子浪小说

第77部分（第1页）

ndle；　took　down　“Marmion；”　and　beginning—

“Day　set　on　Norham’s　castled　steep；

And　Tweed’s　fair　river　broad　and　deep；

And　Cheviot’s　mountains　lone；

The　massive　towers；　the　donjon　keep；

The　flanking　walls　that　round　them　sweep；

In　yellow　lustre　shone”—

I　soon　forgot　storm　in　music。

I　heard　a　noise：　the　wind；　I　thought；　shook　the　door。　No；　it　was　St。　John　Rivers；　who；　lifting　the　latch；　came　in　out　of　the　frozen　hurricane—the　howling　darkness—and　stood　before　me：　the　cloak　that　covered　his　tall　figure　all　white　as　a　glacier。　I　was　almost　in　consternation；　so　little　had　I　expected　any　guest　from　the　blocked…up　vale　that　night。

“Any　ill　news？”　I　demanded。　“Has　anything　happened？”

“No。　How　very　easily　alarmed　you　are？”　he　answered；　removing　his　cloak　and　hanging　it　up　against　the　door；　towards　which　he　again　coolly　pushed　the　mat　which　his　entrance　had　deranged。　He　stamped　the　snow　from　his　boots。

“I　shall　sully　the　purity　of　your　floor；”　said　he；　“but　you　must　excuse　me　for　once。”　Then　he　approached　the　fire。　“I　have　had　hard　work　to　get　here；　I　assure　you；”　he　observed；　as　he　warmed　his　hands　over　the　flame。　“One　drift　took　me　up　to　the　waist；　happily　the　snow　is　quite　soft　yet。”

“But　why　are　you　e？”　I　could　not　forbear　saying。

“Rather　an　inhospitable　question　to　put　to　a　visitor；　but　since　you　ask　it；　I　answer　simply　to　have　a　little　talk　with　you；　I　got　tired　of　my　mute　books　and　empty　rooms。　Besides；　since　yesterday　I　have　experienced　the　excitement　of　a　person　to　whom　a　tale　has　been　half…　told；　and　who　is　impatient　to　hear　the　sequel。”

He　sat　down。　I　recalled　his　singular　conduct　of　yesterday；　and　really　I　began　to　fear　his　wits　were　touched。　If　he　were　insane；　however；　his　was　a　very　cool　and　collected　insanity：　I　had　never　seen　that　handsome…featured　face　of　his　look　more　like　chiselled　marble　than　it　did　just　now；　as　he　put　aside　his　snow…wet　hair　from　his　forehead　and　let　the　firelight　shine　free　on　his　pale　brow　and　cheek　as　pale；　where　it　grieved　me　to　discover　the　hollow　trace　of　care　or　sorrow　now　so　plainly　graved。　I　waited；　expecting　he　would　say　something　I　could　at　least　prehend；　but　his　hand　was　now　at　his　chin；　his　finger　on　his　lip：　he　was　thinking。　It　struck　me　that　his　hand　looked　wasted　like　his　face。　A　perhaps　uncalled…for　gush　of　pity　came　over　my　heart：　I　was　moved　to　say—

“I　wish　Diana　or　Mary　would　e　and　live　with　you：　it　is　too　bad　that　you　should　be　quite　alone；　and　you　are　recklessly　rash　about　your　own　health。”

“Not　at　all；”　said　he：　“I　care　for　myself　when　necessary。　I　am　well　now。　What　do　you　see　amiss　in　me？”

This　was　said　with　a　careless；　abstracted　indifference；　which　showed　that　my　solicitude　was；　at　least　in　his　opinion；　wholly　superfluous。　I　was　silenced。

He　still　slowly　moved　his　finger　over　his　upper　lip；　and　still　his　eye　dwelt　dreamily　on　the　glowing　grate；　thinking　it　urgent　to　say　something；　I　asked　him　presently　if　he　felt　any　cold　draught　from　the　door；　which　was　behind　him。

“No；　no！”　he　responded　shortly　and　somewhat　testily。

“Well；”　I　reflected；　“if　you　won’t　talk；　you　may　be　still；　I’ll　let　you　alone　now；　and　return　to　my　book。”

So　I　snuffed　the　candle　and　resumed　the　perusal　of　“Marmion。”　He　soon　stirred；　my　eye　was　instantly　drawn　to　his　movements；　he　only　took　out　a　morocco　pocket…book；　thence　produced　a　letter；　which　he　read　in　silence；　folded　it；　put　it　back；　relapsed　into　meditation。　It　was　vain　to　try　to　read　with　such　an　inscrutable　fixture　before　me；　nor　could　I；　in　impatience；　consent　to　be　dumb；　he　might　rebuff　me　if　my　he　liked；　but　talk　I　would。

“Have　you　heard　from　Diana　and　Mary　lately？”

“Not　since　the　letter　I　showed　you　a　week　ago。”

“There　has　not　been　any　change　made　about　your　own　arrangements？　You　will　not　be　summoned　to　leave　England　sooner　than　you　expected？”

“I　fear　not；　indeed：　such　chance　is　too　good　to　befall　me。”　Baffled　so　far；　I　changed　my　ground。　I　bethought　myself　to　talk　about　the　school　and　my　scholars。

“Mary　Garrett’s　mother　is　better；　and　Mary　came　back　to　the　school　this　morning；　and　I　shall　have　four　new　girls　next　week　from　the　Foundry　Close—they　would　have　e　to…day　but　for　the　snow。”

“Indeed！”

“Mr。　Oliver　pays　for　two。”

“Does　he？”

“He　means　to　give　the　whole　school　a　treat　at　Christmas。”

“I　know。”

“Was　it　your　suggestion？”

“No。”

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