第68部分(第4/8 頁)

　inmates　of　this　house　with　concern　on　my　behalf；　to　make　them　believe　in　the　truth　of　my　wants　and　woes—to　induce　them　to　vouchsafe　a　rest　for　my　wanderings！　As　I　groped　out　the　door；　and　knocked　at　it　hesitatingly；　I　felt　that　last　idea　to　be　a　mere　chimera。　Hannah　opened。

“What　do　you　want？”　she　inquired；　in　a　voice　of　surprise；　as　she　surveyed　me　by　the　light　of　the　candle　she　held。

“May　I　speak　to　your　mistresses？”　I　said。

“You　had　better　tell　me　what　you　have　to　say　to　them。　Where　do　you　e　from？”

“I　am　a　stranger。”

“What　is　your　business　here　at　this　hour？”

“I　want　a　night’s　shelter　in　an　out…house　or　anywhere；　and　a　morsel　of　bread　to　eat。”

Distrust；　the　very　feeling　I　dreaded；　appeared　in　Hannah’s　face。　“I’ll　give　you　a　piece　of　bread；”　she　said；　after　a　pause；　“but　we　can’t　take　in　a　vagrant　to　lodge。　It　isn’t　likely。”

“Do　let　me　speak　to　your　mistresses。”

“No；　not　I。　What　can　they　do　for　you？　You　should　not　be　roving　about　now；　it　looks　very　ill。”

“But　where　shall　I　go　if　you　drive　me　away？　What　shall　I　do？”

“Oh；　I’ll　warrant　you　know　where　to　go　and　what　to　do。　Mind　you　don’t　do　wrong；　that’s　all。　Here　is　a　penny；　now　go—”

“A　penny　cannot　feed　me；　and　I　have　no　strength　to　go　farther。　Don’t　shut　the　door：…　oh；　don’t；　for　God’s　sake！”

“I　must；　the　rain　is　driving　in—”

“Tell　the　young　ladies。　Let　me　see　them…　”

“Indeed；　I　will　not。　You　are　not　what　you　ought　to　be