第75部分(第2/7 頁)

ges。　Twice　he　had

run　home　out　of　class。　He　was　a　well…known　character。

And　he　grinned　up　his　sleeve　at　this　girl…teacher；　sometimes

hanging　round　her　to　fawn　on　her。　But　this　made　her　dislike　him

more。　He　had　a　kind　of　leech…like　power。

From　one　of　the　children　she　took　a　supple　cane；　and　this　she

determined　to　use　when　real　occasion　came。　One　morning；　at

position；　she　said　to　the　boy　Williams：

〃Why　have　you　made　this　blot？〃

〃Please；　miss；　it　fell　off　my　pen；〃　he　whined　out；　in　the

mocking　voice　that　he　was　so　clever　in　using。　The　boys　near

snorted　with　laughter。　For　Williams　was　an　actor；　he　could

tickle　the　feelings　of　his　hearers　subtly。　Particularly　he　could

tickle　the　children　with　him　into　ridiculing　his　teacher；　or

indeed；　any　authority　of　which　he　was　not　afraid。　He　had　that

peculiar　gaol　instinct。

〃Then　you　must　stay　in　and　finish　another　page　of

position；〃　said　the　teacher。

This　was　against　her　usual　sense　of　justice；　and　the　boy

resented　it　derisively。　At　twelve　o'clock　she　caught　him

slinking　out。

〃Williams；　sit　down；〃　she　said。

And　there　she　sat；　and　there　he　sat；　alone；　opposite　to　her；

on　the　back　desk；　looking　up　at　her　with　his　furtive　eyes　every

minute。

〃Please；　miss；　I've　got　to　go　an　errand；〃　he　called　out

insolently。

〃Bring　me　your　book；〃　said　Ursula。

The　boy　came　out；　flapping　his　book　along　the　desks。　He　had

not　written　a　line。

〃Go　back　and　do　the　writing　you　have　to　do；〃　said　Ursula。　And

she　sat　at　her　desk；　trying　to　correct　books。　She　was　trembling

and　upset。　And　for　an　hour　the　miserable　boy　writhed　and　grinned

in　h