第71部分(第6/7 頁)

ght　spot　in　the　day。　Maggie　was　so

strong　and　remote；　walking　with　slow；　sure　steps　down　a　hard

road；　carrying　the　dream　within　her。　Ursula　went　through　the

class　teaching　as　through　a　meaningless　daze。

Her　class　tumbled　out　at　midday　in　haphazard　fashion。　She　did

not　realize　what　host　she　was　gathering　against　herself　by　her

superior　tolerance；　her　kindness　and　her　laisseraller。　They　were

gone；　and　she　was　rid　of　them；　and　that　was　all。　She　hurried

away　to　the　teachers'　room。

Mr。　Brunt　was　crouching　at　the　small　stove；　putting　a　little

rice　pudding　into　the　oven。　He　rose　then；　and　attentively　poked

in　a　small　saucepan　on　the　hob　with　a　fork。　Then　he　replaced　the

saucepan　lid。

〃Aren't　they　done？〃　asked　Ursula　gaily；　breaking　in　on　his

tense　absorption。

She　always　kept　a　bright；　blithe　manner；　and　was　pleasant　to

all　the　teachers。　For　she　felt　like　the　swan　among　the　geese；　of

superior　heritage　and　belonging。　And　her　pride　at　being　the　swan

in　this　ugly　school　was　not　yet　abated。

〃Not　yet；〃　replied　Mr。　Brunt；　laconic。

〃I　wonder　if　my　dish　is　hot；〃　she　said；　bending　down　at　the

oven。　She　half　expected　him　to　look　for　her；　but　he　took　no

notice。　She　was　hungry　and　she　poked　her　finger　eagerly　in　the

pot　to　see　if　her　brussels　sprouts　and　potatoes　and　meat　were

ready。　They　were　not。

〃Don't　you　think　it's　rather　jolly　bringing　dinner？〃　she　said

to　Mr。　Brunt。

〃I　don't　know　as　I　do；〃　he　said；　spreading　a　serviette　on　a

corner　of　the　table；　and　not　looking　at　her。

〃I　suppose　it　is　too　far　for　you　to　go　home？〃

〃Yes；〃　he　said。　Then　he　rose　and　looked　at　her。　He　had　the