第68部分(第5/7 頁)

es。　They

loved　her　as　sisters；　they　shared　with　her　all　noble

thoughts。

She　was　happy　again。　In　her　musings　she　spread　her　poor；

clipped　wings；　and　flew　into　the　pure　empyrean。

Day　followed　day。　She　did　not　speak　to　her　parents。　Then　came

the　return　of　her　testimonials　from　Gillingham。　She　was　not

wanted；　neither　at　Swanwick。　The　bitterness　of　rejection

followed　the　sweets　of　hope。　Her　bright　feathers　were　in　the

dust　again。

Then；　suddenly；　after　a　fortnight；　came　an　intimation　from

Kingston…on…Thames。　She　was　to　appear　at　the　Education　Office　of

that　town　on　the　following　Thursday；　for　an　interview　with　the

mittee。　Her　heart　stood　still。　She　knew　she　would　make　the

mittee　accept　her。　Now　she　was　afraid；　now　that　her　removal

was　imminent。　Her　heart　quivered　with　fear　and　reluctance。　But

underneath　her　purpose　was　fixed。

She　passed　shadowily　through　the　day；　unwilling　to　tell　her

news　to　her　mother；　waiting　for　her　father。　Suspense　and　fear

were　strong　upon　her。　She　dreaded　going　to　Kingston。　Her　easy

dreams　disappeared　from　the　grasp　of　reality。

And　yet；　as　the　afternoon　wore　away；　the　sweetness　of　the

dream　returned　again。　Kingston…on…Thames……there　was　such

sound　of　dignity　to　her。　The　shadow　of　history　and　the　glamour

of　stately　progress　enveloped　her。　The　palaces　would　be　old　and

darkened；　the　place　of　kings　obscured。　Yet　it　was　a　place　of

kings　for　her……Richard　and　Henry　and　Wolsey　and　Queen

Elizabeth。　She　divined　great　lawns　with　noble　trees；　and

terraces　whose　steps　the　water　washed　softly；　where　the　swans

sometimes　came　to　earth。　Still　she　must　see　the　stately；