第72部分(第1/7 頁)

y　appreciated　the　skill　of　their　cook　or　the　taste　of　their　waiting…woman。　Mr。　St。　John　had　said　nothing　to　me　yet　about　the　employment　he　had　promised　to　obtain　for　me；　yet　it　became　urgent　that　I　should　have　a　vocation　of　some　kind。　One　morning；　being　left　alone　with　him　a　few　minutes　in　the　parlour；　I　ventured　to　approach　the　window…recess—　which　his　table；　chair；　and　desk　consecrated　as　a　kind　of　study—and　I　was　going　to　speak；　though　not　very　well　knowing　in　what　words　to　frame　my　inquiry—for　it　is　at　all　times　difficult　to　break　the　ice　of　reserve　glassing　over　such　natures　as　his—when　he　saved　me　the　trouble　by　being　the　first　to　mence　a　dialogue。

Looking　up　as　I　dree？”　he　said。

“Yes；　I　wish　to　know　whether　you　have　heard　of　any　service　I　can　offer　myself　to　undertake？”

“I　found　or　devised　something　for　you　three　weeks　ago；　but　as　you　seemed　both　useful　and　happy　here—as　my　sisters　had　evidently　bee　attached　to　you；　and　your　society　gave　them　unusual　pleasure—I　deemed　it　inexpedient　to　break　in　on　your　mutual　fort　till　their　approaching　departure　from　Marsh　End　should　render　yours　necessary。”

“And　they　will　go　in　three　days　now？”　I　said。

“Yes；　and　when　they　go；　I　shall　return　to　the　parsonage　at　Morton：　Hannah　will　acpany　me；　and　this　old　house　will　be　shut　up。”

I　waited　a　few　moments；　expecting　he　would　go　on　with　the　subject　first　broached：　but　he　seemed　to　have　entered　another　train　of　reflection：　his　look　denoted　abstraction　from　me　and　my　business。　I　was　obliged　to　recall　him　to　a　theme　which　was　of　necessity　one　of　close　and　anxious　interest　to　me。

“What　is　the　employment　you　had　in　view；　Mr。　Rivers？　I　hope　this　delay　will　not　have　increased　the　difficulty　of　securing　it。”

“Oh；　no；　since　it　is　in　e