must not do it。〃
The heavy； balanced birds looked at the fierce little face
and the fleece of keen hair thrust between the bars； and they
raised their heads and swayed off； producing the long；
can…canking； protesting noise of geese； rocking their ship…like；
beautiful white bodies in a line beyond the gate。
〃You're naughty； you're naughty；〃 cried Anna； tears of dismay
and vexation in her eyes。 And she stamped her slipper。
〃Why； what are they doing？〃 said Brangwen。
〃They won't let me e in；〃 she said； turning her flushed
little face to him。
〃Yi； they will。 You can go in if you want to；〃 and he pushed
open the gate for her。
She stood irresolute； looking at the group of bluey…white
geese standing monumental under the grey； cold day。
〃Go on；〃 he said。
She marched valiantly a few steps in。 Her little body started
convulsively at the sudden； derisive can…cank…ank of the geese。
A blankness spread over her。 The geese trailed away with
uplifted heads under the low grey sky。
〃They don't know you；〃 said Brangwen。 〃You should tell 'em
what your name is。〃
〃They're naughty to shout at me；〃 she flashed。
〃They think you don't live here；〃 he said。
Later he found her at the gate calling shrilly and
imperiously：
〃My name is Anna； Anna Lensky； and I live here； because Mr。
Brangwen's my father now。 He is； yes he is。 And I
live here。〃
This pleased Brangwen very much。 And gradually； without
knowing it herself； she clung to him； in her lost； childish；
desolate moments； when it was good to creep up to something big
and warm； and bury her little self in his big； unlimited being。
Instinctively he was careful of her； careful to recognize her
and to give himself to her disposal。
She was difficult of her affections。 For Tilly； she had a
childish； essential contempt； almost dislike； because the poor
woman was such a servant。 The child would not let the
serving…woman attend to her； do intimate things for her； not for
a long time。 She treated her as one of an inferior race。
Brangwen did not like it。
〃Why aren't you fond of Tilly？〃 he asked。
〃Because……because……because she looks at me with her
eyes bent。〃
Then gradually she accepted Tilly as belonging to the
household； never as a person。
For the first weeks； the black eyes of the child were for
ever on the watch。 Brangwen； good…humoured but impatient；
spoiled by Tilly； was an easy blusterer。 If for a few minutes he
upset the household with his noisy impatience； he found at the
end the child glowering at him with intense black eyes； and she
was sure to dart forward her little head； like a serpent； with
her biting：
〃Go away。〃
〃I'm not going away；〃 he shouted； irritated at last。
〃Go yourself……hustle……stir thysen……hop。〃 And he
pointed to the door。 The child backed away from him； pale with
fear。 Then she gathered up courage； seeing him bee
patient。
〃We don't live with you；〃 she said； thrusting forward
her little head at him。 〃You……you're……you're a
bomakle。〃
〃A what？〃 he shouted。
Her voice wavered……but it came。
〃A bomakle。〃
〃Ay； an' you're a akle。〃
She meditated。 Then she hissed forwards her head。
〃I'm not。〃
〃Not what？〃
〃A akle。〃
〃No more am I a bomakle。〃
He was really cross。
Other times she would say：
〃My mother doesn't live here。〃
〃Oh； ay？〃
〃I want her to go away。〃
〃Then want's your portion；〃 he replied laconically。
So they drew nearer together。 He would take her with him when
he went out in the trap。 The horse ready at the gate； he came
noisily into the house； which seemed quiet and peaceful till he
appeared to set everything awake。
〃Now then； Topsy； pop into thy bonnet。〃
The child drew herself up； resenting the indignity of the
address。
〃I can't fasten my bonnet myself；〃 she said haughtily。
〃Not man enough yet；〃 he said； tying the ribbons under her
chin with clumsy fingers。
She held up her face to him。 Her little bright…red lips moved
as he fumbled under her chin。
〃You talk……nonsents；〃 she said； re…echoing one of his
phrases。
〃That face shouts for th' pump；〃 he said； and taking
out a big red handkerchief； that smelled of strong tobacco；
began wiping round her mouth。
〃Is Kitty waiting for me？〃 she asked。
〃Ay；〃 he said。 〃Let's finish wiping your face……it'll
pass wi' a cat…lick。〃
She submitted prettily。 Then； when he let her go； she began
to skip； with a curious flicking up of one leg behind her。
〃Now my young buck…rabbit；〃 he said。 〃Slippy！〃
She came and was shaken into her coat； and the two set off。
She sat very close beside him in the gig； tucked tightly；
feeling his big body sway； against her； very splendid。 She loved
the rocking of the gig； when his big； live body swayed upon her；
against her。 She laughed； a poignant little shrill laugh； and
her black eyes glowed。
She was curiously hard； and then passionately tenderhearted。
Her mother was ill； the child stole about on tip…toe in the
bedroom for hours； being nurse； and doing the thing thoughtfully
and diligently。 Another day； her mother was unhappy。 Anna would
stand with her legs apart； glowering； balancing on the sides of
her slippers。 She laughed when the goslings wriggled in Tilly's
hand； as the pellets of food were rammed down their throats with
a skewer； she laughed nervously。 She was hard and imperious with
the animals； squandering no love； running about amongst them
like a cruel mistress。
Summer came； and hay…harvest； Anna was a brown elfish mite
dancing about。 Tilly always marvelled over her； more than she
loved her。
But always in the child was some anxious connection with the
mother。 So long as Mrs。 Brangwen was all right； the little girl
played about and took very little notice of her。 But
corn…harvest went by； the autumn drew on； and the mother； the
later months of her pregnancy beginning； was strange and
detached； Brangwen began to knit his brows； the old； unhealthy
uneasiness； the unskinned susceptibility came on the child
again。 If she went to the fields with her father； then； instead
of playing about carelessly； it was：
〃I want to go home。〃
〃Home； why tha's nobbut this minute e。〃
〃I want to go home。〃
〃What for？ What ails thee？〃
〃I want my mother。〃
〃Thy mother！ Thy mother none wants thee。〃
〃I want to go home。〃
There would be tears in a moment。
〃Can ter find t'road； then？〃
And he watched her scudding； silent and intent； along the
hedge…bottom； at a steady； anxious pace； till she turned and was
gone through the gateway。 Then he saw her two fields off； still
pressing forward； small and urgent。 His face was clouded as he
turned to plough up the stubble。
The year drew on； in the hedges the berries shone red and
twinkling above bare twigs； robins were seen； great droves of
birds dashed like spray from the fallow； rooks appeared； black
and flapping down to earth； the ground was cold as he pulled the
turnips； the roads were churned deep in mud。 Then the turnips
were pitted and work was slack。
Inside the house it was dark； and quiet。 The child flitted
uneasily round； and now and again came her plaintive； startled
cry：
〃Mother！〃
Mrs。 Brangwen was heavy and unresponsive； tired； lapsed