第46部分(第3/8 頁)

　only　this　morning；　and　wishing　you　would　e；　but　she　is　sleeping　now；　or　was　ten　minutes　ago；　when　I　was　up　at　the　house。　She　generally　lies　in　a　kind　of　lethargy　all　the　afternoon；　and　wakes　up　about　six　or　seven。　Will　you　rest　yourself　here　an　hour；　Miss；　and　then　I　will　go　up　with　you？”

Robert　here　entered；　and　Bessie　laid　her　sleeping　child　in　the　cradle　and　went　to　wele　him：　afterwards　she　insisted　on　my　taking　off　my　bon　and　having　some　tea；　for　she　said　I　looked　pale　and　tired。　I　was　glad　to　accept　her　hospitality；　and　I　submitted　to　be　relieved　of　my　travelling　garb　just　as　passively　as　I　used　to　let　her　undress　me　when　a　child。

Old　times　crowded　fast　back　on　me　as　I　watched　her　bustling　about—　setting　out　the　tea…tray　with　her　best　china；　cutting　bread　and　butter；　toasting　a　tea…cake；　and；　between　whiles；　giving　little　Robert　or　Jane　an　occasional　tap　or　push；　just　as　she　used　to　give　me　in　former　days。　Bessie　had　retained　her　quick　temper　as　well　as　her　light　foot　and　good　looks。

Tea　ready；　I　was　going　to　approach　the　table；　but　she　desired　me　to　sit　still；　quite　in　her　old　peremptory　tones。　I　must　be　served　at　the　fireside；　she　said；　and　she　placed　before　me　a　little　round　stand　with　my　cup　and　a　plate　of　toast；　absolutely　as　she　used　to　acmodate　me　with　some　privately　purloined　dainty　on　a　nursery　chair：　and　I　smiled　and　obeyed　her　as　in　bygone　days。

She　wanted　to　know　if　I　was　happy　at　Thornfield　Hall；　and　what　sort　of　a　person　the　mis