第81部分(第3/7 頁)

drun　was　attending　the　Art　School　at　Nottingham。　She　was

working　particularly　at　sculpture。　She　had　a　gift　for　this。　She

loved　making　little　models　in　clay；　of　children　or　of　animals。

Already　some　of　these　had　appeared　in　the　Students'　Exhibition

in　the　Castle；　and　Gudrun　was　a　distinguished　person。　She　was

chafing　at　the　Art　School　and　wanted　to　go　to　London。　But　there

was　not　enough　money。　Neither　would　her　parents　let　her　go　so

far。

Theresa　had　left　the　High　School。　She　was　a　great　strapping；

bold　hussy；　indifferent　to　all　higher　claims。　She　would　stay　at

home。　The　others　were　at　school；　except　the　youngest。　When　term

started；　they　would　all　be　transferred　to　the　Grammar　School　at

Willey　Green。

Ursula　was　excited　at　making　acquaintances　in　Beldover。　The

excitement　soon　passed。　She　had　tea　at　the　clergyman's；　at　the

chemist's；　at　the　other　chemist's；　at　the　doctor's；　at　the

under…manager's……then　she　knew　practically　everybody。　She

could　not　take　people　very　seriously；　though　at　the　time　she

wanted　to。

She　wandered　the　country；　on　foot　and　on　her　bicycle；　finding

it　very　beautiful　in　the　forest　direction；　between　Mansfield　and

Southwell　and　Worksop。　But　she　was　here　only　skirmishing　for

amusement。　Her　real　exploration　would　begin　in　college。

Term　began。　She　went　into　town　each　day　by　train。　The

cloistered　quiet　of　the　college　began　to　close　around　her。

She　was　not　at　first　disappointed。　The　big　college　built　of

stone；　standing　in　the　quiet　street；　with　a　rim　of　grass　and

lime　trees　all　so　peaceful：　she　felt　it　remote；　a　magic　land。

Its　architecture　was　foolish；　she　knew　from　h