第53部分(第2/9 頁)

hung　dead；　with　opened；　speckled

wings；　in　the　dairy。　The　time　was　e　to　make　pies；　in

readiness。

The　expectation　grew　more　tense。　The　star　was　risen　into　the

sky；　the　songs；　the　carols　were　ready　to　hail　it。　The　star　was

the　sign　in　the　sky。　Earth　too　should　give　a　sign。　As　evening

drew　on；　hearts　beat　fast　with　anticipation；　hands　were　full　of

ready　gifts。　There　were　the　tremulously　expectant　words　of　the

church　service；　the　night　was　past　and　the　morning　was　e；　the

gifts　were　given　and　received；　joy　and　peace　made　a　flapping　of

wings　in　each　heart；　there　was　a　great　burst　of　carols；　the

Peace　of　the　World　had　dawned；　strife　had　passed　away；　every

hand　was　linked　in　hand；　every　heart　was　singing。

It　was　bitter；　though；　that　Christmas　Day；　as　it　drew　on　to

evening；　and　night；　became　a　sort　of　bank　holiday；　flat　and

stale。　The　morning　was　so　wonderful；　but　in　the　afternoon　and

evening　the　ecstasy　perished　like　a　nipped　thing；　like　a　bud　in

a　false　spring。　Alas；　that　Christmas　was　only　a　domestic　feast；

a　feast　of　sweetmeats　and　toys！　Why　did　not　the　grown…ups　also

change　their　everyday　hearts；　and　give　way　to　ecstasy？　Where　was

the　ecstasy？

How　passionately　the　Brangwens　craved　for　it；　the　ecstasy。

The　father　was　troubled；　dark…faced　and　disconsolate；　on

Christmas　night；　because　the　passion　was　not　there；　because　the