The Rainbow-虹(英文版)-第69部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


〃Where's　that　letter？〃

She　gave　it　to　him。　He　sat　looking　at　it。　〃You　are　requested
to　call　at　the　above　offices　on　Thursday　next〃　It
was　a　cold；　official　notice　to　Ursula　herself　and　had　nothing　to
do　with　him。　So！　She　existed　now　as　a　separate　social
individual。　It　was　for　her　to　answer　this　note；　without　regard
to　him。　He　had　even　no　right　to　interfere。　His　heart　was　hard
and　angry。

〃You　had　to　do　it　behind　our　backs；　had　you？〃　he　said；　with　a
sneer。　And　her　heart　leapt　with　hot　pain。　She　knew　she　was
free……she　had　broken　away　from　him。　He　was　beaten。

〃You　said；　'let　her　try；'〃　she　retorted；　almost　apologizing
to　him。

He　did　not　hear。　He　sat　looking　at　the　letter。

〃Education　Office；　Kingston…on…Thames〃……and　then　the
typewritten　〃Miss　Ursula　Brangwen；　Yew　Tree　Cottage；　Cossethay。〃
It　was　all　so　plete　and　so　final。　He　could　not　but　feel　the
new　position　Ursula　held；　as　recipient　of　that　letter。　It　was　an
iron　in　his　soul。

〃Well；〃　he　said　at　length；　〃you're　not　going。〃

Ursula　started　and　could　find　no　words　to　clamour　her
revolt。

〃If　you　think　you're　going　dancin'　off　to　th'　other　side　of
London；　you're　mistaken。〃

〃Why　not？〃　she　cried；　at　once　hard　fixed　in　her　will　to
go。

〃That's　why　not；〃　he　said。

And　there　was　silence　till　Mrs。　Brangwen　came　downstairs。

〃Look　here；　Anna；〃　he　said；　handing　her　the　letter。

She　put　back　her　head；　seeing　a　typewritten　letter；
anticipating　trouble　from　the　outside　world。　There　was　the
curious；　sliding　motion　of　her　eyes；　as　if　she　shut　off　her
sentient；　maternal　self；　and　a　kind　of　hard　trance；　meaningless；
took　its　place。　Thus；　meaningless；　she　glanced　over　the　letter；
careful　not　to　take　it　in。　She　apprehended　the　contents　with　her
callous；　superficial　mind。　Her　feeling　self　was　shut　down。

〃What　post　is　it？〃　she　asked。

〃She　wants　to　go　and　be　a　teacher　in　Kingston…on…Thames；　at
fifty　pounds　a　year。〃

〃Oh；　indeed。〃

The　mother　spoke　as　if　it　were　a　hostile　fact　concerning　some
stranger。　She　would　have　let　her　go；　out　of　callousness。　Mrs。
Brangwen　would　begin　to　grow　up　again　only　with　her　youngest
child。　Her　eldest　girl　was　in　the　way　now。

〃She's　not　going　all　that　distance；〃　said　the　father。

〃I　have　to　go　where　they　want　me；〃　cried　Ursula。　〃And　it's　a
good　place　to　go　to。〃

〃What　do　you　know　about　the　place？〃　said　her　father
harshly。

〃And　it　doesn't　matter　whether　they　want　you　or　not；　if　your
father　says　you　are　not　to　go；〃　said　the　mother　calmly。

How　Ursula　hated　her！

〃You　said　I　was　to　try；〃　the　girl　cried。　〃Now　I've　got　a
place　and　I'm　going　to　go。〃

〃You're　not　going　all　that　distance；〃　said　her　father。

〃Why　don't　you　get　a　place　at　Ilkeston；　where　you　can　live　at
home？〃　asked　Gudrun；　who　hated　conflicts；　who　could　not
understand　Ursula's　uneasy　way；　yet　who　must　stand　by　her
sister。

〃There　aren't　any　places　in　Ilkeston；〃　cried　Ursula。　〃And　I'd
rather　go　right　away。〃

〃If　you'd　asked　about　it；　a　place　could　have　been　got　for　you
in　Ilkeston。　But　you　had　to　play　Miss　High…an'…mighty；　and　go
your　own　way；〃　said　her　father。

〃I've　no　doubt　you'd　rather　go　right　away；〃　said　her　mother；
very　caustic。　〃And　I've　no　doubt　you'd　find　other　people　didn't
put　up　with　you　for　very　long　either。　You've　too　much　opinion　of
yourself　for　your　good。〃

Between　the　girl　and　her　mother　was　a　feeling　of　pure　hatred。
There　came　a　stubborn　silence。　Ursula　knew　she　must　break
it。

