第19部分(第8/8 頁)

　you；　my　dear？”

“Yes；　ma’am。”

“I’ll　see　it　carried　into　your　room；”　she　said；　and　bustled　out。

“She　treats　me　like　a　visitor；”　thought　I。　“I　little　expected　such　a　reception；　I　anticipated　only　coldness　and　stiffness：　this　is　not　like　what　I　have　heard　of　the　treatment　of　governesses；　but　I　must　not　exult　too　soon。”

She　returned；　with　her　own　hands　cleared　her　knitting　apparatus　and　a　book　or　two　from　the　table；　to　make　room　for　the　tray　which　Leah　now　brought；　and　then　herself　handed　me　the　refreshments。　I　felt　rather　confused　at　being　the　object　of　more　attention　than　I　had　ever　before　received；　and；　that　too；　shown　by　my　employer　and　superior；　but　as　she　did　not　herself　seem　to　consider　she　was　doing　anything　out　of　her　place；　I　thought　it　better　to　take　her　civilities　quietly。

“Shall　I　have　the　pleasure　of　seeing　Miss　Fairfax　to…night？”　I　asked；　when　I　had　partaken　of　what　she　offered　me。

“What　did　you　say；　my　dear？　I　am　a　little　deaf；”　returned　the　good　lady；　approaching　her　ear　to　my　mouth。

I　repeated　the　question　more　distin