小说园

第80部分（第2页）

The　irons　were　struck　off；　the　sentence　was　expired；　the　prison

was　a　momentary　shadow　halting　about　them。　The　children　were

carrying　away　books　and　inkwell；　and　rolling　up　maps。　All　their

faces　were　bright　with　gladness　and　goodwill。　There　was　a　bustle

of　cleaning　and　clearing　away　all　marks　of　this　last　term　of

imprisonment。　They　were　all　breaking　free。　Busily；　eagerly；

Ursula　made　up　her　totals　of　attendances　in　the　register。　With

pride　she　wrote　down　the　thousands：　to　so　many　thousands　of

children　had　she　given　another　sessionss　lessons。　It　looked

tremendous。　The　excited　hours　passed　slowly　in　suspense。　Then　at

last　it　was　over。　For　the　last　time；　she　stood　before　her

children　whilst　they　said　their　prayers　and　sang　a　hymn。　Then　it

was　over。

〃Good…bye；　children；〃　she　said。　〃I　shall　not　forget　you；　and

you　must　not　forget　me。〃

〃No；　miss；〃　cried　the　children　in　chorus；　with　shining

faces。

She　stood　smiling　on　them；　moved；　as　they　filed　out。　Then　she

gave　her　monitors　their　term　sixpences；　and　they　too　departed。

Cupboards　were　locked；　blackboards　washed；　ink　wells　and　dusters

removed。　The　place　stood　bare　and　vacated。　She　had　triumphed

over　it。　It　was　a　shell　now。　She　had　fought　a　good　fight　here；

and　it　had　not　been　altogether　unenjoyable。　She　owed　some

gratitude　even　to　this　hard；　vacant　place；　that　stood　like　a

memorial　or　a　trophy。　So　much　of　her　life　had　been　fought　for

and　won　and　lost　here。　Something　of　this　school　would　always

belong　to　her；　something　of　her　to　it。　She　acknowledged　it。　And

now　came　the　leave…taking。

In　the　teachers　room　the　teachers　were　chatting　and

loitering；　talking　excitedly　of　where　they　were　going：　to　the

Isle　of　Man；　to　Llandudno；　to　Yarmouth。　They　were　eager；　and

attached　to　each　other；　like　rades　leaving　a　ship。

Then　it　was　Mr。　Harbys　turn　to　make　a　speech　to　Ursula。　He

looked　handsome；　with　his　silver…grey　temples　and　black　brows；

and　his　imperturbable　male　solidity。