第77部分(第3/8 頁)

say　something；　I　asked　him　presently　if　he　felt　any　cold　draught　from　the　door；　which　was　behind　him。

“No；　no！”　he　responded　shortly　and　somewhat　testily。

“Well；”　I　reflected；　“if　you　won’t　talk；　you　may　be　still；　I’ll　let　you　alone　now；　and　return　to　my　book。”

So　I　snuffed　the　candle　and　resumed　the　perusal　of　“Marmion。”　He　soon　stirred；　my　eye　was　instantly　drawn　to　his　movements；　he　only　took　out　a　morocco　pocket…book；　thence　produced　a　letter；　which　he　read　in　silence；　folded　it；　put　it　back；　relapsed　into　meditation。　It　was　vain　to　try　to　read　with　such　an　inscrutable　fixture　before　me；　nor　could　I；　in　impatience；　consent　to　be　dumb；　he　might　rebuff　me　if　my　he　liked；　but　talk　I　would。

“Have　you　heard　from　Diana　and　Mary　lately？”

“Not　since　the　letter　I　showed　you　a　week　ago。”

“There　has　not　been　any　change　made　about　your　own　arrangements？　You　will　not　be　summoned　to　leave　England　sooner　than　you　expected？”

“I　fear　not；　indeed：　such　chance　is　too　good　to　befall　me。”　Baffled　so　far；　I　changed　my　ground。　I　bethought　myself　to　talk　about　the　school　and　my　scholars。

“Mary　Garrett’s　mother　is　better；　and　Mary　came　back　to　the　school　this　morning；　and　I　shall　have　four　new　girls　next　week　from　the　Foundry　Close—they　would　have　e　to…day　but　for　the　snow。”

“Indeed！”

“Mr。　Oliver　pays　for　two。”

“Does　he？”

“He　means　to　give　the　whole　school　a　treat　at　Christmas。”

“I　know。”

“Was　it　you