第6部分(第5/8 頁)

en　to　explanations；　she　hauled　me　to　the　washstand；　inflicted　a　merciless；　but　happily　brief　scrub　on　my　face　and　hands　with　soap；　water；　and　a　coarse　towel；　disciplined　my　head　with　a　bristly　brush；　denuded　me　of　my　pinafore；　and　then　hurrying　me　to　the　top　of　the　stairs；　bid　me　go　down　directly；　as　I　was　wanted　in　the　breakfast…room。

I　would　have　asked　who　wanted　me：　I　would　have　demanded　if　Mrs。　Reed　was　there；　but　Bessie　was　already　gone；　and　had　closed　the　nursery…door　upon　me。　I　slowly　descended。　For　nearly　three　months；　I　had　never　been　called　to　Mrs。　Reed’s　presence；　restricted　so　long　to　the　nursery；　the　breakfast；　dining；　and　drawing…rooms　were　bee　for　me　awful　regions；　on　which　it　dismayed　me　to　intrude。

I　now　stood　in　the　empty　hall；　before　me　was　the　breakfast…room　door；　and　I　stopped；　intimidated　and　trembling。　What　a　miserable　little　poltroon　had　fear；　engendered　of　unjust　punishment；　made　of　me　in　those　days！　I　feared　to　return　to　the　nursery；　and　feared　to　go　forward　to　the　parlour；　ten　minutes　I　stood　in　agitated　hesitation；　the　vehement　ringing　of　the　breakfast…room　bell　decided　me；　I　must　enter。

“Who　could　want　me？”　I　asked　inwardly；　as　with　both　hands　I　turned　the　stiff　door…handle；　which；　for　a　second　or　two；　resisted　my　efforts。　“What　should　I　see　besides　Aunt　Reed　in　the　apartment？—a　man　or　a　woman？”　The　handle　turned；　the　door　unclosed；　and　passing　through　and　curtseying　low；　I　looked　up　at—a　black　pillar！—such；　at　least；　appeared