father had been a man without arrogating any authority。
He had gone on the wrong tack； and he felt it hard to give up
the expedition。 There was great surging and shame。 Then he
yielded。 He had given up the master…of…the…house idea。
There was something he wanted； nevertheless； some form of
mastery。 Ever and anon； after his collapses into the petty and
the shameful； he rose up again； and； stubborn in spirit； strong
in his power to start afresh； set out once more in his male
pride of being to fulfil the hidden passion of his spirit。
It began well； but it ended always in war between them； till
they were both driven almost to madness。 He said； she did not
respect him。 She laughed in hollow scorn of this。 For her it was
enough that she loved him。
〃Respect what？〃 she asked。
But he always answered the wrong thing。 And though she
cudgelled her brains； she could not e at it。
〃Why don't you go on with your wood…carving？〃 she said。 〃Why
don't you finish your Adam and Eve？〃
But she did not care for the Adam and Eve； and he never put
another stroke to it。 She jeered at the Eve； saying； 〃She is
like a little marionette。 Why is she so small？ You've made Adam
as big as God； and Eve like a doll。〃
〃It is impudence to say that Woman was made out of Man's
body；〃 she continued； 〃when every man is born of woman。 What
impudence men have； what arrogance！〃
In a rage one day； after trying to work on the board； and
failing； so that his belly was a flame of nausea； he chopped up
the whole panel and put it on the fire。 She did not know。 He
went about for some days very quiet and subdued after it。
〃Where is the Adam and Eve board？〃 she asked him。
〃Burnt。〃
She looked at him。
〃But your carving？〃
〃I burned it。〃
〃When？〃
She did not believe him。
〃On Friday night。〃
〃When I was at the Marsh？〃
〃Yes。〃
She said no more。
Then； when he had gone to work； she wept for a whole day； and
was much chastened in spirit。 So that a new； fragile flame of
love came out of the ashes of this last pain。
Directly； it occurred to her that she was with child。 There
was a great trembling of wonder and anticipation through her
soul。 She wanted a child。 Not that she loved babies so much；
though she was touched by all young things。 But she wanted to
bear children。 And a certain hunger in her heart wanted to unite
her husband with herself； in a child。
She wanted a son。 She felt； a son would be everything。 She
wanted to tell her husband。 But it was such a trembling；
intimate thing to tell him； and he was at this time hard and
unresponsive。 So that she went away and wept。 It was such a
waste of a beautiful opportunity； such a frost that nipped in
the bud one of the beautiful moments of her life。 She went about
heavy and tremulous with her secret； wanting to touch him； oh；
most delicately； and see his face； dark and sensitive； attend to
her news。 She waited and waited for him to bee gentle and
still towards her。 But he was always harsh and he bullied
her。
So that the buds shrivelled from her confidence； she was
chilled。 She went down to the Marsh。
〃Well；〃 said her father； looking at her and seeing her at the
first glance； 〃what's amiss wi' you now？〃
The tears came at the touch of his careful love。
〃Nothing；〃 she said。
〃Can't you hit it off； you two？〃 he said。
〃He's so obstinate；〃 she quivered； but her soul was obdurate
itself。
〃Ay； an' I know another who's all that；〃 said her father。
She was silent。
〃You don't want to make yourselves miserable；〃 said her
father； 〃all about nowt。〃
〃He isn't miserable；〃 she said。
〃I'll back my life； if you can do nowt else； you can make him
as miserable as a dog。 You'd be a dab hand at that； my
lass。〃
〃I do nothing to make him miserable；〃 she retorted。
〃Oh no……oh no！ A packet o' butterscotch； you are。〃
She laughed a little。
〃You mustn't think I want him to be miserable；〃 she
cried。 〃I don't。〃
〃We quite readily believe it；〃 retorted Brangwen。 〃Neither do
you intend him to be hopping for joy like a fish in a pond。〃
This made her think。 She was rather surprised to find that
she did not intend her husband to be hopping for joy like
a fish in a pond。
Her mother came； and they all sat down to tea； talking
casually。
〃Remember； child；〃 said her mother； 〃that everything is not
waiting for your hand just to take or leave。 You mustn't
expect it。 Between two people； the love itself is the important
thing； and that is neither you nor him。 It is a third thing you
must create。 You mustn't expect it to be just your way。〃
〃Ha…nor do I。 If I did I should soon find my mistake out。 If
I put my hand out to take anything； my hand is very soon
bitten； I can tell you。〃
〃Then you must mind where you put your hand；〃 said her
father。
Anna was rather indignant that they took the tragedy of her
young married life ity。
〃You love the man right enough；〃 said her father； wrinkling
his forehead in distress。 〃That's all as counts。〃
〃I do love him； more shame to him；〃 she cried。 〃I want
to tell him……I've been waiting for four days now to tell
him〃 her face began to quiver； the tears came。 Her
parents watched her in silence。 She did not go on。
〃Tell him what？〃 said her father。
〃That we're going to have an infant；〃 she sobbed； 〃and he's
never； never let me； not once； every time I've e to him； he's
been horrid to me； and I wanted to tell him； I did。 And he won't
let me……he's cruel to me。〃
She sobbed as if her heart would break。 Her mother went and
forted her； put her arms round her； and held her close。 Her
father sat with a queer； wrinkled brow； and was rather paler
than usual。 His heart went tense with hatred of his
son…in…law。
So that； when the tale was sobbed out； and fort
administered and tea sipped； and something like calm restored to
the little circle； the thought of Will Brangwen's entry was not
pleasantly entertained。
Tilly was set to watch out for him as he passed by on his way
home。 The little party at table heard the woman's servant's
shrill call：
〃You've got to e in； Will。 Anna's here。〃
After a few moments； the youth entered。
〃Are you stopping？〃 he asked in his hard； harsh voice。
He seemed like a blade of destruction standing there。 She
quivered to tears。
〃Sit you down；〃 said Tom Brangwen； 〃an' take a bit off your
length。〃
Will Brangwen sat down。 He felt something strange in the
atmosphere。 He was dark browed； but his eyes had the keen；
intent； sharp look； as if he could only see in the distance；
which was a beauty in him； and which made Anna so angry。
〃Why does he always deny me？〃 she said to herself。 〃Why is it
nothing to him； what I am？〃
And Tom Brangwen； blue…eyed and warm； sat in opposition to
the youth。
〃How long are you stopping？〃 the young husband asked his
wife。
〃Not very long；〃 she said。
〃Get your tea； lad；〃 said Tom Brangwen。 〃Are you itchin' to
be off the moment you enter？〃
They talked of trivial things。 Through the open door the
level rays of sunset poured in； shining on the floor。 A grey hen
appeared stepping swiftly in the doorway； pecking； and the light
through her b and her wattles made an oriflamme tossed