than her； other centres of living。 She sat close and impregnable
with the child。 And he was jealous of the child。
But he loved her； and time came to give some sort of course
to his troublesome current of life； so that it did not foam and
flood and make misery。 He formed another centre of love in her
child； Anna。 Gradually a part of his stream of life was diverted
to the child； relieving the main flood to his wife。 Also he
sought the pany of men； he drank heavily now and again。
The child ceased to have so much anxiety for her mother after
the baby came。 Seeing the mother with the baby boy； delighted
and serene and secure； Anna was at first puzzled； then gradually
she became indignant； and at last her little life settled on its
own swivel； she was no more strained and distorted to support
her mother。 She became more childish； not so abnormal； not
charged with cares she could not understand。 The charge of the
mother； the satisfying of the mother； had devolved elsewhere
than on her。 Gradually the child was freed。 She became an
independent； forgetful little soul； loving from her own
centre。
Of her own choice； she then loved Brangwen most； or most
obviously。 For these two made a little life together； they had a
joint activity。 It amused him； at evening； to teach her to
count； or to say her letters。 He remembered for her all the
little nursery rhymes and childish songs that lay forgotten at
the bottom of his brain。
At first she thought them rubbish。 But he laughed； and she
laughed。 They became to her a huge joke。 Old King Cole she
thought was Brangwen。 Mother Hubbard was Tilly； her mother was
the old woman who lived in a shoe。 It was a huge； it was a
frantic delight to the child； this nonsense； after her years
with her mother； after the poignant folk…tales she had had from
her mother； which always troubled and mystified her soul。
She shared a sort of recklessness with her father； a
plete； chosen carelessness that had the laugh of ridicule in
it。 He loved to make her voice go high and shouting and defiant
with laughter。 The baby was dark…skinned and dark…haired； like
the mother； and had hazel eyes。 Brangwen called him the
blackbird。
〃Hallo；〃 Brangwen would cry； starting as he heard the wail of
the child announcing it wanted to be taken out of the cradle；
〃there's the blackbird tuning up。〃
〃The blackbird's singing；〃 Anna would shout with delight；
〃the blackbird's singing。〃
〃When the pie was opened；〃 Brangwen shouted in his bawling
bass voice； going over to the cradle； 〃the bird began to
sing。〃
〃Wasn't it a dainty dish to set before a king？〃 cried Anna；
her eyes flashing with joy as she uttered the cryptic words；
looking at Brangwen for confirmation。 He sat down with the baby；
saying loudly：
〃Sing up； my lad； sing up。〃
And the baby cried loudly； and Anna shouted lustily； dancing
in wild bliss：
〃Sing a song of sixpence
Pocketful of posies；
Ascha！ Ascha！〃
Then she stopped suddenly in silence and looked at Brangwen
again； her eyes flashing； as she shouted loudly and
delightedly：
〃I've got it wrong； I've got it wrong。〃
〃Oh； my sirs；〃 said Tilly entering； 〃what a racket！〃
Brangwen hushed the child and Anna flipped and danced on。 She
loved her wild bursts of rowdiness with her father。 Tilly hated
it； Mrs。 Brangwen did not mind。
Anna did not care much for other children。 She domineered
them； she treated them as if they were extremely young and
incapable； to her they were little people； they were not her
equals。 So she was mostly alone； flying round the farm；
entertaining the farm…hands and Tilly and the servant…girl；
whirring on and never ceasing。
She loved driving with Brangwen in the trap。 Then； sitting
high up and bowling along； her passion for eminence and
dominance was satisfied。 She was like a little savage in her
arrogance。 She thought her father important； she was installed
beside him on high。 And they spanked along； beside the high；
flourishing hedge…tops； surveying the activity of the
countryside。 When people shouted a greeting to him from the road
below； and Brangwen shouted jovially back； her little voice was
soon heard shrilling along with his； followed by her chuckling
laugh； when she looked up at her father with bright eyes； and
they laughed at each other。 And soon it was the custom for the
passerby to sing out： 〃How are ter； Tom？ Well； my lady！〃 or
else； 〃Mornin'； Tom； mornin'； my Lass！〃 or else； 〃You're off
together then？〃 or else； 〃You're lookin' rarely； you two。〃
Anna would respond； with her father： 〃How are you； John！
Good mornin'； William！ Ay； makin' for Derby；〃 shrilling
