The Rainbow-虹(英文版)-第87部分

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when　she　thought　a　person　disliked　her；　no　matter　how　much　she
despised　that　other　person。　How　could　anyone　dislike　her；　Ursula
Brangwen？　The　question　terrified　her　and　was　unanswerable。　She
sought　refuge　in　Gudrun's　natural；　proud　indifference。

It　had　been　discovered　that　Gudrun　had　a　talent　for　drawing。
This　solved　the　problem　of　the　girl's　indifference　to　all　study。
It　was　said　of　her；　〃She　can　draw　marvellously。〃

Suddenly　Ursula　found　a　queer　awareness　existed　between
herself　and　her　class…mistress；　Miss　Inger。　The　latter　was　a
rather　beautiful　woman　of　twenty…eight；　a　fearless…seeming；
clean　type　of　modern　girl　whose　very　independence　betrays　her
sorrow。　She　was　clever；　and　expert　in　what　she　did；　accurate；
quick；　manding。

To　Ursula　she　had　always　given　pleasure；　because　of　her
clear；　decided；　yet　graceful　appearance。　She　carried　her　head
high；　a　little　thrown　back；　and　Ursula　thought　there　was　a　look
of　nobility　in　the　way　she　twisted　her　smooth　brown　hair　upon
her　head。　She　always　wore　clean；　attractive；　well…fitting
blouses；　and　a　well…made　skirt。　Everything　about　her　was　so
well…ordered；　betraying　a　fine；　clear　spirit；　that　it　was　a
pleasure　to　sit　in　her　class。

Her　voice　was　just　as　ringing　and　clear；　and　with　unwavering；
finely…touched　modulation。　Her　eyes　were　blue；　clear；　proud；　she
gave　one　altogether　the　sense　of　a　fine…mettled；　scrupulously
groomed　person；　and　of　an　unyielding　mind。　Yet　there　was　an
infinite　poignancy　about　her；　a　great　pathos　in　her　lonely；
proudly　closed　mouth。

It　was　after　Skrebensky　had　gone　that　there　sprang　up　between
the　mistress　and　the　girl　that　strange　awareness；　then　the
unspoken　intimacy　that　sometimes　connects　two　people　who　may
never　even　make　each　other's　acquaintance。　Before；　they　had
always　been　good　friends；　in　the　undistinguished　way　of　the
class…room；　with　the　professional　relationship　of　mistress　and
scholar　always　present。　Now；　however；　another　thing　came　to
pass。　When　they　were　in　the　room　together；　they　were　aware　of
each　other；　almost　to　the　exclusion　of　everything　else。　Winifred
Inger　felt　a　hot　delight　in　the　lessons　when　Ursula　was　present；
Ursula　felt　her　whole　life　begin　when　Miss　Inger　came　into　the
room。　Then；　with　the　beloved；　subtly…intimate　teacher　present；
the　girl　sat　as　within　the　rays　of　some　enrichening　sun；　whose
intoxicating　heat　poured　straight　into　her　veins。

The　state　of　bliss；　when　Miss　Inger　was　present；　was　supreme
in　the　girl；　but　always　eager；　eager。　As　she　went　home；　Ursula
dreamed　of　the　schoolmistress；　made　infinite　dreams　of　things
she　could　give　her；　of　how　she　might　make　the　elder　woman　adore
her。

Miss　Inger　was　a　Bachelor　of　Arts；　who　had　studied　at
Newnham。　She　was　a　clergyman's　daughter；　of　good　family。　But
what　Ursula　adored　so　much　was　her　fine；　upright；　athletic
bearing；　and　her　indomitably　proud　nature。　She　was　proud　and
free　as　a　man；　yet　exquisite　as　a　woman。

The　girl's　heart　burned　in　her　breast　as　she　set　off　for
school　in　the　morning。　So　eager　was　her　breast；　so　glad　her
feet；　to　travel　towards　the　beloved。　Ah；　Miss　Inger；　how
straight　and　fine　was　her　back；　how　strong　her　loins；　how　calm
and　free　her　limbs！

Ursula　craved　ceaselessly　to　know　if　Miss　Inger　cared　for
her。　As　yet　no　definite　sign　had　been　passed　between　the　two。
Yet　surely；　surely　Miss　Inger　loved　her　too；　was　fond　of　her；
liked　her　at　least　more　than　the　rest　of　the　scholars　in　the
class。　Yet　she　was　never　certain。　It　might　be　that　Miss　Inger
cared　nothing　for　her。　And　yet；　and　yet；　with　blazing　heart；
Ursula　felt　that　if　only　she　could　speak　to　her；　touch　her；　she
would　know。

The　summer　term　came；　and　with　it　the　swimming　class。　Miss
Inger　was　to　take　the　swimming　class。　Then　Ursula　trembled　and
was　dazed　with　passion。　Her　hopes　were　soon　to　be　realized。　She
would　see　Miss　Inger　in　her　bathing　dress。

The　day　came。　In　the　great　bath　the　water　was　glimmering　pale
emerald　green；　a　lovely；　glimmering　mass　of　colour　within　the
whitish　marble…like　confines。　Overhead　the　light　fell　softly　and
the　great　green　body　of　pure　water　moved　under　it　as　someone
dived　from　the　side。

