school was upon her。
〃The big room；〃 said Miss Schofield； 〃ha； it's misery to be
in it！〃
She too spoke with bitterness。 She too lived in the
ignominious position of an upper servant hated by the master
above and the class beneath。 She was； she knew； liable to attack
from either side at any minute； or from both at once； for the
authorities would listen to the plaints of parents； and both
would turn round on the mongrel authority； the teacher。
So there was a hard； bitter withholding in Maggie Schofield
even as she poured out her savoury mess of big golden beans and
brown gravy。
〃It is vegetarian hot…pot；〃 said Miss Schofield。 〃Would you
like to try it？〃
〃I should love to；〃 said Ursula。
Her own dinner seemed coarse and ugly beside this savoury；
clean dish。
〃I've never eaten vegetarian things；〃 she said。 〃But I should
think they can be good。〃
〃I'm not really a vegetarian；〃 said Maggie； 〃I don't like to
bring meat to school。〃
〃No；〃 said Ursula； 〃I don't think I do either。〃
And again her soul rang an answer to a new refinement； a new
liberty。 If all vegetarian things were as nice as this； she
would be glad to escape the slight uncleanness of meat。
〃How good！〃 she cried。
〃Yes；〃 said Miss Schofield； and she proceeded to tell her the
receipt。 The two girls passed on to talk about themselves。
Ursula told all about the High School； and about her
matriculation； bragging a little。 She felt so poor here； in this
ugly place。 Miss Schofield listened with brooding； handsome
face； rather gloomy。
〃Couldn't you have got to some better place than this？〃 she
aske