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.