キャサリン・マンスフィールド「パーカーおばあさんの人生」

　子供のいじらしさについては、下記の短編小説の一節にも、深く心動かされるものがある。

　祖母の首っ玉に絡みついて、小遣いをねだる幼い孫息子。いやいやをしながらも、愛情に負けて財布を取り出す老女。「だったら、お前は、おばあちゃんに何くれる？」と戯れに尋ねると、その幼な子は「何にもないの。」と答える。

　それなのに、苦ばかり多き人生で、唯一得た宝物の孫息子を病で失ってしまう。そして、絞りだすようにして呟（つぶや）くのだ。

"What have I done?"
「私がいったい何をしたというのだろう。」

玩味戴きたい。

"Gran! Gran!" Her little grandson stood on her lap in his button boots.
He'd just come in from playing in the street.
"Look what a state you've made your gran's skirt into - you wicked boy!"
But he put his arms round her neck and rubbed his cheek against hers.
"Gran, gi' us a penny!" he coaxed.
"Be off with you; Gran ain't got no pennies."
"Yes, you 'ave."
"No, I ain't."
"Yes, you 'ave. Gi' us one!"
Already she was feeling for the old, squashed, black leather purse.
"Well, what'll you give your gran?"
He gave a shy little laugh and pressed closer. She felt his eyelid
quivering against her cheek. "I ain't got nothing," he murmured ...

‘Life of Ma Parker’ by Katherine Mansfield

〔参照〕マンスフィールド短編集（新潮文庫1979）