第69部分

請關閉瀏覽器的閱讀/暢讀/小說模式並且關閉廣告遮蔽過濾功能，避免出現內容無法顯示或者段落錯亂。

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　hedge