第55部分(第2/7 頁)

“No；　thank　you；　sir。”

“And　what　for；　‘no；　thank　you？’　if　one　may　inquire。”

“I　never　have　dined　with　you；　sir：　and　I　see　no　reason　why　I　should　now：　till—”

“Till　what？　You　delight　in　half…phrases。”

“Till　I　can’t　help　it。”

“Do　you　suppose　I　eat　like　an　ogre　or　a　ghoul；　that　you　dread　being　the　panion　of　my　repast？”

“I　have　formed　no　supposition　on　the　subject；　sir；　but　I　want　to　go　on　as　usual　for　another　month。”

“You　will　give　up　your　governessing　slavery　at　once。”

“Indeed；　begging　your　pardon；　sir；　I　shall　not。　I　shall　just　go　on　with　it　as　usual。　I　shall　keep　out　of　your　way　all　day；　as　I　have　been　accustomed　to　do：　you　may　send　for　me　in　the　evening；　when　you　feel　disposed　to　see　me；　and　I’ll　e　then；　but　at　no　other　time。”

“I　want　a　smoke；　Jane；　or　a　pinch　of　snuff；　to　fort　me　under　all　this；　‘pour　me　donner　une　contenance；’　as　Adèle　would　say；　and　unfortunately　I　have　neither　my　cigar…case；　nor　my　snuff…box。　But　listen—whisper。　It　is　your　time　now；　little　tyrant；　but　it　will　be　mine　presently；　and　when　once　I　have　fairly　seized　you；　to　have　and　to　hold；　I’ll　just—figuratively　speaking—attach　you　to　a　chain　like　this”　（touching　his　watch…guard）。　“Yes；　bonny　wee　thing；　I’ll　wear　you　in　my　bosom；　lest　my　jewel　I　should　tyne。”

He　said　this　as　he　helped　me　to　alight　from　the　carriage；　and　while　he　afterwards　lifted　out　Adèle；　I　entered　the　house；　and　made　good　my　retreat　upstairs。

He　duly　summoned　me　to　his　presence　in　the　evening。　I　had　prepared　an　occupation　for　him；　for　I　was　determined　not　to　spend　the　whole　time　in　a　tête…à…tête　conversation。　I　remembered　his　fine　voice；　I　knew　he　liked　to　sing—good　singers　generally　do。　I　was　no　vocalist　myself；　and；　in　his　fastidious　judgment；　no　mus