第49部分(第1/7 頁)

have　been　tempted　to　mit。”

“If　you　could　but　be　persuaded　to　think　no　more　of　it；　aunt；　and　to　regard　me　with　kindness　and　forgiveness”

“You　have　a　very　bad　disposition；”　said　she；　“and　one　to　this　day　I　feel　it　impossible　to　understand：　how　for　nine　years　you　could　be　patient　and　quiescent　under　any　treatment；　and　in　the　tenth　break　out　all　fire　and　violence；　I　can　never　prehend。”

“My　disposition　is　not　so　bad　as　you　think：　I　am　passionate；　but　not　vindictive。　Many　a　time；　as　a　little　child；　I　should　have　been　glad　to　love　you　if　you　would　have　let　me；　and　I　long　earnestly　to　be　reconciled　to　you　now：　kiss　me；　aunt。”

I　approached　my　cheek　to　her　lips：　she　would　not　touch　it。　She　said　I　oppressed　her　by　leaning　over　the　bed；　and　again　demanded　water。　As　I　laid　her　down—for　I　raised　her　and　supported　her　on　my　arm　while　she　drank—I　covered　her　ice…cold　and　clammy　hand　with　mine：　the　feeble　fingers　shrank　from　my　touch—the　glazing　eyes　shunned　my　gaze。

“Love　me；　then；　or　hate　me；　as　you　will；”　I　said　at　last；　“you　have　my　full　and　free　forgiveness：　ask　now　for　God’s；　and　be　at　peace。”

Poor；　suffering　woman！　it　was　too　late　for　her　to　make　now　the　effort　to　change　her　habitual　frame　of　mind：　living；　she　had　ever　hated　me—dying；　she　must　hate　me　still。

The　nurse　now　entered；　and　Bessie　followed。　I　yet　lingered　half…an…　hour　longer；　hoping　to　see　some　sign　of　amity：　but　she　gave　none。　She　was　fast　relapsing　into　stupor；　nor　did　her　mind　again　rally：　at　twelve　o’clock　that　night　she　died。　I　was　not　present　to　close　her　eyes；　nor　were　either　of　her　daughters。　They　came　to　tell　us　the　next　morning　that　all　was　over。　She　was　by　that　time　laid　out。　Eliza　and　I　went　to　look　at　her：　Georgiana；　who　had　burst　out　into　loud　weeping；