Ursula；　trembling；　hardly　able　to　contain　herself；　pulled　off
her　clothes；　put　on　her　tight　bathing…suit；　and　opened　the　door
of　her　cabin。　Two　girls　were　in　the　water。　The　mistress　had　not
appeared。　She　waited。　A　door　opened。　Miss　Inger　came　out；
dressed　in　a　rust…red　tunic　like　a　Greek　girl's；　tied　round　the
waist；　and　a　red　silk　handkerchief　round　her　head。　How　lovely
she　looked！　Her　knees　were　so　white　and　strong　and　proud；　and
she　was　firm…bodied　as　Diana。　She　walked　simply　to　the　side　of
the　bath；　and　with　a　negligent　movement；　flung　herself　in。　For　a
moment　Ursula　watched　the　white；　smooth；　strong　shoulders；　and
the　easy　arms　swimming。　Then　she　too　dived　into　the　water。

Now；　ah　now；　she　was　swimming　in　the　same　water　with　her　dear
mistress。　The　girl　moved　her　limbs　voluptuously；　and　swam　by
herself；　deliciously；　yet　with　a　craving　of　unsatisfaction。　She
wanted　to　touch　the　other；　to　touch　her；　to　feel　her。

〃I　will　race　you；　Ursula；〃　came　the　well…modulated　voice。

Ursula　started　violently。　She　turned　to　see　the　warm；
unfolded　face　of　her　mistress　looking　at　her；　to　her。　She　was
acknowledged。　Laughing　her　own　beautiful；　startled　laugh；　she
began　to　swim。　The　mistress　was　just　ahead；　swimming　with　easy
strokes。　Ursula　could　see　the　head　put　back；　the　water
flickering　upon　the　white　shoulders；　the　strong　legs　kicking
shadowily。　And　she　swam　blinded　with　passion。　Ah；　the　beauty　of
the　firm；　white；　cool　flesh！　Ah；　the　wonderful　firm　limbs。　Ah；
if　she　did　not　so　despise　her　own　thin；　dusky　fragment　of　a
body；　if　only　she　too　were　fearless　and　capable。

She　swam　on　eagerly；　not　wanting　to　win；　only　wanting　to　be
near　her　mistress；　to　swim　in　a　race　with　her。　They　neared　the
end　of　the　bath；　the　deep　end。　Miss　Inger　touched　the　pipe；
swung　herself　round；　and　caught　Ursula　round　the　waist　in　the
water；　and　held　her　for　a　moment。

〃I　won；〃　said　Miss　Inger；　laughing。

There　was　a　moment　of　suspense。　Ursula's　heart　was　beating　so
fast；　she　clung　to　the　rail；　and　could　not　move。　Her　dilated；
warm；　unfolded；　glowing　face　turned　to　the　mistress；　as　if　to
her　very　sun。

〃Good…bye；〃　said　Miss　Inger；　and　she　swam　away　to　the　other
pupils；　taking　professional　interest　in　them。

Ursula　was　dazed。　She　could　still　feel　the　touch　of　the
mistress's　body　against　her　own……only　this；　only　this。　The
rest　of　the　swimming　time　passed　like　a　trance。　When　the　call
was　given　to　leave　the　water；　Miss　Inger　walked　down　the　bath
towards　Ursula。　Her　rust…red；　thin　tunic　was　clinging　to　her；
the　whole　body　was　defined；　firm　and　magnificent；　as　it　seemed
to　the　girl。

〃I　enjoyed　our　race；　Ursula；　did　you？〃　said　Miss　Inger。

The　girl　could　only　laugh　with　revealed；　open；　glowing
face。

The　love　was　now　tacitly　confessed。　But　it　was　some　time
before　any　further　progress　was　made。　Ursula　continued　in
suspense；　in　inflamed　bliss。

Then　one　day；　when　she　was　alone；　the　mistress　came　near　to
her；　and　touching　her　cheek　with　her　fingers；　said　with　some
difficulty。

〃Would　you　like　to　e　to　tea　with　me　on　Saturday；
Ursula？〃

The　girl　flushed　all　gratitude。

〃We'll　go　to　a　lovely　little　bungalow　on　the　Soar；　shall　we？
I　stay　the　week…ends　there　sometimes。〃

Ursula　was　beside　herself。　She　could　not　endure　till　the
Saturday　came；　her　thoughts　burned　up　like　a　fire。　If　only　it
were　Saturday；　if　only　it　were　Saturday。

Then　Saturday　came；　and　she　set　out。　Miss　Inger　met　her　in
Sawley；　and　they　walked　about　three　miles　to　the　bungalow。　It
was　a　moist；　warm　cloudy　day。

The　bungalow　was　a　tiny；　two…roomed　shanty　set　on　a　steep
bank。　Everything　in　it　was　exquisite。　In　delicious　privacy；　the
two　girls　made　tea；　and　then　they　talked。　Ursula　need　not　be
home　till　about　ten　o'clock。

The　talk　was　led；　by　a　kind　of　spell；　to　love。　Miss　Inger　was
telling　Ursula　of　a　friend；　how　she　had　died　in　childbirth；　and
what　she　had　suffered；　then　she　told　of　a　prostitute；　and　of
some　of　her　experiences　with　men。

As　they　talked　thus；　on　the　little　verandah　of　the　bungalow；
the　night