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 loved
buying things； odd things that he thought would be useful。 Then
they went to the 〃Black Swan〃； and she drank milk and he brandy；
and they harnessed the horse and drove off； up the Derby
Road。
She was tired out with wonder and marvelling。 But the next
day； when she thought of it； she skipped； flipping her leg in
the odd dance she did； and talked the whole time of what had
happened to her； of what she had seen。 It lasted her all the
week。 And the next Saturday she was eager to go again。
She became a familiar figure in the cattle…market； sitting
waiting in the little booth。 But she liked best to go to Derby。
There her father had more friends。 And she liked the familiarity
of the smaller town； the nearness of the river； the strangeness
that did not frighten her； it was so much smaller。 She liked the
covered…in market； and the old women。 She liked the 〃George
Inn〃； where her father put up。 The landlord was Brangwen's old
friend； and Anna was made much of。 She sat many a day in the
cosy parlour talking to Mr。 Wigginton； a fat man with red hair；
the landlord。 And when the farmers all gathered at twelve
o'clock for dinner； she was a little heroine。
At first she would only glower or hiss at these strange men
with their uncouth accent。 But they were good…humoured。 She was
a little oddity； with her fierce； fair hair like spun glass
sticking out in a flamy halo round the apple…blossom face and
the black eyes； and the men liked an oddity。 She kindled their
attention。
She was very angry because Marriott； a gentleman…farmer from
Ambergate； called her the little pole…cat。
〃Why； you're a pole…cat；〃 he said to her。
〃I'm not；〃 she flashed。
〃You are。 That's just how a pole…cat goes。〃
She thought about it。
〃Well； you're……you're〃 she began。
〃I'm what？〃
She looked him up and down。
〃You're a bow…leg man。〃
Which he was。 There was a roar of laughter。 They loved her
that she was indomitable。
〃Ah；〃 said Marriott。 〃Only a pole…cat says that。〃
〃Well； I am a pole…cat；〃 she flamed。
There was another roar of laughter from the men。
They loved to tease her。
〃Well； me little maid；〃 Braithwaite would say to her； 〃an'
how's th' lamb's wool？〃
He gave a tug at a glistening； pale piece of her hair。
〃It's not lamb's wool；〃 said Anna； indignantly putting back
her offended lock。
〃Why； what'st ca' it then？〃
〃It's hair。〃
〃Hair！ Wheriver dun they rear that sort？〃
〃Wheriver dun they？〃 she asked； in dialect； her curiosity
overing her。
Instead of answering he shouted with joy。 It was the triumph；
to make her speak dialect。
She had one enemy； the man they called Nut…Nat； or Nat…Nut； a
cretin； with inturned feet； who came flap…lapping along；
shoulder jerking up at every step。 This poor creature sold nuts
in the public…houses where he was known。 He had no roof to his
mouth； and the men used to mock his speech。
The first time he came into the 〃George〃 when Anna was there；
she asked； after he had gone； her eyes very round：
〃Why does he do that when he walks？〃
〃'E canna 'elp 'isself； Duckie； it's th' make o' th'
fellow。〃
She thought about it； then she laughed nervously。 And then
she bethought herself； her cheeks flushed； and she cried：
〃He's a horrid man。〃
〃Nay； he's non horrid； he canna help it if he wor struck that
road。〃
But when poor Nat came wambling in again； she slid away。 And
she would not eat his nuts； if the men bought them for her。 And
when the farmers gambled at dominoes for them； she was
angry。
〃They are dirty…man's nuts；〃 she cried。
So a revulsion started against Nat； who had not long after to
go to the workhouse。
There grew in Brangwen's heart now a secret desire to make
her a lady。 His brother Alfred； in Nottingham； had caused a
great scandal by being the lover of an educated woman； a
lady； widow of a doctor。 Very often； Alfred Brangwen went down
as a friend to her cottage； which was in Derbyshire； leaving his
wife and family for a day or two； then returning to them。 And
no…one dared gainsay him； for he was a strong…willed； dire