第18部分(第2/8 頁)

　rain；　with　streaming　garments；　but　with　a　relieved　heart。

The　succeeding　week　seemed　long：　it　came　to　an　end　at　last；　however；　like　all　sublunary　things；　and　once　more；　towards　the　close　of　a　pleasant　autumn　day；　I　found　myself　afoot　on　the　road　to　Lowton。　A　picturesque　track　it　was；　by　the　way；　lying　along　the　side　of　the　beck　and　through　the　sweetest　curves　of　the　dale：　but　that　day　I　thought　more　of　the　letters；　that　might　or　might　not　be　awaiting　me　at　the　little　burgh　whither　I　was　bound；　than　of　the　charms　of　lea　and　water。

My　ostensible　errand　on　this　occasion　was　to　get　measured　for　a　pair　of　shoes；　so　I　discharged　that　business　first；　and　when　it　was　done；　I　stepped　across　the　clean　and　quiet　little　street　from　the　shoemaker’s　to　the　post…office：　it　was　kept　by　an　old　dame；　who　wore　horn　spectacles　on　her　nose；　and　black　mittens　on　her　hands。

“Are　there　any　letters　for　J。E。？”　I　asked。

She　peered　at　me　over　her　spectacles；　and　then　she　opened　a　drawer　and　fumbled　among　its　contents　for　a　long　time；　so　long　that　my　hopes　began　to　falter。　At　last；　having　held　a　document　before　her　glasses　for　nearly　five　minutes；　she　presented　it　across　the　counter；　acpanying　the　act　by　another　inquisitive　and　mistrustful　glance—it　was　for　J。E。

“Is　there　only　one？”　I　demanded。

“There　are　no　more；”　said　she；　and　I　put　it　in　my　pocket　and　turned　my　face　homeward：　I　could　not　open　it　then；　rules　obliged　me　to　be　back　by　eight；　and　it　was　already　h