第19部分(第7/8 頁)

　a　cosy　and　agreeable　picture　presented　itself　to　my　view。

A　snug　small　room；　a　round　table　by　a　cheerful　fire；　an　arm…chair　high…backed　and　old…fashioned；　wherein　sat　the　neatest　imaginable　little　elderly　lady；　in　widow’s　cap；　black　silk　gown；　and　snowy　muslin　apron；　exactly　like　what　I　had　fancied　Mrs。　Fairfax；　only　less　stately　and　milder　looking。　She　was　occupied　in　knitting；　a　large　cat　sat　demurely　at　her　feet；　nothing　in　short　was　wanting　to　plete　the　beau…ideal　of　domestic　fort。　A　more　reassuring　introduction　for　a　new　governess　could　scarcely　be　conceived；　there　was　no　grandeur　to　overwhelm；　no　stateliness　to　embarrass；　and　then；　as　I　entered；　the　old　lady　got　up　and　promptly　and　kindly　came　forward　to　meet　me。

“How　do　you　do；　my　dear？　I　am　afraid　you　have　had　a　tedious　ride；　John　drives　so　slowly；　you　must　be　cold；　e　to　the　fire。”

“Mrs。　Fairfax；　I　suppose？”　said　I。

“Yes；　you　are　right：　do　sit　down。”

She　conducted　me　to　her　own　chair；　and　then　began　to　remove　my　shawl　and　untie　my　bon…strings；　I　begged　she　would　not　give　herself　so　much　trouble。

“Oh；　it　is　no　trouble；　I　dare　say　your　own　hands　are　almost　numbed　with　cold。　Leah；　make　a　little　hot　negus　and　cut　a　sandwich　or　two：　here　are　the　keys　of　the　storeroom。”

And　she　produced　from　her　pocket　a　most　housewifely　bunch　of　keys；　and　delivered　them　to　the　servant。

“Now；　then；　draw　nearer　to　the　fire；”　she　continued。　“You’ve　brought　your　luggage　with　you；　haven’t