round of the hill； would see before him on the brow of the path
a tiny； tottering； windblown little mite with a dark head； who；
as soon as she saw him； would e running in tiny； wild；
windmill fashion； lifting her arms up and down to him； down the
steep hill。 His heart leapt up； he ran his fastest to her； to
catch her； because he knew she would fall。 She came fluttering
on； wildly； with her little limbs flying。 And he was glad when
he caught her up in his arms。 Once she fell as she came flying
to him； he saw her pitch forward suddenly as she was running
with her hands lifted to him； and when he picked her up； her
mouth was bleeding。 He could never bear to think of it； he
always wanted to cry； even when he was an old man and she had
bee a stranger to him。 How he loved that little
Ursula！……his heart had been sharply seared for her； when he
was a youth； first married。
When she was a little older； he would see her recklessly
climbing over the bars of the stile； in her red pinafore；
swinging in peril and tumbling over； picking herself up and
flitting towards him。 Sometimes she liked to ride on his
shoulder； sometimes she preferred to walk with his hand；
sometimes she would fling her arms round his legs for a moment；
then race free again； whilst he went shouting and calling to
her； a child along with her。 He was still only a tall； thin；
unsettled lad of twenty…two。
It was he who had made her her cradle； her little chair； her
little stool； her high chair。 It was he who would swing her up
to table or who would make for her a doll out of an old
table…leg； whilst she watched him； saying：
〃Make her eyes； Daddy； make her eyes！〃
And he made her eyes with his knife。
She was very fond of adorning herself； so he would tie a
piece of cotton round her ear； and hang a blue bead on it
underneath for an ear…ring。 The ear…rings varied with a red
bead； and a golden bead； and a little pearl bead。 And as he came
home at night； seeing her bridling and looking very
self…conscious； he took notice and said：
〃So you're wearing your best golden and pearl ear…rings；
to…day？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃I suppose you've been to see the queen？〃
〃Yes； I have。〃
〃Oh； and what had she to say？〃
〃She said……she said……'You won't dirty your nice
white frock。〃'
He gave her the nicest bits from his plate； putting them into
her red； moist mouth。 And he would make on a piece of
bread…and…butter a bird； out of jam： which she ate with
extraordinary relish。
After the tea…things were washed up； the woman went away；
leaving the family free。 Usually Brangwen helped in the bathing
of the children。 He held long discussions with his child as she
sat on his knee and he unfastened her clothes。 And he seemed to
be talking really of momentous things； deep moralities。 Then
suddenly she ceased to hear； having caught sight of a glassie
rolled into a corner。 She slipped away； and was in no hurry to
return。
〃e back here；〃 he said； waiting。 She became absorbed；
taking no notice。
〃e on；〃 he repeated； with a touch of mand。
An excited little chuckle came from her； but she pretended to
be absorbed。
〃Do you hear； Milady？〃
She turned with a fleeting； exulting laugh。 He rushed on her；
and swept her up。
〃Who was it that didn't e！〃 he said； rolling her between
his strong hands； tickling her。 And she laughed heartily；
heartily。 She loved him that he pelled her with his strength
and decision。 He was all…powerful； the tower of strength which
rose out of her sight。
When the children were in bed； sometimes Anna and he sat and
talked； desultorily； both of them idle。 He read very little。
Anything he was drawn to read became a burning reality to him；
another scene outside his window。 Whereas Anna skimmed through a
book to see what happened； then she had enough。
Therefore they would often sit together； talking desultorily。
What was really between them they could not utter。 Their words
were only accidents in the mutual silence。 When they talked；
they gossiped。 She did not care for sewing。
She had a beautiful way of sitting musing； gratefully； as if
her heart were lit up。 Sometimes she would turn to him；
laughing； to tell him some little thing that had happened during
the day。 Then he would laugh； they would talk awhile； before the
vital； physical silence was between them again。
She was thin but full of colour and life。 She was perfectly
happy to do just nothing； only to sit with a curious； languid
dignity； so careless as to be almost regal； so utterly
indifferent； so confident。 The bond between them was
undefinable； but very strong。 It kept everyone else at a
distance。
His face never changed whilst she knew him； it only became
more intense。 It was ruddy and dark in its abstraction； not very
human； it had a strong； intent brightness。 Sometimes； when his
eyes met hers； a yellow flash from them caused a darkness to
swoon over her consciousness； electric； and a slight strange
laugh came on his face。 Her eyes would turn languidly； then
close； as if hypnotized。 And they lapsed into the same potent
darkness。 He had the quality of a young black cat； intent；
unnoticeable； and yet his presence gradually made itself felt；
stealthily and powerfully took hold of her。 He called； not to
her； but to something in her； which responded subtly； out of her
unconscious darkness。
So they were together in a darkness； passionate； electric；
for ever haunting the back of the mon day； never in the
light。 In the light； he seemed to sleep； unknowing。 Only she
knew him when the darkness set him free； and he could see with
his gold…glowing eyes his intention and his desires in the dark。
Then she was in a spell； then she answered his harsh；
penetrating call with a soft leap of her soul； the darkness woke
up； electric； bristling with an unknown； overwhelming
insinuation。
By now they knew each other； she was the daytime； the
daylight； he was the shadow； put aside； but in the darkness
potent with an overwhelming voluptuousness。
She learned not to dread and to hate him； but to fill herself
with him； to give herself to his black； sensual power； that was
hidden all the daytime。 And the curious rolling of the eyes； as
if she were lapsing in a trance away from her ordinary
consciousness became habitual with her； when something
threatened and opposed her in life； the conscious life。
So they remained as separate in the light； and in the thick
darkness； married。 He supported her daytime authority； kept it
inviolable at last。 And she； in all the darkness； belonged to
him； to his close； insinuating； hypnotic familiarity。
All his daytime activity； all his public life； was a kind of
sleep。 She wanted to be free； to belong to the day。 And he ran
avoiding the day in work。 After tea； he went to the shed to his
carpentry or his woodcarving。 He was restoring the patched；
degraded pulpit to its original form。
But he loved to have the child near him； playing by his feet。
She was a piece of light that really belonged to him； that
played within his darkness。 He left the shed door on the latch。
And when； with his second sense of another presence； he knew she
was ing； he was satisfied； he was at rest。 Wh