Part 2, Chapter 1

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Part two, Chapter one of the White Peacock by D. H. Lawrence.
This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Recording by
simon Ovus, Part two, Chapter one, Strange blossoms and a
strange new body. Winter lay a long time prostrate on
the earth. The men in the minds of tempest, Warreler

(00:23):
and Cove came out on strike on a question of
the rearranging of the working system down below. The distress
was not awful, for the men were on the whole
wise and well conditioned. But there was a dejection over
the face of the country side, and some suffered keenly everywhere,
and on the lanes and in the streets loitered gangs

(00:44):
of men, unoccupied and spiritless. Week after week went on,
and the agents of the miners Union held great meetings,
and the ministers held prayer meetings, but the strike continued.
There was no rest. Always the crier's bell was ringing
in the street. Always the servants of the company were

(01:04):
delivering handbills stating the case clearly. And always the people
talked and filled the months with bitter and then hopeless
resenting ghouls gave breakfasts, chapels gave soup well to do
people gave teas. The children enjoyed it, but we who
knew the faces of the old men and the privations

(01:25):
of the women, breathed a cold, disheartening atmosphere of sorrow
and trouble. Determined poaching was carried on in the squire's
woods and warrens. Annibal defended his game heroically. One man
was at home with a leg, supposed to be wounded
by a fall on the slippery roads, but ready by
a man trap in the woods. Then Annibal caught two men,

(01:48):
and they were sentenced to two months imparisiment. On both
the lodge gates of high Close on our side and
on the far Ebowitch side, were posted notices that trespass
on the drive or in the grounds would be liable
to punishment. These posters were soon mudded over and fresh
ones fixed. The men loitering on the road by a

(02:11):
Nethermere looked angrily at Letty as she passed in her
black furs which Leslie had given her, and their remarks
were pungent. She heard them, and they burned in her heart.
From my mother she inherited democratic views, which she now
proceeded to debate warmly with her lover. Then she tried

(02:31):
to talk to Leslie about the strike. He heard her
with mild superiority, smiled and said she did not know
women jumped to conclusions at the first touch of feeling.
Men must look at the thing all round, then make
a decision. Nothing hasty and impetuous, careful, long thought out,
correct decisions. Women could not be expected to understand these things.

(02:54):
Business was not for them. In fact, their mission was
above business, et cetera, et cetera. Unfortunately, Letty was the
wrong woman to treat us, so said she, with a quiet,
hopeless tone of finality. There now you understand, don't you.
Meny how harm I laughing water? So laugh again, darling,

(03:15):
And don't worry about these things. We will not talk
about them any more. Eh, no more, no more. That's right.
You are as wise as an angel. Come here, pooh,
the wood is thick and lonely. Look, there is nobody
in the world but us, and you are my heaven
and earth and hell. Huh if you are so cold?

(03:36):
How cold you are? It gives me a little shivers
when you look so And I am always hot. Letty, well,
you are cruel. Kiss me now now, I don't want
your cheek kiss me yourself. Why don't you say something?
What for? What's the use of saying anything when there's
nothing immediate to say? You're offended? Who was like snow

(04:00):
to day? She answered? At last, however, winter began to
gather her limbs, to rise and drift with saddened garments northward.
The strike was over. The men had compromised. It was
a gentle way of telling them they were beaten. But
the strike was over. The birds fluttered and dashed, the

(04:21):
catkins on the hazel, loosened their winter rigidity, and swung
soft tassels. All through the day sounded long, sweet whistlings
from the brushes, then later loud laughing shouts of bird
triumph on every hand. I remember a day when the
breast of the hills was heaving in a last, quick,
waking sigh, and the blue eyes of the waters opened

(04:44):
bright across the infinite skies of March. Great rounded masses
of cloud had sailed stately all day, domed with a
white radiance, softened with faint fleeting shadows, as if companies
of angels were gently sweeping past a dawn with resting
silken shadows like those of a full white breast. All day,

(05:07):
the clouds had moved on to their vast destination, and
I had clung to the earth, yearning and impatient. I
took a brush and tried to paint them. Then I
raged at myself. I wished that in all the wild
valleys where cloud shadows were traveling like pilgrims, something would
call forth from my rooted loneliness. For all the grandeur

(05:29):
of the white and blue day, the poised cloud masses
swung their slow flight and left me unnoticed. At evening
they were all gone, and the empty sky, like a
blue bubble over us, swam on its pale, bright rims.
Lesley came and asked his betrothed to go out with

(05:50):
him under the darkening, wonderful bubble. She bade me accompany her,
and to escape from myself, I went. It was warm
out of the wood and in the crouching hollows of
the hills. But over the slanting shoulders of the hills
the wind as swept, whipping the redness into our faces.
Give be some of those older catkins, Leslie said, Letty,

(06:13):
as we came down to the stream. Yes, those where
they hang over the brook. They are ruddy like new blood,
freshening under the skin, look tassels of crimson and gold.
He pointed to the dusty hazel catkins mingled with the
alder on her bosom. Then she began to quote Christina
Rosette's a birth tea. I'm glad you came to take

(06:36):
me a walk, She continued, doesn't Strelley Mill look pretty
like a group of orange and scarlet fungi in a
fairy picture? Do you know I haven't been, No, not
for quite a long time. Shall we call now? The
day light will be gone and we do? It is
half past five more. I saw him the sun the
other morning, where he was carting mature and made haste by.

