The Rainbow-虹(英文版)-第47部分

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〃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。

〃Go　and　loo……ok　for　him。〃

His　mother's　voice　nearly　drove　the　youth　mad。

He　put　the　halter　on　the　horse　and　shut　the　stable　door。　He
came　splashing　back　through　the　water；　the　lantern　swinging。

The　unconscious；　drowning　body　was　pushed　past　the　house　in
the　deepest　current。　Fred　Brangwen　came　to　his　mother。

〃I'll　go　to　th'　cart…shed；〃　he　said。

〃To……om；　To……o……om！〃　rang　out　the　strong；
inhuman　cry。　Fred　Brangwen's　blood　froze；　his　heart　was　very
angry。　He　gripped　his　veins　in　a　frenzy。　Why　was　she　yelling
like　this？　He　could　not　bear　the　sight　of　her；　perched　on　a
chair　in　her　white　nightdress　in　the　doorway；　elvish　and
horrible。

〃He's　taken　the　mare　out　of　the　trap；　so　he's　all　right；〃　he
said；　growling；　pretending　to　be　normal。

But　as　he　descended　to　the　cart…shed；　he　sank　into　a　foot　of
water。　He　heard　the　rushing　in　the　distance；　he　knew　the　canal
had　broken　down。　The　water　was　running　deeper。

The　trap　was　there　all　right；　but　no　signs　of　his　father。　The
young　man　waded　down　to　the　pond。　The　water　rose　above　his
knees；　it　swirled　and　forced　him。　He　drew　back。

〃Is　he　the……e……ere？〃　came　the　maddening　cry　of　the
mother。

〃No；〃　was　the　sharp　answer。

〃To……om……To……o……om！〃　came　the　piercing；
free；　unearthly　call。　It　seemed　high　and　supernatural；　almost
pure。　Fred　Brangwen　hated　it。　It　nearly　drove　him　mad。　So
awfully　it　sang　out；　almost　like　a　song。

The　water　was　flowing　fuller　into　the　house。

〃You'd　better　go　up　to　Beeby's　and　bring　him　and　Arthur　down；
and　tell　Mrs。　Beeby　to　fetch　Wilkinson；〃　said　Fred　to　Tilly。　He
forced　his　mother　to　go　upstairs。

〃I　know　your　father　is　drowned；〃　she　said；　in　a　curious
dismay。

The　flood　rose　through　the　night；　till　it　washed　the　kettle
off　the　hob　in　the　kitchen。　Mrs。　Brangwen　sat　alone　at　a　window
upstairs。　She　called　no　more。　The　men　were　busy　with　the　pigs
and　the　cattle。　They　were　ing　with　a　boat　for　her。

Towards　morning　the　rain　ceased；　the　stars　came　out　over　the
noise　and　the　terrifying　clucking　and　trickling　of　the　water。
Then　there　was　a　pallor　in　the　east；　the　light　began　to　e。　In
the　ruddy　light　of　the　dawn　she　saw　the　waters　spreading　out；
moving　sluggishly；　the　buildings　rising　out　of　a　waste　of　water。
Birds　began　to　sing；　drowsily；　and　as　if　slightly　hoarse　with
the　dawn。　It　grew　brighter。　Up　the　second　field　was　the　great；
raw　gap　in　the　canal　embankment。

Mrs。　Brangwen　went　from　window　to　window；　watching　the　flood。
Somebody　had　brought　a　little　boat。　The　light　grew　stronger；　the
red　gleam　was　gone　off　the　flood…waters；　day　took　place。　Mrs。
Brangwen　went　from　the　front　of　the　house　to　the　back；　looking
out；　intent　and　unrelaxing；　on　the　pallid　morning　of　spring。

She　saw　a　glimpse　of　her　husband's　buff　coat　in　the　floods；
as　the　water　rolled　the　body　against　the　garden　hedge。　She
called　to　the　men　in　the　boat。　She　was　glad　he　was　found。　They
dragged　him　out　of　the　hedge。　They　could　not　lift　him　into　the
boat。　Fred　Brangwen　jumped　into　the　water；　up　to　his　waist；　and
half　carried　the　body　of　his　father　through　the　flood　to　the
road。　Hay　and　twigs　and　dirt　were　in　the　beard　and　hair。　The
youth　pushed　through　the　water　crying　loudly　without　tears；　like
a　stricken　animal。　The　mother　at　the　window　cried；　making　no
trouble。

