第64部分(第1/7 頁)

wanted　to　touch　the　other；　to　touch　her；　to　feel　her。

〃I　will　race　you；　Ursula；〃　came　the　well…modulated　voice。

Ursula　started　violently。　She　turned　to　see　the　warm；

unfolded　face　of　her　mistress　looking　at　her；　to　her。　She　was

acknowledged。　Laughing　her　own　beautiful；　startled　laugh；　she

began　to　swim。　The　mistress　was　just　ahead；　swimming　with　easy

strokes。　Ursula　could　see　the　head　put　back；　the　water

flickering　upon　the　white　shoulders；　the　strong　legs　kicking

shadowily。　And　she　swam　blinded　with　passion。　Ah；　the　beauty　of

the　firm；　white；　cool　flesh！　Ah；　the　wonderful　firm　limbs。　Ah；

if　she　did　not　so　despise　her　own　thin；　dusky　fragment　of　a

body；　if　only　she　too　were　fearless　and　capable。

She　swam　on　eagerly；　not　wanting　to　win；　only　wanting　to　be

near　her　mistress；　to　swim　in　a　race　with　her。　They　neared　the

end　of　the　bath；　the　deep　end。　Miss　Inger　touched　the　pipe；

swung　herself　round；　and　caught　Ursula　round　the　waist　in　the

water；　and　held　her　for　a　moment。

〃I　won；〃　said　Miss　Inger；　laughing。

There　was　a　moment　of　suspense。　Ursula's　heart　was　beating　so

fast；　she　clung　to　the　rail；　and　could　not　move。　Her　dilated；

warm；　unfolded；　glowing　face　turned　to　the　mistress；　as　if　to

her　very　sun。

〃Good…bye；〃　said　Miss　Inger；　and　she　swam　away　to　the　other

pupils；　taking　professional　interest　in　them。

Ursula　was　dazed。　She　could　still　feel　the　touch　of　the

mistress's　body　against　her　own……only　this；　only　this。　The

rest　of　the　swimming　time　passed　like　a　trance。　When　the　call

was　given　to　leave　the　water；　Miss　Inger　walked　down　the　bath

towards　Ursula。　Her　rust…red；　thin