(07:01):
Did he speak to you? Did you look at him? No,
he said nothing. I'd glanced at him. He's just the
same brick color solid mind that stone it rocks. I'm
glad you've got strong boots on, seeing that I usually
wear them. She stood, poised a moment on a large stone,
The fresh spring brook hastening towards her, deepening sidling round her.

(07:25):
You won't call and see them, then, she asked, No,
I like to hear the brook tinkling, don't you he replied, Ah, yes,
it's full of music. Shall we go on, he said,
impatient but submissive. I'll catch up in a minute, said I.
I went in and found Emily putting some bread into

(07:46):
the oven. Come out for a walk, said I. Now,
let me tell mother I was longing. She ran and
put on her long gray coat and her red tam
O shanter. As we went down the yard, George called
to me, I'll come back, I shouted. He came to
the crew yard gate to see us off. When we

(08:06):
came out onto the path, we saw Letty standing on
the top bar of the stile, balancing with her hand
on Leslie's head. She saw us, she saw George, and
she waved to us. Leslie was looking up at her anxiously.
She waved again. Then we could hear her laughing and
telling him excitedly to stand still and steady her while
she turned. She turned round and leaped with a great flutter,

(08:30):
like a big bird, launching down from the top of
the stile to the ground and into his arms. Then
we climbed the steep hillside sunnybank that had once shone
yellow with wheat, and now waved black tattered ranks of
thistles where the rabbits ran. We passed the little cottages
in the hollows, scooped out of the hill and gained
the highlands that looked out over Leicestershire to Charmwood on

(08:52):
the left, and away into the mountain Knob of Derbyshire
straight in front and towards the right. The upper it
is all grassy, fallen into long disuse. It used to
lead from the abbey to the hall, but now it
ends blindly on the hill brow. Halfway along is the
old White House farm, with its green mountain steps moldering outside.

(09:16):
Ladies have mounted here and ridden towards the veil of Beaver,
but now a laborer holds the farm. We came to
the quarries and looked in at the lion kills. Let
us go right into the wood out to the quarry,
said Leslie. I've not been since I was a little lad.
It is trespassing, said Emily. We don't trespass, he replied

(09:38):
grand deloquently. So we went along by the hurrying brook,
which fell over little cascades in its haste, never looking
once at the primroses that were glimmering all along its banks.
We turned aside and climbed the hill through the woods.
Velvety green sprinks of dog mercury were scattered on the
red soil. We came to the top of a slope

(10:00):
where the wood thinned. As I talked to Emily, I
became dimly aware of a whiteness over the ground. She
exclaimed with surprise, And I found that I was walking
in the first shades of twilight, over clumps of snowdrops.
The hazels were thin, and only here and there an
oak tree uprose. All the ground was white, with snowdrops

(10:23):
like drops of manner, scattered over the red earth. On
the gray green clusters of leaves. There was a deep
little dell, sharp sloping like a cup, and white sprinkling
of flowers all the way down, with white flowers showing
pale among the first inpouring of shadow. At the bottom,
the earth was red and warm, pricked with the dark

(10:45):
succulent green of bluebell sheaths, and embroidered with gray green
clusters of spears and many white flowerets. High above, above
the light tracery of hazel, the weird oaks tangled in
the sunset below in the first shadows drooped hosts of
little white flowers, so silent and sad it seemed like

(11:08):
a holy communion of pure wild things, numberless, frail, and
folded meekly in the evening light. Other flower companies are
glad stately, barbaric hordes of bluebells, merryheaded cowslip groups, even
light tossing wooden enemies. But snowdrops are sad and mysterious.

(11:29):
We have lost their meaning. They do not belong to
us who ravished them. The girls bent among them, touching
them with their fingers and symbolizing the yearning which I
felt folded in the twilight. These conquered flowrets are sad,
like forlorn little friends of dryads. What do they mean

(11:50):
do you think? Said Letty in a low voice, as
her white fingers touched the flowers and her black furs
fell on them. Are not so many this year, said Leslie.
They remind me of mistletoe, which is never ours, though
we wear it, said Emily to me, what do you
think they say? What do they make you think? Cyril?

(12:11):
Letty repeated, I don't know. Emily says they belonged to
some old, wild, lost religion. They were the symbol of tears,
perhaps to some strange hearted druid folk before us. More
than tears, said Letty, More than tears. They're so still
something out of an old religion that we have lost.

