The Rainbow-虹(英文版)-第72章

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hair　was　wispy　on　his　grimed　forehead。　Two　dirty　children
appeared　to　see　who　was　talking。

Ursula　glanced　at　the　great　lock　gates。　They　were　shut；　and
the　water　was　sounding；　spurting　and　trickling　down　in　the　gloom
beyond。　On　this　side　the　bright　water　was　almost　to　the　top　of
the　gate。　She　went　boldly　across；　and　round　to　the　wharf。

Stooping　from　the　bank；　she　peeped　into　the　cabin；　where　was
a　red　glow　of　fire　and　the　shadowy　figure　of　a　woman。　She　did
want　to　go　down。

〃You'll　mess　your　frock；〃　said　the　man；　warningly。

〃I'll　be　careful；〃　she　answered。　〃May　I　e？〃

〃Ay；　e　if　you　like。〃

She　gathered　her　skirts；　lowered　her　foot　to　the　side　of　the
boat；　and　leapt　down；　laughing。　Coal…dust　flew　up。

The　woman　came　to　the　door。　She　was　plump　and　sandy…haired；
young；　with　an　odd；　stubby　nose。

〃Oh；　you　will　make　a　mess　of　yourself；〃　she　cried；
surprised　and　laughing　with　a　little　wonder。

〃I　did　want　to　see。　Isn't　it　lovely　living　on　a　barge？〃　asked
Ursula。

〃I　don't　live　on　one　altogether；〃　said　the　woman
cheerfully。

〃She's　got　her　parlour　an'　her　plush　suite　in　Loughborough；〃
said　her　husband　with　just　pride。

Ursula　peeped　into　the　cabin；　where　saucepans　were　boiling
and　some　dishes　were　on　the　table。　It　was　very　hot。　Then　she
came　out　again。　The　man　was　talking　to　the　baby。　It　was　a
blue…eyed；　fresh…faced　thing　with　floss　of　red…gold　hair。

〃Is　it　a　boy　or　a　girl？〃　she　asked。

〃It's　a　girl……aren't　you　a　girl；　eh？〃　he　shouted　at　the
infant；　shaking　his　head。　Its　little　face　wrinkled　up　into　the
oddest；　funniest　smile。

〃Oh！〃　cried　Ursula。　〃Oh；　the　dear！　Oh；　how　nice　when　she
laughs！〃

〃She'll　laugh　hard　enough；〃　said　the　father。

〃What　is　her　name？〃　asked　Ursula。

〃She　hasn't　got　a　name；　she's　not　worth　one；〃　said　the　man。
〃Are　you；　you　fag…end　o'　nothing？〃　he　shouted　to　the　baby。　The
baby　laughed。

〃No　we've　been　that　busy；　we've　never　took　her　to　th'
registry　office；〃　came　the　woman's　voice。　〃She　was　born　on　th'
boat　here。〃

〃But　you　know　what　you're　going　to　call　her？〃　asked
Ursula。

〃We　did　think　of　Gladys　Em'ly；〃　said　the　mother。

〃We　thought　of　nowt　o'　th'　sort；〃　said　the　father。

〃Hark　at　him！　What　do　you　want？'　cried　the　mother　in
exasperation。

〃She'll　be　called　Annabel　after　th'　boat　she　was　born
on。〃

〃She's　not；　so　there；〃　said　the　mother；　viciously　defiant

The　father　sat　in　humorous　malice；　grinning。

〃Well；　you'll　see；〃　he　said。

And　Ursula　could　tell；　by　the　woman's　vibrating　exasperation；
that　he　would　never　give　way。

〃They're　all　nice　names；〃　she　said。　〃Call　her　Gladys　Annabel
Emily。〃

〃Nay；　that's　heavy…laden；　if　you　like；〃　he　answered。

〃You　see！〃　cried　the　woman。　〃He's　that　pig…headed！〃

〃And　she's　so　nice；　and　she　laughs；　and　she　hasn't　even　got　a
name；〃　crooned　Ursula　to　the　child。

