第56部分(第4/7 页)

t　was　but　a　long　pale　line；　unvaried　by　one　moving　speck。

A　puerile　tear　dimmed　my　eye　while　I　looked—a　tear　of　disappointment　and　impatience；　ashamed　of　it；　I　wiped　it　away。　I　lingered；　the　moon　shut　herself　wholly　within　her　chamber；　and　drew　close　her　curtain　of　dense　cloud：　the　night　grew　dark；　rain　came　driving　fast　on　the　gale。

“I　wish　he　would　e！　I　wish　he　would　e！”　I　exclaimed；　seized　with　hypochondriac　foreboding。　I　had　expected　his　arrival　before　tea；　now　it　was　dark：　what　could　keep　him？　Had　an　accident　happened？　The　event　of　last　night　again　recurred　to　me。　I　interpreted　it　as　a　warning　of　disaster。　I　feared　my　hopes　were　too　bright　to　be　realised；　and　I　had　enjoyed　so　much　bliss　lately　that　I　imagined　my　fortune　had　passed　its　meridian；　and　must　now　decline。

“Well；　I　cannot　return　to　the　house；”　I　thought；　“I　cannot　sit　by　the　fireside；　while　he　is　abroad　in　inclement　weather：　better　tire　my　limbs　than　strain　my　heart；　I　will　go　forward　and　meet　him。”

I　set　out；　I　walked　fast；　but　not　far：　ere　I　had　measured　a　quarter　of　a　mile；　I　heard　the　tramp　of　hoofs；　a　horseman　came　on；　full　gallop；　a　dog　ran　by　his　side。　Away　with　evil　presentiment！　It　was　he：　here　he　was；　mounted　on　Mesrour；　followed　by　Pilot。　He　saw　me；　for　the　moon　had　opened　a　blue　field　in　the　sky；　and　rode　in　it　watery　bright：　he　took　his　hat　off；　and　waved　it　round　his　head。　I　now　ran　to　meet　him。

“There！”　he　exclaimed；　as　he　stretched　out　his　hand　and　bent　from　the　saddle：　“You　can’t　do　without　me；　that　is　evident。　Step　on　my　boot…toe；　give　me　both　hands：　mount！”

I　obeyed：　joy　made　me　agile：　I　sprang　up　before　him。　A　hearty　kissing　I　got　for　a　wele；　and　some　boastful　triumph；　which　I　swallowed　as　well　as　I　could。　He　checked　himself　in　his　exultation　t