小说园

第68部分（第2页）

if　need　be　later　on。　He　was　not　afraid　for　his　old　age。　His

daughters　might　be　ladies。

Fifty　pounds　a　year　was　a　pound　a　week……which　was　enough

for　her　to　live　on　independently。

〃And　what　sort　of　a　teacher　do　you　think　youd　make？　You

havent　the　patience　of　a　Jack…gnat　with　your　own　brothers　and

sisters；　let　alone　with　a　class　of　children。　And　I　thought　you

didnt　like　dirty；　board…school　brats。〃

〃Theyre　not　all　dirty。〃

〃Youd　find　theyre　not　all　clean。〃

There　was　silence　in　the　workshop。　The　lamplight　fell　on　the

burned　silver　bowl　that　lay　between　him；　on　mallet　and　furnace

and　chisel。　Brangwen　stood　with　a　queer；　catlike　light　on　his

face；　almost　like　a　smile。　But　it　was　no　smile。

〃Can　I　try？〃　she　said。

〃You　can　do　what　the　deuce　you　like；　and　go　where　you

like。〃

Her　face　was　fixed　and　expressionless　and　indifferent。　It

always　sent　him　to　a　pitch　of　frenzy　to　see　it　like　that。　He

kept　perfectly　still。

Cold；　without　any　betrayal　of　feeling；　she　turned　and　left

the　shed。　He　worked　on；　with　all　his　nerves　jangled。　Then　he　had

to　put　down　his　tools　and　go　into　the　house。

In　a　bitter　tone　of　anger　and　contempt　he　told　his　wife。

Ursula　was　present。　There　was　a　brief　altercation；　closed　by

Mrs。　Brangwens　saying；　in　a　tone　of　biting　superiority　and

indifference：

〃Let　her　find　out　what　its　like。　Shell　soon　have　had

enough。〃

The　matter　was　left　there。　But　Ursula　considered　herself　free

to　act。　For　some　days　she　made　no　move。　She　was　reluctant　to

take　the　cruel　step　of　finding　work；　for　she　shrank　with　extreme

sensitiveness　and　shyness　from　new　contact；　new　situations。　Then

at　length　a　sort　of　doggedness　drove　her。　Her　soul　was　full　of

bitterness。

She　went　to　the　Free　Library　in　Ilkeston；　copied　out

addresses　from　the　Schoolmistress；　and　wrote　for

application　forms。　After　two　days　she　rose　early　to　meet　the