〃Let　me　hold　her；〃　she　added。

He　yielded　her　the　child；　that　smelt　of　babies。　But　it　had
such　blue；　wide；　china　blue　eyes；　and　it　laughed　so　oddly；　with
such　a　taking　grimace；　Ursula　loved　it。　She　cooed　and　talked　to
it。　It　was　such　an　odd；　exciting　child。

〃What's　your　name？〃　the　man　suddenly　asked　of　her。

〃My　name　is　Ursula……Ursula　Brangwen；〃　she　replied。

〃Ursula！〃　he　exclaimed；　dumbfounded。

〃There　was　a　Saint　Ursula。　It's　a　very　old　name；〃　she　added
hastily；　in　justification。

〃Hey；　mother！〃　he　called。

There　was　no　answer。

〃Pem！〃　he　called；　〃can't　y'hear？〃

〃What？〃　came　the　short　answer。

〃What　about　'Ursula'？〃　he　grinned。

〃What　about　what？〃　came　the　answer；　and　the　woman
appeared　in　the　doorway；　ready　for　bat。

〃Ursula……it's　the　lass's　name　there；〃　he　said；
gently。

The　woman　looked　the　young　girl　up　and　down。　Evidently　she
was　attracted　by　her　slim；　graceful；　new　beauty；　her　effect　of
white　elegance；　and　her　tender　way　of　holding　the　child。

〃Why；　how　do　you　write　it？〃　the　mother　asked；　awkward　now　she
was　touched。　Ursula　spelled　out　her　name。　The　man　looked　at　the
woman。　A　bright；　confused　flush　came　over　the　mother's　face；　a
sort　of　luminous　shyness。

〃It's　not　a　mon　name；　is　it！〃　she　exclaimed；
excited　as　by　an　adventure。

〃Are　you　goin'　to　have　it　then？〃　he　asked。

〃I'd　rather　have　it　than　Annabel；〃　she　said；　decisively。

〃An'　I'd　rather　have　it　than　Gladys　Em'ler；〃　he　replied。

There　was　a　silence；　Ursula　looked　up。

〃Will　you　really　call　her　Ursula？〃　she　asked。

〃Ursula　Ruth；〃　replied　the　man；　laughing　vainly；　as　pleased
as　if　he　had　found　something。

It　was　now　Ursula's　turn　to　be　confused。

〃It　does　sound　awfully　nice；〃　she　said。　〃I　must　give
her　something。　And　I　haven't　got　anything　at　all。〃

She　stood　in　her　white　dress；　wondering；　down　there　in　the
barge。　The　lean　man　sitting　near　to　her　watched　her　as　if　she
were　a　strange　being；　as　if　she　lit　up　his　face。　His　eyes　smiled
on　her；　boldly；　and　yet　with　exceeding　admiration
underneath。

〃Could　I　give　her　my　necklace？〃　she　said。

It　was　the　little　necklace　made　of　pieces　of　amethyst　and
topaz　and　pearl　and　crystal；　strung　at　intervals　on　a　little
golden　chain；　which　her　Uncle　Tom　had　given　her。　She　was　very
fond　of　it。　She　looked　at　it　lovingly；　when　she　had　taken　it
from　her　neck。

〃Is　it　valuable？〃　the　man　asked　her；　curiously。

〃I　think　so；〃　she　replied。

〃The　stones　and　pearl　are　real；　it　is　worth　three　or　four
pounds；〃　said　Skrebensky　from　the　wharf　above。　Ursula　could　tell
he　disapproved　of　her。

〃I　must　give　it　to　your　baby……may　I？〃　she　said　to
the　bargee。

He　flushed；　and　looked　away　into　the　evening。

〃Nay；〃　he　said；　〃it's　not　for　me　to　say。〃

〃What　would　your　father　and　mother　say？〃　cried　the　woman
curiously；　from　the　door。

〃It　is　my　own；〃　said　Ursula；　and　she　dangled　the　little
glittering　string　before　the　baby。　The　infant　spread　its　little
fingers。　But　it　could　not　grasp。　Ursula　closed　the　tiny　hand
over　the　jewel。　The　baby　waved　the　bright　ends　of　the　string。
Ursula　had　given　her　necklace　away。　She　felt　sad。　But　she　did
not　want　it　back。

