小说园

第75部分（第2页）

〃Please；　miss；　it　fell　off　my　pen；〃　he　whined　out；　in　the

mocking　voice　that　he　was　so　clever　in　using。　The　boys　near

snorted　with　laughter。　For　Williams　was　an　actor；　he　could

tickle　the　feelings　of　his　hearers　subtly。　Particularly　he　could

tickle　the　children　with　him　into　ridiculing　his　teacher；　or

indeed；　any　authority　of　which　he　was　not　afraid。　He　had　that

peculiar　gaol　instinct。

〃Then　you　must　stay　in　and　finish　another　page　of

position；〃　said　the　teacher。

This　was　against　her　usual　sense　of　justice；　and　the　boy

resented　it　derisively。　At　twelve　oclock　she　caught　him

slinking　out。

〃Williams；　sit　down；〃　she　said。

And　there　she　sat；　and　there　he　sat；　alone；　opposite　to　her；

on　the　back　desk；　looking　up　at　her　with　his　furtive　eyes　every

minute。

〃Please；　miss；　Ive　got　to　go　an　errand；〃　he　called　out

insolently。

〃Bring　me　your　book；〃　said　Ursula。

The　boy　came　out；　flapping　his　book　along　the　desks。　He　had

not　written　a　line。

〃Go　back　and　do　the　writing　you　have　to　do；〃　said　Ursula。　And

she　sat　at　her　desk；　trying　to　correct　books。　She　was　trembling

and　upset。　And　for　an　hour　the　miserable　boy　writhed　and　grinned

in　his　seat。　At　the　end　of　that　time　he　had　done　five　lines。

〃As　it　is　so　late　now；〃　said　Ursula；　〃you　will　finish　the

rest　this　evening。〃

The　boy　kicked　his　way　insolently　down　the　passage。

The　afternoon　came　again。　Williams　was　there；　glancing　at

her；　and　her　heart　beat　thick；　for　she　knew　it　was　a　fight

between　them。　She　watched　him。

During　the　geography　lesson；　as　she　was　pointing　to　the　map

with　her　cane；　the　boy　continually　ducked　his　whitish　head　under

the　desk；　and　attracted　the　attention　of　other　boys。

〃Williams；〃　she　said；　gathering　her　courage；　for　it　was

critical　now　to　speak　to　him；　〃what　are　you　doing？〃