小说园

第76部分（第3页）

me……and　who　understands　him。　But　I　shall　call　in　the　doctor

on　my　way　home。〃

Ursula　stood　still。　She　felt　vague　threats　in　all　this。　But

the　woman　was　so　utterly　strange　to　her；　that　she　did　not

understand。

〃He　told　me　he　had　been　beaten；〃　continued　the　woman；　〃and

when　I　undressed　him　to　put　him　to　bed；　his　body　was　covered

with　marks……I　could　show　them　to　any　doctor。〃

Mr。　Harby　looked　at　Ursula　to　answer。　She　began　to

understand。　The　woman　was　threatening　to　take　out　a　charge　of

assault　on　her　son　against　her。　Perhaps　she　wanted　money。

〃I　caned　him；〃　she　said。　〃He　was　so　much　trouble。〃

〃Im　sorry　if　he　was　troublesome；〃　said　the　woman；　〃but　he

must　have　been　shamefully　beaten。　I　could　show　the　marks　to　any

doctor。　Im　sure　it　isnt　allowed；　if　it　was　known。〃

〃I　caned　him　while　he　kept　kicking　me；〃　said　Ursula；　getting

angry　because　she　was　half　excusing　herself；　Mr。　Harby　standing

there　with　the　twinkle　at　the　side　of　his　eyes；　enjoying　the

dilemma　of　the　two　women。

〃Im　sure　Im　sorry　if　he　behaved　badly；〃　said　the　woman。

〃But　I　cant　think　he　deserved　beating　as　he　has　been。　I　cant

send　him　to　school；　and　really　cant　afford　to　pay　the

doctor。……Is　it　allowed　for　the　teachers　to　beat　the

children　like　that；　Mr。　Harby？〃

The　headmaster　refused　to　answer。　Ursula　loathed　herself；　and

loathed　Mr。　Harby　with　his　twinkling　cunning　and　malice　on　the

occasion。　The　other　miserable　woman　watched　her　chance。

〃It　is　an　expense　to　me；　and　I　have　a　great　struggle　to　keep

my　boy　decent。〃

Ursula　still　would　not　answer。　She　looked　out　at　the　asphalt

yard；　where　a　dirty　rag　of　paper　was　blowing。

〃And　it　isnt　allowed　to　beat　a　child　like　that；　I　am　sure；

especially　when　he　is　delicate。〃

Ursula　stared　with　a　set　face　on　the　yard；　as　if　she　did　not

hear。　She　loathed　all　this；　and　had　ceased　to　feel　or　to

exist。