Edited by Charles Aldarondo (aldarondo@yahoo.com)

George Gissing

The Unclassed





CHAPTER I

SCHOOL




There was strange disorder in Miss Rutherford's schoolroom, wont to
be the abode of decorum. True, it was the gathering-time after the
dinner-hour, and Miss Rutherford herself was as yet out of sight;
but things seemed to be going forward of a somewhat more serious
kind than a game of romps among the children. There were screams and
sobbings, hysterical cries for help; some of the little girls were
crowding round an object in one corner of the room, others appeared
to be getting as far away from it as possible, hiding their pale
faces in their hands, or looking at one another with terrified eyes.
At length one more thoughtful than the rest sped away out of the
room, and stood at the bottom of the stairs, calling out her
teacher's name as loud as she could. A moment, and Miss Rutherford
came hastening down, with alarmed aspect, begging to be told what