小说园

第78部分（第1页）

of　place　it　was　to　be　she　did　not　ask　herself。　The　blind　desire

drove　her　on。　She　must　take　her　place。

She　knew　she　would　never　be　much　of　a　success　as　an

elementary　school　teacher。　But　neither　had　she　failed。　She　hated

it；　but　she　had　managed　it。

Maggie　had　left　St。　Philips　School；　and　had　found　a　more

congenial　post。　The　two　girls　remained　friends。　They　met　at

evening　classes；　they　studied　and　somehow　encouraged　a　firm　hope

each　in　the　other。　They　did　not　know　whither　they　were　making；

nor　what　they　ultimately　wanted。　But　they　knew　they　wanted　now

to　learn；　to　know　and　to　do。

They　talked　of　love　and　marriage；　and　the　position　of　woman

in　marriage。　Maggie　said　that　love　was　the　flower　of　life；　and

blossomed　unexpectedly　and　without　law；　and　must　be　plucked

where　it　was　found；　and　enjoyed　for　the　brief　hour　of　its

duration。

To　Ursula　this　was　unsatisfactory。　She　thought　she　still

loved　Anton　Skrebensky。　But　she　did　not　forgive　him　that　he　had

not　been　strong　enough　to　acknowledge　her。　He　had　denied　her。

How　then　could　she　love　him？　How　then　was　love　so　absolute？　She

did　not　believe　it。　She　believed　that　love　was　a　way；　a　means；

not　an　end　in　itself；　as　Maggie　seemed　to　think。　And　always　the

way　of　love　would　be　found。　But　whither　did　it　lead？

〃I　believe　there　are　many　men　in　the　world　one　might

love……there　is　not　only　one　man；〃　said　Ursula。

She　was　thinking　of　Skrebensky。　Her　heart　was　hollow　with　the

knowledge　of　Winifred　Inger。

〃But　you　must　distinguish　between　love　and　passion；〃　said

Maggie；　adding；　with　a　touch　of　contempt：　〃Men　will　easily　have

a　passion　for　you；　but　they　wont　love　you。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Ursula；　vehemently；　the　look　of　suffering；　almost

of　fanaticism；　on　her　face。　〃Passion　is　only　part　of　love。　And

it　seems　so　much　because　it　cant　last。　That　is　why　passion　is

never　happy。〃