第76部分(第2/7 頁)

aware　of

the　class　instinct　to　catch　her　if　she　were　weak。　But　she　kept

cold　and　was　guarded。

Williams　was　absent　from　school。　In　the　middle　of　the　morning

there　was　a　knock　at　the　door：　someone　wanted　the　headmaster。

Mr。　Harby　went　out；　heavily；　angrily；　nervously。　He　was　afraid

of　irate　parents。　After　a　moment　in　the　passage；　he　came　again

into　school。

〃Sturgess；〃　he　called　to　one　of　his　larger　boys。　〃Stand　in

front　of　the　class　and　write　down　the　name　of　anyone　who　speaks。

Will　you　e　this　way；　Miss　Brangwen。〃

He　seemed　vindictively　to　seize　upon　her。

Ursula　followed　him；　and　found　in　the　lobby　a　thin　woman　with

a　whitish　skin；　not　ill…dressed　in　a　grey　costume　and　a　purple

hat。

〃I　called　about　Vernon；〃　said　the　woman；　speaking　in　a

refined　accent。　There　was　about　the　woman　altogether　an

appearance　of　refinement　and　of　cleanliness；　curiously

contradicted　by　her　half　beggar's　deportment；　and　a　sense　of　her

being　unpleasant　to　touch；　like　something　going　bad　inside。　She

was　neither　a　lady　nor　an　ordinary　working　man's　wife；　but　a

creature　separate　from　society。　By　her　dress　she　was　not

poor。

Ursula　knew　at　once　that　she　was　Williams'　mother；　and　that

he　was　Vernon。　She　remembered　that　he　was　always　clean；　and

well…dressed；　in　a　sailor　suit。　And　he　had　this　same　peculiar；

half　transparent　unwholesomeness；　rather　like　a　corpse。

〃I　wasn't　able　to　send　him　to　school　to…day；〃　continued　the

woman；　with　a　false　grace　of　manner。　〃He　came　home　last　night

so　ill……he　was　violently　sick……I　thought　I

should　have　to　send　for　the　doctor。……You　know　he　has　a　weak

heart。〃