第72部分(第2/9 頁)

sula　followed　with

her　own。　The　cloth　was　laid　in　the　pleasant　Standard　Three　room；

there　was　a　jar　with　two　or　three　monthly　roses　on　the

table。

〃It　is　so　nice　in　here；　you　have　made　it　different；〃

said　Ursula　gaily。　But　she　was　afraid。　The　atmosphere　of　the

school　was　upon　her。

〃The　big　room；〃　said　Miss　Schofield；　〃ha；　it's　misery　to　be

in　it！〃

She　too　spoke　with　bitterness。　She　too　lived　in　the

ignominious　position　of　an　upper　servant　hated　by　the　master

above　and　the　class　beneath。　She　was；　she　knew；　liable　to　attack

from　either　side　at　any　minute；　or　from　both　at　once；　for　the

authorities　would　listen　to　the　plaints　of　parents；　and　both

would　turn　round　on　the　mongrel　authority；　the　teacher。

So　there　was　a　hard；　bitter　withholding　in　Maggie　Schofield

even　as　she　poured　out　her　savoury　mess　of　big　golden　beans　and

brown　gravy。

〃It　is　vegetarian　hot…pot；〃　said　Miss　Schofield。　〃Would　you

like　to　try　it？〃

〃I　should　love　to；〃　said　Ursula。

Her　own　dinner　seemed　coarse　and　ugly　beside　this　savoury；

clean　dish。

〃I've　never　eaten　vegetarian　things；〃　she　said。　〃But　I　should

think　they　can　be　good。〃

〃I'm　not　really　a　vegetarian；〃　said　Maggie；　〃I　don't　like　to

bring　meat　to　school。〃

〃No；〃　said　Ursula；　〃I　don't　think　I　do　either。〃

And　again　her　soul　rang　an　answer　to　a　new　refinement；　a　new