d at length。
〃I didn't know what it was like；〃 said Ursula；
doubtfully。
〃Ah！〃 said Miss Schofield； and she turned aside her head with
a bitter motion。
〃Is it as horrid as it seems？〃 asked Ursula； frowning
lightly； in fear。
〃It is；〃 said Miss Schofield； bitterly。 〃Ha！……it is
hateful！〃
Ursula's heart sank； seeing even Miss Schofield in the deadly
bondage。
〃It is Mr。 Harby；〃 said Maggie Schofield； breaking forth。
〃I don't think I could live again in the big
room……Mr。 Brunt's voice and Mr。
Harby……ah〃
She turned aside her head with a deep hurt。 Some things she
could not bear。
〃Is Mr。 Harby really horrid？〃 asked Ursula； venturing into
her own dread。
〃He！……why； he's just a bully；〃 said Miss Schofield；
raising her shamed dark eyes； that flamed with tortured
contempt。 〃He's not bad as long as you keep in with him； and
refer to him； and do everything in his way……but……it's
all so mean！ It's just a question of fighting on both
sides……and those great louts〃
She spoke with difficulty and with increased bitterness。 She
had evidently suffered。 Her soul was raw with ignominy。 Ursula
suffered in response。
〃But why is it so horrid？〃 she asked； helplessly。
〃You can't do anything；〃 said Miss Schofield。 〃He's
against you on one side and he sets the children against you on
the other。 The children are simply awful。 You've got to
make them do everything。 Everything； everything has got
to e out of you。 Whatever they learn； you've got to force it
into them……and that's how it is。〃
Ursula felt her heart fail inside her。 Why must she grasp all
this； wh