第74部分(第5/7 頁)

ne。　And　keeping　her　eyes　there；

on　the　task；　and　not　on　the　child；　she　was　impersonal　enough　to

punish　where　she　could　otherwise　only　have　sympathized；

understood；　and　condoned；　to　approve　where　she　would　have　been

merely　uninterested　before。　But　her　interest　had　no　place　any

more。

It　was　agony　to　the　impulsive；　bright　girl　of　seventeen　to

bee　distant　and　official；　having　no　personal　relationship

with　the　children。　For　a　few　days；　after　the　agony　of　the

Monday；　she　succeeded；　and　had　some　success　with　her　class。　But

it　was　a　state　not　natural　to　her；　and　she　began　to　relax。

Then　came　another　infliction。　There　were　not　enough　pens　to

go　round　the　class。　She　sent　to　Mr。　Harby　for　more。　He　came　in

person。

〃Not　enough　pens；　Miss　Brangwen？〃　he　said；　with　the　smile　and

calm　of　exceeding　rage　against　her。

〃No；　we　are　six　short；〃　she　said；　quaking。

〃Oh；　how　is　that？〃　he　said；　menacingly。　Then；　looking　over

the　class；　he　asked：

〃How　many　are　there　here　to…day？〃

〃Fifty…two；〃　said　Ursula；　but　he　did　not　take　any　notice；

counting　for　himself。

〃Fifty…two；〃　he　said。　〃And　how　many　pens　are　there；

Staples？〃

Ursula　was　now　silent。　He　would　not　heed　her　if　she　answered；

since　he　had　addressed　the　monitor。

〃That's　a　very　curious　thing；〃　said　Mr。　Harby；　looking　over

the　silent　class　with　a　slight　grin　of　fury。　All　the　childish

faces　looked　up　at　him　blank　and　exposed。

〃A　few　days　ago　there　were　sixty　pens　for　this

class……now　there　are　forty…eight。　What　is　forty…eight　from

sixty；　Williams？〃　There　was　a　sinister　suspense　in　the　question。

A　thin；　ferret…faced　boy　in　a　sail