第47部分(第4/8 頁)

make　my　children　friendly　to　the　little　beggar：　the　darlings　could　not　bear　it；　and　he　was　angry　with　them　when　they　showed　their　dislike。　In　his　last　illness；　he　had　it　brought　continually　to　his　bedside；　and　but　an　hour　before　he　died；　he　bound　me　by　vow　to　keep　the　creature。　I　would　as　soon　have　been　charged　with　a　pauper　brat　out　of　a　workhouse：　but　he　was　weak；　naturally　weak。　John　does　not　at　all　resemble　his　father；　and　I　am　glad　of　it：　John　is　like　me　and　like　my　brothers—he　is　quite　a　Gibson。　Oh；　I　wish　he　would　cease　tormenting　me　with　letters　for　money？　I　have　no　more　money　to　give　him：　we　are　getting　poor。　I　must　send　away　half　the　servants　and　shut　up　part　of　the　house；　or　let　it　off。　I　can　never　submit　to　do　that—yet　how　are　we　to　get　on？　Two…thirds　of　my　ine　goes　in　paying　the　interest　of　mortgages。　John　gambles　dreadfully；　and　always　loses—poor　boy！　He　is　beset　by　sharpers：　John　is　sunk　and　degraded—his　look　is　frightful—I　feel　ashamed　for　him　when　I　see　him。”

She　was　getting　much　excited。　“I　think　I　had　better　leave　her　now；”　said　I　to　Bessie；　who　stood　on　the　other　side　of　the　bed。

“Perhaps　you　had；　Miss：　but　she　often　talks　in　this　way　towards　night—in　the　morning　she　is　calmer。”

I　rose。　“Stop！”　exclaimed　Mrs。　Reed；　“there　is　another　thing　I　wished　to　say。　He　threatens　me—he　continually　threatens　me　with　his　own　death；　or　mine：　and　I　dream　sometimes　that　I　see　him　laid　out　with　a　great　wound　in　his　throat；　or　with　a　swollen　and　blackene