(12:33):
They make me feel afraid. What should you have to fear,
asked Leslie. If I knew I shouldn't fear, she answered,
Look at all the snowdrops they hung in dim, strange
flecks among the dusty leaves. Look at them, closed up, retreating, parlous.
They belong to some knowledge we have lost, that I

(12:53):
have lost, and that I need. I feel afraid. They
seem like something in fate. Do you think, sir l
We can lose things off the earth, like mastodons and
those old monstrosities, but things that matter wisdom. It is
against my creed, said I. I believe I have lost something,

(13:15):
said she. Come, said Leslie, don't trouble with fancies. Come
with me to the bottom of this cup and see
how strange it will be, with the sky marked with
branches like a filigree lid. She rose and followed him
down the steep side of the pit, crying, Ah, you've
tready on the flowers. No, said he, I've been very careful.

(13:37):
They sat down together on a fallen tree. At the bottom.
She leaned forward, her fingers wandering white among the shadowed
gray spaces of leaves, plucking as if it were right,
flowers here and there. He could not see her face.
Don't you care for me, he asked softly, Hugh. He

(13:58):
sat up and looked at him and laughed straight. You
do not seem real to me, she replied in a
strange voice. For some time they sat thus, both bowed
and silent. Birds scurred off from the bushes, and Enemily
looked up with a great start, as a quiet, sardonic
voice said above us, and of cot my eyes. If

(14:20):
it ain't it struck me, I heard a coin, And
here's the birds. Come on, sweethearts. It's the wrong place
for billing and cooing in the middle of these y snowdrops.
Let's have your names come on. Clear off, you fool,
answered Leslie from below, jumping up in anger. We all
four turned and looked at the keeper. He stood in
the room of lights, darkly, fine, powerful form, menacing us.

(14:45):
He did not move, but like some malicious pan looked
down on us and said, very pretty pretty, two and
two makes four tis true? Two and two makes four.
Come on, come on out of this here, bridle bed
Let's have a look at ya. Can't you use your eyes?
You full, replied Leslie, standing up and helping Netty with

(15:06):
her furs. At any rate, you can see there are
ladies here. Very sorry, sir, he can't tell a lady
from a woman at this distance at dusk. Who may
you be, sir? Clear out, Come along, Letty. You can't
stay here now. It climbed into the light. Oh very sorry,
mister tempest. When you look down on a man, he

(15:27):
never looks the same. I thought it was some young
fool's come here, dullying. Damn you shut up, exclaimed Leslie.
I beg your pardon. Letty, will you have my arm?
They looked very elegant at the pair of them. Letty
was wearing a long coat which fitted close. She had
a small hat whose feathers flushed straight back with her hair.

(15:49):
The keeper looked at them, then, smiling, he went down
the dell with great strides and returned, saying, well the
lady might as well take her gloves. He took them
from him, shrinking to Leslie. Then she started and said,
let me fetch my flowers. She ran for the handful
of snowdrops that lay among the roots of the trees.

(16:10):
We all watched her. Sorry I made such a mistake,
a lady, said Annibal. But I've nearly forgot the sight
of one save the squire's daughters, who are never out
of minds. I should think you never have seen many,
unless have you ever been a groom? No groom, but
a briegroom, sir. And then I think I'd rather groom

(16:30):
a horse than a lady, for I got well bit,
if you'd excuse me, sir, and you deserved it, no doubt,
I got it. And I wish you better look, sir,
once more a man here in the wood, though, than
in my lady's parlor. It strikes me a ladies parlor,
laughed Leslie, indulgent in his amusement of the facetious keeper.

(16:52):
Oh yes, will you walk into my parlor? A very
smart for a keeper, Oh yes, sir, I was once
a lady man. But I'd rather watch the rabbits and
the birds. And it's easy of breeding brats in the
kennels than in the town. They're yours, are, they said?
I you know, mly you, sir, aren't they a lovely
little litter. Aren't they a pretty bag of ferrets? Natural

(17:15):
as weasels. That's what I said they should be. We're
up like a bunch o young foxes to run as
they would. Emily adoined letty, and they kept aloof from
the man. They instinctively hated. They'll get nicely trapped one
of these days, said I. And they're natural. They conferv
for themselves like wild beestew He replied, grinning, You're not

(17:38):
doing your duty. It strikes me. Put in leslie sententiously,
The man laughed. Duties of parents. Tell me I've need
of it. I've nine that is eight and one, not
four off. She reads, well, the old lass one over it?
Two years nine, fourteen years? Done well, hasn't she? You've
done pretty badly? I think I why it's natural when

(18:03):
a man's more than nature, he is a devil. Be
a good animal, says I, whether it's man or woman.
You sir, a good natural male animal, a lady there
a female un that's proper, as long as you're enjoy it.
And what then do as the animals do. I'll watch
me brats, I let em grow, and beauties they are

(18:23):
sound as a young ashpole. Every one. They shan't learn
to dirty themselves with smirking deviltry. What if I can
help it? They can be like birds or weasels, or
vipers or squirrels, so long as they ain't human. Rock,
That's what I say. It's one way of looking at things,
said Leslie. Aye, look at the women looking at us.

(18:45):
Hump something between a bull and a couple of worms
touck together. I am see that spink. He raised his
voice for the girls to hear. Pretty, isn't he What for?
And for what do you wear a fancy vest and
Christian mustache? Sir? What for of them? Bottom? Ha tell
a woman not to come in a wood till she
can look at natural things. She might see something. Good night, sir.

