小说园

第74部分（第5页）

〃Thats　a　very　curious　thing；〃　said　Mr。　Harby；　looking　over

the　silent　class　with　a　slight　grin　of　fury。　All　the　childish

faces　looked　up　at　him　blank　and　exposed。

〃A　few　days　ago　there　were　sixty　pens　for　this

class……now　there　are　forty…eight。　What　is　forty…eight　from

sixty；　Williams？〃　There　was　a　sinister　suspense　in　the　question。

A　thin；　ferret…faced　boy　in　a　sailor　suit　started　up

exaggeratedly。

〃Please；　sir！〃　he　said。　Then　a　slow；　sly　grin　came　over　his

face。　He　did　not　know。　There　was　a　tense　silence。　The　boy

dropped　his　head。　Then　he　looked　up　again；　a　little　cunning

triumph　in　his　eyes。　〃Twelve；〃　he　said。

〃I　would　advise　you　to　attend；〃　said　the　headmaster

dangerously。　The　boy　sat　down。

〃Forty…eight　from　sixty　is　twelve：　so　there　are　twelve　pens

to　account　for。　Have　you　looked　for　them；　Staples？〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃Then　look　again。〃

The　scene　dragged　on。　Two　pens　were　found：　ten　were　missing。

Then　the　storm　burst。

〃Am　I　to　have　you　thieving；　besides　your　dirt　and　bad　work

and　bad　behaviour？〃　the　headmaster　began。　〃Not　content　with

being　the　worst…behaved　and　dirtiest　class　in　the　school；　you

are　thieves　into　the　bargain；　are　you？　It　is　a　very　funny　thing！

Pens　dont　melt　into　the　air：　pens　are　not　in　the　habit　of

mizzling　away　into　nothing。　What　has　bee　of　them　then？　They

must　be　somewhere。　What　has　bee　of　them？　For　they　must　be

found；　and　found　by　Standard　Five。　They　were　lost　by　Standard

Five；　and　they　must　be　found。〃

Ursula　stood　and　listened；　her　heart　hard　and　cold。　She　was

so　much　upset；　that　she　felt　almost　mad。　Something　in　her

tempted　her　to　turn　on　the　headmaster　and　tell　him　to　stop；

about　the　miserable　pens。　But　she　did　not。　She　could　not。

After　every　session；　morning　and　evening；　she　had　the　pens