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Ursula shrank

"Would you?" she asked, sweetly, yet in terror "Aren't I

strict enough?"

"Because," he repeated, taking no notice of her, "they'll get

you down if you don't tackle 'em pretty quick They'll pull you

down, and worry you, till Harby gets you shifted--that's

how it'll be You won't be here another six weeks"--and he

filled his mouth with food--"if you don't tackle 'em and

tackle 'em quick"

"Oh, but----" Ursula said, resentfully, ruefully

The terror was deep in her

"Harby'll not help you This is what he'll do--he'll let

you go on, getting worse and worse, till either you clear out or

he clears you out It doesn't matter to me, except that you'll

leave a class behind you as I hope I shan't have to cope

with"

She heard the accusation in the man's voice, and felt

condemned But still, school had not yet beco it It was reality, but it was

all outside her And she fought against Mr Brunt's

representation She did not want to realize

"Will it be so terrible?" she said, quivering, rather

beautiful, but with a slight touch of condescension, because she

would not betray her own trepidation

"Terrible?" said the ain "I

dunno about terrible"

"I do feel frightened," said Ursula "The children see at that ht to tackle hed uneasily