(19:09):
He marched off into the darkness. Course fellow, that, said Leslie,
when he had rejoined Letty. But he's a character. He
makes you shudder, she replied, But yet you are interested
in him. I believe he has a history. He seems
to lack something, said Emily. I thought him rather a

(19:29):
fine fellow, said I. Splendidly built fellow. But callous no soul,
remarked Leslie, dismissing the question. No assented Emily, no soul
than among the snowdrops, And it was thoughtful, and I smiled.
It was a beautiful evening, still, with red shaken clouds

(19:50):
on the west. The moon in heaven was turning wistfully
back to the east. Dark purple woods lay around us,
painting out for the distance. The near wild, ruined land
looked sad and strange under the pale after flow. The
turf path was fine and springy. Let us run, said Letty,

(20:11):
and joining hands, we raced wildly along, with a flutter
and a breathless laughter, till we were happy and forgetful.
When we stopped, we exclaimed at once hark a child,
said Letty, and the kennel said I. We hurried forward.
From the house. Came the mad yelling and yelping of children,
and the wild, hysterical shouting of a woman, Tha little devil,

(20:35):
the little devil, Tha shunner, that thou shunner. This was
accompanied by the hollow sound of blows and a pandemonium
of howling. We rushed in and found the woman in
a tousled frenzy, belaboring a youngster with an enameled pan.
The lad was rolled up like a young hedgehog. The
woman held him by the foot, and like a flail
came the hollow utensil, thudding on his shoulders and back.

(20:57):
He lay in the firelight and howled while scattered in
various groups, with the leaping firelight twinkling over their tears
and their open mouths, with the other children crying too.
The mother was in a state of hysteria. Her hair
streamed over her face, and her eyes were fixed in
a stare of overwrought irritation. Up and down went her
long arm like a windmill sail. I ran and held it.

(21:21):
When she could hit no more, the woman dropped the
pan from her nerveless hand and staggered, trembling to the squall.
She looked desperately weary and for done. She clasped and
unclasped her hands continually. Emily hushed to the children, while
Letty hushed to the mother, holding her hard cracked hands
as she swayed to and fro Gradually, the mother became

(21:45):
still and sat staring in front of her. Then aimlessly,
she began to finger the jewels on Letty's finger. Emily
was bathing the cheek of a little girl, who lifted
up her voice, and wept loudly when she saw the
speck of blood on the cloth. But presently she became
quiet too, and Emily could empty the water from the
late instrument of castigation, and at last light the lamp.

(22:10):
I found sam under the table in a little heap.
I put out my hand for him, and he wriggled
away like a lizard into the passage. After a while
I saw him in a corner, lying whimpering with little
savage cries of pain. I cut off his retreat and
captured him, bearing him struggling into the kitchen. Then, weary

(22:31):
with pain, he became passive. We undressed him and found
his beautiful white body all discolored with bruises. The mother
began to sob again with a chorus of babies. The
girls tried to soothe the weeping, while I rubbed butter
into the silent, wincing boy. Then his mother caught him

(22:51):
in her arms and kissed him passionately, and cried with abandon.
The boy let himself be kissed. Then he too began
to sob, till his little body was all shaken. They
folded themselves together, the poor disheveled mother and the half
naked boy, and wept themselves still. Then she took him

(23:13):
to bed, and the girls helped the other little ones
into their nightgowns, and soon the house was still. I
cannot manage them, my gunner, said the mother mournfully. They've
grown beyond me. I don't know what to do with them,
and never a hand as he'd lived to help me. No,
he cares not a think of me, not a thing now,

(23:33):
but makes a mock and a sludge of me. Ah, baby,
cried Betty, setting the bonnie boy on his feet and
holding up his training nightgown behind him. Do you want
to want your mother go? Then? Ah? A child, a
handsome little fellow some sixteen months toddled across to his mother,
waving his hands as he went and laughing when his

(23:56):
large hazel eyes glowed with pleasure. His mother caught him,
pushed the silken brown hair back from his forehead and
ate his cheek against hers. Ah, she said, I've got
a funny down that has not like another man, nor
my dookie. He's got no art to care for, nobody,
he asked. No, my pigeon, no lives like a stranger

(24:17):
to his own flesh and blood. The girl with the
wounded cheek had found comfort in Leslie. She was seated
on his knee, looking at him with solemn blue eyes,
her solemnity increased by the quaint round head whose black
hair was cut short. It's my chow as it is,
and asked, Sam says it it isn't, and he takes

(24:38):
it and marks it all gone. So I would give
it to him. She clutched in her fat little hand
a piece of red chalk. Be Dad, can it me
to mark me Donny's face red? What torn in wood?
I'll show you. He wriggled down and holding up her
training gown with one hand, trotted to a corner piled
with a child's rubbish, and all had a hideous carbon

(24:59):
carricter sure of a woman, and brought it to Leslie.
The face of the object was streaked with red. Here
she is MiB dolly. What my dad made me? A
name's lady? Maima is it? Said Letty? And on these
her cheeks. She's not pretty, is she? Um? Cheers? My
dad says she is like a lady. And he gave

