小说园

第51部分（第2页）

Latina〃　with　its　red　edges；　nor　her　little　grey　Algebra　book。

There　was　always　a　magic　in　them。

At　learning　she　was　quick；　intelligent；　instinctive；　but　she

was　not　〃thorough〃。　If　a　thing　did　not　e　to　her

instinctively；　she　could　not　learn　it。　And　then；　her　mad　rage　of

loathing　for　all　lessons；　her　bitter　contempt　of　all　teachers

and　schoolmistresses；　her　recoil　to　a　fierce；　animal　arrogance

made　her　detestable。

She　was　a　free；　unabateable　animal；　she　declared　in　her

revolts：　there　was　no　law　for　her；　nor　any　rule。　She　existed　for

herself　alone。　Then　ensued　a　long　struggle　with　everybody；　in

which　she　broke　down　at　last；　when　she　had　run　the　full　length

of　her　resistance；　and　sobbed　her　heart　out；　desolate；　and

afterwards；　in　a　chastened；　washed…out；　bodiless　state；　she

received　the　understanding　that　would　not　e　before；　and　went

her　way　sadder　and　wiser。

Ursula　and　Gudrun　went　to　school　together。　Gudrun　was　a　shy；

quiet；　wild　creature；　a　thin　slip　of　a　thing　hanging　back　from

notice　or　twisting　past　to　disappear　into　her　own　world　again。

She　seemed　to　avoid　all　contact；　instinctively；　and　pursued　her

own　intent　way；　pursuing　half…formed　fancies　that　had　no

relation　to　anyone　else。

She　was　not　clever　at　all。　She　thought　Ursula　clever　enough

for　two。　Ursula　understood；　so　why　should　she；　Gudrun；　bother

herself？　The　younger　girl　lived　her　religious；　responsible　life

in　her　sister；　by　proxy。　For　herself；　she　was　indifferent　and

intent　as　a　wild　animal；　and　as　irresponsible。

When　she　found　herself　at　the　bottom　of　the　class；　she

laughed；　lazily；　and　was　content；　saying　she　was　safe　now。　She

did　not　mind　her　fathers　chagrin　nor　her　mothers　tinge　of

mortification。

〃What　do　I　pay　for　you　to　go　to　Nottingham　for？〃　her　father

asked；　exasperated。

〃Well；　Dad；　you　know　you　neednt　pay　for　me；〃　she　replied；

nonchalant。　〃Im　ready　to　stop　at　home。〃