第80部分(第3/7 頁)

t　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。　Harby's　turn　to　make　a　speech　to　Ursula。　He

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

and　his　imperturbable　male　solidity。

〃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　Swinburne's　poetry；　and　a　volume　of　Meredith's。

〃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。　Harby's　eyes　were　twinkling。　He　alone　was　at