forced him。 He drew back。
〃Is he the……e……ere？〃 came the maddening cry of the
mother。
〃No；〃 was the sharp answer。
〃To……om……To……o……om！〃 came the piercing；
free； unearthly call。 It seemed high and supernatural； almost
pure。 Fred Brangwen hated it。 It nearly drove him mad。 So
awfully it sang out； almost like a song。
The water was flowing fuller into the house。
〃You'd better go up to Beeby's and bring him and Arthur down；
and tell Mrs。 Beeby to fetch Wilkinson；〃 said Fred to Tilly。 He
forced his mother to go upstairs。
〃I know your father is drowned；〃 she said； in a curious
dismay。
The flood rose through the night； till it washed the kettle
off the hob in the kitchen。 Mrs。 Brangwen sat alone at a window
upstairs。 She called no more。 The men were busy with the pigs
and the cattle。 They were ing with a boat for her。
Towards morning the rain ceased； the stars came out over the
noise and the terrifying clucking and trickling of the water。
Then there was a pallor in the east； the light began to e。 In
the ruddy light of the dawn she saw the waters spreading out；
moving sluggishly； the buildings rising out of a waste of water。
Birds began to sing； drowsily； and as if slightly hoarse with
the dawn。 It grew brighter。 Up the second field was the great；
raw gap in the canal embankment。
Mrs。 Brangwen went from win