第40部分(第6/8 頁)

n　to　put　some　faith　in　you　presently。”

I　knelt　within　half　a　yard　of　her。　She　stirred　the　fire；　so　that　a　ripple　of　light　broke　from　the　disturbed　coal：　the　glare；　however；　as　she　sat；　only　threw　her　face　into　deeper　shadow：　mine；　it　illumined。

“I　wonder　with　what　feelings　you　came　to　me　to…night；”　she　said；　when　she　had　examined　me　a　while。　“I　wonder　what　thoughts　are　busy　in　your　heart　during　all　the　hours　you　sit　in　yonder　room　with　the　fine　people　flitting　before　you　like　shapes　in　a　magic…lantern：　just　as　little　sympathetic　munion　passing　between　you　and　them　as　if　they　were　really　mere　shadows　of　human　forms；　and　not　the　actual　substance。”

“I　feel　tired　often；　sleepy　sometimes；　but　seldom　sad。”

“Then　you　have　some　secret　hope　to　buoy　you　up　and　please　you　with　whispers　of　the　future？”

“Not　I。　The　utmost　I　hope　is；　to　save　money　enough　out　of　my　earnings　to　set　up　a　school　some　day　in　a　little　house　rented　by　myself。”

“A　mean　nutriment　for　the　spirit　to　exist　on：　and　sitting　in　that　window…seat　（you　see　I　know　your　habits　）—”

“You　have　learned　them　from　the　servants。”

“Ah！　you　think　yourself　sharp。　Well；　perhaps　I　have：　to　speak　truth；　I　have　an　acquaintance　with　one　of　them；　Mrs。　Poole—”

I　started　to　my　feet　when　I　heard　the　name。

“You　have—have　you？”　thought　I；　“there　is　diablerie　in　the　business　after　all；　then！”

“Don’t　be　alarmed；”　continued　the　strange　being；　“she’s　a　safe　hand　is　Mrs。　Pool