　wall。　The　door
of　the　loft　was　open。　Outside；　the　rain　slanted　by　in　fine；
steely；　mysterious　haste；　emerging　out　of　the　gulf　of　darkness。
He　held　her　in　his　arms；　and　he　and　she　together　seemed　to　be
swinging　in　big；　swooping　oscillations；　the　two　of　them　clasped
together　up　in　the　darkness。　Outside　the　open　door　of　the　loft
in　which　they　stood；　beyond　them　and　below　them；　was　darkness；
with　a　travelling　veil　of　rain。

〃I　love　you；　Will；　I　love　you；〃　she　moaned；　〃I　love　you；
Will。〃

He　held　her　as　thought　they　were　one；　and　was　silent。

In　the　house；　Tom　Brangwen　waited　a　while。　Then　he　got　up　and
went　out。　He　went　down　the　yard。　He　saw　the　curious　misty　shaft
ing　from　the　loft　door。　He　scarcely　knew　it　was　the　light　in
the　rain。　He　went　on　till　the　illumination　fell　on　him　dimly。
Then　looking　up；　through　the　blurr；　he　saw　the　youth　and　the
girl　together；　the　youth　with　his　back　against　the　wall；　his
head　sunk　over　the　head　of　the　girl。　The　elder　man　saw　them；
blurred　through　the　rain；　but　lit　up。　They　thought　themselves　so
buried　in　the　night。　He　even　saw　the　lighted　dryness　of　the　loft
behind；　and　shadows　and　bunches　of　roosting　fowls；　up　in　the
night；　strange　shadows　cast　from　the　lantern　on　the　floor。

And　a　black　gloom　of　anger；　and　a　tenderness　of
self…effacement；　fought　in　his　heart。　She　did　not　understand
what　she　was　doing。　She　betrayed　herself。　She　was　a　child；　a
mere　child。　She　did　not　know　how　much　of　herself　she　was
squandering。　And　he　was　blackly　and　furiously　miserable。　Was　he
then　an　old　man；　that　he　should　be　giving　her　away　in　marriage？
Was　he　old？　He　was　not　old。　He　was　younger　than　that　young
thoughtless　fellow　in　whose　arms　she　lay。　Who　knew　her……he
or　that　blind…headed　youth？　To　whom　did　she　belong；　if　not　to
himself？

He　thought　again　of　the　child　he　had　carried　out　at　night
into　the　barn；　whilst　his　wife　was　in　labour　with　the　young　Tom。
He　remembered　the　soft；　warm　weight　of　the　little　girl　on　his
arm；　round　his　neck。　Now　she　would　say　he　was　finished。　She　was
going　away；　to　deny　him；　to　leave　an　unendurable　emptiness　in
him；　a　void　that　he　could　not　bear。　Almost　he　hated　her。　How
dared　she　say　he　was　old。　He　walked　on　in　the　rain；　sweating
with　pain；　with　the　horror　of　being　old；　with　the　agony　of
having　to　relinquish　what　was　life　to　him。

Will　Brangwen　went　home　without　having　seen　his　uncle。　He
held　his　hot　face　to　the　rain；　and　walked　on　in　a　trance。　〃I
love　you；　Will；　I　love　you。〃　The　words　repeated　themselves
endlessly。　The　veils　had　ripped　and　issued　him　naked　into　the
endless　space；　and　he　shuddered。　The　walls　had　thrust　him　out
and　given　him　a　vast　space　to　walk　in。　Whither；　through　this
darkness　of　infinite　space；　was　he　walking　blindly？　Where；　at
the　end　of　all　the　darkness；　was　God　the　Almighty　still　darkly；
seated；　thrusting　him　on？　〃I　love　you；　Will；　I　love　you。〃　He
trembled　with　fear　as　the　words　beat　in　his　heart　again。　And　he
dared　not　think　of　her　face；　of　her　eyes　which　shone；　and　of　her
strange；　transfigured　face。　The　hand　of　the　Hidden　Almighty；
burning　bright；　had　thrust　out　of　the　darkness　and　gripped　him。
He　went　on　subject　and　in　fear；　his　heart　gripped　and　burning
from　the　touch。

The　days　went　by；　they　ran　on　dark…padded　feet　in　silence。　He
went　to　see　Anna；　but　again　there　had　e　a　reserve　between
them。　Tom　Brangwen　was　gloomy；　his　blue　eyes　sombre。　Anna　was
strange　and　delivered　up。　Her　face　in　its　delicate　colouring　was
mute；　touched　dumb　and　poignant。　The　mother　bowed　her　head　and
moved　in　her　own　dark　world；　that　was　pregnant　again　with
fulfilment。

