第80部分(第2/7 頁)

in。

Ursula　left　school　at　the　end　of　July；　when　the　summer

holiday　menced。　The　morning　outside　was　bright　and　sunny；　and

the　freedom　got　inside　the　schoolroom　this　last　day。　It　was　as

if　the　walls　of　the　school　were　going　to　melt　away。　Already　they

seemed　shadowy　and　unreal。　It　was　breaking…up　morning。　Soon

scholars　and　teachers　would　be　outside；　each　going　his　own　way。

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　sessions's　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　i