The Rainbow-虹(英文版)

第70部分 (第7/7頁)

y　hastily　arranging　his　papers。

The　assistant　teacher　made　no　sign　of　acquiescence；　and　went

on　with　what　he　was　doing。　The　atmosphere　in　the　room　grew

tense。　At　the　last　moment　Mr。　Brunt　slipped　into　his　coat。

〃You　will　go　to　the　girls'　lobby；〃　said　the　schoolmaster　to

Ursula；　with　a　fascinating；　insulting　geniality；　purely　official

and　domineering。

She　went　out　and　found　Miss　Harby；　and　another　girl　teacher；

in　the　porch。　On　the　asphalt　yard　the　rain　was　falling。　A

toneless　bell　tang…tang…tanged　drearily　overhead；　monotonously；

insistently。　It　came　to　an　end。　Then　Mr。　Brunt　was　seen；

bare…headed；　standing　at　the　other　gate　of　the　school　yard；

blowing　shrill　blasts　on　a　whistle　and　looking　down　the　rainy；

dreary　street。

Boys　in　gangs　and　streams　came　trotting　up；　running　past　the

master　and　with　a　loud　clatter　of　feet　and　voices；　over　the　yard

to　the　boys'　porch。　Girls　were　running　and　walking　through　the

other　entrance。

In　the　porch　where　Ursula　stood　there　was　a　great　noise　of

girls；　who　were　tearing　off　their　coats　and　hats；　and　hanging

them　on　the　racks　bristling　with　pegs。　There　was　a　smell　of　wet

clothing；　a　tossing　out　of　wet；　draggled　hair；　a　noise　of　voices

and　feet。

The　mass　of　girls　grew　greater；　the　rage　around　the　pegs　grew

steadier；　the　scholars　tended　to　fall　into　little　noisy　gangs　in

the　porch。　Then　Violet　Harby　clapped　her　hands；　clapped　them

louder；　with　a　shrill　〃Quiet；　girls；　quiet！〃

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

cease。

〃What　did　I　say？〃　cried　M