第23部分(第6/8 頁)

but　little　shyness。　Had　he　been　a　handsome；　heroic…looking　young　gentleman；　I　should　not　have　dared　to　stand　thus　questioning　him　against　his　will；　and　offering　my　services　unasked。　I　had　hardly　ever　seen　a　handsome　youth；　never　in　my　life　spoken　to　one。　I　had　a　theoretical　reverence　and　homage　for　beauty；　elegance；　gallantry；　fascination；　but　had　I　met　those　qualities　incarnate　in　masculine　shape；　I　should　have　known　instinctively　that　they　neither　had　nor　could　have　sympathy　with　anything　in　me；　and　should　have　shunned　them　as　one　would　fire；　lightning；　or　anything　else　that　is　bright　but　antipathetic。

If　even　this　stranger　had　smiled　and　been　good…humoured　to　me　when　I　addressed　him；　if　he　had　put　off　my　offer　of　assistance　gaily　and　with　thanks；　I　should　have　gone　on　my　way　and　not　felt　any　vocation　to　renew　inquiries：　but　the　frown；　the　roughness　of　the　traveller；　set　me　at　my　ease：　I　retained　my　station　when　he　waved　to　me　to　go；　and　announced—

“I　cannot　think　of　leaving　you；　sir；　at　so　late　an　hour；　in　this　solitary　lane；　till　I　see　you　are　fit　to　mount　your　horse。”

He　looked　at　me　when　I　said　this；　he　had　hardly　turned　his　eyes　in　my　direction　before。

“I　should　think　you　ought　to　be　at　home　yourself；”　said　he；　“if　you　have　a　home　in　this　neighbourhood：　where　do　you　e　from？”

“From　just　below；　and　I　am　not　at　all　afraid　of　being　out　late　when　it　is　moonlight：　I　will　run　over　to　Hay　for　you　with　pleasure；　if　you　wish　it：　indeed；　I　am　go