小说园

第69部分（第2页）

〃What　post　is　it？〃　she　asked。

〃She　wants　to　go　and　be　a　teacher　in　Kingston…on…Thames；　at

fifty　pounds　a　year。〃

〃Oh；　indeed。〃

The　mother　spoke　as　if　it　were　a　hostile　fact　concerning　some

stranger。　She　would　have　let　her　go；　out　of　callousness。　Mrs。

Brangwen　would　begin　to　grow　up　again　only　with　her　youngest

child。　Her　eldest　girl　was　in　the　way　now。

〃Shes　not　going　all　that　distance；〃　said　the　father。

〃I　have　to　go　where　they　want　me；〃　cried　Ursula。　〃And　its　a

good　place　to　go　to。〃

〃What　do　you　know　about　the　place？〃　said　her　father

harshly。

〃And　it　doesnt　matter　whether　they　want　you　or　not；　if　your

father　says　you　are　not　to　go；〃　said　the　mother　calmly。

How　Ursula　hated　her！

〃You　said　I　was　to　try；〃　the　girl　cried。　〃Now　Ive　got　a

place　and　Im　going　to　go。〃

〃Youre　not　going　all　that　distance；〃　said　her　father。

〃Why　dont　you　get　a　place　at　Ilkeston；　where　you　can　live　at

home？〃　asked　Gudrun；　who　hated　conflicts；　who　could　not

understand　Ursulas　uneasy　way；　yet　who　must　stand　by　her

sister。

〃There　arent　any　places　in　Ilkeston；〃　cried　Ursula。　〃And　Id

rather　go　right　away。〃

〃If　youd　asked　about　it；　a　place　could　have　been　got　for　you

in　Ilkeston。　But　you　had　to　play　Miss　High…an…mighty；　and　go

your　own　way；〃　said　her　father。

〃Ive　no　doubt　youd　rather　go　right　away；〃　said　her　mother；

very　caustic。　〃And　Ive　no　doubt　youd　find　other　people　didnt

put　up　with　you　for　very　long　either。　Youve　too　much　opinion　of

yourself　for　your　good。〃

Between　the　girl　and　her　mother　was　a　feeling　of　pure　hatred。

There　came　a　stubborn　silence。　Ursula　knew　she　must　break

it。

〃Well；　theyve　written　to　me；　and　I　sll　have　to　go；〃　she