小说园

第70部分（第2页）

〃So　many！〃　she　said；　gently。　Then　she　remembered。

〃But　theyre　not　all　for　your　class；　are　they？〃　she

added。

〃Why　arent　they？〃　he　replied；　a　fierceness　in　his　voice。

Ursula　was　rather　frightened　by　his　mechanical　ignoring　of

her；　and　his　directness　of　statement。　It　was　something　new　to

her。　She　had　never　been　treated　like　this　before；　as　if　she　did

not　count；　as　if　she　were　addressing　a　machine。

〃It　is　too　many；〃　she　said　sympathetically。

〃Youll　get　about　the　same；〃　he　said。

That　was　all　she　received。　She　sat　rather　blank；　not　knowing

how　to　feel。　Still　she　liked　him。　He　seemed　so　cross。　There　was

a　queer；　sharp；　keen…edge　feeling　about　him　that　attracted　her

and　frightened　her　at　the　same　time。　It　was　so　cold；　and　against

his　nature。

The　door　opened；　and　a　short；　neutral…tinted　young　woman　of

about　twenty…eight　appeared。

〃Oh；　Ursula！〃　the　newer　exclaimed。　〃You　are　here　early！　My

word；　Ill　warrant　you　dont　keep　it　up。　Thats　Mr。　Williamsons

peg。　This　is　yours。　Standard　Five　teacher　always　has　this。

Arent　you　going　to　take　your　hat　off？〃

Miss　Violet　Harby　removed　Ursulas　waterproof　from　the　peg　on

which　it　was　hung；　to　one　a　little　farther　down　the　row。　She　had

already　snatched　the　pins　from　her　own　stuff　hat；　and　jammed

them　through　her　coat。　She　turned　to　Ursula；　as　she　pushed　up

her　frizzed；　flat；　dun…coloured　hair。

〃Isnt　it　a　beastly　morning；〃　she　exclaimed；　〃beastly！　And　if

theres　one　thing　I　hate　above　another　its　a　wet　Monday

morning；……pack　of　kids　trailing　in　anyhow…nohow；　and　no

holding　em〃

She　had　taken　a　black　pinafore　from　a　newspaper　package；　and

was　tying　it　round　her　waist。

〃Youve　brought　an　apron；　havent　you？〃　she　said　jerkily；

glancing　at　Ursula。　〃Oh……youll　want　one。　Youve　no　idea

what　a　sight　youll　look　before　half…past　four；　what　with　chalk

and　ink　and　kids　dirty　feet。……Well；　I　can　send　a　boy　down