小说园

第83部分（第5页）

passed　away　into　an　intensely…gleaming　light　of　knowledge。　She

could　not　understand　what　it　all　was。　She　only　knew　that　it　was

not　limited　mechanical　energy；　nor　mere　purpose　of

self…preservation　and　self…assertion。　It　was　a　consummation；　a

being　infinite。　Self　was　a　oneness　with　the　infinite。　To　be

oneself　was　a　supreme；　gleaming　triumph　of　infinity。

Ursula　sat　abstracted　over　her　microscope；　in　suspense。　Her

soul　was　busy；　infinitely　busy；　in　the　new　world。　In　the　new

world；　Skrebensky　was　waiting　for　her……he　would　be　waiting

for　her。　She　could　not　go　yet；　because　her　soul　was　engaged。

Soon　she　would　go。

A　stillness；　like　passing　away；　took　hold　of　her。　Far　off；

down　the　corridors；　she　heard　the　gong　booming　five　oclock。　She

must　go。　Yet　she　sat　still。

The　other　students　were　pushing　back　their　stools　and　putting

their　microscopes　away。　Everything　broke　into　turmoil。　She　saw；

through　the　window；　students　going　down　the　steps；　with　books

under　their　arms；　talking；　all　talking。

A　great　craving　to　depart　came　upon　her。　She　wanted　also　to

be　gone。　She　was　in　dread　of　the　material　world；　and　in　dread　of

her　own　transfiguration。　She　wanted　to　run　to　meet

Skrebensky……the　new　life；　the　reality。

Very　rapidly　she　wiped　her　slides　and　put　them　back；　cleared

her　place　at　the　bench；　active；　active；　active。　She　wanted　to

run　to　meet　Skrebensky；　hasten……hasten。　She　did　not　know

what　she　was　to　meet。　But　it　would　be　a　new　beginning。　She　must

hurry。

She　flitted　down　the　corridor　on　swift　feet；　her　razor　and

note…books　and　pencil　in　one　hand；　her　pinafore　over　her　arm。

Her　face　was　lifted　and　tense　with　eagerness。　He　might　not　be

there。

Issuing　from　the　corridor；　she　saw　him　at　once。　She　knew　him

at　once。　Yet　he　was　so　strange。　He　stood　with　the　curious

self…effacing　diffidence　which　so　frightened　her　in　well…bred