第72部分(第3/7 頁)

d　at　length。

〃I　didn't　know　what　it　was　like；〃　said　Ursula；

doubtfully。

〃Ah！〃　said　Miss　Schofield；　and　she　turned　aside　her　head　with

a　bitter　motion。

〃Is　it　as　horrid　as　it　seems？〃　asked　Ursula；　frowning

lightly；　in　fear。

〃It　is；〃　said　Miss　Schofield；　bitterly。　〃Ha！……it　is

hateful！〃

Ursula's　heart　sank；　seeing　even　Miss　Schofield　in　the　deadly

bondage。

〃It　is　Mr。　Harby；〃　said　Maggie　Schofield；　breaking　forth。

〃I　don't　think　I　could　live　again　in　the　big

room……Mr。　Brunt's　voice　and　Mr。

Harby……ah〃

She　turned　aside　her　head　with　a　deep　hurt。　Some　things　she

could　not　bear。

〃Is　Mr。　Harby　really　horrid？〃　asked　Ursula；　venturing　into

her　own　dread。

〃He！……why；　he's　just　a　bully；〃　said　Miss　Schofield；

raising　her　shamed　dark　eyes；　that　flamed　with　tortured

contempt。　〃He's　not　bad　as　long　as　you　keep　in　with　him；　and

refer　to　him；　and　do　everything　in　his　way……but……it's

all　so　mean！　It's　just　a　question　of　fighting　on　both

sides……and　those　great　louts〃

She　spoke　with　difficulty　and　with　increased　bitterness。　She

had　evidently　suffered。　Her　soul　was　raw　with　ignominy。　Ursula

suffered　in　response。

〃But　why　is　it　so　horrid？〃　she　asked；　helplessly。

〃You　can't　do　anything；〃　said　Miss　Schofield。　〃He's

against　you　on　one　side　and　he　sets　the　children　against　you　on

the　other。　The　children　are　simply　awful。　You've　got　to

make　them　do　everything。　Everything；　everything　has　got

to　e　out　of　you。　Whatever　they　learn；　you've　got　to　force　it

into　them……and　that's　how　it　is。〃

Ursula　felt　her　heart　fail　inside　her。　Why　must　she　grasp　all

this；　wh