第8部分(第3/7 页)

another　set　of　people　to　dread。”

“If　you　dread　them　they’ll　dislike　you。”

“As　you　do；　Bessie？”

“I　don’t　dislike　you；　Miss；　I　believe　I　am　fonder　of　you　than　of　all　the　others。”

“You　don’t　show　it。”

“You　little　sharp　thing！　you’ve　got　quite　a　new　way　of　talking。　What　makes　you　so　venturesome　and　hardy？”

“Why；　I　shall　soon　be　away　from　you；　and　besides”—I　was　going　to　say　something　about　what　had　passed　between　me　and　Mrs。　Reed；　but　on　second　thoughts　I　considered　it　better　to　remain　silent　on　that　head。

“And　so　you’re　glad　to　leave　me？”

“Not　at　all；　Bessie；　indeed；　just　now　I’m　rather　sorry。”

“Just　now！　and　rather！　How　coolly　my　little　lady　says　it！　I　dare　say　now　if　I　were　to　ask　you　for　a　kiss　you　wouldn’t　give　it　me：　you’d　say　you’d　rather　not。”

“I’ll　kiss　you　and　wele：　bend　your　head　down。”　Bessie　stooped；　we　mutually　embraced；　and　I　followed　her　into　the　house　quite　forted。　That　afternoon　lapsed　in　peace　and　harmony；　and　in　the　evening　Bessie　told　me　some　of　her　most　enchaining　stories；　and　sang　me　some　of　her　sweetest　songs。　Even　for　me　life　had　its　gleams　of　sunshine。

Chapter　5

Five　o’clock　had　hardly　struck　on　the　morning　of　the　19th　of　January；　when　Bessie　brought　a　candle　into　my　closet　and　found　me　already　up　and　nearly　dressed。　I　had　risen　half…an…hour　before　her　entrance；　and　had　washed　my　face；　and　put　on　my　clothes　by　the　light　of　a　half…moon　just　setting；　whose　rays　streamed　through　the　narrow　window　near　my　crib。　I　was　to　leave　Gateshead　that　day　by　a　coach　which　passed　the　lodge　gates　at　six　a。m。　Bessie　was　the　only　person　yet　risen；　she　had　lit　a　fire　in　the　nursery；　where　she　now　proceeded　to　make　my　breakfast。　Few　children　can　eat　when　excited　with　the　thoughts　of　a　j