第71部分(第1/7 页)

There　was　a　pause。　The　hubbub　died　down　but　did　not

cease。

〃What　did　I　say？〃　cried　Miss　Harby；　shrilly。

There　was　almost　plete　silence。　Sometimes　a　girl；　rather

late；　whirled　into　the　porch　and　flung　off　her　things。

〃Leaders……in　place；〃　manded　Miss　Harby　shrilly。

Pairs　of　girls　in　pinafores　and　long　hair　stood　separate　in

the　porch。

〃Standard　Four；　Five；　and　Six……fall　in；〃　cried　Miss

Harby。

There　was　a　hubbub；　which　gradually　resolved　itself　into

three　columns　of　girls；　two　and　two；　standing　smirking　in　the

passage。　In　among　the　peg…racks；　other　teachers　were　putting　the

lower　classes　into　ranks。

Ursula　stood　by　her　own　Standard　Five。　They　were　jerking

their　shoulders；　tossing　their　hair；　nudging；　writhing；　staring；

grinning；　whispering　and　twisting。

A　sharp　whistle　was　heard；　and　Standard　Six；　the　biggest

girls；　set　off；　led　by　Miss　Harby。　Ursula；　with　her　Standard

Five；　followed　after。　She　stood　beside　a　smirking；　grinning　row

of　girls；　waiting　in　a　narrow　passage。　What　she　was　herself　she

did　not　know。

Suddenly　the　sound　of　a　piano　was　heard；　and　Standard　Six　set

off　hollowly　down　the　big　room。　The　boys　had　entered　by　another

door。　The　piano　played　on；　a　march　tune；　Standard　Five　followed

to　the　door　of　the　big　room。　Mr。　Harby　was　seen　away　beyond　at

his　desk。　Mr。　Brunt　guarded　the　other　door　of　the　room。　Ursula's

class　pushed　up。　She　stood　near　them。　They　glanced　and　smirked

and　shoved。

〃Go　on；〃　said　Ursula。

They　tittered。

〃Go　on；〃　said　Ursula；　for　the　piano　continued。

The　girls　broke　loosely　into　the　room。　Mr。　Harby；　who　had

seemed　im