第69部分(第1/7 頁)

have　no　fear。　Do　with　me　and　for　me　as　you　like；　but　excuse　me　from　much　discourse—my　breath　is　short—I　feel　a　spasm　when　I　speak。”　All　three　surveyed　me；　and　all　three　were　silent。

“Hannah；”　said　Mr。　St。　John；　at　last；　“let　her　sit　there　at　present；　and　ask　her　no　questions；　in　ten　minutes　more；　give　her　the　remainder　of　that　milk　and　bread。　Mary　and　Diana；　let　us　go　into　the　parlour　and　talk　the　matter　over。”

They　withdrew。　Very　soon　one　of　the　ladies　returned—I　could　not　tell　which。　A　kind　of　pleasant　stupor　was　stealing　over　me　as　I　sat　by　the　genial　fire。　In　an　undertone　she　gave　some　directions　to　Hannah。　Ere　long；　with　the　servant’s　aid；　I　contrived　to　mount　a　staircase；　my　dripping　clothes　were　removed；　soon　a　warm；　dry　bed　received　me。　I　thanked　God—experienced　amidst　unutterable　exhaustion　a　glow　of　grateful　joy—and　slept。

Chapter　29

The　recollection　of　about　three　days　and　nights　succeeding　this　is　very　dim　in　my　mind。　I　can　recall　some　sensations　felt　in　that　interval；　but　few　thoughts　framed；　and　no　actions　performed。　I　knew　I　was　in　a　small　room　and　in　a　narrow　bed。　To　that　bed　I　seemed　to　have　grown；　I　lay　on　it　motionless　as　a　stone；　and　to　have　torn　me　from　it　would　have　been　almost　to　kill　me。　I　took　no　note　of　the　lapse　of　time—of　the　change　from　morning　to　noon；　from　noon　to　evening。　I　observed　when　any　one　entered　or　left　the　apartment：　I　could　even　tell　who　they　were；　I　could　understand　what　was　said　when　the　speaker　stood　near　to　me；　but　I　could　not　answer；　to　open　my　lips　or　move　my　limbs　possible。　Hannah；　the　servant；　ing　disturbed　me。　I　had　a　feeling　that　she　wished　me　away：　that　she　did　not　understand　me　or　my　circumstances；　that　she　was　prejudiced　against　me。　Diana　and　Mary　appeared　in　the　chamber　once　or　twice