第70部分(第2/7 頁)

n　glanced　up　sharply。　He　was　about　thirty　or

thirty…three　years　old；　thin；　greenish；　with　a　long　nose　and　a

sharp　face。　His　eyes　were　blue；　and　sharp　as　points　of　steel；

rather　beautiful；　the　girl　thought。

〃Sixty…three；〃　he　answered。

〃So　many！〃　she　said；　gently。　Then　she　remembered。

〃But　they're　not　all　for　your　class；　are　they？〃　she

added。

〃Why　aren't　they？〃　he　replied；　a　fierceness　in　his　voice。

Ursula　was　rather　frightened　by　his　mechanical　ignoring　of

her；　and　his　directness　of　statement。　It　was　something　new　to

her。　She　had　never　been　treated　like　this　before；　as　if　she　did

not　count；　as　if　she　were　addressing　a　machine。

〃It　is　too　many；〃　she　said　sympathetically。

〃You'll　get　about　the　same；〃　he　said。

That　was　all　she　received。　She　sat　rather　blank；　not　knowing

how　to　feel。　Still　she　liked　him。　He　seemed　so　cross。　There　was

a　queer；　sharp；　keen…edge　feeling　about　him　that　attracted　her

and　frightened　her　at　the　same　time。　It　was　so　cold；　and　against

his　nature。

The　door　opened；　and　a　short；　neutral…tinted　young　woman　of

about　twenty…eight　appeared。

〃Oh；　Ursula！〃　the　newer　exclaimed。　〃You　are　here　early！　My

word；　I'll　warrant　you　don't　keep　it　up。　That's　Mr。　Williamson's

peg。　This　is　yours。　Standard　Five　teacher　always　has　this。

Aren't　you　going　to　take　your　hat　off？〃

Miss　Violet　Harby　removed　Ursula's　waterproof　from　the　peg　on

which　it　was　hung；　to　one　a　little　farther　down　the　row。　She　had

already　snatched　the　pins　from　her　own　stuff　hat；　and　jammed

them　through　her　coat。　She　turned　to　Ursula；　as　she　pushed　up

her　frizzed；　flat；　dun…coloured　hair。

〃I