第69部分(第2/8 頁)

　near　to　me；　but　I　could　not　answer；　to　open　my　lips　or　move　my　limbs　possible。　Hannah；　the　servant；　ing　disturbed　me。　I　had　a　feeling　that　she　wished　me　away：　that　she　did　not　understand　me　or　my　circumstances；　that　she　was　prejudiced　against　me。　Diana　and　Mary　appeared　in　the　chamber　once　or　twice　a　day。　They　would　whisper　sentences　of　this　sort　at　my　bedside—

“It　is　very　well　we　took　her　in。”

“Yes；　she　would　certainly　have　been　found　dead　at　the　door　in　the　morning　had　she　been　left　out　all　night。　I　wonder　what　she　has　gone　through？”

“Strange　hardships；　I　imagine—poor；　emaciated；　pallid　wanderer？”

“She　is　not　an　uneducated　person；　I　should　think；　by　her　manner　of　speaking；　her　accent　was　quite　pure；　and　the　clothes　she　took　off；　though　splashed　and　wet；　were　little　worn　and　fine。”

“She　has　a　peculiar　face；　fleshless　and　haggard　as　it　is；　I　rather　like　it；　and　when　in　good　health　and　animated；　I　can　fancy　her　physiognomy　would　be　agreeable。”

Never　once　in　their　dialogues　did　I　hear　a　syllable　of　regret　at　the　hospitality　they　had　extended　to　me；　or　of　suspicion　of；　or　aversion　to；　myself。　I　was　forted。

Mr。　St。　John　came　but　once：　he　looked　at　me；　and　said　my　state　of　lethargy　was　the　result　of　reaction　from　excessive　and　protracted　fatigue。　He　pronounced　it　needless　to　send　for　a　doctor：　nature；　he　was　sure；　would　manage　best；　left　to　herself。　He　said　every　nerve　had　been　overstrained　in　some　way；　and　the　whole　system　must　sl