第16部分(第3/9 頁)

stand。　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