第27部分(第3/7 页)

air　bees　you；　besides；　it　is　convenient；　for　it　keeps　those　searching　eyes　of　yours　away　from　my　physiognomy；　and　busies　them　with　the　worsted　flowers　of　the　rug；　so　puzzle　on。　Young　lady；　I　am　disposed　to　be　gregarious　and　municative　to…night。”

With　this　announcement　he　rose　from　his　chair；　and　stood；　leaning　his　arm　on　the　marble　mantelpiece：　in　that　attitude　his　shape　was　seen　plainly　as　well　as　his　face；　his　unusual　breadth　of　chest；　disproportionate　almost　to　his　length　of　limb。　I　am　sure　most　people　would　have　thought　him　an　ugly　man；　yet　there　was　so　much　unconscious　pride　in　his　port；　so　much　ease　in　his　demeanour；　such　a　look　of　plete　indifference　to　his　own　external　appearance；　so　haughty　a　reliance　on　the　power　of　other　qualities；　intrinsic　or　adventitious；　to　atone　for　the　lack　of　mere　personal　attractiveness；　that；　in　looking　at　him；　one　inevitably　shared　the　indifference；　and；　even　in　a　blind；　imperfect　sense；　put　faith　in　the　confidence。

“I　am　disposed　to　be　gregarious　and　municative　to…night；”　he　repeated；　“and　that　is　why　I　sent　for　you：　the　fire　and　the　chandelier　were　not　sufficient　pany　for　me；　nor　would　Pilot　have　been；　for　none　of　these　can　talk。　Adèle　is　a　degree　better；　but　still　far　below　the　mark；　Mrs。　Fairfax　ditto；　you；　I　am　persuaded；　can　suit　me　if　you　will：　you　puzzled　me　the　first　evening　I　invited　you　down　here。　I　have　almost　forgotten　you　since：　other　ideas　have　driven　yours　from　my　head；　but　to…night　I　am　resolved　to　be　at　ease；　to　dismiss　what　importunes；　and　recall　what　pleases。　It　would　please　me　now　to　draw　you　out—to　learn　more　of　you—therefore　speak。”

Instead　of　speaking；　I　smiled；　and　not　a　very　placent　or　submissive　smile　either。

“Speak；”　he　urged。

“What　about；　sir？”

“Whatever　you　like。