第73部分(第5/8 頁)

sed　to　find　myself　ere　long　weeping—and　why？　For　the　doom　which　had　reft　me　from　adhesion　to　my　master：　for　him　I　was　no　more　to　see；　for　the　desperate　grief　and　fatal　fury—consequences　of　my　departure—which　might　now；　perhaps；　be　dragging　him　from　the　path　of　right；　too　far　to　leave　hope　of　ultimate　restoration　thither。　At　this　thought；　I　turned　my　face　aside　from　the　lovely　sky　of　eve　and　lonely　vale　of　Morton—I　say　lonely；　for　in　that　bend　of　it　visible　to　me　there　was　no　building　apparent　save　the　church　and　the　parsonage；　half…hid　in　trees；　and；　quite　at　the　extremity；　the　roof　of　Vale　Hall；　where　the　rich　Mr。　Oliver　and　his　daughter　lived。　I　hid　my　eyes；　and　leant　my　head　against　the　stone　frame　of　my　door；　but　soon　a　slight　noise　near　the　wicket　which　shut　in　my　tiny　garden　from　the　meadow　beyond　it　made　me　look　up。　A　dog—old　Carlo；　Mr。　Rivers’　pointer；　as　I　saw　in　a　moment—was　pushing　the　gate　with　his　nose；　and　St。　John　himself　leant　upon　it　with　folded　arms；　his　brow　knit；　his　gaze；　grave　almost　to　displeasure；　fixed　on　me。　I　asked　him　to　e　in。

“No；　I　cannot　stay；　I　have　only　brought　you　a　little　parcel　my　sisters　left　for　you。　I　think　it　contains　a　colour…box；　pencils；　and　paper。”

I　approached　to　take　it：　a　wele　gift　it　was。　He　examined　my　face；　I　thought；　with　austerity；　as　I　came　near：　the　traces　of　tears　were　doubtless　very　visible　upon　it。

“Have　you　found　your　first　day’s　work　harder　than　you　expected？”　he　asked。

“Oh；　no！　On　the　cont