小说园

第80部分（第3页）

〃Well；〃　he　said；　〃we　must　say　good…bye　to　Miss　Brangwen　and

wish　her　all　good　fortune　for　the　future。　I　suppose　we　shall　see

her　again　some　time；　and　hear　how　she　is　getting　on。〃

〃Oh；　yes；〃　said　Ursula；　stammering；　blushing；　laughing。　〃Oh；

yes；　I　shall　e　and　see　you。〃

Then　she　realized　that　this　sounded　too　personal；　and　she

felt　foolish。

〃Miss　Schofield　suggested　these　two　books；〃　he　said；　putting

a　couple　of　volumes　on　the　table：　〃I　hope　you　will　like

them。〃

Ursula　feeling　very　shy　picked　up　the　books。　There　was　a

volume　of　Swinburnes　poetry；　and　a　volume　of　Merediths。

〃Oh；　I　shall　love　them；〃　she　said。　〃Thank　you　very

much……thank　you　all　so　much……it　is

so〃

She　stuttered　to　an　end；　and　very　red；　turned　the　leaves　of

the　books　eagerly；　pretending　to　be　taking　the　first　pleasure；

but　really　seeing　nothing。

Mr。　Harbys　eyes　were　twinkling。　He　alone　was　at　his　ease；

master　of　the　situation。　It　was　pleasing　to　him　to　make　Ursula

the　gift；　and　for　once　extend　good　feeling　to　his　teachers。　As　a

rule；　it　was　so　difficult；　each　one　was　so　strained　in

resentment　under　his　rule。

〃Yes；〃　he　said；　〃we　hoped　you　would　like　the

choice〃

He　looked　with　his　peculiar；　challenging　smile　for　a　moment；

then　returned　to　his　cupboards。

Ursula　felt　very　confused。　She　hugged　her　books；　loving　them。

And　she　felt　that　she　loved　all　the　teachers；　and　Mr。　Harby。　It

was　very　confusing。

At　last　she　was　out。　She　cast　one　hasty　glance　over　the

school　buildings　squatting　on　the　asphalt　yard　in　the　hot；

glistening　sun；　one　look　down　the　well…known　road；　and　turned

her　back　on　it　all。　Something　strained　in　her　heart。　She　was

going　away。