(25:22):
you her rouge? Did he rouge? She nodded, And he
wouldn't let Sam have it no a memmoir says, don't
get to him, and he bite me. What will your
father say? My dad hate no, but laugh put in
the mother and says a bite spatter that a kiss
brute said leslie feelingly. Nobody never laid a finger on her,

(25:45):
nor on me neither. But he's not like another man,
never tells you'm out. He is more a stranger to
me this day than he were the day. Had far
separes on him. Where was that? Asked letty? But over
a laughs at the old and then a new man.
Come fair, a gentleman, and i'll lan a'l and even
now come read and talk like a gentleman. But he

(26:07):
tells me nothing. Oh no, what I am in his
eyes but a sludge bump. He's above me, e is,
and above his own childer got a mercy. He'll be
in in a minute. Come on here, asked the children
to bed. Swept the letter into a corner and began
to lay the table. The cloth was spotless, and she
put him a silver spoon in the saucer. We'd only

(26:29):
just got out of the house when he drew near.
I saw his massive figure in the doorway, and the
big prolific woman move subserviently about the room on our
proserpine add visitors. I ever asked them. They come in here,
and the children crying. I never encouraged them. He hurried
away into the night. Ah, it's awors. The woman bears

(26:51):
the burden, said Letty bitterly. If he'd helped her, wouldn't
you have been a fine woman now splendid? But she's
dragged to it. Men are brutes a marriage. Just give
scopes to them, said Emily. Oh, you wouldn't take that
as a fair sample of marriage, replied Leslie. Think of
you and me minnehaha, a hai oh. I meant to

(27:14):
tell you what do you think of Gray mead Old Vicarage?
For us? It's a lovely old place, exclaimed Letty, and
we passed out of hearing. We stumbled over the rough path.
The moon was bright, and we stepped apprehensively on the
shadows thrown from the trees, for they lay so black
and substantial. Occasionally a moonbeam would trace out a suave

(27:35):
white branch that the rabbits had gnawed quite bare in
the hard winter. We came out of the woods into
the full heavens the northern sky was full of a
gush of green light. In front eclipsed Orion leaned over
his bed, and the moon followed. When the northern lights
are up, said Emily, I feel so strange, half eerie.

(27:57):
They do filly with awe, don't they? Yes, said I.
They make you wonder and look and expect something. What
do you expect? She said softly, and looked up and
saw me smiling, And she looked down again, biting her lips.
When we came to the party of the roads, Emily
begged them just to step into the mill, just for

(28:18):
a moment, and Letty consented. The kitchen window was uncurtained
and the blind, as usual, was not drawn. We peeped
in through the cords of budding honeysuckle. George and Alice
were sitting at the table playing chess. The mother was
mending a coat and the father, as usual, was reading.
Alice was talking quietly, and George was bent on the game.

(28:41):
His arms lay on the table. We made a noise
at the door and entered. George rose heavily, shook hands
and sat down again. Hello, Letty Burdsel, you are a stranger,
said Alice. Are you so much engaged? I We don't
see much of her nowadays, added the father in his
jove your way, And isn't she a top in her

(29:03):
fine hat and furs and snow drops? Look at her, George,
you never looked to see what a toft she she is.
He raised his eyes and looked at her apparel and
at her flowers, but not at her face. Ay, she
is fine, he said, and returned to the chest. We've
been gathering snowdrops, said Letty, fingering the flowers in her bosom.

(29:25):
They are pretty. Give me some, will you, said Alice,
holding out her hand. Letty gave her the flowers. Check,
said George. Deliberately, get out, replied his opponent. I've got
some snow drops. Don't they stoop me? An innocent little
soul like me? Let He went, wear them? She's not
meek and mild and innocent like me. Do you want some?

(29:47):
If you like? What for the make you pretty? Of course?
And to show you an innocent little meatling. You're in check,
he said, Where can you wear them? There's any your
shirt or there? She stuck a few flowers in his
ruffled black hair. Look, Letty, isn't he sweet? Betty laughed

(30:07):
with a strained little laugh. He's like bottom and the
ass's head. She said, then I'm Titania. Don't I make
a lovely fairy queen bully Bottom? And who's jealous? Oberon?
He reminds me of that man in Hede gambler crowned
with vine leaves. Oh, yes, fine leaves, said Emily. How's

(30:28):
your mare's praying? Mister tempest, George asked, taking no notice
of the flowers in his hair. Oh, she'll soon be
all right, thanks, ah, George told me about it. Put
in the father, and he held Leslie in conversation. Am
I in check? George said Alice. Returning to the game,
she knitted her brows and cogitated pooh. She said, that's

(30:50):
soon remedied. She moved her piece and said triumphantly, now sir.
He surveyed the game, and with deliberation move Alis pounced
on him with the leap of her night. She called, check,
I didn't see it. You may have the game now,
he said, beaten my boy, then crow over a woman

(31:11):
any more? Stale mate, with flowers in your hair. He
put his hand to his head and felt among his hair,
and threw the flowers on the table. Would you believe it,
said the mother, coming into the room from the dairy.
What we all asked, Nicki Ben's been and eaten the
stil cloth. Yes, when I went to wash it, there

(31:32):
sat Nicki Ben, galloping and wiping the froth off his whiskers.
George laughed loudly and heartily. He laughed, said he was tired.
Letty looked and wondered when he would be done. I
imagine he gasped how he'd feel with half a yard
of muzzin creeping down his throttle. This laughter was most incongruous.

