登陆注册
5159000000081

第81章

The Industrial Magnate I N B ELDOVER , there was both for Ursula and for Gudrun an interval.It seemed to Ursula as if Birkin had gone out of her for the time, he had lost his significance, he scarcely mattered in her world.She had her own friends, her own activities, her own life.She turned back to the old ways with zest, away from him.

And Gudrun, after feeling every moment in all her veins conscious of Gerald Crich, connected even physically with him, was now almost indifferent to the thought of him.She was nursing new schemes for going away and trying a new form of life.All the time, there was something in her urging her to avoid the final establishing of a relationship with Gerald.She felt it would be wiser and better to have no more than a casual acquaintance with him.

She had a scheme for going to St Petersburg, where she had a friend who was a sculptor like herself, and who lived with a wealthy Russian whose hobby was jewel-making.The emotional, rather rootless life of the Russians appealed to her.She did not want to go to Paris.Paris was dry, and essentially boring.She would like to go to Rome, Munich, Vienna, or to St Petersburg or Moscow.She had a friend in St Petersburg and a friend in Munich.To each of these she wrote, asking about rooms.

She had a certain amount of money.She had come home partly to save, and now she had sold several pieces of work, she had been praised in various shows.She knew she could become quite the `go' if she went to London.

But she knew London, she wanted something else.She had seventy pounds, of which nobody knew anything.She would move soon, as soon as she heard from her friends.Her nature, in spite of her apparent placidity and calm, was profoundly restless.

The sisters happened to call in a cottage in Willey Green to buy honey.

Mrs Kirk, a stout, pale, sharp-nosed woman, sly, honied, with something shrewish and cat-like beneath, asked the girls into her toocosy, too tidy kitchen.There was a cat-like comfort and cleanliness everywhere.

`Yes, Miss Brangwen,' she said, in her slightly whining, insinuating voice, `and how do you like being back in the old place, then?'

Gudrun, whom she addressed, hated her at once.

`I don't care for it,' she replied abruptly.

`You don't? Ay, well, I suppose you found a difference from London.

You like life, and big, grand places.Some of us has to be content with Willey Green and Beldover.And what do you think of our Grammar School, as there's so much talk about?'

`What do I think of it?' Gudrun looked round at her slowly.`Do you mean, do I think it's a good school?'

`Yes.What is your opinion of it?'

"I do think it's a good school.'

Gudrun was very cold and repelling.She knew the common people hated the school.

`Ay, you do, then! I've heard so much, one way and the other.It's nice to know what those that's in it feel.But opinions vary, don't they? Mr Crich up at Highclose is all for it.Ay, poor man, I'm afraid he's not long for this world.He's very poorly.'

`Is he worse?' asked Ursula.

`Eh, yes -- since they lost Miss Diana.He's gone off to a shadow.Poor man, he's had a world of trouble.'

`Has he?' asked Gudrun, faintly ironic.

`He has, a world of trouble.And as nice and kind a gentleman as ever you could wish to meet.His children don't take after him.'

`I suppose they take after their mother?' said Ursula.

`In many ways.' Mrs Krik lowered her voice a little.`She was a proud haughty lady when she came into these parts -- my word, she was that! She mustn't be looked at, and it was worth your life to speak to her.' The woman made a dry, sly face.

`Did you know her when she was first married?'

`Yes, I knew her.I nursed three of her children.And proper little terrors they were, little fiends -- that Gerald was a demon if ever there was one, a proper demon, ay, at six months old.' A curious malicious, sly tone came into the woman's voice.

`Really,' said Gudrun.

`That wilful, masterful -- he'd mastered one nurse at six months.Kick, and scream, and struggle like a demon.Many's the time I've pinched his little bottom for him, when he was a child in arms.Ay, and he'd have been better if he'd had it pinched oftener.But she wouldn't have them corrected -- no-o, wouldn't hear of it.I can remember the rows she had with Mr Crich, my word.When he'd got worked up, properly worked up till he could stand no more, he'd lock the study door and whip them.But she paced up and down all the while like a tiger outside, like a tiger, with very murder in her face.She had a face that could look death.And when the door was opened, she'd go in with her hands lifted -- "What have you been doing to my children, you coward." She was like one out of her mind.Ibelieve he was frightened of her; he had to be driven mad before he'd lift a finger.Didn't the servants have a life of it! And didn't we used to be thankful when one of them caught it.They were the torment of your life.'

`Really!' said Gudrun.

`In every possible way.If you wouldn't let them smash their pots on the table, if you wouldn't let them drag the kitten about with a string round its neck, if you wouldn't give them whatever they asked for, every mortal thing -- then there was a shine on, and their mother coming in asking -- "What's the matter with him? What have you done to him? What is it, Darling?" And then she'd turn on you as if she'd trample you under her feet.But she didn't trample on me.I was the only one that could do anything with her demons -- for she wasn't going to be bothered with them herself.

