第35部分(第6/8 頁)

　all　this　time　been　sitting　motionless　on　the　stool　at　my　feet：　no；　when　the　ladies　entered；　she　rose；　advanced　to　meet　them；　made　a　stately　reverence；　and　said　with　gravity—

“Bon　jour；　mesdames。”

And　Miss　Ingram　had　looked　down　at　her　with　a　mocking　air；　and　exclaimed；　“Oh；　what　a　little　puppet！”

Lady　Lynn　had　remarked；　“It　is　Mr。　Rochester’s　ward；　I　suppose—the　little　French　girl　he　was　speaking　of。”

Mrs。　Dent　had　kindly　taken　her　hand；　and　given　her　a　kiss。

Amy　and　Louisa　Eshton　had　cried　out　simultaneously—“What　a　love　of　a　child！”

And　then　they　had　called　her　to　a　sofa；　where　she　now　sat；　ensconced　between　them；　chattering　alternately　in　French　and　broken　English；　absorbing　not　only　the　young　ladies’　attention；　but　that　of　Mrs。　Eshton　and　Lady　Lynn；　and　getting　spoilt　to　her　heart’s　content。

At　last　coffee　is　brought　in；　and　the　gentlemen　are　summoned。　I　sit　in　the　shade—if　any　shade　there　be　in　this　brilliantly…lit　apartment；　the　window…curtain　half　hides　me。　Again　the　arch　yawns；　they　e。　The　collective　appearance　of　the　gentlemen；　like　that　of　the　ladies；　is　very　imposing：　they　are　all　costumed　in　black；　most　of　them　are　tall；　some　young。　Henry　and　Frederick　Lynn　are　very　dashing　sparks　indeed；　and　Colonel　Dent　is　a　fine　soldierly　man。　Mr。　Eshton；　the　magistrate　of　the　district；　is　gentleman…like：　his　hair　is　quite　white；　his　eyebrows　and　whiskers　still　dark；　which　gives　him　something　of　the　appearance　of　a　“père　noble　d