小说园

第74部分（第3页）

class；　taking　book　after　book；　paring　page　after　page；　whilst

Ursula　stood　aside　for　all　the　remarks　and　fault…finding　to　be

pointed　at　her　through　the　scholars。　It　was　true；　since　she　had

e；　the　position　books　had　grown　more　and　more　untidy；

disorderly；　filthy。　Mr。　Harby　pointed　to　the　pages　done　before

her　regime；　and　to　those　done　after；　and　fell　into　a　passion　of

rage。　Many　children　he　sent　out　to　the　front　with　their　books。

And　after　he　had　thoroughly　gone　through　the　silent　and

quivering　class　he　caned　the　worst　offenders　well；　in　front　of

the　others；　thundering　in　real　passion　of　anger　and　chagrin。

〃Such　a　condition　in　a　class；　I　cant　believe　it！　It　is

simply　disgraceful！　I　cant　think　how　you　have　been　let　to　get

like　it！　Every　Monday　morning　I　shall　e　down　and　examine

these　books。　So　dont　think　that　because　there　is　nobody　paying

any　attention　to　you；　that　you　are　free　to　unlearn　everything

you　ever　learned；　and　go　back　till　you　are　not　fit　for　Standard

Three。　I　shall　examine　all　books　every　Monday〃

Then　in　a　rage；　he　went　away　with　his　cane；　leaving　Ursula　to

confront　a　pale；　quivering　class；　whose　childish　faces　were　shut

in　blank　resentment；　fear；　and　bitterness；　whose　souls　were　full

of　anger　and　contempt　for　her　rather　than　of　the　master；　whose

eyes　looked　at　her　with　the　cold；　inhuman　accusation　of

children。　And　she　could　hardly　make　mechanical　words　to　speak　to

them。　When　she　gave　an　order　they　obeyed　with　an　insolent

off…handedness；　as　if　to　say：　〃As　for　you；　do　you　think　we　would

obey　you；　but　for　the　master？〃　She　sent　the　blubbering；

caned　boys　to　their　seats；　knowing　that　they　too　jeered　at　her

and　her　authority；　holding　her　weakness　responsible　for　what

punishment　had　overtaken　them。　And　she　knew　the　whole　position；

so　that　even　her　horror　of　physical　beating　and　suffering　sank

to　a　deeper　pain；　and　became　a　moral　judgment　upon　her；　worse

than　any　hurt。

She　must；　during　the　next　week；　watch　over　her　books；　and

punish　any　fault。　Her　soul　decided　it　coldly。　Her　personal