occupied for two days during the week； and where experiments in
education were being carried on。
Ursula wanted to live in Willey Green on the remoter side；
towards Southwell； and Sherwood Forest。 There it was so lovely
and romantic。 But out into the world meant out into the world。
Will Brangwen must bee modern。
He bought； with his wife's money； a fairly large house in the
new； red…brick part of Beldover。 It was a villa built by the
widow of the late colliery manager； and stood in a quiet； new
little side…street near the large church。
Ursula was rather sad。 Instead of having arrived at
distinction they had e to new red…brick suburbia in a grimy；
small town。
Mrs。 Brangwen was happy。 The rooms were splendidly
large……a splendid dining…room； drawing…room and kitchen；
besides a very pleasant study downstairs。 Everything was
admirably appointed。 The widow had settled herself in lavishly。
She was a native of Beldover； and had intended to reign almost
queen。 Her bathroom was white and silver； her stairs were of
oak； her chimney…pieces were massive and oaken； with bulging；
columnar supports。
〃Good and substantial；〃 was the keynote。 But Ursula resented
the stout； inflated prosperity implied everywhere。 She made her
father promise to chisel down the bulging oaken chimney…pieces；
chisel them flat。 That sort of important paunch was very
distasteful to her。 Her father was himself long and loosely
built。 What had he to do with so much 〃good and substantial〃
importance？
They bought a fair amount also of the widow's furniture。 It
was in mon good taste……the great Wilton carpet； the
large round table； the Chesterfield covered with glossy chintz
in roses and birds。 It was all really very sunny and nice； with
large windows； and a view right across the shallow valley。
After all； they would be； as one of their acquaintances said；
among the elite of Beldover。 They would represent culture。 And
as there was no one of higher social importance than the
doctors； the colliery…managers； and the chemists； they would
shine； with their Della Robbia beautiful Madonna； their lovely
reliefs from Donatello； their reproductions from Botticelli。
Nay； the large photographs of the Primavera and the Aphrodite
and the Nativity in the dining…room； the ordinary
reception…room； would make dumb the mouth of Beldover。
And after all； it is better to be princess in Beldover than a
vulgar nobody in the country。
There was great preparation made for the removal of the whole
Brangwen family； ten in all。 The house in Beldover was prepared；
the house in Cossethay was dismantled。 e the end of the
school…term the removal would begin。
Ursula left school at the end of July； when the summer
holiday menced。 The morning outside was bright and sunny； and
the freedom got inside the schoolroom this last day。 It was as
if the walls of the school were going to melt away。 Already they
seemed shadowy and unreal。 It was breaking…up morning。 Soon
scholars and teachers would be outside； each going his own way。
The irons were struck off； the sentence was expired； the prison
was a momentary shadow halting about them。 The children were
carrying away books and inkwell； and rolling up maps。 All their
faces were bright with gladness and goodwill。 There was a bustle
of cleaning and clearing away all marks of this last term of
imprisonment。 They were all breaking free。 Busily； eagerly；
Ursula made up her totals of attendances in the register。 With
pride she wrote down the thousands： to so many thousands of
children had she given another sessions's lessons。 It looked
tremendous。 The excited hours passed slowly in suspense。 Then at
last it was over。 For the last time； she stood before her
children whilst they said their prayers and sang a hymn。 Then it
was over。
〃Good…bye； children；〃 she said。 〃I shall not forget you； and
you must not forget me。〃
〃No； miss；〃 cried the children in chorus； with shining
faces。
She stood smiling on them； moved； as they filed out。 Then she
gave her monitors their term sixpences； and they too departed。
Cupboards were locked； blackboards washed； ink wells and dusters
removed。 The place stood bare and vacated。 She had triumphed
over it。 It was a shell now。 She had fought a good fight here；
and it had not been altogether unenjoyable。 She owed some
gratitude even to this hard； vacant place； that stood like a
memorial or a trophy。 So much of her life had been fought for
and won and lost here。 Something of this school would always
belong to her； something of her to it。 She acknowledged it。 And
now came the leave…taking。
In the teachers' room the teachers were chatting and
loitering； talking excitedly of where they were going： to the
Isle of Man； to Llandudno； to Yarmouth。 They were eager； and
attached to each other； like rades leaving a ship。
Then it was Mr。 Harby's turn to make a speech to Ursula。 He
looked handsome； with his silver…grey temples and black brows；
and his imperturbable male solidity。
〃Well；〃 he said； 〃we must say good…bye to Miss Brangwen and
wish her all good fortune for the future。 I suppose we shall see
her again some time； and hear how she is getting on。〃
〃Oh； yes；〃 said Ursula； stammering； blushing； laughing。 〃Oh；
yes； I shall e and see you。〃
Then she realized that this sounded too personal； and she
felt foolish。
〃Miss Schofield suggested these two books；〃 he said； putting
a couple of volumes on the table： 〃I hope you will like
them。〃
Ursula feeling very shy picked up the books。 There was a
volume of Swinburne's poetry； and a volume of Meredith's。
〃Oh； I shall love them；〃 she said。 〃Thank you very
much……thank you all so much……it is
so〃
She stuttered to an end； and very red； turned the leaves of
the books eagerly； pretending to be taking the first pleasure；
but really seeing nothing。
Mr。 Harby's eyes were twinkling。 He alone was at his ease；
master of the situation。 It was pleasing to him to make Ursula
the gift； and for once extend good feeling to his teachers。 As a
rule； it was so difficult； each one was so strained in
resentment under his rule。
〃Yes；〃 he said； 〃we hoped you would like the
choice〃
He looked with his peculiar； challenging smile for a moment；
then returned to his cupboards。
Ursula felt very confused。 She hugged her books； loving them。
And she felt that she loved all the teachers； and Mr。 Harby。 It
was very confusing。
At last she was out。 She cast one hasty glance over the
school buildings squatting on the asphalt yard in the hot；
glistening sun； one look down the well…known road； and turned
her back on it all。 Something strained in her heart。 She was
going away。
〃Well； good luck；〃 said the last of the teachers； as she
shook hands at the end of the road。 〃We'll expect you back some
day。〃
He spoke in irony。 She laughed； and broke away。 She was free。
As she sat on the top of the tram in the sunlight； she looked
round her with tremendous delight。 She had left something which
had meant much to her。 She would not go to school any more； and
do the familiar things。 Queer！ There was a little pang amid her
exultation； of fear； not of regret。 Yet how she exulted this
morning！