小说园

第72部分（第2页）

in　it！〃

She　too　spoke　with　bitterness。　She　too　lived　in　the

ignominious　position　of　an　upper　servant　hated　by　the　master

above　and　the　class　beneath。　She　was；　she　knew；　liable　to　attack

from　either　side　at　any　minute；　or　from　both　at　once；　for　the

authorities　would　listen　to　the　plaints　of　parents；　and　both

would　turn　round　on　the　mongrel　authority；　the　teacher。

So　there　was　a　hard；　bitter　withholding　in　Maggie　Schofield

even　as　she　poured　out　her　savoury　mess　of　big　golden　beans　and

brown　gravy。

〃It　is　vegetarian　hot…pot；〃　said　Miss　Schofield。　〃Would　you

like　to　try　it？〃

〃I　should　love　to；〃　said　Ursula。

Her　own　dinner　seemed　coarse　and　ugly　beside　this　savoury；

clean　dish。

〃Ive　never　eaten　vegetarian　things；〃　she　said。　〃But　I　should

think　they　can　be　good。〃

〃Im　not　really　a　vegetarian；〃　said　Maggie；　〃I　dont　like　to

bring　meat　to　school。〃

〃No；〃　said　Ursula；　〃I　dont　think　I　do　either。〃

And　again　her　soul　rang　an　answer　to　a　new　refinement；　a　new

liberty。　If　all　vegetarian　things　were　as　nice　as　this；　she

would　be　glad　to　escape　the　slight　uncleanness　of　meat。

〃How　good！〃　she　cried。

〃Yes；〃　said　Miss　Schofield；　and　she　proceeded　to　tell　her　the

receipt。　The　two　girls　passed　on　to　talk　about　themselves。

Ursula　told　all　about　the　High　School；　and　about　her

matriculation；　bragging　a　little。　She　felt　so　poor　here；　in　this

ugly　place。　Miss　Schofield　listened　with　brooding；　handsome

face；　rather　gloomy。

〃Couldnt　you　have　got　to　some　better　place　than　this？〃　she

asked　at　length。

〃I　didnt　know　what　it　was　like；〃　said　Ursula；

doubtfully。

〃Ah！〃　said　Miss　Schofield；　and　she　turned　aside　her　head　with

a　bitter　motion。