(31:55):
He went off into another burst. Alis laughed too. It
was easy to affect her with laughter. Then the father began,
and in walked Nicki Ben, stepping disconsolately. We all roared
again till the rafters shook. Only Letty looked impatiently for
the end. George swept his bare arms across the table,

(32:16):
and the scattered little flowers fell broken to the ground.
But what is shame? Exclaimed Letty? What said he? Looking
round your flowers? Do you feel sorry for them? You're
too tender hearted, isn't she? Cyril always was for dumb
animals and things, said, I don't you wish you was

(32:36):
a little dumb animal, Georgie said Alice. He smiled, putting
away the chess men. Shall we go, dear, said Letty
to Leslie, If you are ready, he replied, rising with alacrity.
I'm tired, she said plaintively. He tended to her with
little tender solicitations. Have we walked too far? He asked, No,

(32:59):
it's not that. No, it's the snowdrops and the man
and the children and everything. I feel just a bit exhausted.
He kissed Alice and Emily and the mother. Good night. Alice,
she said, it's not altogether my fault. We're strangers, you know, really,
I'm just the same. Really, any you imagine them, then
what can I do? He said farewell to George and

(33:23):
looked at him through a quiver of suppressed tears. George
was somewhat flushed with triumph over Letty. She gone home
with tears shaken from her eyes, unknown to her lover
at the farm. George laughed with Alice. He's got it.
Alice home to Eberwich like a blooming little monkey doanging

(33:44):
from two boughs, as she put it. When we swung
her along on our arms, we laughed and said many
preposterous things. George wanted to kiss her at parting, but
she tipped him under the chin and said sweet as
one does to a canary. Then she laughed with her
tongue between her teeth, and ran indoors. He is a

(34:05):
little devil, said he. We took the long way home
by gray Mead and passed the dark schools. Come on,
said he, Let's go in the ram Inn and have
a look at my cousin Meg. It was half past
ten when he marched me across the road and into
the sanded passage of the little Inn. The place had
been an important farm in the days of George's grand uncle,

(34:28):
but since his decease it had declined. Under the governance
of the widow and a man of all work, The
old grand aunt was propped and supported by splendid grand daughter.
The near kin of maid were all in California, so she,
a bonnie, delightful girl of twenty four, stayed near her grandma.
As we tramped grittily down the passage, the red head

(34:51):
of Bill poked out of the bar, and he said,
as he recognized George, good evening. Go forward, there's none
about yet. When forward and unlatched the kitchen door. The
great aunt was seated in her little round backed arm chair,
sipping her night cap. Well, George, my lad, she cried
in her querulous voice. I never says, it's thy dust.

(35:14):
I've come for some for sure. Else, what bringth thee
to see me? Now? He said, I'm come to see
thee nowt else where's meg? Ha? Ha ha? Me did
to say, come to see me? Ha? Where's Meg? And
oo's this young gentleman I was formerly introduced, and shook
the clammy corded hand of the old lady. Her looks delicate,

(35:39):
she observed, shaking her cap and its scarlet geranium sadly,
Come thou sit thee down and una look so long
of the leg. I sat down on the sofa on
the cushions covered with blue and red checks. The room
was very hot, and I stared about uncomfortably. The old
lady sat paring at nothing in reverie. She was a

(36:00):
half visage to bosomless dame, clad in thick black cloth
like armor and wearing an immense twisted gold brooch in
the lace at her neck. We heard heavy quick footsteps above.
There's coomin, remarked the old lady rising from her apathy.
The footsteps came downstairs quickly, then cautiously. Round the bend.

(36:22):
Meg appeared in the doorway. She started with surprise, saying, pull,
he hears somebody, but I never thought it was you.
Wore color still flamed into her glossy cheeks, and she
smiled in her fresh, frank way. I think I have
never seen a woman whose more physical charm. There was
a voluptuous fascination in her every outline and movement. I

(36:45):
never listened to the words that came from my lips.
One watched the ripe motion of those red fruits. You'll
have a drop a whiskey, Meg, you'll have a drop,
And it climbed firmly, but did not escape. Nay, declared
the old dame. I shall have none of the knowles,
should you like it? Ot say the word, an that's aid.
It did not say the word. Then game Claret pronounced,

(37:10):
my hostess, though it's thin bedded stuff to go to
bed on Claret it was. Mike went out again to
see about closing. The grand aunt sighed and sighed again
for no perceptible reason. But the whiskey's well, you've come
to see me now, she moaned. For ye, none, I've
a chance next time you come. No, I'm all gone