as loudly as she could。 Though often； in response to 〃You're off
out a bit then；〃 she would reply； 〃Yes； we are；〃 to the great
joy of all。 She did not like the people who saluted him and did
not salute her。
She went into the public…house with him； if he had to call；
and often sat beside him in the bar…parlour as he drank his beer
or brandy。 The landladies paid court to her； in the obsequious
way landladies have。
〃Well； little lady； an' what's your name？〃
〃Anna Brangwen；〃 came the immediate； haughty answer。
〃Indeed it is！ An' do you like driving in a trap with your
father？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Anna； shy； but bored by these inanities。 She had
a touch…me…not way of blighting the inane inquiries of grown…up
people。
〃My word； she's a fawce little thing；〃 the landlady would say
to Brangwen。
〃Ay；〃 he answered； not encouraging ments on the child。
Then there followed the present of a biscuit； or of cake； which
Anna accepted as her dues。
〃What does she say； that I'm a fawce little thing？〃 the small
girl asked afterwards。
〃She means you're a sharp…shins。〃
Anna hesitated。 She did not understand。 Then she laughed at
some absurdity she found。
Soon he took her every week to market with him。 〃I can e；
can't I？〃 she asked every Saturday； or Thursday morning； when he
made himself look fine in his dress of a gentleman farmer。 And
his face clouded at having to refuse her。
So at last； he overcame his own shyness； and tucked her
beside him。 They drove into Nottingham and put up at the 〃Black
Swan〃。 So far all right。 Then he wanted to leave her at the inn。
But he saw her face； and knew it was impossible。 So he mustered
his courage； and set off with her； holding her hand； to the
cattle…market。
She stared in bewilderment； flitting silent at his side。 But
in the cattle…market she shrank from the press of men； all men；
all in heavy； filthy boots； and leathern leggins。 And the road
underfoot was all nasty with cow…muck。 And it frightened her to
see the cattle in the square pens； so many horns； and so little
enclosure； and such a madness of men and a yelling of drovers。
Also she felt her father was embarrassed by her； and
ill…at…ease。
He brought her a cake at the refreshment…booth； and set her
on a seat。 A man hailed him。
〃Good morning； Tom。 That thine； then？〃……and the
bearded farmer jerked his head at Anna。
〃Ay；〃 said Brangwen； deprecating。
〃I did…na know tha'd one that old。〃
〃No； it's my missis's。〃
〃Oh； that's it！〃 And the man looked at Anna as if she were
some odd little cattle。 She glowered with black eyes。
Brangwen left her there； in charge of the barman； whilst he
went to see about the selling of some young stirks。 Farmers；
butchers； drovers； dirty； uncouth men from whom she shrank
instinctively stared down at her as she sat on her seat； then
went to get their drink； talking in unabated tones。 All was big
and violent about her。
〃Whose child met that be？〃 they asked of the barman。
〃It belongs to Tom Brangwen。〃
The child sat on in neglect； watching the door for her
father。 He never came； many； many men came； but not he； and she
sat like a shadow。 She knew one did not cry in such a place。 And
every man looked at her inquisitively； she shut herself away
from them。
A deep； gathering coldness of isolation took hold on her。 He
was never ing back。 She sat on； frozen； unmoving。
When she had bee blank and timeless he came； and she
slipped off her seat to him； like one e back from the dead。
He had sold his beast as quickly as he could。 But all the
business was not finished。 He took her again through the
hurtling welter of the cattle…market。
Then at last they turned and went out through the gate。 He
was always hailing one man or another； always stopping to gossip
about land and cattle and horses and other things she did not
understand； standing in the filth and the smell； among the legs
and great boots of men。 And always she heard the questions：
〃What lass is that； then？ I didn't know tha'd one o' that
age。〃
〃It belongs to my missis。〃
Anna was very conscious of her derivation from her mother； in
the end； and of her alienation。
But at last they were away； and Brangwen went with her into a
little dark； ancient eating…house in the Bridlesmith…Gate。 They
had cow's…tail soup； and meat and cabbage and potatoes。 Other
men； other people； came into the dark； vaulted place； to eat。
Anna was wide…eyed and silent with wonder。
Then they went into the big market； into the corn exchange；
then to shops。 He bought her a little book off a stall。 He