The　jewel　swung　from　the　baby's　hand　and　fell　in　a　little
heap　on　the　coal…dusty　bottom　of　the　barge。　The　man　groped　for
it；　with　a　kind　of　careful　reverence。　Ursula　noticed　the
coarsened；　blunted　fingers　groping　at　the　little　jewelled　heap。
The　skin　was　red　on　the　back　of　the　hand；　the　fair　hairs
glistened　stiffly。　It　was　a　thin；　sinewy；　capable　hand
nevertheless；　and　Ursula　liked　it。　He　took　up　the　necklace
carefully；　and　blew　the　coal…dust　from　it；　as　it　lay　in　the
hollow　of　his　hand。　He　seemed　still　and　attentive。　He　held　out
his　hand　with　the　necklace　shining　small　in　its　hard；　black
hollow。

〃Take　it　back；〃　he　said。

Ursula　hardened　with　a　kind　of　radiance。

〃No；〃　she　said。　〃It　belongs　to　little　Ursula。〃

And　she　went　to　the　infant　and　fastened　the　necklace　round
its　warm；　soft；　weak　little　neck。

There　was　a　moment　of　confusion；　then　the　father　bent　over
his　child：

〃What　do　you　say？〃　he　said。　〃Do　you　say　thank　you？　Do　you　say
thank　you；　Ursula？〃

〃Her　name's　Ursula　now；〃　said　the　mother；　smiling　a
little　bit　ingratiatingly　from　the　door。　And　she　came　out　to
examine　the　jewel　on　the　child's　neck。

〃It　is　Ursula；　isn't　it？〃　said　Ursula　Brangwen。

The　father　looked　up　at　her；　with　an　intimate；　half…gallant；
half…impudent；　but　wistful　look。　His　captive　soul　loved　her：　but
his　soul　was　captive；　he　knew；　always。

She　wanted　to　go。　He　set　a　little　ladder　for　her　to　climb　up
to　the　wharf。　She　kissed　the　child；　which　was　in　its　mother's
arms；　then　she　turned　away。　The　mother　was　effusive。　The　man
stood　silent　by　the　ladder。

Ursula　joined　Skrebensky。　The　two　young　figures　crossed　the
lock；　above　the　shining　yellow　water。　The　barge…man　watched　them
go。

〃I　loved　them；〃　she　was　saying。　〃He　was　so
gentle……oh；　so　gentle！　And　the　baby　was　such　a　dear！〃

〃Was　he　gentle？〃　said　Skrebensky。　〃The　woman　had　been　a
servant；　I'm　sure　of　that。〃

Ursula　winced。

〃But　I　loved　his　impudence……it　was　so　gentle
underneath。〃

She　went　hastening　on；　gladdened　by　having　met　the　grimy；
lean　man　with　the　ragged　moustache。　He　gave　her　a　pleasant　warm
feeling。　He　made　her　feel　the　richness　of　her　own　life。
Skrebensky；　somehow；　had　created　a　deadness　round　her；　a
sterility；　as　if　the　world　were　ashes。

They　said　very　little　as　they　hastened　home　to　the　big
supper。　He　was　envying　the　lean　father　of　three　children；　for
his　impudent　directness　and　his　worship　of　the　woman　in　Ursula；
a　worship　of　body　and　soul　together；　the　man's　body　and　soul
wistful　and　worshipping　the　body　and　spirit　of　the　girl；　with　a
desire　that　knew　the　inaccessibility　of　its　object；　but　was　only
glad　to　know　that　the　perfect　thing　existed；　glad　to　have　had　a
moment　of　munion。

Why　could　not　he　himself　desire　a　woman　so？　Why　did　he　never
really　want　a　woman；　not　with　the　whole　of　him：　never　loved；
never　worshipped；　only　just　physically　wanted　her。

But　he　would　want　her　with　his　body；　let　his　soul　do　as　it
would。　A　kind　of　flame　of　physical　desire　was　gradually　beating
up　in　the　Marsh；　kindled　by　Tom　Brangwen；　and　by　the　fact　of　the
wedding　of　Fred；　the　shy；　fair；　stiff…set　farmer　with　the
handsome；　half…educated　girl。　Tom　Brangwen；　with　all　his　secret
power；　seemed　to　fan　the　flame　that　was　rising。　Th