(37:33):
but me cap he shook that geraniumed erection, and I
wander what sardonic fate left it behind. And I'm forced
to say I ust be thankful to be gone, she added,
after a few sighs. This weariness of the flesh was touching.
The cruel truth is, however, that the old lady had

(37:53):
clung to life like a louse to a pig's back. Dying,
she faintly but emphatically declared herself A bit better, a
bit better. I shall be up to morrow. I should
have gone before now, she continued, But for that blessed wench,
I canna a bear to think of leaving her. Come
drink up me land, drink up. Nay that number young yet,

(38:16):
but none stopped up with a thimbleful. I took whiskey
in preference to the acrid stuff, Aye, resumed the grand aunt.
I canna go in peace till i's settled. And as
that's tickle or choosing the right thought, hasn't the gumpha
drags her, sniffed and turned scornfully to her glass. George

(38:38):
grinned and looked conscious As he swallowed a gulp of whiskey.
It crackled in his throat. The sound annoyed the old lady.
I might be scared of somebody, She said. They never
had six drops of spunk in thee. He turned again
with a sniff to her glass. He frowned with irritation,
half filled his glass with liquor, and drank again. I

(39:01):
dare bet as thou never kissed a wench in thy life?
Not proper? And she tossed the last drops of her
toddy down her skinny throat. Here Meg came along the passage.
Come grand mart she said, I'm sure it's time, as
you was in bed. Come on, Cynthia, down and drink
a drop with It's not every night as we have company. No,

(39:24):
let me take you to bed. I'm sure you must
be ready. Cynthey, down here, I say, and get thee
a drop a poard come no argue barging, Meg fetched
more glasses and a decanta. I made a place for
her between me and George. We all had port wine. Meg,
naive and unconscious, waited on us deliciously. Her cheeks gleamed

(39:47):
like satin when she laughed. Save where the dimples held
the shadow. Her suave, torny neck was bare and bewitching.
She turned suddenly to George as he asked her a question,
and they found that faces close together. He kissed her,
and when she started back, jumped and kissed her neck
with warmth. La lady, daty day, Dady dare, cried the

(40:11):
old woman in delight, and she clutched her wine glass.
Come on, chink, she cried, all together, chink to him
before chinked and drank. George poured wine at a tumbler
and drank it off. He was getting excited, and all
the energy and passion that normally were bound down by
his caution and self instinct began to flame out. Your aunt,

(40:35):
said he, lifting his tumbler. Here's to what you want.
You know, I know the war of Spunky's any on'em,
she cried, But no book wanted warming up. I'll see
as you're all right. It's a bargain. Chink again, everybody
a bargain, said he, before he put his lips to
the glass. What bargain's that? Said Meg? The old lady

(40:58):
laughed loudly and winked at George, who, with his lips
wet with wine, got up and kissed Meg soundly, saying,
there it is. That seals it. Meg wiped her face
with her big pinafore and seemed uncomfortable. Aren't you coming, Grandma?
She pleaded, Eh, thou wants to hurry me off? What's

(41:19):
tha say, George? A deep one, isn't that? Puda? Go on, dunno,
be yourseled off to shpitch, snorted the old lady. Yeah,
that a slow one, and no mistakes. Get a Candlemeg
arm ready. Meg brought a brass bedroom candlestick. Bill brought
in the money in a tin box and delivered it
into the hands of the old lady. All thou ways

(41:42):
to bed, now, lad, said she to the ugly wizened
serving man. He sat in a corner and pulled off
his boots. Come and kiss me good night, George, said
the old woman, And as he did so, she whispered
in his ear whereat he laughed loudly. She poured whiskey
into her glass and called to the serving man to
drink it. Then, pulling herself up heavily, she leaned on

(42:06):
Meg and went upstairs. She had been a big woman,
one could see, but now her shapeless broken figure looked
pitiful beside Meg's luxuriant form. We heard them slowly laboriously
climbed the stairs. George sat, pulling his mustache and half smiling.
His eyes were alight with that peculiar chardish look they

(42:28):
had when he was experiencing new and doubtful sensations. Then
he pulled himself more whiskey, I say, steady, I admonished,
What for, he replied, indulging himself like a spoiled child,
and laughing. Phil who sat for some time looking at
the hole in his stocking, drained his glass and with

(42:48):
a sad good man, creaked off upstairs. Presently Meg came down,
and I rose and said we must be going. What
has come? Knock the door after you, said, she, standing
uneasily waiting, George got up. He gripped the end of
the table to steady himself. Then he got his balance, and,
with his eyes on Meg, said here. He nodded his

(43:12):
head to her, come here, or drassas or what looked
at him, Half smiling, half doubtful. He put his arm
round her, and, looking down into her eyes, with his
face very close to hers, said let's have a kiss.
Quite unresisting She yielded him her mouth, looking at him
intently with her bright brown eyes. He kissed her and

(43:36):
pressed her closely to him. I am going to marry thee,
he said. Go on, she replied softly, half glad, half doubtful.
I am an old he repeated, pressing her more tightly
to him. I went down the passage and stood at
the open doorway, looking out into the night. It seemed

