第75部分(第4/7 頁)

urned　round。　One　of　the　boys　she　liked　was　ruefully

holding　out　a　torn　celluloid　collar。　She　heard　the　plaint；

feeling　futile。

〃Go　in　front；　Wright；〃　she　said。

She　was　trembling　in　every　fibre。　A　big；　sullen　boy；　not　bad

but　very　difficult；　slouched　out　to　the　front。　She　went　on　with

the　lesson；　aware　that　Williams　was　making　faces　at　Wright；　and

that　Wright　was　grinning　behind　her。　She　was　afraid。　She　turned

to　the　map　again。　And　she　was　afraid。

〃Please；　miss；　Williams〃　came　a　sharp　cry；　and

a　boy　on　the　back　row　was　standing　up；　with　drawn；　pained　brows；

half　a　mocking　grin　on　his　pain；　half　real　resentment　against

Williams……〃Please；　miss；　he's　nipped　me；〃……and　he

rubbed　his　leg　ruefully。

〃e　in　front；　Williams；〃　she　said。

The　rat…like　boy　sat　with　his　pale　smile　and　did　not

move。

〃e　in　front；〃　she　repeated；　definite　now。

〃I　shan't；〃　he　cried；　snarling；　rat…like；　grinning。　Something

went　click　in　Ursula's　soul。　Her　face　and　eyes　set；　she　went

through　the　class　straight。　The　boy　cowered　before　her

glowering；　fixed　eyes。　But　she　advanced　on　him；　seized　him　by

the　arm；　and　dragged　him　from　his　seat。　He　clung　to　the　form。　It

was　the　battle　between　him　and　her。　Her　instinct　had　suddenly

bee　calm　and　quick。　She　jerked　him　from　his　grip；　and　dragged

him；　struggling　and　kicking；　to　the　front。　He　kicked　her　several

times；　and　clung　to　the　forms　as　he　passed；　but　she　went　on。　The

class　was　on　its　feet　in　excitement。　She　saw　it；　and　made　no

move。

She　knew　if　she　let　go　the　boy　he　would　dash　to　the　door。

Already　he　had　run　home　once　out　of　her　class。　So　she　snatched

h