The　doctor　came。　But　the　body　was　dead。　They　carried　it　up　to
Cossethay；　to　Anna's　house。

When　Anna　Brangwen　heard　the　news；　she　pressed　back　her　head
and　rolled　her　eyes；　as　if　something　were　reaching　forward　to
bite　at　her　throat。　She　pressed　back　her　head；　her　mind　was
driven　back　to　sleep。　Since　she　had　married　and　bee　a　mother；
the　girl　she　had　been　was　forgotten。　Now；　the　shock　threatened
to　break　in　upon　her　and　sweep　away　all　her　intervening　life；
make　her　as　a　girl　of　eighteen　again；　loving　her　father。　So　she
pressed　back；　away　from　the　shock；　she　clung　to　her　present
life。

It　was　when　they　brought　him　to　her　house　dead　and　in　his　wet
clothes；　his　wet；　sodden　clothes；　fully　dressed　as　he　came　from
market；　yet　all　sodden　and　inert；　that　the　shock　really　broke
into　her；　and　she　was　terrified。　A　big；　soaked；　inert　heap；　he
was；　who　had　been　to　her　the　image　of　power　and　strong　life。

Almost　in　horror；　she　began　to　take　the　wet　things　from　him；
to　pull　off　him　the　incongruous　market…clothes　of　a　well…to…do
farmer。　The　children　were　sent　away　to　the　Vicarage；　the　dead
body　lay　on　the　parlour　floor；　Anna　quickly　began　to　undress
him；　laid　his　fob　and　seals　in　a　wet　heap　on　the　table。　Her
husband　and　the　woman　helped　her。　They　cleared　and　washed　the
body；　and　laid　it　on　the　bed。

There；　it　looked　still　and　grand。　He　was　perfectly　calm　in
death；　and；　now　he　was　laid　in　line；　inviolable；　unapproachable。
To　Anna；　he　was　the　majesty　of　the　inaccessible　male；　the
majesty　of　death。　It　made　her　still　and　awe…stricken；　almost
glad。

Lydia　Brangwen；　the　mother；　also　came　and　saw　the　impressive；
inviolable　body　of　the　dead　man。　She　went　pale；　seeing　death。　He
was　beyond　change　or　knowledge；　absolute；　laid　in　line　with　the
infinite。　What　had　she　to　do　with　him？　He　was　a　majestic
Abstraction；　made　visible　now　for　a　moment；　inviolate；　absolute。
And　who　could　lay　claim　to　him；　who　could　speak　of　him；　of　the
him　who　was　revealed　in　the　stripped　moment　of　transit　from　life
into　death？　Neither　the　living　nor　the　dead　could　claim　him；　he
was　both　the　one　and　the　other；　inviolable；　inaccessibly
himself。

〃I　shared　life　with　you；　I　belong　in　my　own　way　to　eternity；〃
said　Lydia　Brangwen；　her　heart　cold；　knowing　her　own
singleness。

〃I　did　not　know　you　in　life。　You　are　beyond　me；　supreme　now
in　death；〃　said　Anna　Brangwen；　awe…stricken；　almost　glad。

It　was　the　sons　who　could　not　bear　it。　Fred　Brangwen　went
about　with　a　set；　blanched　face　and　shut　hands；　his　heart　full
of　hatred　and　rage　for　what　had　been　done　to　his　father；
bleeding　also　with　desire　to　have　his　father　again；　to　see　him；
to　hear　him　again。　He　could　not　bear　it。

Tom　Brangwen　only　arrived　on　the　day　of　the　funeral。　He　was
quiet　and　controlled　as　ever。　He　kissed　his　mother；　who　was
still　dark…faced；　inscrutable；　he　shook　hands　with　his　brother
without　looking　at　him；　he　saw　the　great　coffin　with　its　black
handles。　He　even　read　the　name…plate；　〃Tom　Brangwen；　of　the
Marsh　Farm。　Born　。　Died　。〃