No, she took no trouble for them.But they must just have their way, they mustn't be spoken to.And Master Gerald was the beauty.I left when he was a year and a half, I could stand no more.But I pinched his little bottom for him when he was in arms, I did, when there was no holding him, and I'm not sorry I did --'

同类推荐
  • 传家宝

    传家宝

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 菩萨戒本疏

    菩萨戒本疏

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 上清高上玉真众道综监宝讳

    上清高上玉真众道综监宝讳

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 灵信经旨

    灵信经旨

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • The Rise of Roscoe Paine

    The Rise of Roscoe Paine

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 森林报:冬

    森林报:冬

    这部名著是苏联著名科普作家维·比安基的代表作。著者以其擅长描写动植物生活的艺术才能,用轻快的笔调、采用报刊形式,按春、夏、秋、冬四季12个月,有层次、有类别地报道森林中的新闻,森林中愉快的节日和可悲的事件,森林中的英雄和强盗,将动植物的生活表现得栩栩如生,引人入胜。著者还告诉了孩子们应如何去观察大自然,如何去比较、思考和研究大自然的方法。
  • 昆虫记:蓑蛾的保护层(第7卷)

    昆虫记:蓑蛾的保护层(第7卷)

    中国唯一全译插图本跨越两个世纪的传世经典献给所有敬畏生命、热爱生活的读者它们捕猎、相爱、生儿育女,它们诈取、被杀、朝生夕死……昆虫的世界从不绝望,它们永远生机勃勃。卷七:蓑蛾的保护层法布尔将专业知识与人生感悟融于一炉,用自己客观、独特的眼光描述了象虫、叶甲、步甲、石蛾和蓑蛾等昆虫的生活习性,字里行间洋溢着作者本人对生命的尊重和热爱,宛如一幅描绘属于昆虫秘密花园的精美画卷。对生命的最后时刻感到不安的心态,成了我们的最大痛苦,同时也显示了我们的崇高伟大。——法布尔《昆虫记第七卷:蓑蛾的保护层》
  • 神探洛秋:邪手

    神探洛秋:邪手

    连环谋杀,是堕落的天使再现人间,还是阴谋的恐怖向邪恶复仇?命案的背后,又是怎样不为人知的幕后?邪恶的大手,秘密操控着所有的一切,深邃的黑眸,暗暗的注视着这里的一切,睁大眼睛,我们看到的东西,是真的吗?--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 绝爱后宫:我知帝王心

    绝爱后宫:我知帝王心

    自十二岁起,我便知道我的人生一大半时光将注定在深宫中度过。十七岁的二皇子梓川被册封为太子。立储前,明媚的午后,梓川绽开和煦笑容说出那句每次见面都会说的话时,我并没有如每次那般嬉笑闹过,而是红透了一张脸,鼓起勇气轻轻“嗯”了一声,很快带着丫头跑开。“芫妹妹,等你长大了,嫁给我做王妃可好?”谁料事与愿违,梓川中毒而亡,我发誓找出暗害他之人。待五皇子梓逸登基,我与之并肩……
  • 九型人格的我自我说明书

    九型人格的我自我说明书

    九型人格是一种能够深层次了解人的方法和学问。它按照人们的思维、情绪和行为,将人分为九种,最卓越之处在于能穿透人们表面的喜怒哀乐,进入人心的最隐秘之处,发现人的最真实、最根本的需求和渴望。九型人格能够帮助我们洞察人心,用有效的方式对待他人,获得人生的幸福。通常,我们并不知道别人的看法,只是根据自己的看法来判断他人的思想。《九型人格的自我说明书》通过“九型人格”的理念告诉人们,要走出自己的固有观念,去感受他人的思想,对他人的处境有更多的了解,从而设身处地为他人着想。
  • 钻石王牌之投手归来

    钻石王牌之投手归来

    大联盟救援投手泽村,重回少年时代,弥补遗憾,寻找梦想,重铸辉煌的故事。故事很长,慢慢看……
  • 快穿女配:帝少太撩人

    快穿女配:帝少太撩人

    他是华国权势滔天的四爷,她是韶家最为出众的长女。世人皆知他冷漠无情,不近女色,却唯独宠她入骨。
  • 武化山河

    武化山河

    坦道口,多歧路,安得此间少年,步步走,山间少年偶遇未明男子,进入死人谷,开启一段注定不平凡的少年行!
  • 艺绝天下(开启青少年智慧故事)

    艺绝天下(开启青少年智慧故事)

    《开启青少年智慧故事丛书》以感悟的方式发掘浅显故事中蕴涵的有关哲理,来帮助青少年朋友修心养性,提升智慧,做一个生活中的智者,拥有快乐的人生。
  • 天使有点坏

    天使有点坏

    黑暗高中汇集了全市最帅、最强、最酷、最拽、最恶劣、最变态的不良男生,叛逆少女花火被送进这里,从此开始奇妙、华丽的命运之旅,他们、她们原本注定杯具的青春因她改变,温暖的亲情、友情、爱情还有未来不再遥不可及……