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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
perpetually； even while she admired； in accordance with the rule she
seemed to have made for herself about keeping him at a distance so
long as he lived under the same roof with her。 One evening he sulked
at some saucy remark of hers； he sitting in the chimney corner with
his arms on his knees； and his head bent forwards； lazily gazing into
the wood…fire on the hearth； and luxuriating in rest after a hard
day's labour； she sitting among the geraniums on the long； low
window…seat； trying to catch the last slanting rays of the autumnal
light to enable her to finish stitching a shirt…collar for Will； who
lounged full length on the flags at the other side of the hearth to
Michael； poking the burning wood from time to time with a long hazel…
stick to bring out the leap of glittering sparks。
〃And if you can dance a threesome reel； what good does it do ye？〃
asked Susan； looking askance at Michael； who had just been vaunting
his proficiency。 〃Does it help you plough； reap； or even climb the
rocks to take a raven's nest？ If I were a man； I'd be ashamed to
give in to such softness。〃
〃If you were a man； you'd be glad to do anything which made the
pretty girls stand round and admire。〃
〃As they do to you； eh！ Ho； Michael； that would not be my way o'
being a man！〃
〃What would then？〃 asked he； after a pause； during which he had
expected in vain that she would go on with her sentence。 No answer。
〃I should not like you as a man； Susy； you'd be too hard and
headstrong。〃
〃Am I hard and headstrong？〃 asked she； with as indifferent a tone as
she could assume； but which yet had a touch of pique in it。 His
quick ear detected the inflexion。
〃No； Susy！ You're wilful at times； and that's right enough。 I don't
like a girl without spirit。 There's a mighty pretty girl comes to
the dancing class； but she is all milk and water。 Her eyes never
flash like yours when you're put out； why； I can see them flame
across the kitchen like a cat's in the dark。 Now； if you were a man；
I should feel queer before those looks of yours； as it is； I rather
like them； because〃
〃Because what？〃 asked she； looking up and perceiving that he had
stolen close up to her。
〃Because I can make all right in this way；〃 said he； kissing her
suddenly。
〃Can you？〃 said she； wrenching herself out of his grasp and panting；
half with rage。 〃Take that； by way of proof that making right is
none so easy。〃 And she boxed his ears pretty sharply。 He went back
to his seat discomfited and out of temper。 She could no longer see
to look； even if her face had not burnt and her eyes dazzled； but she
did not choose to move her seat； so she still preserved her stooping
attitude and pretended to go on sewing。
〃Eleanor Hebthwaite may be milk…and…water；〃 muttered he； 〃but
Confound thee； lad！ what art thou doing？〃 exclaimed Michael； as a
great piece of burning wood was cast into his face by an unlucky poke
of Will's。 〃Thou great lounging； clumsy chap； I'll teach thee
better！〃 and with one or two good round kicks he sent the lad
whimpering away into the back…kitchen。 When he had a little
recovered himself from his passion； he saw Susan standing before him；
her face looking strange and almost ghastly by the reversed position
of the shadows； arising from the firelight shining upwards right
under it。
〃I tell thee what； Michael；〃 said she； 〃that lad's motherless； but
not friendless。〃
〃His own father leathers him； and why should not I； when he's given
me such a burn on my face？〃 said Michael； putting up his hand to his
cheek as if in pain。
〃His father's his father； and there is nought more to be said。 But
if he did burn thee； it was by accident； and not o' purpose； as thou
kicked him； it's a mercy if his ribs are not broken。〃
〃He howls loud enough； I'm sure。 I might ha' kicked many a lad twice
as hard； and they'd ne'er ha' said ought but 'damn ye；' but yon lad
must needs cry out like a stuck pig if one touches him；〃 replied
Michael； sullenly。
Susan went back to the window…seat； and looked absently out of the
window at the drifting clouds for a minute or two； while her eyes
filled with tears。 Then she got up and made for the outer door which
led into the back…kitchen。 Before she reached it； however； she heard
a low voice； whose music made her thrill； say …
〃Susan； Susan！〃
Her heart melted within her； but it seemed like treachery to her poor
boy； like faithlessness to her dead mother； to turn to her lover
while the tears which he had caused to flow were yet unwiped on
Will's cheeks。 So she seemed to take no heed； but passed into the
darkness； and； guided by the sobs； she found her way to where Willie
sat crouched among the disused tubs and churns。
〃Come out wi' me； lad；〃 and they went out into the orchard； where the
fruit…trees were bare of leaves； but ghastly in their tattered
covering of gray moss： and the soughing November wind came with long
sweeps over the fells till it rattled among the crackling boughs；
underneath which the brother and sister sat in the dark； he in her
lap； and she hushing his head against her shoulder。
〃Thou should'st na' play wi' fire。 It's a naughty trick。 Thoul't
suffer for it in worse ways nor this before thou'st done； I'm
afeared。 I should ha' hit thee twice as lungeous kicks as Mike； if
I'd been in his place。 He did na' hurt thee； I am sure；〃 she
assumed； half as a question。
〃Yes but he did。 He turned me quite sick。〃 And he let his head fall
languidly down on his sister's breast。
〃Come； lad！ come； lad！〃 said she anxiously。 〃Be a man。 It was not
much that I saw。 Why； when first the red cow came she kicked me far
harder for offering to milk her before her legs were tied。 See thee！
here's a peppermint…drop； and I'll make thee a pasty to…night； only
don't give way so； for it hurts me sore to think that Michael has
done thee any harm； my pretty。〃
Willie roused himself up； and put back the wet and ruffled hair from
his heated face； and he and Susan rose up； and hand…in…hand went
towards the house； walking slowly and quietly except for a kind of
sob which Willie could not repress。 Susan took him to the pump and
washed his tear…stained face； till she thought she had obliterated
all traces of the recent disturbance； arranging his curls for him；
and then she kissed him tenderly； and led him in； hoping to find
Michael in the kitchen； and make all straight between them。 But the
blaze had dropped down into darkness； the wood was a heap of gray
ashes in which the sparks ran hither and thither； but even in the
groping darkness Susan knew by the sinking at her heart that Michael
was not there。 She threw another brand on the hearth and lighted the
candle； and sat down to her work in silence。 Willie cowered on his
stool by the side of the fire； eyeing his sister from time to time；
and sorry and oppressed； he knew not why； by the sight of her grave；