(43:57):
a long time. Then I heard the thin voice of
the old woman at the top of the stairs. Mag mag,
send him off? No, come on. In the silence that followed,
there was a murmur of voices, and then they came
to the passage. Good night the lad. Good luck to thee,
cried the voice, like a ghul from upper regions. He

(44:18):
kissed his betrothed a rather hurried good night at the door.
Good night, she replied, softly, watching him retreat. Then he
heard her shoot the heavy bolts. You know, he began,
and he tried to clear his throat. His voice was
husky and strangulated with excitement. He tried again, you know,

(44:40):
she she's at clinker. I did not reply, but he
took no notice. Damn, he ejaculated. What did I let
her go for. He walked along in silence, his excitement
abated somewhat. It's the baize swings her body and the
curves as she stands. It's when you look at her
you feel you know. I suppose I knew, but it

(45:03):
was unnecessary to say so, you know. Ef Ever, I
dream in the night of women. You know it's always Meg.
She seems to look so soft and to curve her body. Gradually,
his feet began to drag. When we came to the
place where the colliery railway crossed the road, he stumbled
and pitched forward, only just recovering himself. I took hold

(45:26):
of his arm. Good old Cyril, Am I drunk? He said,
not quite, said I no, he mutter, couldn't be. But
his feet dragged again, and he began to stagger from
side to side. I took hold of his arm. He
murmured angrily, then subsidy again muttered with stubbornly articulation. Aye.

(45:48):
I fel fist dropped with sleep along the dead, silent
roadway and through the uneven blackness of the wood. We
lurched and stumbled. He was very heavy and difficult to direct.
When at last we came to the brook. We splashed
straight through the water. I urged him to walk steadily
and quietly across the yard. He did his best, and

(46:10):
we made a fairly still entry into the farm. He
dropped with all his weight on the sofa, and leading down,
began to unfasten his leggings. In the midst of his fumblings,
he fell asleep, and I was afraid he would pitch
forward onto his head. I took off his leggings and
his wet boots and his collar. Then as I was

(46:31):
pushing and shaking him awake to get off his coat,
I heard a creaking on the stairs, and my heart sank,
for I thought it was his mother. But it was
Emily in her long white nightcow. He looked at us
with great dark eyes of terror and whispered, what's the matter?
I shook my head and looked at him. His head
had dropped down on his chest again. Is he hurt?

(46:54):
She asked, a voice becoming audible and dangerous. He lifted
his head and looked at her with heavy, angry eyes. George,
she said, sharply, in bewilderment and fear. His eyes seemed
to contract eavierly. Is he drunk? She whispered, shrinking away
and looking at me. Have you made him drunk? You?

(47:16):
I nodded, I too was angry. Why if mother gets up,
I must get into bed. Oh how could you? His
similar whispering irritated him and me. I tugged at his coat.
He snarled incoherently and swore she caught her breath. He
looked at her sharply, and I was afraid he would

(47:36):
wake himself into a rage upstairs, I whispered to her.
She shook her head. I could see him taking heavy breaths,
and the veins of his neck were swelling. I was
furious at her disobeediance. Go at once, I said fiercely,
and she went still, hesitating and looking back. I had

(47:56):
hauled off his coat and waistcoats, so I let him
sink again into pity when I took off my boots.
Then I got into his feet, and walking behind him,
impelled him slowly upstairs. A little candle in his bedroom.
There was no sound from the other rooms, so I
undressed him and got him in bed. At last. Somehow
I covered him up and put over him the calf

(48:18):
skin rug because the night was cold. Almost immediately he
began to breathe heavily. I dragged him over to his
side and pillowed his head comfortably. He looked like a
tarred boy asleep. I stood still now I felt myself alone,
and looked round up to the low roof rose the

(48:38):
carven pillars of dark mahogany. There was a chair by
the bed, and a little yellow chest of drawers by
the windows. That was all the furniture, save the calf
skin rug on the floor. In the drawers I noticed
a book. It was a copy of Omar Khayam that
Letty had given him in her Cayam daze, a little
shilling book with colored illustrations. I blew out the candle

(49:01):
when I had looked at him again. As I crept
on to the landing, Emily peeped from her room, whispering,
is he in bed? I nodded and whispered good night.
Then I went home heavily. After the evening of the farm,
Letty and Leslie drew closer together. They edded unevenly down
the little stream of courtship, jostling and drifting together and apart.

(49:25):
He was unsatisfied, and strove with every effort to bring
her close to him. Submiss him. Gradually she yielded and
submitted to him. She folded round her and him the
snug curtain of the present, and they sat like children
playing again, behind the hangings of an old bed. She
shut out all distant outlooks, as an Arab unfolds his

(49:47):
tent and conquers the mystery and space of the desert.
So she lived leefully in a little tent of present
pleasures and fancies. Occasionally, only occasionally, she would peep from
her sent into the out space. Then she sat poring
over books and nothing would be able to draw her away,

(50:07):
Or she sat in her room looking out of the
window for hours. Together she pleaded headaches. Mother said liver.
He angry like a spoilt child, denied his wish, declared
it moodiness and perversity. End of Part two, Chapter one