第54部分(第3/8 頁)

unshine　is　gone。　Do　you　really　wish　the　bairn　to　go？　Will　it　annoy　you　if　she　is　left　behind？”

“I　would　far　rather　she　went；　sir。”

“Then　off　for　your　bon；　and　back　like　a　flash　of　lightning！”　cried　he　to　Adèle。

She　obeyed　him　with　what　speed　she　might。

“After　all；　a　single　morning’s　interruption　will　not　matter　much；”　said　he；　“when　I　mean　shortly　to　claim　you—your　thoughts；　conversation；　and　pany—for　life。”

Adèle；　when　lifted　in；　menced　kissing　me；　by　way　of　expressing　her　gratitude　for　my　intercession：　she　was　instantly　stowed　away　into　a　corner　on　the　other　side　of　him。　She　then　peeped　round　to　where　I　sat；　so　stern　a　neighbour　was　too　restrictive　to　him；　in　his　present　fractious　mood；　she　dared　whisper　no　observations；　nor　ask　of　him　any　information。

“Let　her　e　to　me；”　I　entreated：　“she　will；　perhaps；　trouble　you；　sir：　there　is　plenty　of　room　on　this　side。”

He　handed　her　over　as　if　she　had　been　a　lapdog。　“I’ll　send　her　to　school　yet；”　he　said；　but　now　he　was　smiling。

Adèle　heard　him；　and　asked　if　she　was　to　go　to　school　“sans　mademoiselle？”

“Yes；”　he　replied；　“absolutely　sans　mademoiselle；　for　I　am　to　take　mademoiselle　to　the　moon；　and　there　I　shall　seek　a　cave　in　one　of　the　white　valleys　among　the　volcano…tops；　and　mademoiselle　shall　live　with　me　there；　and　only　me。”

“She　will　have　nothing　to　eat：　you　will　starve　her；”　observed　Adèle。

“I　shall　gather　manna　for　her　morning　and　night：　the　plains　a