〃Well；　they've　written　to　me；　and　I　s'll　have　to　go；〃　she
said。

〃Where　will　you　get　the　money　from？〃　asked　her　father。

〃Uncle　Tom　will　give　it　me；〃　she　said。

Again　there　was　silence。　This　time　she　was　triumphant。

Then　at　length　her　father　lifted　his　head。　His　face　was
abstracted；　he　seemed　to　be　abstracting　himself；　to　make　a　pure
statement。

〃Well；　you're　not　going　all　that　distance　away；〃　he　said。
〃I'll　ask　Mr。　Burt　about　a　place　here。　I'm　not　going　to　have　you
by　yourself　at　the　other　side　of　London。〃

〃But　I've　got　to　go　to　Kingston；〃　said　Ursula。
〃They've　sent　for　me。〃

〃They'll　do　without　you；〃　he　said。

There　was　a　trembling　silence　when　she　was　on　the　point　of
tears。

〃Well；〃　she　said；　low　and　tense；　〃you　can　put　me　off　this；
but　I'm　going　to　have　a　place。　I'm　not　going　to
stop　at　home。〃

〃Nobody　wants　you　to　stop　at　home；〃　he　suddenly　shouted；
going　livid　with　rage。

She　said　no　more。　Her　nature　had　gone　hard　and　smiling　in　its
own　arrogance；　in　its　own　antagonistic　indifference　to　the　rest
of　them。　This　was　the　state　in　which　he　wanted　to　kill　her。　She
went　singing　into　the　parlour。

　　　C'est　la　mere　Michel　qui　a　perdu　son　chat；
　　　Qui　cri　par　la　fenetre　qu'est…ce　qui　le　lue　renda〃

During　the　next　days　Ursula　went　about　bright　and　hard；
singing　to　herself；　making　love　to　the　children；　but　her　soul
hard　and　cold　with　regard　to　her　parents。　Nothing　more　was　said。
The　hardness　and　brightness　lasted　for　four　days。　Then　it　began
to　break　up。　So　at　evening　she　said　to　her　father：

〃Have　you　spoken　about　a　place　for　me？〃

〃I　spoke　to　Mr。　Burt。〃

〃What　did　he　say？〃

〃There's　a　mittee　meeting　to…morrow。　He'll　tell　me　on
Friday。〃

So　she　waited　till　Friday。　Kingston…on…Thames　had　been　an
exciting　dream。　Here　she　could　feel　the　hard；　raw　reality。　So
she　knew　that　this　would　e　to　pass。　Because　nothing　was　ever
fulfilled；　she　found；　except　in　the　hard　limited　reality。　She
did　not　want　to　be　a　teacher　in　Ilkeston；　because　she　knew
Ilkeston；　and　hated　it。　But　she　wanted　to　be　free；　so　she　must
take　her　freedom　where　she　could。

On　Friday　her　father　said　there　was　a　place　vacant　in
Brinsley　Street　school。　This　could　most　probably　be　secured　for
her；　at　once；　without　the　trouble　of　application。

Her　heart　halted。　Brinsley　Street　was　a　school　in　a　poor
quarter；　and　she　had　had　a　taste　of　the　mon　children　of
Ilkeston。　They　had　shouted　after　her　and　thrown　stones。　Still；
as　a　teacher；　she　would　be　in　authority。　And　it　was　all　unknown。
She　was　excited。　The　very　forest　of　dry；　sterile　brick　had　some
fascination　for　her。　It　was　so　hard　and　ugly；　so　relentlessly
ugly；　it　would　purge　her　of　some　of　her　floating
sentimentality。

She　dreamed　how　she　would　make　the　little；　ugly　children　love
her。　She　would　be　so　personal。　Teachers　were　always　so
hard　and　impersonal。　There　was　no　vivid　relationship。　She　would
make　everything　personal　and　vivid；　she　would　give　herself；　she
would　give；　give；　give　all　her　great　stores　of　wealth　to　her
children；　she　would　make　them　so　happy；　and　they　would　prefer
her　to　any　teacher　on　the　face　of　the　earth。

At　Christmas　she　would　choose　such　fascinating　Christmas
cards　for　them；　and　she　would　give　them　such　a　happy　party　in
one　of　the　class…rooms。

The　headmaster；　Mr。　Harby；　was　a　short；　thick…set；　rather
mon　man；　she　thought。　But　she　would　hold　before　him　the　light
of　grace　and　refinement；　he　would　have　her　in　such　high　esteem
before　long。　She　would　be　the　gleaming　sun　of　the　school；　the
children　would　blossom　like　little　weeds；　the　teachers　like
tall；　hard　plants　would　burst　into　rare　flower。

The　Monday　morning　came。　It　was　the　end　of　September；　and　a
drizzle　of　fine　rain　like　veils　round　her；　making　her　seem
intimate；　a　world　to　herself。　She　walked　forward　to　the　new
land。　The　old　was　blotted　out。　The　veil　would　be　rent　that　hid
the　new　world。　She　was　gripped　hard　with　suspense　as　she　went
down　the　hill　in　the　rain；　carrying　her　dinner…bag。

