第5部分(第5/8 頁)

ionate　her　forlornness；　but　one　really　cannot　care　for　such　a　little　toad　as　that。”

“Not　a　great　deal；　to　be　sure；”　agreed　Bessie：　“at　any　rate；　a　beauty　like　Miss　Georgiana　would　be　more　moving　in　the　same　condition。”

“Yes；　I　doat　on　Miss　Georgiana！”　cried　the　fervent　Abbot。　“Little　darling！—with　her　long　curls　and　her　blue　eyes；　and　such　a　sweet　colour　as　she　has；　just　as　if　she　were　painted！—Bessie；　I　could　fancy　a　Welsh　rabbit　for　supper。”

“So　could　I—with　a　roast　onion。　e；　we’ll　go　down。”　They　went。

Chapter　4

From　my　discourse　with　Mr。　Lloyd；　and　from　the　above　reported　conference　between　Bessie　and　Abbot；　I　gathered　enough　of　hope　to　suffice　as　a　motive　for　wishing　to　get　well：　a　change　seemed　near；—I　desired　and　waited　it　in　silence。　It　tarried；　however：　days　and　weeks　passed：　I　had　regained　my　normal　state　of　health；　but　no　new　allusion　was　made　to　the　subject　over　which　I　brooded。　Mrs。　Reed　surveyed　me　at　times　with　a　severe　eye；　but　seldom　addressed　me：　since　my　illness；　she　had　drawn　a　more　marked　line　of　separation　than　ever　between　me　and　her　own　children；　appointing　me　a　small　closet　to　sleep　in　by　myself；　condemning　me　to　take　my　meals　alone；　and　pass　all　my　time　in　the　nursery；　while　my　cousins　were　constantly　in　the　drawing…room。　Not　a　hint；　however；　did　she　drop　about　sending　me　to　school：　still　I　felt　an　instinctive　certainty　that　she　would　not　long　endure　me　under　the　same　roof　with　her；　for　her　glance；　now　more　than　ever