第55部分(第3/8 頁)

　this”　（touching　his　watch…guard）。　“Yes；　bonny　wee　thing；　I’ll　wear　you　in　my　bosom；　lest　my　jewel　I　should　tyne。”

He　said　this　as　he　helped　me　to　alight　from　the　carriage；　and　while　he　afterwards　lifted　out　Adèle；　I　entered　the　house；　and　made　good　my　retreat　upstairs。

He　duly　summoned　me　to　his　presence　in　the　evening。　I　had　prepared　an　occupation　for　him；　for　I　was　determined　not　to　spend　the　whole　time　in　a　tête…à…tête　conversation。　I　remembered　his　fine　voice；　I　knew　he　liked　to　sing—good　singers　generally　do。　I　was　no　vocalist　myself；　and；　in　his　fastidious　judgment；　no　musician；　either；　but　I　delighted　in　listening　when　the　performance　was　good。　No　sooner　had　twilight；　that　hour　of　romance；　began　to　lower　her　blue　and　starry　banner　over　the　lattice；　than　I　rose；　opened　the　piano；　and　entreated　him；　for　the　love　of　heaven；　to　give　me　a　song。　He　said　I　was　a　capricious　witch；　and　that　he　would　rather　sing　another　time；　but　I　averred　that　no　time　was　like　the　present。

“Did　I　like　his　voice？”　he　asked。

“Very　much。”　I　was　not　fond　of　pampering　that　susceptible　vanity　of　his；　but　for　once；　and　from　motives　of　expediency；　I　would　e’en　soothe　and　stimulate　it。

“Then；　Jane；　you　must　play　the　acpaniment。”

“Very　well；　sir；　I　will　try。”

I　did　try；　but　was　presently　swept　off　the　stool　and　denominated　“a　little　bungler。”　Being　pushed　unceremoniously　to　one　side—which　was　precisely　what　I　wished—he　usurped　my　place；　and　proceeded　to　a