第43部分(第8/8 頁)

see　in　the　yard—or　just　outside；　for　I　told　him　not　to　drive　his　rattling　wheels　over　the　pavement—to　be　ready；　we　are　ing：　and；　Jane；　if　any　one　is　about；　e　to　the　foot　of　the　stairs　and　hem。”

It　was　by　this　time　half…past　five；　and　the　sun　was　on　the　point　of　rising；　but　I　found　the　kitchen　still　dark　and　silent。　The　side…　passage　door　was　fastened；　I　opened　it　with　as　little　noise　as　possible：　all　the　yard　was　quiet；　but　the　gates　stood　wide　open；　and　there　was　a　post…chaise；　with　horses　ready　harnessed；　and　driver　seated　on　the　box；　stationed　outside。　I　approached　him；　and　said　the　gentlemen　were　ing；　he　nodded：　then　I　looked　carefully　round　and　listened。　The　stillness　of　early　morning　slumbered　everywhere；　the　curtains　were　yet　drawn　over　the　servants’　chamber　windows；　little　birds　were　just　twittering　in　the　blossom…blanched　orchard　trees；　whose　boughs　drooped　like　white　garlands　over　the　wall　enclosing　one　side　of　the　yard；　the　carriage　horses　stamped　from　time　to　time　in　their　closed　stables：　all　else　was　s