Through　the　thin　rain　she　saw　the　town；　a　black；　extensive
mount。　She　must　enter　in　upon　it。　She　felt　at　once　a　feeling　of
repugnance　and　of　excited　fulfilment。　But　she　shrank。

She　waited　at　the　terminus　for　the　tram。　Here　it　was
beginning。　Before　her　was　the　station　to　Nottingham；　whence
Theresa　had　gone　to　school　half　an　hour　before；　behind　her　was
the　little　church　school　she　had　attended　when　she　was　a　child；
when　her　grandmother　was　alive。　Her　grandmother　had　been　dead
two　years　now。　There　was　a　strange　woman　at　the　Marsh；　with　her
Uncle　Fred；　and　a　small　baby。　Behind　her　was　Cossethay；　and
blackberries　were　ripe　on　the　hedges。

As　she　waited　at　the　tram…terminus　she　reverted　swiftly　to
her　childhood；　her　teasing　grandfather；　with　his　fair　beard　and
blue　eyes；　and　his　big；　monumental　body；　he　had　got　drowned：　her
grandmother；　whom　Ursula　would　sometimes　say　she　had　loved　more
than　anyone　else　in　the　world：　the　little　church　school；　the
Phillips　boys；　one　was　a　soldier　in　the　Life　Guards　now；　one　was
a　collier。　With　a　passion　she　clung　to　the　past。

But　as　she　dreamed　of　it；　she　heard　the　tram…car　grinding
round　a　bend；　rumbling　dully；　she　saw　it　draw　into　sight；　and
hum　nearer。　It　sidled　round　the　loop　at　the　terminus；　and　came
to　a　standstill；　looming　above　her。　Some　shadowy　grey　people
stepped　from　the　far　end；　the　conductor　was　walking　in　the
puddles；　swinging　round　the　pole。

She　mounted　into　the　wet；　fortless　tram；　whose　floor　was
dark　with　wet；　whose　windows　were　all　steamed；　and　she　sat　in
suspense。　It　had　begun；　her　new　existence。

One　other　passenger　mounted……a　sort　of　charwoman　with　a
drab；　wet　coat。　Ursula　could　not　bear　the　waiting　of　the　tram。
The　bell　clanged；　there　was　a　lurch　forward。　The　car　moved
cautiously　down　the　wet　street。　She　was　being　carried　forward；
into　her　new　existence。　Her　heart　burned　with　pain　and　suspense；
as　if　something　were　cutting　her　living　tissue。

Often；　oh　often　the　tram　seemed　to　stop；　and　wet；　cloaked
people　mounted　and　sat　mute　and　grey　in　stiff　rows　opposite　her；
their　umbrellas　between　their　knees。　The　windows　of　the　tram
grew　more　steamy；　opaque。　She　was　shut　in　with　these　unliving；
spectral　people。　Even　yet　it　did　not　occur　to　her　that　she　was
one　of　them。　The　conductor　came　down　issuing　tickets。　Each
little　ring　of　his　clipper　sent　a　pang　of　dread　through　her。　But
her　ticket　surely　was　different　from　the　rest。

They　were　all　going　to　work；　she　also　was　going　to　work。　Her
ticket　was　the　same。　She　sat　trying　to　fit　in　with　them。　But
fear　was　at　her　bowels；　she　felt　an　unknown；　terrible　grip　upon
her。

At　Bath　Street　she　must　dismount　and　change　trams。　She　looked
uphill。　It　seemed　to　lead　to　freedom。　She　remembered　the　many
Saturday　afternoons　she　had　walked　up　to　the　shops。　How　free　and
careless　she　had　been！

Ah；　her　tram　was　sliding　gingerly　downhill。　She　dreaded　every
yard　of　her　conveyance。　The　car　halted；　she　mounted　hastily。

She　kept　turning　her　head　as　the　car　ran　on；　because　she　was
uncertain　of　the　street。　At　last；　her　heart　a　flame　of　suspense；
trembling；　she　rose。　The　conductor　rang　the　bell　brusquely。

She　was　walking　down　a　small；　mean；　wet　street；　empty　of
people。　The　school　squatted　low　within　its　railed；　asphalt　yard；
that　shone　black　with　rain。　The　building　was　grimy；　and
horrible；　dry　plants　were　shadowily　looking　through　the
windows。

She　entered　the　arched　doorway　of　the　porch。　The　whole　place
seemed　to　have　a　threatening　expression；　imitating　the　church's
architecture；　for　the　purpose　of　domineering；　like　a　gesture　of
vulgar　authority。　She　saw　that　one　pair　of　feet　had　paddled
across　the　flagstone　floor　of　the　porch。　The　place　was　silent；
deserted；　like　an　empty　prison　waiting　the　return　of　tramping
feet。

Ursula　went　forwa