第31部分(第6/8 頁)

re　was　something　of　consciousness　in　their　expression。　She　seemed　to　examine　me　warily；　then　she　answered—

“The　servants　sleep　so　far　off；　you　know；　Miss；　they　would　not　be　likely　to　hear。　Mrs。　Fairfax’s　room　and　yours　are　the　nearest　to　master’s；　but　Mrs。　Fairfax　said　she　heard　nothing：　when　people　get　elderly；　they　often　sleep　heavy。”　She　paused；　and　then　added；　with　a　sort　of　assumed　indifference；　but　still　in　a　marked　and　significant　tone—“But　you　are　young；　Miss；　and　I　should　say　a　light　sleeper：　perhaps　you　may　have　heard　a　noise？”

“I　did；”　said　I；　dropping　my　voice；　so　that　Leah；　who　was　still　polishing　the　panes；　could　not　hear　me；　“and　at　first　I　thought　it　was　Pilot：　but　Pilot　cannot　laugh；　and　I　am　certain　I　heard　a　laugh；　and　a　strange　one。”

She　took　a　new　needleful　of　thread；　waxed　it　carefully；　threaded　her　needle　with　a　steady　hand；　and　then　observed；　with　perfect　posure—

“It　is　hardly　likely　master　would　laugh；　I　should　think；　Miss；　when　he　was　in　such　danger：　You　must　have　been　dreaming。”

“I　was　not　dreaming；”　I　said；　with　some　warmth；　for　her　brazen　coolness　provoked　me。　Again　she　looked　at　me；　and　with　the　same　scrutinising　and　conscious　eye。

“Have　you　told　master　that　you　heard　a　laugh？”　she　inquired。

“I　have　not　had　the　opportunity　of　speaking　to　him　this　morning。”

“You　did　not　think　of　opening　your　door　and　looking　out　into　the　gallery？”　she　further　asked。

She　appeared　to　be　cross…questioning