第40部分(第4/7 页)

aid　very　deliberately—“You　are　cold；　you　are　sick；　and　you　are　silly。”

“Prove　it；”　I　rejoined。

“I　will；　in　few　words。　You　are　cold；　because　you　are　alone：　no　contact　strikes　the　fire　from　you　that　is　in　you。　You　are　sick；　because　the　best　of　feelings；　the　highest　and　the　sweetest　given　to　man；　keeps　far　away　from　you。　You　are　silly；　because；　suffer　as　you　may；　you　will　not　beckon　it　to　approach；　nor　will　you　stir　one　step　to　meet　it　where　it　waits　you。”

She　again　put　her　short　black　pipe　to　her　lips；　and　renewed　her　smoking　with　vigour。

“You　might　say　all　that　to　almost　any　one　who　you　knew　lived　as　a　solitary　dependent　in　a　great　house。”

“I　might　say　it　to　almost　any　one：　but　would　it　be　true　of　almost　any　one？”

“In　my　circumstances。”

“Yes；　just　so；　in　your　circumstances：　but　find　me　another　precisely　placed　as　you　are。”

“It　would　be　easy　to　find　you　thousands。”

“You　could　scarcely　find　me　one。　If　you　knew　it；　you　are　peculiarly　situated：　very　near　happiness；　yes；　within　reach　of　it。　The　materials　are　all　prepared；　there　only　wants　a　movement　to　bine　them。　Chance　laid　them　somewhat　apart；　let　them　be　once　approached　and　bliss　results。”

“I　don’t　understand　enigmas。　I　never　could　guess　a　riddle　in　my　life。”

“If　you　wish　me　to　speak　more　plainly；　show　me　your　palm。”

“And　I　must　cross　it　with　silver；　I　suppose？”

“To　be　sure。”

I　gave　her　a　shilling：　she　put　it　into　an　old　stocking…foot　which　she　took　out　of　her　pocket；　and　having　tied　it　round　and　returned　it；　she　told　me　to　hold　out　my　hand。　I　did。　She　ached　her　face　to　the　palm；　and　pored　over　it　without　touching　it。

“It　is　too　fine；”　said　she。　“I　can　make　nothing　of　such　a　hand　as　that；　almost　without　lines：　besides；