第68部分(第3/8 頁)

be　sent　for；　he　fair　laughed　at　him。　He　began　again　with　a　bit　of　a　heaviness　in　his　head　the　next　day—that　is；　a　fortnight　sin’—and　he　went　to　sleep　and　niver　wakened：　he　wor　a’most　stark　when　your　brother　went　into　t’　chamber　and　fand　him。　Ah；　childer！　that’s　t’　last　o’　t’　old　stock—for　ye　and　Mr。　St。　John　is　like　of　different　soart　to　them　‘at’s　gone；　for　all　your　mother　wor　mich　i’　your　way；　and　a’most　as　book…learned。　She　wor　the　pictur’　o’　ye；　Mary：　Diana　is　more　like　your　father。”

I　thought　them　so　similar　I　could　not　tell　where　the　old　servant　（for　such　I　now　concluded　her　to　be）　saw　the　difference。　Both　were　fair　plexioned　and　slenderly　made；　both　possessed　faces　full　of　distinction　and　intelligence。　One；　to　be　sure；　had　hair　a　shade　darker　than　the　other；　and　there　was　a　difference　in　their　style　of　wearing　it；　Mary’s　pale　brown　locks　were　parted　and　braided　smooth：　Diana’s　duskier　tresses　covered　her　neck　with　thick　curls。　The　clock　struck　ten。

“Ye’ll　want　your　supper；　I　am　sure；”　observed　Hannah；　“and　so　will　Mr。　St。　John　when　he　es　in。”

And　she　proceeded　to　prepare　the　meal。　The　ladies　rose；　they　seemed　about　to　withdraw　to　the　parlour。　Till　this　moment；　I　had　been　so　intent　on　watching　them；　their　appearance　and　conversation　had　excited　in　me　so　keen　an　interest；　I　had　half…forgotten　my　own　wretched　position：　now　it　recurred　to　me。　More　desolate；　more　desperate　than　ever；　it　seemed　from　contrast。　And　how　impossible　did　it　appear　to　touch　the