第47部分(第5/8 頁)

d　face。　I　am　e　to　a　strange　pass：　I　have　heavy　troubles。　What　is　to　be　done？　How　is　the　money　to　be　had？”

Bessie　now　endeavoured　to　persuade　her　to　take　a　sedative　draught：　she　succeeded　with　difficulty。　Soon　after；　Mrs。　Reed　grew　more　posed；　and　sank　into　a　dozing　state。　I　then　left　her。

More　than　ten　days　elapsed　before　I　had　again　any　conversation　with　her。　She　continued　either　delirious　or　lethargic；　and　the　doctor　forbade　everything　which　could　painfully　excite　her。　Meantime；　I　got　on　as　well　as　I　could　with　Georgiana　and　Eliza。　They　were　very　cold；　indeed；　at　first。　Eliza　would　sit　half　the　day　sewing；　reading；　or　writing；　and　scarcely　utter　a　word　either　to　me　or　her　sister。　Georgiana　would　chatter　nonsense　to　her　canary　bird　by　the　hour；　and　take　no　notice　of　me。　But　I　was　determined　not　to　seem　at　a　loss　for　occupation　or　amusement：　I　had　brought　my　drawing　materials　with　me；　and　they　served　me　for　both。

Provided　with　a　case　of　pencils；　and　some　sheets　of　paper；　I　used　to　take　a　seat　apart　from　them；　near　the　window；　and　busy　myself　in　sketching　fancy　vigtes；　representing　any　scene　that　happened　momentarily　to　shape　itself　in　the　ever…shifting　kaleidoscope　of　imagination：　a　glimpse　of　sea　between　two　rocks；　the　rising　moon；　and　a　ship　crossing　its　disk；　a　group　of　reeds　and　water…flags；　and　a　naiad’s　head；　crowned　with　lotus…flowers；　rising　out　of　them；　an　elf　sitting　in　a　hedge…sparrow’s　nest；　under　a　wreath　of　hawthorn…　bloom

One　morning