第71部分(第3/8 頁)

med　the　book　with　which　he　had　been　occupied　before　tea。　I　soon　withdrew；　for　I　had　talked　as　much；　and　sat　up　as　long；　as　my　present　strength　would　permit。

Chapter　30

The　more　I　knew　of　the　inmates　of　Moor　House；　the　better　I　liked　them。　In　a　few　days　I　had　so　far　recovered　my　health　that　I　could　sit　up　all　day；　and　walk　out　sometimes。　I　could　join　with　Diana　and　Mary　in　all　their　occupations；　converse　with　them　as　much　as　they　wished；　and　aid　them　when　and　where　they　would　allow　me。　There　was　a　reviving　pleasure　in　this　intercourse；　of　a　kind　now　tasted　by　me　for　the　first　time…the　pleasure　arising　from　perfect　congeniality　of　tastes；　sentiments；　and　principles。

I　liked　to　read　what　they　liked　to　read：　what　they　enjoyed；　delighted　me；　what　they　approved；　I　reverenced。　They　loved　their　sequestered　home。　I；　too；　in　the　grey；　small；　antique　structure；　with　its　low　roof；　its　latticed　casements；　its　mouldering　walls；　its　avenue　of　aged　firs—all　grown　aslant　under　the　stress　of　mountain　winds；　its　garden；　dark　with　yew　and　holly—and　where　no　flowers　but　of　the　hardiest　species　would　bloom—found　a　charm　both　potent　and　permanent。　They　clung　to　the　purple　moors　behind　and　around　their　dwelling—to　the　hollow　vale　into　which　the　pebbly　bridle…path　leading　from　their　gate　descended；　and　which　wound　between　fern…　banks　first；　and　then　amongst　a　few　of　the　wildest　little　pasture…　fields　that　ever　bordered　a　wilderness　of　heath；　or　gave　sustenance　to　a　flock　of　grey