第77部分(第3/7 頁)

　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。”

“Whose；　then？”

“His　daughter’s；　I　think。”

“It　is　like　her：　she　is　so　good…natured。”

“Yes。”

Again　came　the　blank　of　a　pause：　the　clock　struck　eight　strokes。　It　aroused　him；　he　uncrossed　his　legs；　sat　erect；　turned　to　me。

“Leave　your　book　a　moment；　and　e　a　little　nearer　the　fire；”　he　said。

Wondering；　and　of　my　wonder　finding　no　end；　I　plied。

“Half…an…hour　ago；”　he　pursued；　“I　spoke　of　my　impatience　to　hear　the　sequel　of　a　tale：　on　reflection；　I　find　the　matter　will　be　better　managed　by　my　assuming　the　narrator’s　part；　and　converting　you　into　a　listener。　Before　mencing；　it　is　but　fair　to　warn　you　that　the　story　will　sound　somewhat　hackneyed　in　your　ears；　but　stale　details　often　regain　a　degree　of　freshness　when　they　pass　through　new　lips。　For　the　rest；　whether　trite　or　novel；　it　is　short。

“Twenty　year