第9部分(第1/6 頁)

Her　sisters　went　through　the　world　being　cherished　and　adored　and　sought　after　by　all　manner　of　young　men。　Merope　watched　the　parade　pass　by　her　quiet　corner；　pleased　that　it　made　her　sisters　happy。　To　amuse　herself；　she　learned　to　read　and　write　and　began　writing　down　her　fantasies　of　what　her　life　would　be　like　if　she　were　as　beautiful　and　brilliant　as　her　siblings1。

The　other　six　pitied　Merope；　for　while　they　thought　themselves　beautiful；　to　them　she　was　only　pretty。　Where　they　were　vibrant　with　the　joy　of　life；　Merope　wore　a　dreamy　countenance　that　many　found　uninviting。　She　seemed　so　taken　with　the　world　of　her　dreams　that　they　assumed　she　was　unhappy　with　her　lot。

The　young　men　continued　to　e　and　go；　changing　as　frequently　as　her　sisters’　whims。　The　only　male　face　Merope　saw　with　any　regularity　was　Sisyphus；　the　mason　who　was　building　a　stone　wall　around　their　property。　Her　sisters　paid　him　no　heed；　for　he　didn’t　wear　fine　clothes　and　didn’t　bring　them　gifts。　He　would　e　into　the　kitchen　through　the　back　door　and　would　ask　Merope　to　find　her　father　for　him　to　answer　some　question　or　other　about　the　exact　placement　of　the　wall。

Merope　noticed　that　Sisyphus　treated　her　with　plete　respect；　and　seemed　to　genuinely　care　when　he　asked　how　she　was。　On　occasion；　he　would　bring　her　a　bucket　of　berries　or　a　bag　of　apples　he’d　found　in　his　wanderings；　and　Merope　would　blush　as　she　accepted　these　gifts。　Her　sisters　laughed　at　her；　and　the　gifts　from　Sisyphus；　for　the　flocks　of　young　men　who　swarmed2　about　her　sisters　offered　them　jewels　and　roses；　lace　and　furs。

But　the　quiet　Merope　was　inwardly　thrilled　by　these　homely　tributes3。　“Anyone　can　buy　a　ruby；”　she　told　them；　“anyone　can　buy　a　rose　or　a　fur。　But　not　one　of　those　dandies　would　spend　a