Will　Brangwen　worked　at　his　wood…carving。　It　was　a　passion；　a
passion　for　him　to　have　the　chisel　under　his　grip。　Verily　the
passion　of　his　heart　lifted　the　fine　bite　of　steel。　He　was
carving；　as　he　had　always　wanted；　the　Creation　of　Eve。　It　was　a
panel　in　low　relief；　for　a　church。　Adam　lay　asleep　as　if
suffering；　and　God；　a　dim；　large　figure；　stooped　towards　him；
stretching　forward　His　unveiled　hand；　and　Eve；　a　small　vivid；
naked　female　shape；　was　issuing　like　a　flame　towards　the　hand　of
God；　from　the　torn　side　of　Adam。

Now；　Will　Brangwen　was　working　at　the　Eve。　She　was　thin；　a
keen；　unripe　thing。　With　trembling　passion；　fine　as　a　breath　of
air；　he　sent　the　chisel　over　her　belly；　her　hard；　unripe；　small
belly。　She　was　a　stiff　little　figure；　with　sharp　lines；　in　the
throes　and　torture　and　ecstasy　of　her　creation。　But　he　trembled
as　he　touched　her。　He　had　not　finished　any　of　his　figures。　There
was　a　bird　on　a　bough　overhead；　lifting　its　wings　for　flight；
and　a　serpent　wreathing　up　to　it。　It　was　not　finished　yet。　He
trembled　with　passion；　at　last　able　to　create　the　new；　sharp
body　of　his　Eve。

At　the　sides；　at　the　far　sides；　at　either　end；　were　two
Angels　covering　their　faces　with　their　wings。　They　were　like
trees。　As　he　went　to　the　Marsh；　in　the　twilight；　he　felt　that
the　Angels；　with　covered　faces；　were　standing　back　as　he　went
by。　The　darkness　was　of　their　shadows　and　the　covering　of　their
faces。　When　he　went　through　the　Canal　bridge；　the　evening　glowed
in　its　last　deep　colours；　the　sky　was　dark　blue；　the　stars
glittered　from　afar；　very　remote　and　approaching　above　the
darkening　cluster　of　the　farm；　above　the　paths　of　crystal　along
the　edge　of　the　heavens。

She　waited　for　him　like　the　glow　of　light；　and　as　if　his　face
were　covered。　And　he　dared　not　lift　his　face　to　look　at　her。

Corn　harvest　came　on。　One　evening　they　walked　out　through　the
farm　buildings　at　nightfall。　A　large　gold　moon　hung　heavily　to
the　grey　horizon；　trees　hovered　tall；　standing　back　in　the　dusk；
waiting。　Anna　and　the　young　man　went　on　noiselessly　by　the
hedge；　along　where　the　farm…carts　had　made　dark　ruts　in　the
grass。　They　came　through　a　gate　into　a　wide　open　field　where
still　much　light　seemed　to　spread　against　their　faces。　In　the
under…shadow　the　sheaves　lay　on　the　ground　where　the　reapers　had
left　them；　many　sheaves　like　bodies　prostrate　in　shadowy　bulk；
others　were　riding　hazily　in　shocks；　like　ships　in　the　haze　of
moonlight　and　of　dusk；　farther　off。

They　did　not　want　to　turn　back；　yet　whither　were　they　to　go；
towards　the　moon？　For　they　were　separate；　single。

〃We　will　put　up　some　sheaves；〃　said　Anna。　So　they　could
remain　there　in　the　broad；　open　place。

They　went　across　the　stubble　to　where　the　long　rows　of
upreared　shocks　ended。　Curiously　populous　that　part　of　the　field
looked；　where　the　shocks　rode　erect；　the　rest　was　open　and
prostrate。

The　air　was　all　hoary　silver。　She　looked　around　her。　Trees
stood　vaguely　at　their　distance；　as　if　waiting　like　heralds；　for
the　signal　to　approach。　In　this　space　of　vague　crystal　her　heart
seemed　like　a　bell　ringing。　She　was　afraid　lest　the　sound　should
be　heard。

〃You　take　this　row；〃　she　said　to　the　youth；　and　passing　on；
she　stooped　in　the　next　row　of　lying　sheaves；　grasping　her　hands
in　the　tresses　of　the　oats；　lifting　the　heavy　corn　in　either
hand；　carrying　it；　as　it　hung　heavily　against　her；　to　the
cleared　space；　where　she　set　the　two　sheaves　sharply　down；
bringing　them　together　with　a　faint；　keen　clash。　He