第4部分(第2/8 頁)

ed。

I　pronounced　his　name；　offering　him　at　the　same　time　my　hand：　he　took　it；　smiling　and　saying；　“We　shall　do　very　well　by…and…by。”　Then　he　laid　me　down；　and　addressing　Bessie；　charged　her　to　be　very　careful　that　I　was　not　disturbed　during　the　night。　Having　given　some　further　directions；　and　intimates　that　he　should　call　again　the　next　day；　he　departed；　to　my　grief：　I　felt　so　sheltered　and　befriended　while　he　sat　in　the　chair　near　my　pillow；　and　as　he　closed　the　door　after　him；　all　the　room　darkened　and　my　heart　again　sank：　inexpressible　sadness　weighed　it　down。

“Do　you　feel　as　if　you　should　sleep；　Miss？”　asked　Bessie；　rather　softly。

Scarcely　dared　I　answer　her；　for　I　feared　the　next　sentence　might　be　rough。　“I　will　try。”

“Would　you　like　to　drink；　or　could　you　eat　anything？”

“No；　thank　you；　Bessie。”

“Then　I　think　I　shall　go　to　bed；　for　it　is　past　twelve　o’clock；　but　you　may　call　me　if　you　want　anything　in　the　night。”

Wonderful　civility　this！　It　emboldened　me　to　ask　a　question。

“Bessie；　what　is　the　matter　with　me？　Am　I　ill？”

“You　fell　sick；　I　suppose；　in　the　red…room　with　crying；　you’ll　be　better　soon；　no　doubt。”

Bessie　went　into　the　housemaid’s　apartment；　which　was　near。　I　heard　her　say—

“Sarah；　e　and　sleep　with　me　in　the　nursery；　I　daren’t　for　my　life　be　alone　with　that　poor　child　to…night：　she　might　die；　it’s　such　a　strange　thing　she　should　have　that　fit：　I　wonder　if　she　saw　anything。　Missis　was　r