The　good…looking；　still　face　of　the　young　man　crinkled　up　for
a　moment　in　a　terrible　grimace；　then　resumed　its　stillness。　The
coffin　was　carried　round　to　the　church；　the　funeral　bell　tanged
at　intervals；　the　mourners　carried　their　wreaths　of　white
flowers。　The　mother；　the　Polish　woman；　went　with　dark；　abstract
face；　on　her　son's　arm。　He　was　good…looking　as　ever；　his　face
perfectly　motionless　and　somehow　pleasant。　Fred　walked　with
Anna；　she　strange　and　winsome；　he　with　a　face　like　wood；　stiff；
unyielding。

Only　afterwards　Ursula；　flitting　between　the　currant　bushes
down　the　garden；　saw　her　Uncle　Tom　standing　in　his　black
clothes；　erect　and　fashionable；　but　his　fists　lifted；　and　his
face　distorted；　his　lips　curled　back　from　his　teeth　in　a
horrible　grin；　like　an　animal　which　grimaces　with　torment；
whilst　his　body　panted　quick；　like　a　panting　dog's。　He　was
facing　the　open　distance；　panting；　and　holding　still；　then
panting　rapidly　again；　but　his　face　never　changing　from　its
almost　bestial　look　of　torture；　the　teeth　all　showing；　the　nose
wrinkled　up；　the　eyes；　unseeing；　fixed。

Terrified；　Ursula　slipped　away。　And　when　her　Uncle　Tom　was　in
the　house　again；　grave　and　very　quiet；　so　that　he　seemed　almost
to　affect　gravity；　to　pretend　grief；　she　watched　his　still；
handsome　face；　imagining　it　again　in　its　distortion。　But　she　saw
the　nose　was　rather　thick；　rather　Russian；　under　its　transparent
skin；　she　remembered　the　teeth　under　the　carefully　cut　moustache
were　small　and　sharp　and　spaced。　She　could　see　him；　in　all　his
elegant　demeanour；　bestial；　almost　corrupt。　And　she　was
frightened。　She　never　forgot　to　look　for　the　bestial；
frightening　side　of　him；　after　this。

He　said　〃Good…bye〃　to　his　mother　and　went　away　at　once。
Ursula　almost　shrank　from　his　kiss；　now。　She　wanted　it；
nevertheless；　and　the　little　revulsion　as　well。

At　the　funeral；　and　after　the　funeral；　Will　Brangwen　was
madly　in　love　with　his　wife。　The　death　had　shaken　him。　But　death
and　all　seemed　to　gather　in　him　into　a　mad；　over…whelming
passion　for　his　wife。　She　seemed　so　strange　and　winsome。　He　was
almost　beside　himself　with　desire　for　her。

And　she　took　him；　she　seemed　ready　for　him；　she　wanted
him。

The　grandmother　stayed　a　while　at　the　Yew　Cottage；　till　the
Marsh　was　restored。　Then　she　returned　to　her　own　rooms；　quiet；
and　it　seemed；　wanting　nothing。　Fred　threw　himself　into　the　work
of　restoring　the　farm。　That　his　father　was　killed　there；　seemed
to　make　it　only　the　more　intimate　and　the　more　inevitably　his
own　place。

There　was　a　saying　that　the　Brangwens　always　died　a　violent
death。　To　them　all；　except　perhaps　Tom；　it　seemed　almost
natural。　Yet　Fred　went　about　obstinate；　his　heart　fixed。　He
could　never　forgive　the　Unknown　this　murder　of　his　father。

After　the　death　of　the　father；　the　Marsh　rs。
Brangwen　was　unsettled。　She　could　not　sit　all　the　evening
peacefully；　as　she　could　before；　and　during　the　day　she　was
always　rising　to　her　feet　and　hesitating；　as　if　she　must　go
somewhere；　and　were　not　quite　sure　whither。

She　was　seen　loitering　about　the　garden；　in　her　little
woollen　jacket。　She　was　often　driven　out　in　the　gig；　sitting
beside　her　son　and　watching　the　countryside　or　the　streets　of
the　town；　with　a　childish；　candid；　uncanny　face；　as　if　it　all
were　strange　to　her。

Th