simply; as if he were alive。 Sometimes the tears would run down
her face; in helpless sadness。 Then she recovered; and was
herself again; happy。
On wet days; she stayed in bed。 Her bedroom was her city of
refuge; where she could lie down and muse and muse。 Sometimes
Fred would read to her。 But that did not mean much。 She had so
many dreams to dream over; such an unsifted store。 She wanted
time。
Her chief friend at this period was Ursula。 The little girl
and the musing; fragile woman of sixty seemed to understand the
same language。 At Cossethay all was activity and passion;
everything moved upon poles of passion。 Then there were four
children younger than Ursula; a throng of babies; all the time
many lives beating against each other。
So that for the eldest child; the peace of the grandmothers
bedroom was exquisite。 Here Ursula came as to a hushed;
paradisal land; here her own existence became simple and
exquisite to her as if she were a flower。
Always on Saturdays she came down to the Marsh; and always
clutching a little offering; either a little mat made of strips
of coloured; woven paper; or a tiny basket made in the
kindergarten lesson; or a little crayon drawing of a bird。
When she appeared in the doorway; Tilly; ancient but still in
authority; would crane her skinny neck to see who it was。
〃Oh; its you; is it?〃 she said。 〃I thought we should be
seein you。 My word; thats a bobby…dazzlin posy youve
brought!〃
It was curious how Tilly preserved the spirit of Tom
Brangwen; who was dead; in the Marsh。 Ursula always connected
her with her grandfather。
This day the child had brought a tight little nosegay of
pinks; white ones; with a rim of pink ones。 She was very proud
of it; and very shy because of her pride。
〃Your granmothers in her bed。 Wipe your shoes well if
youre goin up; and dont go burstin in on her like a