第40部分(第6/7 頁)

e：　close　and　quiet；　any　one　may　repose　confidence　in　her。　But；　as　I　was　saying：　sitting　in　that　window…seat；　do　you　think　of　nothing　but　your　future　school？　Have　you　no　present　interest　in　any　of　the　pany　who　occupy　the　sofas　and　chairs　before　you？　Is　there　not　one　face　you　study？　one　figure　whose　movements　you　follow　with　at　least　curiosity？”

“I　like　to　observe　all　the　faces　and　all　the　figures。”

“But　do　you　never　single　one　from　the　rest—or　it　may　be；　two？”

“I　do　frequently；　when　the　gestures　or　looks　of　a　pair　seem　telling　a　tale：　it　amuses　me　to　watch　them。”

“What　tale　do　you　like　best　to　hear？”

“Oh；　I　have　not　much　choice！　They　generally　run　on　the　same　theme—　courtship；　and　promise　to　end　in　the　same　catastrophe—marriage。”

“And　do　you　like　that　monotonous　theme？”

“Positively；　I　don’t　care　about　it：　it　is　nothing　to　me。”

“Nothing　to　you？　When　a　lady；　young　and　full　of　life　and　health；　charming　with　beauty　and　endowed　with　the　gifts　of　rank　and　fortune；　sits　and　smiles　in　the　eyes　of　a　gentleman　you—”

“I　what？”

“You　know—and　perhaps　think　well　of。”

“I　don’t　know　the　gentlemen　here。　I　have　scarcely　interchanged　a　syllable　with　one　of　them；　and　as　to　thinking　well　of　them；　I　consider　some　respectable；　and　stately；　and　middle…aged；　and　others　young；　dashing；　handsome；　and　lively：　but　certainly　they　are　all　at　liberty　to　be　the　recipients　of　whose　smiles　they　please；　without　my　feeling　disposed　to　consider　the　transaction　of　any　moment　to　me。”

“You　don’t　know　the　gentlemen　here？　You　have　not　exchanged　a　syllable　with　one　of　them？　Will　you　say　that　of　the　master　of　the　house！”

“He　is　not　at　home。”

“A　profound　remark！　A　most　ingenious　quibble！　He　went　to　Millcote　this　morning